Roman Mythology

Gods & Goddesses

By: Alicia HornishTrevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Roman Gods and Goddesses

We will discover some of the major mythological characters of ancient Roman society

Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/gods.htm

Mars, God of War

Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn

A quick reminder before we begin…

• Rome is the capital of Italy

• Italy is a boot shaped country located in southern Europe

• The Roman Republic and Roman Empire existed from 753 B.C. to A.D. 500

Source: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/roman_family_tree.html&cdp=/windows3.html&frp=/windows3.html

Major Roman Gods

● Jupiter ● Cupid

● Neptune

● Mercury

● Apollo

● Pluto

Major Roman Goddesses

~ Juno

~ Venus

~ Diana

~ Vesta

~ Minerva

Ancient Roman Religion

● Romans built temples in public and kept shrines in their homes to certain gods and goddesses.

●Especially important goddesses was Vesta; most Roman homes paid homage to her as she protected the hearth.

● Janus, god of beginning and end, was celebrated at the beginning of each year, as well as the start of each month. The month of January

is named after him. He is depicted with a face that looks both forward and backward:

Source: http://dougsmith.ancients.info/gods.html

Source: http://www.roman-empire.net/tours/rome/temple-saturn.html

For discussion:Do you see similar religious devotion in our contemporary

society? Does the concept of Romans worshipping gods and goddesses

seem so foreign?