In ancient Rome, as in ancient Greece, religion consisted of the cults of various gods. At the same time, the Roman pantheon had many deities similar to the Greek ones. That is, here we can talk about borrowing. This happened because Greek mythology was more ancient than Roman. The Greeks created colonies on the territory of Italy, when Rome did not even think about greatness. The inhabitants of these colonies spread Greek culture and religion to nearby lands, and therefore the Romans became the successors of Greek traditions, but interpreted them taking into account local conditions.
The most significant and revered in ancient Rome was the so-called council of the gods, corresponding to the Olympian gods of ancient Greece. The father of Roman poetry, Quintus Ennius (239 - 169 BC), systematized the deities of Ancient Rome and introduced six men and six women to this council. He gave them Greek equivalents. This list was later confirmed by the Roman historian Titus Livy (59 BC - 17 AD). Below is a list of this council of celestials, in parentheses are the Greek counterparts.
Council of the gods of the pantheon of ancient Rome
Jupiter (Zeus) is the king of the gods, the god of heaven and thunder, the son of Saturn and Opa. The main deity of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. The rulers of Rome took an oath to Jupiter and venerated him annually in September on the Capitol Hill. He was personified with law, order and justice. There were 2 temples in Rome dedicated to Jupiter. One was built in 294 BC. e., and the second was erected in 146 BC. e. This god was personified by an eagle and an oak tree. Juno was his wife and sister.
Juno (Hera) is the daughter of Saturn and Opa, the wife and sister of Jupiter, the queen of the gods. She was the mother of Mars and Vulcan. She was a defender of marriage, motherhood, family traditions. It is in her honor that the month of June is named. She was part of the Capitoline Triad along with Jupiter and Minerva. There is a statue of this goddess in the Vatican. She is depicted in a helmet and shell. Not only mere mortals, but all the gods of Ancient Rome revered and respected Juno.
Neptune (Poseidon) is the god of the sea and fresh water. Brother of Jupiter and Pluto. The Romans also worshiped Neptune as the god of horses. He was the patron saint of horse racing. In Rome, one temple was erected to this god. It was located near the Flaminia circus in the southern part of the Champ de Mars. The circus had a small hippodrome. All these structures were built in 221 BC. e. Neptune is an extremely ancient deity. He was a domestic god even among the Etruscans, and then migrated to the Romans.
Ceres (Demeter) - the goddess of harvest, fertility, agriculture. She was the daughter of Saturn and Ope and sister to Jupiter. She had an only daughter, Proserpine (goddess of the underworld) from her relationship with Jupiter. It was believed that Ceres could not see hungry children. This put her in a state of grief. Therefore, she always took care of orphans, surrounded them with care and attention. Every year in April, a festival dedicated to this goddess was held. It lasted 7 days. She was also mentioned during marriages and harvest rituals.
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Minerva (Athena) is the goddess of wisdom, patroness of art, medicine, trade, military strategy. Often gladiator battles were held in her honor. She was considered a virgin. She was often depicted with an owl (Minerva's owl), which symbolized wisdom and knowledge. Long before the Romans, this goddess was worshiped by the Etruscans. Celebrations in her honor were held from March 19 to 23. This goddess was worshiped on the Esquiline Hill (one of the seven hills of Rome). The Temple of Minerva was erected there.
Apollo (Apollo) is one of the main gods of Greek and Roman mythology. This is the god of the sun, light, music, prophecy, healing, art, poetry. It should be said that the Romans in relation to this god took the traditions of the ancient Greeks as a basis and, practically, did not change them. Apparently they seemed extremely successful to them, and therefore they did not change anything, so as not to spoil the beautiful legends about this god.
Diana (Artemis) is the goddess of hunting, nature, fertility. She, like Minerva, was a virgin. In total, the gods of Ancient Rome had 3 goddesses who took a vow of celibacy - these are Diana, Minerva and Vesta. They were called maiden goddesses. Diana was the daughter of Jupiter and Latona, and was born with her twin brother Apollo. Since she patronized hunting, she wore a short tunic and hunting boots. She always had a bow, a quiver and a crescent-shaped diadem. The goddess was accompanied by deer or hunting dogs. The Temple of Diana in Rome was erected on the Aventine Hill.
Mars (Ares) - God of war, as well as protector of agricultural fields during the period of early Rome. He was considered the second most important god (after Jupiter) in the Roman army. Unlike Ares, who was treated with disgust, Mars was respected and loved. Under the first Roman emperor Augustus, a temple to Mars was built in Rome. During the Roman Empire, this deity was considered the guarantor of military power and peace and was never mentioned as a conqueror.
Venus (Aphrodite) is the goddess of beauty, love, prosperity, victory, fertility and desires. The Roman people considered her to be their mother through the son of Aeneas. He survived the fall of Troy and fled to Italy. Julius Caesar claimed to be the ancestor of this goddess. Subsequently, in Europe, Venus became the most popular deity in Roman mythology. She was personified with sexuality and love. The symbols of Venus were a dove and a hare, and from plants a rose and a poppy. The planet Venus is named after this goddess.
Vulcan (Hephaestus) - the god of fire and the patron saint of blacksmiths. He was often depicted with a blacksmith's hammer. This is one of the most ancient Roman deities. In Rome, there was a Vulcan temple or Vulcanal, built in the VIII century BC. e. at the site of the future Roman Forum at the foot of the Capitol Hill. A festival dedicated to the Volcano was celebrated every year in the second half of August. It was this god who forged lightning for Jupiter. He also made armor and weapons for other celestials. He set up his smithy in the mouth of the Etna volcano in Sicily. And golden women, whom God himself created, helped him in his work.
Mercury (Hermes) - the patron saint of trade, finance, eloquence, travel, good luck. He also acted as a guide of souls to the underworld. Son of Jupiter and Maya. In Rome, the temple to this god was located in a circus located between the Avetian and Palatine hills. It was built in 495 BC. e. A festival dedicated to this god took place in mid-May. But he was not as magnificent as for other gods, since Mercury was not considered one of the main deities of Rome. The planet Mercury was named in his honor.
Vesta (Hestia) is an extremely revered goddess among the ancient Romans. She was the sister of Jupiter and was identified with the goddess of the home and family hearth. A sacred fire always burned in her temples, and the priestesses of the goddess - virgin vestals - supported it. It was a whole staff of women priestesses in ancient Rome, enjoying unquestionable authority. They were taken from wealthy families and had to be celibate for 30 years. If one of the Vestals broke this oath, then such a woman was buried alive in the ground. Celebrations dedicated to this goddess were held annually from June 7 to 15.
Evgeny Serov