Studying the mythology of the Roman Empire, it was easy to get confused among the names and family ties of numerous deities. The situation became more complicated when the Romans, having conquered another territory, added to their own pantheon of deities worshiped by the conquered people. The new gods were often given Roman names, and it became difficult to figure out which one was which. For example, the supreme Greek and Roman gods Zeus and Jupiter are identified in mythology, but they have different origins and spheres of influence.
Pantheon of the gods in the Roman Empire
Roman troops conquered many countries, including Greece. But unlike other peoples, the Greeks were able to conquer their invaders on a cultural level. First of all, the religion of the Romans was subjected to Hellenistic influence.
Over time, the Greek deities were combined with the Roman ones and renamed. So, Zeus the Thunderer became the supreme god of the Romans named Jupiter.
Ancient mythology mentions that with the development of the cult of this deity, more and more "duties" were attributed to him. Like the Greeks, the Romans have a wifeJupiter was his own sister - the goddess of motherhood and marriage, Juno (Hera). From this marriage, the gods Mars (father of the founders of Rome, the twins Romulus and Remus) and Vulcan (Hephaestus) were born.
Jupiter had god brothers Pluto (Hades), Neptune (Poseidon) and sister goddesses Cecera (Demeter, gave birth to his daughter Proserpina), Vesta (Hestia). Despite their equal origin, these gods were subordinate to Jupiter. There were also a whole host of other smaller deities like Stones (Muses), Graces (Kharites), Bacchantes (Maenads), Fauns and others.
The supreme deity of the ancient Greeks - Zeus
In Greek mythology, Zeus the Thunderer was the supreme deity.
His father was the powerful titan Kronos and his own sister Rhea. The Titan was afraid that one of the offspring would overthrow him from the throne. Therefore, as soon as Rhea gave birth to a child for him, he swallowed it. However, his third son, Zeus, was saved by his mother, and when he grew up, he rebelled against his father, saving the brothers and sisters he had previously swallowed. Teaming up with the Cyclopes, Hecatoncheirs and some Titans, the children of Kronos overthrew their father and his supporters, taking power over the world into their own hands.
At first, Zeus intended to rule everything himself, but the elder brothers Poseidon and Hades saved by him also had the right to rule. Then, with the help of lots, the god brothers divided the spheres of influence among themselves: Poseidon received the seas and oceans, Hades - the underworld, and Zeus - heaven and earth. Although the sons of Kronos were equal, Zeus was still revered as the supreme deity, although he was sometimes rebelled against.
Even thoughthat Zeus was the strongest among the gods, he was not omniscient and omnipotent. Like people, he depended on fate, was its guardian and executor, but not the ruler. Zeus was revered by the Greeks as the most powerful and noble of the gods. He was usually depicted as a proud, muscular, bearded man. Lightning was an integral attribute of this deity, and the eagle and oak were symbols.
It is generally accepted that earlier Zeus was also revered in India under the name of Dyaus, and later was "borrowed" by the Greeks. At first, Zeus was considered the god of weather and celestial phenomena and did not look like a person at all. However, with the development of mythology, he began to look more like a man, and typical human traits, actions, and pedigree began to be attributed to him.
Roman mythology: Jupiter
The cult of the king of the gods and people of Ancient Rome Jupiter existed among the Latins.
It is believed that originally it was a cult of the Etruscan god Tin. It was later renamed Jupiter. Unfortunately, there is practically no information about his cult at the dawn of the Roman Empire, but it is reliably known that this deity had no parents. As the empire developed, so did its culture and mythology. Jupiter began to be identified with the Greek Zeus, and by analogy they created a genealogy for him: the father is the god of agriculture Saturn, whom he overthrew, and the mother is the goddess of the harvest Opa.
Jupiter's responsibilities were much wider than those of Zeus. He not only controlled the weather and ruled over all creatures in the world, but was also the god of war, granting victory. The Romans believed they wereJupiter's "favorites", so they manage to conquer more and more lands. The cult of Jupiter was incredibly widespread in Rome, temples were built to him and generous sacrifices were made. Also at the beginning of autumn, grandiose festivities dedicated to this deity were held every year.
After the arrival of Christianity in the Roman Empire, the cult of Jupiter, like other gods, was abolished. However, for a long time, the Romans secretly revered this deity.
With the advent of the so-called "folk religion", when Christianity began to adjust pagan beliefs and rituals, Jupiter began to be identified with Elijah the prophet.
Differences between the Roman and Greek supreme deities
Much borrowed from Greek Roman mythology. Jupiter, meanwhile, although identified with Zeus, was different from him.
First of all, he is a more strict and serious god. So, for example, Zeus often liked to shirk his duties, and almost most Greek myths speak of his love affairs. Jupiter, although also not averse to having fun with a beautiful goddess or woman, did not devote so much time to this. Instead, Jupiter was engrossed in war. The sphere of influence of the supreme deity included the duties that the Greeks performed the gods of war Pallas Athena and Ares.
If among the Greeks Zeus controlled lightning and thunder, then among the Romans Jupiter was also the deity of both heavenly bodies. In addition, Jupiter was considered the god of the harvest, especially favorable to the vine-growers.
Mythology: Jupiter and Venus are favorite deities of the Romans
If Jupiter was the favorite god of the Romans and theirthe main patron, then Venus is the beloved goddess.
Like most of the original Roman deities, Venus at first was not a person, but a natural phenomenon - the goddess of the coming spring. However, gradually she turned into the patroness of beauty and love. Venus was the daughter of Celus, the sky deity. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was the daughter of the supreme deity Zeus and the rain goddess Dione.
The Romans considered Venus the mother of Aeneas, whose descendants founded Rome. The cult of this goddess gained particular development under Gaius Julius Caesar, who called the goddess the progenitor of the Julius family.
Many centuries have passed since the cult of the Roman and Greek gods was abolished. Today, for most, it is just an interesting tale of ancient deities and mythology. Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto are today associated with the planets of the solar system named after them. And at one time they were powerful deities revered by entire nations.
