Julius Caesar claimed to be a descendant of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, beauty, sex and victory. After his victory at the Battle of Pharsalus (48 BC), he promised to build a temple in the deity’s honor at Forum of Caesar. He portrayed her as Venus Genetrix, meaning the mother of his ancestors. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt in the early 2nd and late 3rd centuries. Only three of the original 16 columns of the temple still stand. In the background is Tabularium. This government structure was constructed in 78 BC to house city records and offices.
