ROMAN GODS AND

GODDESSES

Kavindya Rambukwella
A/18/AI/906
GRS 2002
 Content
1. Defining Roman religion and the gods
2. Did divinity give birth to Rome?
3. Dii consentes
4. The Capitoline Triad
5. The Influence of Greek and Middle Eastern culture on
Roman gods and goddesses
6. The influence of Roman gods and goddesses on Roman
life
7. References
 1. Defining Roman Religion and the gods

• With the rise of the Republic and Empire, Roman religion moved with
Greek religion and lately with foreign religious concepts.

• There was a natural distinction between divinity and humans based

on spirituality and faith.

• Romans’ ultimate purpose of worshiping the gods was to protect

peace in the minds of the gods.
 • The Roman empire was a polytheistic
2. Did divinity give civilization.
birth to Rome?
• The Trojan prince Aeneas was considered
as the ancestor who established Rome.

• Mars was the father of the founders of

Rome: Romulus and Remus and according
to mythology, the gods decided Romulus as
chosen king of Rome.
 3. Dii Consentes
(Roman Council of Twelve Gods)
• Although there were numerous deities, the Roman Council of
Gods called ‘Dii Consentes’ comprised of 12 gods as 6 male
gods and 6 female gods. They were Jupiter, Juno, Minerva,
Neptune, Venus, Mars, Apollo, Diana, Vulcan, Vesta, Mercury,
Ceres.

• The three main gods Jupiter, Juno, and, Minerva were known
as ‘the Capitoline Triad.’ This Triad replaced the former Triad
called ‘Archaic Triad’ made of Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus.

• Both Archaic Triad and Capitoline Triad were worshiped at the

Temple of Jupiter (Optimus Maximus) on the Capitoline hill.
 4. The Capitoline Triad
1. Jupiter
• Jupiter is known as the deity of the sky and thunder and the
king of the Roman pantheon.

• According to Roman mythology, he persuaded Romulus and

king Numa Pompilius to set out the fundamentals of Roman
religion.

• Romans believed that Jupiter is the protector of laws and if

they honored Jupiter more, he will favor them the most and
grant them supremacy.
2. Juno
• Juno is the Roman patron goddess and the goddess of
fertility.

• She associated with all the incidents of women’s life

specially in marriage. Since the month of June named
after her name, June became the most pleasurable
month to get married.

• The most noticeable form of the goddess Juno is wearing

warlike attire with a goatskin coat.
3. Minerva
• Minerva is known as the goddess of wisdom, craft, and
trade. Also, she is one of the three virgin goddesses in
Roman mythology who vowed not to marry.

• She is also known as the goddess of defensive war.

Therefore, mythology depicts the goddess Minerva with a
manlike figure, armour, and a sword.

• Usually, she is portrayed with an owl that symbolizes her

wisdom and knowledge.
 5. The Influence of Greek and Middle
Eastern culture on Roman gods and
goddesses

• As a result of acquiring roman territories near Sicily and the

Italian peninsula, both Greek and Roman gods and goddesses
share similar characteristics both in appearance and behavior.

• For instance, according to the three main Capitoline gods, first,

Jupiter is similar to the king of the Greek pantheon, Zeus. Juno
is said to have originated from the wife of Zeus Hera and the
goddess Minerva is similar to the Greek goddess of wisdom,
Athena.
• Considering the other Roman gods and goddesses, Venus
is similar to the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite;
Neptune has originated from the Greek god of the sea,
Poseidon, and the Roman god of war, Mars is equivalent to
the Greek god Ares.

• ‘The concept of Trio’ highlights the influence of Eastern

culture on Roman gods and goddesses. Grouping the gods
and goddesses for worship is unusual in Indo-European
religions.

• People believed that the concept of trio derived from the

Etruscan trio comprised of Tinia, the supreme deity; Uni,
his wife and Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.
 6. The Influence of Roman gods and
goddesses on Roman life
• Romans believed that if the god is angry, some terrible
things would occur to them. In order to keep the gods
happy, they did particular devotions to the gods.

• Romans honored the gods in the temples by blood offerings,

food sacrifices and holding festivals as a return for
protecting them.

• There were shrines called ‘lararium’ in Roman private

houses because they thought the gods and goddesses
protect their home, marriage, and children.
• Since the priests and priestesses were allowed to interpret the signs
from the gods, the Romans considered them as pure beings.

• The Romans tried to keep the gods and goddesses alive by telling
stories and myths.
 7. References
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7549203@N04/6112295992
http://ancientrome.ru/art/artworken/img.htm?id=1215
https://123statues.com/product/zeus-greek-god-jupiter-thunder-statue-figurine-gold-alabas
ter-6-3
/
https://www.desertcart.lk/products/89664838-greek-roman-goddess-athena-minerva-alaba
ster-statue-figure-sculpture-9-65-%
CE%84%CE%84
https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/rome-history/top-10-religion-practices-ancient-rome/
https://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/religious-rites-in-ancient-rome/
https://www.ancientpages.com/2018/01/30/5-different-types-priests-ancient-rome-role-res
ponsibility-explained
/
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41475447
https://www.romecitytour.it/blog/how-did-the-romans-worship-their-gods/
https://
www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/religion/ancient/info/roman-religion/influence-of-greek-and-mi
ddle-eastern-culture

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/capitoline-triad-0011333
https://strictlyrome.com/roman-gods-and-goddesses/
https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Mythology/
https://www.historyhit.com/the-gods-and-goddesses-of-pagan-rome/
https://kidskonnect.com/people/roman-gods/
https://www.romecitytour.it/blog/who-were-the-main-roman-gods/
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/gods-and-goddesses-ancient-rome/
https://www.museumfacts.co.uk/romans-gods/
https://
www.cram.com/essay/Influence-Of-Greek-Mythology-In-Ancient-Rome/P3H3PBP2M5ZW#google_v
ignette
Thank you