F I D E S
 Goddess Of Oaths

   by Jerry L. McKissack, MPS

The ancients worshipped a deity 
named Fides. Fides, also known as 
Fidelitas (meaning fidelity, faith and 
loyalty), was the Roman goddess of 
faithfulness, honesty, and oaths. One of 
the moral deities of the Romans, she 
presided over the virtues of men, and 
the conduct of human life. Fides was a 
deity to whose honor the Romans were 
required, in the Law of the Twelve Tab-
lets, to erect altars to. She was repre- CG/ 
sented with an erect and open air, and 
clad in a thin transparent dress. The 
poets called her blameless and incor-
ruptible, and the companion and sister 
of Justice. At times she was also gray-
headed and very old, but not so in her 
figures as found on Roman coins and 
medals.

Fides
 
More ancient then Jupiter, temples to 
Fides were erected from 254 BC and in 
imperial times, coins and medallions 
were minted to commemorate the loy-
alty of the emperor, the legions, senate, 
etc. and displayed religious slogans. In-
scriptions such as Fides Publica, Fides 
Militum, Fides Romanorum, Fides Exercitas, 
etc., can be found on these coins and 
medals

The goddess is usually shown as offer-
ing her right-hand in faith and some-
times as two-hands joined, as on the 
coins of Marcus Antoninus, Vespasian, 
Titus, and others (coin 1). The two 
right-hands joined together were em-
blems of faith given and received. 
Sometimes she is portrayed as holding a 
patera (offering dish) in one hand, and 
in the other a horn-of-plenty or ears of 
corn (coin 2). Sometimes she is shown 
holding a caduceus, an eagle, or mili-
tary standard (coin 3). And again, 
sometimes, as two people holding each 
other by the right hand (coin 4).

Her temple located on Palatine Hill in 
Rome was a meeting place for the 
Roman Senate and place of deposit for 
international documents. There 
developed a formal ritual in connection 
with sacrifices to her; the most interest-
ing item of which was binding the right-
hand with a white cloth, as a symbol 
that honor (or fidelity) dwelt in the 
right-hand. (This may have led to the
adoption of white gloves amongst Ma-
sons as symbols of unsoiled hands.)
 
The use of oaths is documented from 
time immemorial. The oath has been 
and remains a method of assuring 
others that the truth is being told, or as 
a demonstration of good faith or trust. 
When a witness is sworn to give testi-
mony in a court of law, he must take an 
oath that he will tell the truth, the whole 
truth, and nothing but the truth. 
Government officials take an oath to 
uphold the law of the land, and in-
ductees into the military take oaths that 
they will defend the Constitution and 
obey the lawful orders of their supe-
riors. In the context of modern law, the 
breaking of an oath or promise (such as 
perjuring oneself in a court of law) may 
result in criminal proceedings. But 
more than this, the oath taker has tradi-
tionally invited the wrath of deity upon 
himself should he break his oath, as in 
more modern times, by sealing the oath 
with the words " so help me God" . 
Moses commanded the tribe of Israel: 
"You are to fear the Lordyour God, serve him 
alone, and take your oaths by his name" 
(Deuteronomy 6:13).
 
A candidate for the degrees of Ma-
sonry takes his obligation with the 
right-hand resting upon the VSL. 
Later, the newly made Entered Appren-
tice is given an explanation of the 
events that occurred and somewhat of 
their origin. Specifically, why the right-
hand, and not the left is used--"The 
right, therefore, Masons use, testifying 
in the strongest manner possible, the 
fidelity of the work in which we are en-
gaged. "
 
On her festival date of October 1, the 
priests of Fides were dressed in white 
during her public ceremonies. But no 
sacrifices were allowed upon her altar, 
because she was deemed inflexible, and 
unyielding to prayers, however urgent. 
The oaths that we take as Freemasons 
are summarily to protect the secrets of 
the Fraternity, to obey lawful summons 
to attend meetings, respect a fellow 
Mason, his family and his property, and 
to provide aid to anyone in need, as our 
ability permits.
 
Traditionally, the breaking of a Ma-
sonic obligation or oath imposed a tor-
turous death upon the breaker. These 
"bloody" oaths have caused the Craft 
to endure strong criticism from its op-
ponents, as well as caused concern 
among newly made Masons. As our 
late Brother John J. Robinson argues in
"A Pilgrim's Path", we must consider 
the historical climate of the time when 
these obligations were developed and 
the penalties imposed. Groups of free-
thinkers or anyone who dared to profess 
a religious belief contrary to the church 
or a form of government contrary to the 
king risked bringing death upon himself 
and others. The tortures of the inquisi-
tion were far worse than the penalties 
contained in any Masonic obligation. 
The penalties remain "symbolically" 
as a link to our Masonic history and a 
reminder of real penalties imposed on 
our brethren by church and state. Even 
now, there are religious courts which 
still impose the death penalty for 
blasphemy.

Why take an oath at all, are they not 
but mere words? What prevents a man 
from Iying or breaking his oath? Once 
upon a time, a man's word was his bond 
and his honor meant more than any 
material gain he could hope to obtain 
on this earth. An atheist who cared not 
for life beyond this one, was not a man 
to be trusted or believed. What motive 
drives his testimony, words or actions? 
What man-made penalty for breaking 
an oath would be severe enough for a 
man who did not fear the wrath of God? 
The Romans swore before Fides, a 
goddess who's wrath could not be ap-
peased by an oath breaker. We, there-
fore, take our oath before the Great Ar-
chitect of the Universe, admitting no 
atheist to kneel before our altar.

Led into the Lodge, the candidate is 
taken by the right-hand (not the left). 
From these very first moments of his 
entry into the Craft, he is taught that he 
is, and forever will be, in the hands of a 
fellow friend in whosefidelity (or trust) 
he could confide. To fear no danger, be-
cause he is truly amongst brothers and 
friends. As the Craft moves forward 
through time, it must ever remain an 
island of brotherhood and trust among 
fellow men. Continuing to take our an-
cient oaths; maintaining an "ancient" 
code of honor, because it is a good and 
virtuous way of conduct for human life 
and Masons.

Bibliography

1. Roman Coins, J.P. C. Kent (photo-
graphs of Roman coins), Harry Abrams 
Publisher, New York, 1978

2. The Romans - Their Gods and Their 
Beliefs, Lyttleton and Foreman

3. Who's Who in Greek and Roman My-
thology, Kravitz

4. Handbook of Classical Mythology, 
Howe and Harrier

5. Roman Gins and Their Values, D. R. 
Sear, Seaby Publications, London, 1974

6. A Pilgrim's Path, JohnJ. Robinson, 
M. Evans and Co., New York, 1993


The Philalethes, August 1995
