Veneralia April 1st

The cult of Venus Verticordia was established in 220 BC. BC, just before the start of the Second Punic War, in response to the advice of a Sibylline oracle, when a series of wonders were taken to signify divine displeasure at sexual offenses among Romans of all ages. categories and class, including several men and three vestal virgins. His statue was dedicated by a young woman, chosen as the most pudica (sexually pure) in Rome by a committee of Roman matrons. At first, the statue was probably housed in the temple of Fortuna Virilis.

This cult, older than that of Venus Verticordia but perhaps perceived as weak or collapsed, may have benefited from the moral and religious support of Venus as a relatively new but senior deity; for Ovid, Venus's acceptance of the epithet and its responsibilities represented the goddess's own change of heart. In 114 BC. BC, Venus Verticordia received its own temple. She was meant to persuade Romans of both sexes and all classes, married or unmarried, to cherish traditional sexual proprieties and morality known to please the gods and benefit the state.

During the Veneralia, her cult image was transported from her temple to the men's baths, where she was stripped and washed in hot water by her maids, then garlanded with myrtle. In Veneralia, women and men asked Venus Verticordia for help in matters of the heart, sex, betrothal, and marriage. Fortuna Virilis received worship on the same day.