Pax was the Roman goddess who personified peace, with the famous Ara Pacis dedicated to peace under Augustus.
Pax was a relatively minor figure in early Roman religion, but her importance grew dramatically during Augustus’s reign. After decades of civil war, Augustus promoted the image of restored stability and prosperity. The Latin word pax meant more than simply the absence of war: it could also signify an agreement, settlement, or order imposed after conflict.
The Ara Pacis Augustae, or Altar of Augustan Peace, was commissioned by the Roman Senate in 13 BC and consecrated on January 30, 9 BC. Although often described as an altar to Pax, its reliefs also communicate Augustan themes of fertility, abundance, Rome’s origins, and dynastic legitimacy. A female figure on one panel is commonly identified as Pax, but scholars have also proposed Tellus, Italia, or Venus.
Pax is often confused with Concordia, who represented harmony and agreement, or Spes, the personification of hope. Greek Eirene was her closest counterpart. Later emperors continued using Pax’s imagery, including Vespasian, who dedicated the Templum Pacis in Rome in AD 75.