Roman mythology creatures and gods. Pantheon of ancient Roman gods

Surely everyone has heard the expression “return to one’s native land,” which means to return to one’s native home. But not everyone knows where it came from. Initially, this phrase sounded like “return to native Penates.” Penates are the ancient Roman Gods who guard the hearth. In ancient times, in every house near the hearth there was an image of two Penates.

By the way, the Roman people were not distinguished by their rich imagination. All their Gods themselves were lifeless, vague characters, without family ties, without pedigree, while the Greek Gods were united by one big family. However, if you look into history today, you will notice obvious similarities between the Gods of ancient Rome and Greece. The Romans almost completely adopted Greek Gods– their images, symbols and spells. The difference between them is in the names. They help to better understand the essence of the Roman Gods. As a rule, they are firmer and more serious than the Greek Gods, more reliable and virtuous. The Romans largely identified their abstract Gods with the Greek ones. For example, Jupiter with Zeus, Venus with Aphrodite, Minerva with Athena. Thus, under the influence of Greek religious ideas, among the numerous Roman gods, the main Olympic Gods stood out, known to everyone today: Jupiter - the god of the sky, Venus - the goddess of love and fertility, Minerva - the goddess of wisdom and others.

The absolute absence of their own mythology and legends among the Romans ancient people was considered a virtue (although today it may seem to us that they simply lacked creative imagination). It was the Roman people who were considered the most religious people of those times. And it was from the Romans that the word “religion” subsequently appeared in all languages, which meant the worship of imaginary supernatural forces and the veneration of rituals.

The ancient Romans were convinced that life in all its smallest manifestations depended on higher power and was under the tutelage of various Gods. In addition to Mars and Jupiter, some of the most powerful gods Ancient Rome, there were countless less significant gods and the spirits who protected different actions in life. For example, during the birth of a child, the Vatican opened his mouth for the first cry, Kunina patronized the cradle, Rumina took care of the baby’s food, Sattan taught the child to stand, and Fabulin taught him to speak. The whole life of the Romans was this - every success or failure was considered a manifestation of the favor or anger of a certain deity. At the same time, all these deities were completely faceless. Even the Romans themselves could not claim with complete confidence that they knew the real name of God or his gender. All their knowledge about the Gods boiled down only to when and how they should ask for help. The Ancient Gods were the cult of the Roman people. They filled every corner of their home and soul. It was for them that sacrifices were made. And it was they who decided destinies.

We invite you to go on an exciting journey through our website, where you can learn more about the Gods of Ancient Rome, plunge into history and feel the atmosphere of distant times.

Jupiter (lat. Iuppiter) - V ancient roman mythology god of the sky, daylight, thunderstorms, father of the gods, supreme deity of the Romans. Husband of the goddess Juno. Corresponds to the Greek Zeus. The god Jupiter was revered on the hills, the tops of mountains in the form of a stone. The days of the full moon - the Ides - are dedicated to him.

The Temple of Jupiter stood on the Capitol, where Jupiter, along with Juno and Minerva, was one of the three most important Roman deities.

Janus

Janus (Latin Ianus, from Latin ianua - “door”, Greek Ian) - in Roman mythology - the two-faced god of doors, entrances, exits, various passages, as well as the beginning and the end.

One of the most ancient Roman Indian gods, together with the goddess of the hearth Vesta, occupied a prominent place in Roman ritual. Already in ancient times, various religious ideas about him and his essence were expressed. Thus, Cicero associated his name with the verb inire and saw in Janus the deity of entry and exit. Others believed that Janus represents chaos (Janus = Hianus), air or firmament. Nigidius Figulus identified Janus with the sun god. Originally Janus is the divine gatekeeper, in the Salian hymn he was invoked under the names Clusius or Clusivius (Closing One) and Patulcius (Opening One). As attributes, Janus had a key with which he unlocked and locked the gates of heaven. He used a staff as a gatekeeper's weapon to ward off uninvited guests. Later, probably under the influence of Greek religious art, Janus began to be depicted as two-faced (geminus).

Juno

Juno (lat. Iuno) - ancient Roman goddess, wife of Jupiter, goddess of marriage and birth, motherhood, women and female productive power. She is primarily the patroness of marriages, the guardian of the family and family regulations. The Romans were the first to introduce monogamy. Juno, as the patroness of monogamy, is, among the Romans, the personification of protest against polygamy.

Minerva

Minerva (lat. Minerva), corresponding to the Greek Pallas Athena - Italian goddess of wisdom. She was especially revered by the Etruscans as the lightning-fast goddess of mountains and useful discoveries and inventions. And in Rome ancient times Minerva was considered a lightning-fast and warlike goddess, as evidenced by the gladiatorial games during the main festival in honor of her Quinquatrus.

Diana

Diana - goddess of flora and fauna, femininity and fertility, obstetrician, personification of the Moon; corresponds to the Greek Artemis and Selene.

Later, Diana also began to be identified with Hecate. Diana was also called Trivia - the goddess of three roads (her images were placed at crossroads), this name was interpreted as a sign of triple power: in heaven, on earth and underground. Diana was also identified with the Carthaginian heavenly goddess Celeste. In the Roman provinces, under the name of Diana, local spirits were revered - “mistresses of the forest.”

Venus

Venus - in Roman mythology, originally the goddess of flowering gardens, spring, fertility, growth and flowering of all fruit-bearing forces of nature. Then Venus began to be identified with the Greek Aphrodite, and since Aphrodite was the mother of Aeneas, whose descendants founded Rome, Venus was considered not only the goddess of love and beauty, but also the ancestor of the descendants of Aeneas and the patroness of the Roman people. The symbols of the goddess were the dove and the hare (as a sign of fertility); the plants dedicated to her were poppy, rose and myrtle.

Flora

Flora - An ancient Italian goddess, whose cult was widespread among the Sabines and especially in Central Italy. She was the goddess of flowers, blossoming, spring and fruits of the field; in honor of her, the Sabines named the month corresponding to April or May (mese Flusare = mensis Floralis).

Ceres

Ceres (lat. Cerēs, gen. Cereris) - ancient Roman goddess, second daughter of Saturn and Rhea (in Greek mythology she corresponds to Demeter). She was depicted as a beautiful matron with fruit in her hands, for she was considered the patroness of the harvest and fertility (often together with Annona, the patroness of the harvest). The only daughter of Ceres is Proserpina, born from Jupiter.

Bacchus

Bacchus - in ancient Roman mythology, the youngest of the Olympians, the god of winemaking, the productive forces of nature, inspiration and religious ecstasy. Mentioned in the Odyssey. In Greek mythology, it corresponds to Dionysus.

Vertumnus

Vertumn (Latin Vertumnus, from Latin vertere, to transform) - ancient Italian god of the seasons and their various gifts, so he was depicted in different types, mainly in the form of a gardener with a garden knife and fruits. Sacrifices were made to him annually on August 13th (vertumnalia). Later Roman mythology made him an Etruscan god; but, as the etymology of this name shows, Vertumnus was a true Latin and at the same time common Italic god, akin to Ceres and Pomona, the goddesses of grain plants and fruits.

Ancient culture has always attracted humanity. After the dark period of the Middle Ages, people turned to achievements Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, trying to comprehend their art and attitude to life. The era following the Middle Ages began to be called the Renaissance (Renaissance). Cultural and artistic figures also turned to antiquity during the Enlightenment. This can be said about almost every historical period of human existence. So what attracts us so much to ancient Greece and Rome? Most of all, we know myths and legends that contain deep foundations of morality. The heroes of myths are people, fantastic creatures and, of course, gods.

Ancient gods of Rome

The ancient Roman gods are very similar to the ancient Greek ones. This is no coincidence: the two civilizations were nearby, and when the Roman Empire began to conquer other states, it included foreign gods in its pantheon.

Although the pantheon of gods of Ancient Rome grew significantly as a result, the main ones remained 12 gods - 6 men and 6 women - the so-called Council of Gods. Besides this, there are other gods that are worshiped.

Saturn

One of the significant ancient gods of Rome. Saturn was not part of the Council of Gods, but was highly revered. The question arises: Saturn - the god of what in Ancient Rome? Corresponding to the ancient Greek Cronus, Saturn is the patron of vital forces and agriculture. Of course, agriculture played an important role in antiquity, so the veneration of this god is quite natural.

Jupiter - god of lightning

Jupiter was one of the most revered gods in Ancient Rome. It was associated with lightning and thunder, which were considered signs or punishments. It is interesting that the places struck by lightning were sacred, they were surrounded by fences and sacrifices were made next to them. Any Roman commander, going on a campaign and returning with victory, prayed to Jupiter. One of the most significant temples Jupiter was in the Capitol, which was founded by Tarquinius Gordius.

Juno - goddess of family

Juno is the patroness of family and marriage. Her temple, like that of Jupiter, was located on the Capitoline Hill (not many gods were given such an honor). The goddess was given many epithets, among which there is Coin - giving advice. Its appearance is associated with an interesting legend.

In the 5th century BC, a war broke out between the Romans and Etruscans, which lasted 10 years. From the captured city of Veio they brought a statue of the goddess Juno, who appeared to one of the soldiers and blessed. It was in honor of this event that a temple was built on Capitol Hill, where geese were sacrificed. When, much later, in 390 BC. e., enemies surrounded the fortress of the Capitol, the geese woke up the leader of the fortress, and Rome was saved. It was believed that this was a sign from the goddess giving advice.

In the 3rd century BC, a mint was founded in the Temple of Juno.

Neptune - ruler of the seas

Brother of Jupiter and patron of the sea, Neptune was the second most powerful god of Rome. According to legend, Neptune had a luxurious palace at the bottom of the sea.

An amazing fact about the god of the sea: it was he who gave man the first horse!

Neptune is depicted with a trident, powerful weapon, which can break anything into pieces.

Ceres - goddess of fertility

The ancient Roman goddess of fertility and motherhood was revered in the pantheon of gods of Ancient Rome. Farmers treated Ceres with special respect: holidays in honor of the goddess lasted several days.

The Romans made unique sacrifices to the goddess. Instead of the traditional killing of animals, Ceres was given half of the property of a husband who, without any reason, separated from his wife. In addition, she was considered the protector of the rural community and crops from robbers.

Minerva - goddess of wisdom

Minerva was considered the goddess of wisdom, knowledge and just war; she was the patroness of sciences and crafts. The goddess is often depicted armed, with an olive tree and an owl - a symbol of wisdom. Minerva was part of the Capitoline triad, considered equal to Jupiter and Juno.

She was especially revered in Rome for her warlike character.

Apollo - god of music and arts

Apollo is considered one of the most beautiful gods, with a bright solar disk above his head. God is considered the patron of music and the arts. His father, Jupiter, was dissatisfied with Apollo's willfulness and even forced him to serve people!

Diana - goddess-hunter

Diana was considered a huntress goddess in Ancient Rome. While her brother Apollo represented the sun, Diana was associated with the moon. In Rome she patronized lower classes. The traditions of rituals associated with Diana were sometimes cruel - there were no human sacrifices. The priest of the temple, for example, the first one erected on the Aventine Hill, was necessarily a runaway slave. The priest bore the name Rex (King), and in order to become a priest of the goddess, he had to kill his predecessor.

Mars - god of war

There is no doubt that the Roman Empire was a powerful power, constantly expanding through war. In the ancient world, nothing could be accomplished without the help of the gods. Therefore, Mars, the god of war in Ancient Rome, always had enough admirers. It is curious that according to legend, it was Mars who was the father of Romulus and Remus, who founded Rome. In this regard, he was revered above other gods, which the Greek Ares could not boast of.

Venus - goddess of love

Beautiful goddess of love, fertility, eternal spring and life, Venus had amazing abilities. Not only people, but even gods, with the exception of a few, obeyed her power. Venus was the most revered goddess among women. Its symbol is an apple. A Sicilian temple was built in honor of Venus; she was the patroness of the descendants of Aeneas, the son of Venus, and all Romans. One of the greatest Roman commanders, Gaius Julius Caesar, considered Aeneas his ancestor, so he greatly respected the goddess.

Vulcan - blacksmith god

Unlike Apollo, who was famous for his beauty, Vulcan was lame and ugly. But this did not stop him from becoming a talented blacksmith. According to legend, it was Vulcan who forged it for Jupiter formidable weapon- lightning. It is impossible to forge a sword without fire, so Vulcan was also considered the patron of this formidable element. Every year on August 23, the inhabitants of the Empire celebrated Vulcania.

And the following fact can no longer be completely attributed to legend. In 79 BC, on August 24, the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius occurred, which became the last for the city of Pompeii. Perhaps the inhabitants angered God by not knowing that Mount Vesuvius is a volcano?

Mercury - god of trade

Herald's staff and winged sandals... It's easy to guess that we're talking about about the messenger of the gods - Mercury. He was considered the patron of trade, intelligence, eloquence and even... theft! It was he, according to legend, who invented the alphabet, units of measurement, and then bestowed this knowledge on people.

The rod of Mercury was called the caduceus; it was entwined with two snakes. There is a myth that when Mercury received a rod capable of pacifying anyone, he placed it between two snakes, who at that moment were fighting each other. They wrapped themselves around the staff and became part of it.

Vesta - goddess of the hearth

Vesta in Ancient Rome was the goddess of the hearth and family. In Rome, a temple was dedicated to her, in which a fire was constantly maintained. The flames were watched over by special priestesses - vestals. The morals and customs of ancient civilizations were sometimes cruel, and priestesses were required to remain celibate for 30 years. If the unfortunate woman violated the ban, she was buried alive.

You can list the gods of Ancient Rome ad infinitum - there are very, very many of them. The most significant ones are listed above. It's amazing how many things connect ancient roman gods and our modernity. In honor of some of them, planets were named - Venus, Mars, Uranus, Jupiter. We know the month June, named after Juno.

As can be seen from the description of the gods, they were not harmless, they could fend for themselves, many were associated with military affairs. Who knows, maybe it really was the gods who helped the Romans found one of the most powerful empires in human history.

The Roman pantheon has many analogues to the ancient Greek gods and goddesses, but also has its own deities and lower spirits.

The following gods were considered the most famous.

Aurora is the goddess of the dawn.

Bacchus is the god of vegetation, wine and fun, patron of viticulture and winemaking.

Venus is the goddess of love and beauty, identical to the Greek goddess Aphrodite.

Vesta is the goddess of the hearth and fire.

Diana is the goddess of hunting, the Moon, fertility and childbirth, and the patroness of wild animals. Diana was identified with the ancient Greek goddess Artemis.

Cupid is the god of love, son of Venus.

Mars is the ancient Italian god of war and fertility. Mars was identified with the ancient Greek god Ares.

Mercury is the god of cattle breeding and trade, the patron of travelers, the messenger of the gods. Mercury was depicted with wings on his feet, with a staff and a money bag on his side.

Minerva is the goddess of wisdom, patroness of sciences, arts, and crafts. Under the tutelage of Minerva were teachers, doctors, actors, and artisans. Minevra was identified with the ancient Greek goddess Athena.

Neptune is the god of the seas, identified with the ancient Greek god Poseidon. Neptune was considered the patron of horse breeding and equestrian competitions.

The term is the god of boundaries and boundary markers: pillars, stones, etc.

Flora is the Italian goddess of flowers and youth. In ancient art, Flora was depicted as a young woman holding flowers.

Fortuna is the goddess of happiness, chance and luck. Fortune was depicted as a blindfolded woman, holding a cornucopia in her hands, pouring out coins while wearing a blindfold.

Juno is the queen of the gods, the wife of Jupiter, the patroness of marriage and birth. Juno was identified with the ancient Greek goddess Hera. Juno was depicted as a stately woman wearing a crown.

Jupiter is the supreme god, ruler of gods and men, identified with the Greek Zeus. Sometimes statues of Jupiter in Rome were given the appearance of a ruling emperor.

Janus is an ancient Italic deity; God:

- inputs and outputs;
- started everyone;
- creator of all life on earth;
- patron of roads and travelers, etc.

Janus was depicted as a man with two faces looking in opposite directions. Janus' attributes were keys and a staff.

Like any other polytheistic faith, Roman paganism did not have a clear organization. Essentially this is a meeting large quantities ancient cults. But, despite this, the triad of gods of Ancient Rome clearly stands out: Jupiter, Mars and Quirinus.

Jupimter (lat. Iuppiter) - in ancient Roman mythology, the god of the sky, daylight, thunderstorms, the father of the gods, the supreme deity of the Romans. Husband of the goddess Juno. Corresponds to the Greek Zeus. The god Jupiter was revered on the hills, the tops of mountains in the form of a stone. The days of the full moon - the Ides - are dedicated to him.

As the supreme god, Jupiter had a council of gods with him and decided all earthly affairs through augurs, sending them signs of his will. Jupiter was the god of the entire Roman state, its power and might. The cities subordinate to Rome made sacrifices to him on the Capitol and erected temples. Jupiter was the patron of emperors. The most important acts State life (sacrifices, the oath of new consuls, the first meeting of the Senate of the year) took place in the Capitoline Temple of Jupiter.

The cult of Jupiter was widespread in all Roman provinces and in the army. Many locals identified with him supreme gods in the countries of Syria and Asia Minor.

After the decline of the Roman Empire, the names of Jupiter and Zeus began to be used practically without distinction. Jupiter, like Zeus, was depicted as full of dignity, with a beard, often on a throne, with an eagle, lightning and a scepter.

Mars is one of the oldest Roman gods. Initially considered the founder and guardian of Rome. IN Ancient Italy Mars was the god of fertility; it was believed that he could either cause the destruction of crops or the death of livestock, or avert them. In his honor, the first month of the Roman year, in which the rite of expelling winter was performed, was named March. Mars was later identified with the Greek Ares and became the god of war. The temple of Mars, already as the god of war, was built on the Field of Mars outside the city walls, since the armed army was not supposed to enter the city territory.

From Mars, the Vestal Rhea Silvia gave birth to twins Romulus and Remus. As the father of Romulus, Mars was the founder and guardian of Rome.

Quirin (Sabine Quirinus - spear-bearer) is one of the most ancient Italian and Roman gods.

Quirinus is the oldest Roman deity, patronizing the life-giving forces of nature, and later military actions. Quirin was especially revered in early times Roman history, even when scattered tribes lived on the Apennine Peninsula: Sabines, Latins, Osci, Umbrians, etc.

The gods of Ancient Rome, the list of which includes more than 50 different creatures, were objects of worship for many centuries - only the degree of influence of each of them on the consciousness of the people changed.

The Romans evolved. Initially, there was a polytheistic religion - paganism. The Romans believed in many gods.

Structure and main concepts of ancient Roman religion

Like any other polytheistic faith, Roman paganism did not have a clear organization. In fact, it is a collection of a large number of ancient cults. The ancients were responsible for various aspects human life and natural elements. Every family revered rituals - they were performed by the head of the family. The gods were asked for help in household and personal matters.

There were rituals that were carried out at the state level - they were different times carried out by priests, consuls, dictators, praetors. The gods were asked for help in battles, intercession and assistance in battle with the enemy. Fortune telling and rituals were given a large role in resolving state issues.

During the reign, the concept of “priest” appeared. He was a representative of a closed caste. The priests had enormous influence on the ruler; they possessed the secrets of rituals and communication with the gods. During the empire, the function of pontiff began to be performed by the emperor. It is characteristic that Rima were similar in their functions - they just had different names.

The main features of the religion of Rome

Important characteristics of Roman beliefs were:

great influence of foreign borrowing. The Romans often came into contact with other peoples during their conquests. Contacts with Greece were especially close;
religion was closely connected with politics. This can be judged based on the existence of the cult of imperial power;
characterized by the endowment of divine qualities to such concepts as happiness, love, justice;
the close connection between myth and beliefs - defines, but does not distinguish the Roman religion from other pagan systems;
a huge number of cults and rituals. They differed in scale, but covered all aspects of public and personal life;
The Romans deified even such little things as returning from a campaign, the first word of a baby, and much more.

Ancient Roman pantheon

The Romans, like the Greeks, represented the gods as humanoid. They believed in the forces of nature and spirits. The main deity was Jupiter. His element was the sky, he was the master of thunder and lightning. The Great Games were held in honor of Jupiter, and a temple on Capitol Hill was dedicated to him. The ancient gods of Rome looked after various aspects of human life: Venus - love, Juno - marriage, Diana - hunting, Minevra - craft, Vesta - home.

In the Roman pantheon there were father gods - the most revered of all, and lower deities. They also believed in spirits that were present in everything that surrounds a person. Researchers believe that spirit worship was present only in the early stages of the development of the religion of Rome. Initially, Mars, Quirin and Jupiter were considered the main gods. During the emergence of the institution of priesthood, tribal cults arose. It was believed that each class and noble family was patronized by a specific god. Cults appeared among the clan of the Claudians, Cornelians and other representatives of the elite of society.

At the state level, Saturnalia was celebrated - in honor of agriculture. They held grand celebrations and thanked the patron for the harvest.

Social struggle in society led to the formation of a triad of gods or “plebeian triad” - Ceres, Liber and Liber. The Romans also identified heavenly, chthonic and earthly deities. There was a belief in demons. They were divided into good and evil. The first group included the Penates, Lares and Geniuses. They kept the traditions of the house, the hearth and protected the head of the family. Evil demons - lemurs and laurels interfered with good ones and harmed people. Such creatures appeared if the deceased was buried without observing the rituals.

During the empire, the goddess Roma, the patroness of the entire state, was popularized.

What gods did the Romans borrow?

As a result of frequent contacts with other peoples, the Romans began to incorporate foreign beliefs and rituals into their culture. Researchers are inclined to think that all religion is a complex of borrowings. main reason This is why the Romans respected the beliefs of the people they conquered. There was a ritual that officially introduced a foreign deity into the pantheon of Rome. This ritual was called evocation.

The ancient gods of Rome appeared in the pantheon as a result of close cultural ties with conquered peoples and active development own culture. The most striking borrowings are Mithra and Cybele.

Table “Gods of Ancient Rome and Greek correspondences”:

Mythology of Ancient Rome

In all pagan cultures, myths and religious beliefs are closely related to each other. The themes of Roman myths are traditional - the founding of the city and state, the creation of the world and the birth of the gods. This is one of the most interesting aspects of culture to study. Researchers using the mythological system can trace the entire evolution of Roman beliefs.

Traditionally, legends contain many descriptions of miraculous, supernatural events that were believed in. Of such narratives, features can be distinguished: political views people who are hidden in the fantastic text.

In the mythology of almost all nations, the theme of the creation of the world, cosmogony, comes first. But not in this case. It mainly describes heroic events, the ancient gods of Rome, rituals and ceremonies that must be performed.

The heroes were of semi-divine origin. the legendary founders of Rome - Romulus and Remus - were the children of warlike Mars and a vestal priestess, and their great ancestor Aeneas is the son of the beautiful Aphrodite and the king.

The gods of Ancient Rome, the list of which includes both borrowed and local deities, has more than 50 names.