Fides

In Roman religion, Fides was the goddess of trust, faith and honesty. Her temple on the Capitol was where the Roman Senate signed and kept state treaties with foreign countries, and where Fides protected them. She was also worshipped under the name Fides Publica Populi Romani. She is represented by a young woman crowned with an olive branch, with a cup or turtle, or a military ensign in hand. She wears a white veil or stola; her priests wore white cloths, showing her connection to the highest gods of Heaven, Jupiter and Dius Fidius. Her temple which can be dated to 254 B.C.E was near Jupiter's temple in the Capitol. Traditionally Rome's second king, Numa Pompilius instituted a yearly festival devoted to Fides, and established that the major priests be borne to her temple in a covered arched chariot drawn by two horses. There they should conduct her services with their heads covered and right hands wrapped up to the fingers to indicate absolute devotion to her and to symbolise trust. Her Greek equivalent was Pistis.