We are accustomed to the words “gods of Ancient Rome,” and often we don’t even always know who they are, these gods, what they patronized, how they differ from the ancient Greeks.

The list of which contains more than 70 names is an integral part of the culture of an entire civilization that knew how to accept and perceive the spiritual life of other peoples. The Romans easily accepted gods of other peoples into their pantheon, trying to win them over to their side. Prayers were sung to them, majestic temples were erected, and legends were created about them.

Gods and heroes of myths

It is difficult to strictly separate the Roman from the Greek gods; they have different or similar names, duplicating each other in their powers, but they are all deities, that is, immortal. History has preserved the names and legends about the deeds of immortal heroes who were endowed with supernatural powers, sometimes even transferred to the category of gods.

Let's try to list some of the most famous names and what they were responsible for:

Less known, but no less powerful:

1. Trivia, patroness of darkness and sorcery.
2. Diez is a daytime deity.
3. Salus is the guardian of health.
4. Ceres, responsible for fields and fertility.
5. Bacchus is the cheerful patron of viticulture and winemaking.
6. Faun is the ruler of forests, hunters and shepherds, of all nature.

Many Roman gods are better known in Greek transcription. For example, Jupiter in the Greek pantheon is Zeus, Neptune, also known as Poseidon, Venus is Aphrodite, and Minerva is Athena. Some gods were borrowed from the Greek list and rightfully took their place in the Roman pantheon. This, for example, is the famous Aesculapius, the healer, and the handsome Apollo.

The ancient gods were endowed with human appearance and certain character traits. They were omnipotent, and were not always fair in their actions, just like people.

Sometimes the gods allowed themselves to quarrel and play petty tricks on their colleagues. The more humane the gods were, the more they believed in them, hoping that with a favorable combination of circumstances and a good mood, the gods would fulfill the request

Undoubtedly, we all know the names of the planets of our solar system from childhood, but does everyone know that each of these celestial bodies is named after the gods of the ancient Romans? Meanwhile, the Roman Empire was one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world, and its legacy is now enjoyed not only by the direct descendants of the inhabitants of the empire, but also by people of other nationalities. Culture and religion can be called the most important factors that influenced the development of civilization, therefore the religion of ancient Rome is an integral part of the greatest empire.

Comparing the religion of ancient Rome with the beliefs of other ancient powers, we can conclude that despite the presence of some common features, the religion of the Romans has significant differences from the cults adhered to by other peoples - the Celts, Scythians, Indians, etc. The ancient Romans are one of the few nations, in whose beliefs there are practically no signs of totemism, because the citizens of the empire did not consider any animal sacred and did not identify their gods with any representatives of the fauna. And even the legend about the founders of Rome - the brothers Rome and Remulus, who were found and suckled by a she-wolf, is rather not evidence of totemism, but rather a confirmation that the ancient Romans held the view that nature should serve man.

The formation of the religion of ancient Rome

The first Romans, who lived before the rise of the Roman Empire, had clearly established religious traditions, but their beliefs, also known as the “religion of Numa Pompilius,” could be said to be adapted to the life of farmers, artisans and livestock breeders. The ancient ancestors of modern Italians revered an endless number of gods, each of which identified some natural phenomenon - for example, farmers worshiped the deity of the earth, the deity of the harvest, the deity of trees, etc. Almost every natural phenomenon, as well as representatives of flora and fauna, had their own deities, and the Romans prayed to them, asking for protection and help in any matter. The Romans also explained any incident by God’s will, so it is not surprising that this people had a lot of rituals aimed at appeasing the gods.

8. The need to seek advice from the gods and beg them for alms in the event of some emergency or event

9. A large number of fortune telling, which were encouraged by religion and carried out by priests

10. Cruel punishment for refusal to observe religious traditions and to attend numerous religious ceremonies.

Pantheon of gods of the ancient Romans

Undoubtedly, it is hardly possible to list all the gods worshiped by the ancient Romans, since their number amounts to more than one hundred, and in different provinces of the empire the population revered different deities. However, there were still gods who were equally revered both in Rome and in the most distant provinces of the empire. It is worth highlighting two main triads of gods - patrician and plebeian. The patrician triad of gods are the supreme gods who were worshiped by the elite of Roman society, these gods were Jupiter (supreme deity, god of the sun and sky), Minerva (goddess of reason and justice) and Juno (goddess of sensuality and love). The common people were considered their supreme gods Cicera (goddess of the earth, motherhood and fertility), Libera (patron of winemaking) and Liberu (patron of the life-giving forces of nature).

The inhabitants of Ancient Rome were sure that their lives depended on different Gods. Each sphere had its own specific patron. In general, the Roman pantheon of gods consisted of the most significant figures and minor deities and spirits. The Romans erected temples and erected statues of their gods, and regularly brought them gifts and held holidays.

Roman gods

The religion of Ancient Rome is characterized by polytheism, but among its many patrons several significant figures can be distinguished:

1. The most important ruler is Jupiter. The Romans considered him the patron saint of thunder and storms. He showed his will by releasing lightning onto the ground. It was believed that the place where they ended up became sacred. They asked Jupiter for rain for a good harvest. He was also considered the patron saint of the Roman state.
2. Roman god of war Mars is one of the triad of gods leading the Roman pantheon. Initially, he was considered the patron saint of vegetation. It was to Mars that warriors sacrificed gifts before going to war, and they also thanked him after successful battles. The symbol of this god was a spear - regin. Despite their belligerence, the Romans depicted Mars in a peaceful pose, arguing that he was resting after fighting. Often in his hands he held a statue of the goddess of victory Nike.
3. Roman Asclepius most often he presented himself as an old man with a beard. The main and most famous attribute was a staff that entwines a snake. It is used as a symbol of medicine to this day. It was only thanks to his activities and work done that he was awarded immortality. The Romans created a huge number of sculptures and temples that are dedicated specifically to the god of healing. Asclepius made many discoveries in the field of medicine.
4. Roman god of fertility Liber. He was also considered the patron of winemaking. It was most popular among farmers. A holiday held on March 17 is dedicated to this god. On this day, young boys put on a toga for the first time. The Romans gathered at crossroads, wore masks made from bark, and swung a phallus that was created from flowers.
5. Sun god in Roman mythology Apollo often associated with the life-giving power of the sky. Over time, this god began to be credited with patronage over other areas of life. For example, in myths, Apollo often acts as a representative of many life phenomena. Since he was the brother of the goddess of the hunt, he was considered a skilled marksman. Farmers believed that it was Apollo who had the powers that helped the bread to ripen. For sailors, he was the god of the sea, who rode on a dolphin.
6. God of love in Roman mythology Cupid was considered a symbol of inevitable love and passion. They imagined him as a young guy or a child with curly golden hair. Cupid had wings on his back that helped him move and hit people from any convenient position. The irreplaceable attributes of the god of love were a bow and arrows, which could both give feelings and deprive them. In some images, Cupid is shown blindfolded, which indicated that love is blind. The golden arrows of the god of love could hit not only ordinary people, but also gods. Cupid fell in love with an ordinary mortal girl, Psyche, who went through many tests and eventually became immortal. Cupid is a popular deity who is used in the creation of various souvenirs.
7. Roman god of the fields Faun was a companion of Dionysus. He was also considered the patron saint of forests, shepherds and fishermen. He was always cheerful and, together with the nymphs who accompanied him, danced and played the pipe. The Romans considered Faun a crafty god who stole children and sent nightmares and illnesses. Dogs and goats were sacrificed for the fields. According to legends, Faun taught people to cultivate the land.

This is only a small list of Roman gods, since there are many of them and they are completely different. Many gods of Ancient Rome and Greece are similar in appearance, behavior, etc.

What were the gods of Ancient Rome? What legends and real events were associated with the deities? You can find answers to all these questions in this article, find out...

From Masterweb

06.05.2018 23:00

Ancient culture has always attracted humanity. After the dark period of the Middle Ages, people turned to the achievements of 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 most important 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 to 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 Capitol Hill (not many gods were given such an honor). The goddess was given many epithets, among which there is also 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, a powerful weapon that can smash 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 the 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

The 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 Jupiter his 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

The messenger's rod and winged sandals... It's easy to guess that we are talking 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 much connects the 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.

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Pantheon God Ancient Rome

The Roman religion bore the stamp of formalism and sober practicality: they expected help from the gods in specific matters and therefore scrupulously performed established rituals and made the necessary sacrifices. In relation to the gods, the principle “I give so that you give” operated. The Romans paid great attention to the external side of religion, to the petty performance of rituals, and not to spiritual fusion with the deity. The Roman religion did not arouse the sacred awe and ecstasy that take possession of the believer. That is why the Roman religion, while outwardly very strictly observing all formalities and rituals, had little impact on the feelings of believers and gave rise to dissatisfaction. This is associated with the penetration of foreign, especially eastern, cults, often characterized by a mystical and orgiastic character, and some mystery. The cult of the Great Mother of the Gods and the cult of Dionysus - Bacchus, included in the official Roman pantheon, were especially widespread. The Roman Senate took measures against the spread of orgiastic eastern cults, believing that they undermined the official Roman religion, with which the power of the Roman state and its stability were associated. So, in 186 BC. e. Unbridled bacchanalia associated with the rites of the cult of Bacchus - Dionysus were prohibited.

The complex composition of the Roman pantheon was generated to a large extent by the diversity and complexity of the origins of the Roman community itself. This pantheon included many deities of those tribes and clans whose patrons they were previously considered. It is known that the Roman community was made up of Latin, Sabine, Etruscan and other tribal and clan groups.

During the classical period, the Romans distinguished two groups of deities in their pantheon: old, native, domestic gods, and new gods, aliens. However, even within the first group there are deities of different tribal origins.

Most of the Roman deities were apparently of local Italian origin: they were included in the Roman pantheon as the Roman community grew and more and more tribes and regions entered it. So, Diana was the local deity of Aricia. The patron saint of some ancient community was god Quirin, in later ideas close to Mars and the legendary founder of Rome Romulus. Most likely, it was the patron-eponym of Rome itself, judging by the archaic name of the Romans - Quirites. It is very likely that some other gods of the Roman pantheon from among the “old” were originally patrons of the communities that joined the Roman state.

However, the vast majority of ancient Roman deities are of a completely different nature. The numerous gods of the Roman pantheon were never patrons of any communities. For the most part, they were nothing more than the personification of various aspects of human activity, which they patronized. In the lists of these minor deities that have not reached us, it is indicated in what precisely defined cases, at what moments of their lives. Which of these gods should a Roman believer turn to in prayer? Every step of a person, starting from his very birth, was under the protection of one or another deity, whose function was very limited. These gods did not have proper names, but common nouns, according to the function each of them performed (it is possible that there were names, but secret ones, and they remained unknown to us). German explorer Herman Usener called this, in his opinion, the most ancient, category of gods “instant gods.” It is not difficult to see that our word “god” does not quite correspond to the Roman “ deus", meaning a wide variety of personified images and supernatural beings.

Each man had his own personal patron spirit - a genius ( genius familiae or genius domus). Women had their own patron goddesses - Junos, who introduced the young wife into the house and favored their marriage and the birth of children.

In addition to personal geniuses, there were also numerous geniuses - patrons of areas, the visible symbol of which was usually considered a snake. These geniuses of the place are close to the Lares, and in practice there was hardly a clear line drawn between them.

The question of the origin of the great deities of the Roman pantheon is complex. Some of them, as already mentioned, were once patrons of individual communities and tribes. But the majority were, to a large extent, the direct personification of individual abstract concepts related to social and state life. The Romans revered such deities as Peace, Hope, Valor, Justice, Happiness, etc. These purely abstract designations contained very few features of living personal images, even less mythology. It is difficult to even call them real personifications, but in their honor temples were built in Rome and sacrifices were made.

Particularly characteristic of Ancient Rome were ideas about special mystical powers inherent in natural phenomena; these forces are deities ( numina), which can be beneficial or harmful to humans. Processes occurring in nature, such as the growth of a seed or the ripening of a fruit, were represented by the Romans as special deities. With the development of social and political life, it became customary to deify such abstract concepts as hope, honor, harmony, etc. Roman deities are thus abstract and impersonal.

From the many gods, those who became important for the entire community stood out. The Romans were in constant interaction with other peoples. They borrowed some religious ideas from them, but they themselves, in turn, influenced the religion of their neighbors.

The trinity appeared relatively early: Jupiter, Mars, Quirin. Jupiter was revered as the deity of the sky by almost all Italians. The idea of ​​the highest deity, the father of the gods, was associated with Jupiter. The epithet pater (father) is subsequently added to his name, and under the influence of the Etruscans he turns into the highest deity. His name is accompanied by the epithets “Best” and “Greatest” ( Optimus Maximus). In the classical era, Mars was the deity of war, the patron and source of Roman power, but in distant times he was also an agricultural deity - the genius of spring vegetation. Quirin was his double.

The least clear and, apparently, the most complex origin of the image of the main god of the Romans of the classical era is Jupiter A. Basically, this is probably the personified shining sky - Father Sky ( Jovis+pater=Juppiter). On the other hand, in Jupiter the Romans also saw the patron god of the vine. 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. Further, Jupiter was considered the protector god of hospitality and moral family life. 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 of 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. It is possible that the Romans initially recognized an indefinite number of Jupiters as a manifestation of some impersonal force.

The image of God is also complex Mars. His original appearance as a tribal god and patron of agriculture gradually gave way to a later, more specialized function - the god of war. According to some researchers, this happened because. That Roman peasants mined land with spear and sword, taking it from neighboring peoples.

In Roman religion, Mars is one of the most ancient gods of Italy and Rome, part of the triad of gods that originally headed the Roman pantheon (Jupiter, Mars and Quirinus). 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, and therefore, as the father of Romulus, Mars was considered the ancestor and guardian of Rome.

The symbol of Mars was a spear, which was kept in the home of the Roman king - the regia. There were also twelve shields, one of which, according to legend, fell from the sky during the time of King Numa Pompilius, and therefore was considered a guarantee of the invincibility of the Romans. The remaining eleven shields were made by order of the king as exact copies of the one that fell from the sky, so that enemies could not recognize and steal the original one. Going to war, the commander set his spear and shields in motion, calling on Mars; spontaneous movement was considered an omen of terrible troubles.

The wife of Mars was the insignificant goddess Nerio (Neriene), who was identified with Venus and Minerva. They say that one day Mars fell in love with Minerva and turned to the elderly goddess Anna Perenna with a request to act as matchmaker. Some time later, Anna Perenna informed him that Minerva agreed to become his wife. When Mars went for the bride and lifted the veil of the goddess presented to him, he discovered that in front of him was not Minerva, but the old woman Anna Perenna. The other gods laughed at this joke for a long time. The wolf and woodpecker were considered sacred animals of Mars.

Quirin(Sabinsk Quirinus--spear-carrying) - one of the most ancient Italian and Roman gods. Quirinus was originally the deity of the Sabines. It was brought to Rome by Sabine settlers who settled the Quirinal Hill. Originally a god of war, similar to Mars. At a later time he was identified with Romulus, the first Roman king. The festival of the god Quirin - Quirinalia - was held on February 17. One of the names of Roman citizens - Quirites - comes from the name of the god Quirinus.

One of the ancient Roman gods was Janus. From the deity of doors, the watchful gatekeeper, he became the deity of all beginnings, the predecessor of Jupiter. He was depicted as two-faced and subsequently the beginning of the world was connected with him. One of the oldest Greco-Roman gods, together with the goddess of the hearth Vesta, occupied a prominent place in the Roman pantheon. 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 entrance and exit. Others believed that Janus personified chaos ( Janus = Hianus), air or firmament. Nigidius Figulus identified Janus with the sun god. It was also interpreted as "peace" -- mundus, primeval chaos, from which an ordered cosmos then emerged, and from a shapeless ball he turned into a god and became the guardian of order, the world, rotating its axis.

The cult of Vesta, the guardian and protector of the home, was one of the most revered in Rome. Vemsta(lat. Vesta, ancient Greek. ?ufyab) - goddess, patroness of the family hearth and sacrificial fire in Ancient Rome. It corresponds to the Greek Hestia. Her temple, built by Numa, was located in a grove on the slope of the Palatine Hill, opposite the forum. In this temple there was an altar on which an eternal flame burned, supported by the priestesses of the goddess - the Vestals. The festival of Vesta - Vestalia was celebrated on June 9; during the festival, Roman women made a barefoot pilgrimage to the temple of the goddess and here they made sacrifices to her. On the day of this festival, donkeys were not used for work, since, according to legend, the cry of a donkey once awakened the goddess from sleep while Priapus was about to dishonor her. In sculptural images, which are very rare, however, this goddess is represented as a richly dressed girl with a veil thrown over her head. Vesta's service continued until 382 and was terminated by Gratian.

A major event in the history of Roman religion was the construction on the Capitol of a temple dedicated to the Trinity: Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Tradition attributes the construction of the temple, created on the Etruscan model, to the Tarquins, and its consecration dates back to the first year of the Republic. From this time on, the Romans began to have images of gods.

Juno at first she was also a native Italic goddess, she was considered the guardian genius of women, and was adopted in Etruria under the name Uni, and returning to Rome, she became one of the revered goddesses. 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. Juno is always covered from head to toe, only her face, part of her neck and arms are bare; she is tall, with calm and measured movements; her beauty is strict and majestic; she has luxurious hair and large, wide open eyes. She always consulted with her “right hand” Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and the arts, and her “left hand” remained the dark goddess Ceres. The main attribute of this goddess is a veil, a diadem, a peacock and a cuckoo. In the physical order, it personifies moisture, or rather the humidity of the air, and Iris, the personification of the rainbow, is considered its servant. The month of June was named after Juno.

Minerva was also an Italic goddess adopted by the Etruscans; in Rome she became the patroness of crafts. Minerva(Latin Minerva), corresponding to the Greek Pallas Athena, is the 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, in ancient times, Minerva was considered a lightning-fast and warlike goddess, as indicated by the gladiatorial games during the main holiday in honor of her Quinquatrus. Hint of attitude Minerva to the war can be seen in those gifts and dedications that were made by Roman generals in her honor after some brilliant victory. So, L. Emilius Pavel Having completed the conquest of Macedonia, he burned part of the booty in honor of Minerva; Pompey, after his triumph, built a temple for her on the Campus Martius; Octavian Augustus did the same after his victory at Actium. But mainly the Roman Minerva was revered as the patroness and partly inventor of crafts and arts. She patronizes woolsmiths, shoemakers, doctors, teachers, sculptors, poets and especially musicians; she mentors, teaches and guides women in all their work.

Borrowings from the cycle of religious ideas of neighboring tribes begin quite early. One of the first to be revered was the Latin goddess Tsaana- patroness of women, goddess of the moon, as well as annually born vegetation.

Later, a temple was built on the Aventine under Servius Tullius Diana. In Rome, the cult of Diana was considered “foreign” and not widespread in patrician circles, but was popular among slaves who had immunity in the temples of Diana. The anniversary of the founding of the temple was considered a holiday for slaves.

Diamna(lat. Diana, perhaps the same Indo-European root as deva, div, Zeus, lat. deus "god") in Roman mythology - the 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.” The temple of Diana on the Aventine is associated with a legend about an extraordinary cow, the owner of which was predicted that whoever sacrificed it to Diana in this temple would receive power over Italy. King Servius Tullius, having learned about this, took possession of the cow by cunning, sacrificed it and attached the horns to the wall of the temple.

Another Latin goddess began to be revered relatively late - Venus- the patroness of gardens and vegetable gardens and at the same time the deity of the abundance and prosperity of nature. Venemra(lat. venus, genus. P. veneris“love”) in Roman mythology was 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. The cult of Venus was founded in Ardea and Lavinia (Lazio region). August 18, 293 BC e. The very first known temple of Venus was built, and the Vinalia Rustica festival began to be celebrated on August 18. April 23, 215 BC e. The Temple of Venus was built on the Capitol to commemorate the defeat at the Battle of Lake Trasimene in the Second Punic War.

Along with the Capitoline Trinity, the veneration of other deities passed on to the Romans from the Etruscans. Some of them were initially patrons of individual Etruscan families, then acquired national significance. For example, Saturn initially revered in the Etruscan clan of Satriev, then received general recognition. Among the Romans he was revered as the deity of crops, his name being associated with the Latin word sator- sower. He was the first to give food to people and originally ruled the world; his time was a golden age for people. At the festival of Saturnalia, everyone became equal: there were no masters, no servants, no slaves.

Vulcan was first revered by the Etruscan clan Velcha-Volca. In Rome, he was the deity of fire, and then the patron of blacksmithing. Volcano(lat. Vulcanus), god of fire and patron of blacksmithing in ancient Roman mythology. The cult of Vulcan was accompanied by human sacrifices. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno. His wives were Maya (Maiesta) and Venus. He made weapons and armor for gods and heroes. His forge was located in the volcano Etna (Sicily). He created golden women to help himself. He created lightning for Jupiter. According to myth, one day an angry Jupiter threw him out of heaven. Vulkan broke both legs and limped. In ancient Greek mythology, he corresponds to the god Hephaestus.

But already in the early era they influenced the Romans and Greek religious ideas. They were borrowed from the Greek cities of Campania. Greek ideas about certain deities were combined with Latin names. Ceres(Ceres - food, fruit) was associated with Greek Demeter and turned into the goddess of the plant kingdom, and also into the goddess of the dead. Tseremra(lat. Cerзs, b. n. Cereris) - ancient Roman goddess, second daughter of Saturn and Rhea. 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- patroness of the harvest). The myth of Demeter/Ceres and the abduction of Persephone/Proserpina formed the basis of the Eleusinian Mysteries, widespread on the Mediterranean coast for more than 2000 years - the Latin itself “ caerimonia" = "ceremony» goes back to lat. Cerçs Mater. The mother goddess was looking for her kidnapped daughter, and therefore could not fully fulfill her function of “giving food and life to humanity.” From Demeter's sadness, nature withered away. In the end, fearing that life on Earth might end, Jupiter ordered Pluto to return Proserpina from the dungeon to her mother Demeter for six months: then spring begins and nature blossoms, and with the departure of Proserpina, Demeter becomes sad, autumn comes and nature fades . This fertility goddess could not bear the sight of a hungry child. Ceres cared for orphaned or abandoned children.

Greek god of winemaking, wine and fun Dionysus became known as Liber, and the Greek Kore, daughter of Demeter, became Libera. The Trinity: Ceres, Liber and Libera were venerated according to the Greek model and were plebeian deities, while the temples of the Capitoline Trinity and Vesta were patrician religious centers.

The veneration of Apollo passed from the Greeks to Rome. Apollo Believed to have dominion over plague, light, healing, colonists, medicine, archery, poetry, prophecy, dance, intelligence, shamans, and was the protector of herds and flocks. Apollo had famous oracles in Crete and others famous in Clarus and Branchidae. Apollo is known as the leader of the muses and the director of their choir. His attributes include: swans, wolves, dolphins, arches, laurel, cithara (or lyre) and plectrum. The sacrificial tripod is another attribute representing his prophetic powers. The Python Games were held in his honor every four years in Delphi. Odes were the name given to hymns sung to Apollo. The most common signs of Apollo were the lyre and the bow; the tripod was dedicated to him as the god of prophecy. The swan and grasshopper symbolize music and song; the hawk, crow, raven and snake symbolize his functions as the god of prophecy. The main festivals held in honor of Apollo were Carneia, Daphnephoria, Delia, Hyacinthia, Pyanepsia, Pythia and Thargelia.

The veneration of Hermes (in Rome - Mercury) also passed down from the Greeks.

Mercury(Mercurius, Mircurius, Mirquurius) - in ancient Roman mythology, the patron god of trade. His attributes include a caduceus staff, a winged helmet and sandals, and often a money pouch. His cult became widespread only when Rome established trade relations with neighboring peoples, that is, during the Tarquinian era, to which the first trade treaty between Carthage and Rome dates back to. The emergence of Greek colonies in southern Italy and the spread of Greek industry and trade brought new religious ideas to the Romans, which the Romans used to symbolically designate their religious concepts. Mercury was officially accepted as one of the Italic gods in 495 BC. e., after a three-year famine, when, simultaneously with the introduction of the cult of Mercury, the cults of Saturn, the giver of bread, and Ceres were introduced. The temple in honor of Mercury was consecrated on the Ides of May 495 BC. e.; At the same time, the grain issue (annona) was regulated and a class of merchants was established, called mercatores or mercuriales. Over time, from the god of bread, Mercury became the god of trade in general, the god of retail sales, of all shopkeepers and peddlers. On the Ides of May, merchants made sacrifices to Mercury and his mother May, trying to appease the deity of cunning and deception that accompanied every trade transaction. Not far from the Kapensky Gate there was a source dedicated to Mercury. On this day, merchants drew water from it, immersed laurel branches in it and, with appropriate prayers, sprinkled it on their heads and goods, as if washing away the guilt of the deception committed from themselves and their goods. The symbol of the peaceful intentions of God was the caduceus. Later, along with trade relations, the cult of Mercury spread throughout Italy and the provinces, especially in Gaul and Germany, where many of his images are found.

Also from the ancient Greeks came the cult of the god Poseidon (in Ancient Rome - Neptune). Neptumn(lat. Neptunus) - in ancient Roman mythology, the god of seas and streams. One of the oldest Roman gods. The goddess Salacia (Thetis, Amphitrite) was considered the wife of Neptune. The holiday is associated with Neptune neptunalia, which was celebrated on July 23. The holiday was celebrated to prevent drought. During this festival, huts were built from leaves. Marine Neptune was revered by people associated with the sea or going on a sea voyage. Neptune is depicted on the coat of arms of the city of Veliky Ustyug (the confluence of rivers into the Northern Dvina).