August 12
- (www.clubs.psu.edu/ aegsa/rome/ aug16.htm) pridie Idus AugustHerculi Invicto ad Circum Maximum - Hercules' temple was said to have been dedicated by himself or Evander after the slaying of Cacus.
His first work was to fortify the Palatine hill where he had been brought up. The worship of the other deities he conducted according to the use of Alba, but that of Hercules in accordance with the Greek rites as they had been instituted by Evander. It was into this neighbourhood, according to the tradition, that Hercules, after he had killed Geryon, drove his oxen, which were of marvellous beauty. He swam across the Tiber, driving the oxen before him, and wearied with his journey, lay down in a grassy place near the river to rest himself and the oxen, who enjoyed the rich pasture. When sleep had overtaken him, as he was heavy with food and wine, a shepherd living near, called Cacus, presuming on his strength, and captivated by the beauty of the oxen, determined to secure them. If he drove them before him into the cave, their hoof-marks would have led their owner on his search for them in the same direction, so he dragged the finest of them backwards by their tails into his cave. At the first streak of dawn Hercules awoke, and on surveying his herd saw that some were missing. He proceeded towards the nearest cave, to see if any tracks pointed in that direction, but he found that every hoof-mark led from the cave and none towards it. Perplexed and bewildered he began to drive the herd away from so dangerous a neighbourhood. Some of the cattle, missing those which were left behind, lowed as they often do, and an answering low sounded from the cave. Hercules turned in that direction, and as Cacus tried to prevent him by force from entering the cave, he was killed by a blow from Hercules' club, after vainly appealing for help to his comrades.Livy Book I
Veneri, Victrici, Honori, Virtuti, V [...] Felicitati in theatro marmoreo
In 55 B.C. Pompey built the first permanent stone theatre. He put a temple of Venus Victrix on top of the central rows of seats to make them look like temple steps, so the structure could be dedicated as a temple and not a theatre.
A.D. 304- Euplius, a Sicilian Christian deacon was martyred the under Emperor Diocletian. According to < Source: URL = www.christianitytoday.com/history/features/twich/33.html > This Week in Christian History, Euplius had actively sought martyrdom.
Egypt - Approximate date of Opet Festival.
Edith Hamilton's birthday 1867.
