Spes

The Roman personification of hope, especially of hope for a good harvest, and (in later times) for the blessing of children. There were several temples to Spes in Rome, the oldest dating from B.C. 354 (Livy, xxiv. 47). She was represented as a youthful figure, moving along lightly in a long robe, which was raised a little in her left hand, while her right bore a bud, either closed or just about to open, denoting especially her tutelage of gardens. In the course of time she came to be usually considered as a goddess of the future, invoked at births and marriages, and on similar occasions. On the legend of the Greek goddess of Hope (Ἐλπίς), see Pandora.