Jupiter Capitolinus - A large brass of Vespasian exhibits the facade of a temple of six columns, the exterior and pediment of which are ornamented with statues. In the inside the figure of Jupiter is seated, having Minerva on his right and Juno on his left hand. In the exergue is S C.
The temple of Jupiter in the Capitol at Rome, burnt during the disorders which prevailed in that city at the close of Vitellius 's reign, was rebuilt with costly magnificence by Vespasian.
It was the Jews who contributed the most largely towards the expenses of this grand undertaking; for whereas being by their own laws obliged to furnish each two drachmas towards the maintenance of the temple in Jerusalem, they received the emperor 's order to surrender this money to the proposed purpose of rebuilding the tample of Jupiter.
The statues of the three divinities were placed in the same manner that they are represented on the medal, in which we see Minerva occupying the place of precedence to Juno. It was certainlt the custom at Rome to render to Pallas (Apollo) the first honours after Jupiter. Thus Horace, speaking speaking of the god, says "Proximos illi tamen occupavit Pallas honores." On a medallion of Trajan, the three divinities of
the Capitol are represented standing, Minerva being on the right of Jupiter.
For the same reason there appear on a medal of Antoninus Pius the birds consecrated to these three deities, inthe order above desribed, viz., the eagle in the middle, the owl of Minerva on the right, and the peacock of Juno on the left.