Equester
and in Greek
Ἵππιος, occurs as a surname of several divinities, such as Poseidon (Neptune), who had created the horse, and in whose honour horse-races were held (Serv.
ad Virg. Georg. 1.12;
Liv. 1.9;
Paus. 5.15.4), of Aphrodite (
Serv. ad Aen. 1.724), Hera (
Paus. 5.15.4), Athena (
Paus. 1.30.4,
31.3,
5.15.4,
8.47.1), and Ares. (
Paus. 5.15.4.) The Roman goddess Fortuna bore the same surname, and the consul Flaccus vowed a temple to her in B. C. 180, during a battle against the Celtiberians. (
Liv. 40.40,
42.3.) Tacitus (
Tac. Ann. 3.71) mentions a temple of Fortuna Equestris at Antium.
[
L.S]