Book IV

In which The Romans and the Dryadae first encounter the other races of this world, both friendly and hostile.

To assist man is to be a God; this is the path to eternal glory. This is the path which the Roman nobles formerly pursued, and this is the path which is now pursued by the greatest ruler of our age, Vespasian Augustus, he who has come to the relief of an exhausted empire, as well as by his sons.

This was the ancient mode of remunerating those who deserved it, to regard them as Gods. For the names of all the Gods, as well as of the stars that I have mentioned above, have been derived from their services to mankind.

Pliny The Elder

Natural History

Volume I Book 1 Chapter 3