Question
The Romans borrowed many aspects of the Greek Religion and changed them in a way that suited the Roman life. Based on your readings, answer the following questions:
1. Identify any five Greek Gods that found a place in the Roman religion and elaborate upon their traits.
a) The Greek god Aphrodite (Roman counterpart: Venus): In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. She was known as Venus in Roman religion. The word 'aphrodisiac' comes from the name Aphrodite whereas the word ‘venereal' comes from Venus (The British Museum, 2021).
b) The Greek god of battle, Ares (Mars in Roman culture), was renowned for his ruthlessness and bloodlust. Mars, the Roman version of Ares, was a god of war who was
…show more content…
She was known as Ceres in Roman religion and was associated with agriculture, harvest, food, and fertility. Ceres was frequently represented holding crops like barley and wheat, or a cornucopia of produce. They believed that Demeter oversaw the earth's fertility as well as the natural cycle of life and death (The British Museum, 2021).
d) The Greek god Hermes, (the Roman counterpart was Mercury), was a Greek mythological messenger who was linked to trade, exploration, and cleverness. As a messenger of the gods, Mercury, the Roman version of Hermes, was revered as the protector of livestock. traders and travellers. The caduceus, a staff interwoven with two snakes, as well as his winged sandals and helmet, and a tortoise, are all symbols of Hermes (The British Museum,
…show more content…
Jupiter, the Roman version of Zeus, was revered as the deity of the sky and thunder and was also regarded as the monarch of the gods. He was also related to the Roman government and its rules. Zeus is easily recognized by his emblems, the thunderbolt, the eagle, and the oak tree. As a sky god, he is frequently depicted among clouds or perched atop Mount Olympus (The British Museum, 2021).
• Other Greeks gods that found a place in the Roman religion were as follows: Greek god Roman god
a) Cronus -a god of time and harvest (Madeleine, 2019). Saturn/ Latin: Sāturnus [saːˈtʊrnʊs])
A god of time, generation, dissolution, abundance, wealth, agriculture, periodic renewal and liberation (Madeleine, 2019).
b) Hephaestus -a god forge and fire (Madeleine, 2019). Vulcan a god of fire; especially in terms of its destructive elements like conflagrations or volcanoes (Madeleine, 2019)
c) Poseidon - a god of the sea and waters; of horses and earthquakes (Madeleine, 2019). Neptune - a god of waters and seas, who controlled winds and storms (Madeleine, 2019).
2. Do you think that the Roman religion was an exact copy of the Greek religion or did it evolve to become distinct in its own way? Justify with relevant