The people in ancient Rome had as many gods as we have apps on our phones today. And just like each app has its own function, every god/goddess was for a different part of their lives. Just like we have to update our apps to keep them working, the ancient Romans believed they should have festivals in honour of these mythical gods each year. They had about 200 festivals each year. Seeing that they played such an important role in the lives of the ancient Romans, we need to wonder, who were these gods from Roman mythology? We are going to review the lives of 15 of these gods from Roman mythology to learn more about who they were.
15 – Mercury
Mercury on his way to deliver messages.
Mercury was the cleverest of all the gods. He served as a messenger between the gods, and also between the gods and mortals.
- Being so clever he often tried to cheat by mastering thievery to get what he wanted.
- Mercury escorted the dead to the underworld.
- He was seen as the god of wealth, good fortune, and commerce.
- A temple near Circus Maximus was dedicated to Mercury in 495 BC.
- The yearly festival for Mercury was celebrated on 15 May.
14 – Janus
Janus is looking into the past and the future.
There were many ceremonial gateways in ancient Rome. They were known as Jani, named after the Roman god Janus. Ancient Romans believed that Janus resided in a temple on Janiculum hill, but archaeologists have never been able to locate this temple.
- Janus was known as the god of entrances, thresholds, and transitions.
- The month of January on the Roman calendar was named after Janus signalling the beginning of a new year.
- A festival for Janus was held on 9 January each year.
13 – Cupid (Eros)
Cupid is pointing his arrow at his next target for love.
Cupid was the son of the goddess Venus. He got his name from the fact that he played with the hearts of gods and mortals, and caused them mayhem.
- Was known to be similar to the Greek god Eros.
- Known as the god of love and romance.
- Celebrated on 14 February each year.
- To this day we still celebrate Valentine’s Day on 14 February all over the world.
12 – Faunus
Faunus making forest music as a statue.
Faunus was one of the first Roman gods that was original to the Romans and not derived from another god. He was depicted as the god of the forest, plains, and fields.
- Faunus was celebrated on both 13 February and 5 December. Mortals brought rustic offerings and amused themselves with dancing.
- He was praised for making land and farm animals fertile.
- Faunus had his own temple on the island of Tiber.
11 – Bacchus
All that Bacchus wants is his wine.
Bacchus is the Roman god of agriculture and wine. He was known as the party animal under the gods. He was such a big fan of wine at these parties that he made sure the grapes grew well the whole year round.
- He is still known today as the god of wine.
- Adapted from the Greek god Dionysus.
- Bacchus was also associated with fertility, drama and revelry.
10 – Ceres
Ceres is shown as the goddess of the harvest.
Ceres was known as the goddess of fertility and agriculture. She was also the mother of Proserpina who was abducted by Pluto.
- Ceres was a patron for farmers and a protector for peasants.
- The Romans believed that her daughter was with her during spring and summer. In winter and autumn she mourned the fact that her daughter was with Pluto in the underworld.
- She was the sister of Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto.
9 – Proserpina
Proserpina being abducted by Pluto to the underworld.
Proserpina was the daughter of Ceres and also the goddess of grain and harvest. When Cupid hit Pluto with one of his love arrows, Pluto fell in love with her.
- She was abducted by Pluto to be his queen in the underworld.
- Her mother Ceres searched for her high and low and refused to make the crops grow until she found her.
- Jupiter and the other gods decided that she would spend half of the year with her mother and the other half with Pluto in the underworld.
- She was also smitten with the mortal Adonis.
8 – Venus
Venus being born as a beauty. Contemplating her love between her husband Vulcan and her lover Mars.
Victory, fertility and love were associated with this goddess. Venus the goddess of love did her name justice and definitely had many lovers from gods to mortals.
- Her husband Vulcan caught her cheating with Mars and she stayed in a loveless marriage.
- Mars was her lover with whom she had the Cupids.
- The most famous mortal she fell in love with was Adonis.
7 – Vulcan
Vulcan is creating in his rage.
Vulcan is the god of fire and also a formidable blacksmith. He was an ugly baby, and his mother Juno threw him in the sea. Legend says that he fell for a day and a half.
- He had a limp as he broke his leg upon impact with the sea that his mother threw him in.
- He was raised by Thetis the water nymph.
- He was also known as the ruler of volcanoes.
6 – Mars
Mars the god of war is ready for battle.
Mars was known as the Roman god of warfare. In the early Roman era Mars was regarded as the 2nd in command to Jupiter.
- The Romans bestowed his name to the fourth planet from the sun – also known as the red and fiery planet.
- He was known to aid productive warfare that brought lasting peace.
- He was also known as an agricultural guardian.
5 – Minerva
Minerva the goddess of tactical warfare as a statue.
The goddess of tactical warfare, who booted Mars from his throne. Minerva was known for her wisdom and trade of the arts.
- Her father Jupiter swallowed her mother Metis. She emerged fully grown from her father’s head.
- She vowed to never get married.
- She was known as a gracious winner who had sympathy for the beaten.
4 – Juno
Juno is the queen of all the other gods.
Juno was known as the queen of the gods and a protector of the Roman people. She was also the mother of gods Mars and Vulcan.
- Juno was known for protecting pregnant women during childbirth.
- She was derived from the Greek goddess Hera.
- She was married to the god Jupiter. He was often unfaithful towards her.
3 – Pluto
Pluto god of the underworld lounging the time away.
Pluto was the god of the dead and the underworld. Often associated with doom and gloom. He also kidnapped Proserpina to be his queen in the underworld.
- It was believed that Pluto controlled the fate of mortals and their afterlife.
- Romans believed that he was the bringer of earthly wealth.
- He was the master of the realms and by association also the master of all the ores, metals, and precious stones in these realms.
- The Romans held no festivals for him because of his association to mystery and death.
2 – Neptune
Neptune, god of the sea, unleashes his power on the ocean.
- Neptune was for the Romans what Poseidon was for the Greeks. He was the god of the wind and the sea.
- Neptune lacked the political power from the Romans, but he commanded fear from those whose fortune was tied to the sea.
- The farther he moved from the sea, the less power he had.
- Myth tells us that he lived in a golden palace beneath the waves.
- He was also a big fan of horse racing – a popular form of entertainment for the ancient Romans.
1 – Jupiter
Jupiter - King of all the Roman gods.
Jupiter was the only god with unlimited power, who was also the king of the other gods. He commanded law and order and overruled the others.
- Jupiter was the equivalent of the Greek god Zeus.
- Jupiter commanded the skies, clouds, lightning, thunder and weather.
- He was married to the goddess Juno, but fathered many children through his infidelities.
The Romans made these gods and goddesses as part of their daily lives as we have with our cell phones. They help to guide them on the correct path and make their lives worth living, giving them something to strive for.
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