Mars, when guilty of homicide, and set free from the charge of murder by the Athenians through favour, lest he should appear to be too fierce and savage, committed adultery with Venus.

A translator of the Divine Institutes starts his introduction as follows:

Lactantius has always held a very high place among the Christian Fathers not only on account of the subject-matter of his writings but also on account of the varied erudition the sweetness of expression and the grace and elegance of style by which they are characterized. Caecilius Firmianus'. The new emperor appointed the aged scholar in 311 or 313.

320) who became an advisor to the first Christian Roman emperor Constantine I guiding his religious policy as it developed and tutor to his son. Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius was an early Christian author (ca.