In ancient Roman religion, Concordia (which means “concord” or “harmony” in Latin) is the goddess who embodies agreement in marriage and society.
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Concordia was depicted as a matron in a seated position holding an olive branch and the Cornucopia. Sometimes, she is depicted between two members of the ruling Imperial family in the act of shaking hands with them. Her Greek equivalent is usually regarded as Harmonia, with musical harmony a metaphor for an ideal of social concord or entente in the political discourse of the Republican era. She was thus often associated with Pax (“Peace”) in representing a stable society.
Concordia Augusta was cultivated in the context of the Imperial cult. Dedicatory inscriptions to her, on behalf of emperors and members of the imperial family, were common.
Marcus Furius Camillus erected the first Temple of Concord in 367 BC. She was linked to a pair of female goddesses, such as Securitas and Fortuna or Pax and Salus. Hercules and Mercury, who stand for “Security and Luck,” were also matched with her.
Featured image: Bust of Goddess Concordia from the Temple of Jupiter. Museum. Sabratha, Libya.
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