Kids Learning Zone Religion |
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As well as worshiping the state religion and Gods in early Roman times, many emperors were declared Gods on their death adding to those mass numbers who must be worshiped. Many Romans prayed to household Gods 'Numina' these were thought to be spirits that protected each household. There were two categories of 'Numina'. 'Lares' who were contacted at special times like weddings or funerals and 'Penates' who were responsible for the families food and drink provision. Household shrines were common and called 'Lararium' where offerings were left to please the Gods and spirits on a daily basis. 'Genius' was the guardian spirit guide of the family and 'Manes' were the ancestor spirits of the family. When Augustus was in power there were many religious cults where a more personal attitude to a particular God or Goddess was taken. There were about 155 festivals a year under Augustus where priests made sacrifices in temples. The problem with non Roman religions the likes of Christianity and Judaism was that it forbade the worship of the divine emperor Gods they could only worship one God, which was considered a threat to the Roman nation. This resulted in the extensive persecution of the followers of this religion particularly during the reign of Diocletian starting in 303AD until Christianity was excepted by Constantine I between 310-315AD who embraced Christianity and revoked all the anti religious laws made by Diocletian.
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Greek and Roman Mythological Gods |
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Greek Name |
Roman Name |
Description |
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| Zeus |
Jupiter (Jove) |
Lord of the Sky, Gods, and Thunder, also Rain-god, Cloud-gatherer | |
| Hera
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Juno | Protector of Marriage | |
| Poseidon
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Neptune | Ruler of the Sea | |
| Hades, Polydectes
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Pluto | God of the Underworld and Precious Metals | |
| Libitina |
Goddess of the Underworld | ||
| Pallas Athena | Minerva | Goddess of the City, Education/Science, and War | |
| Phoebus Apollo
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Apollo | God of Sun, Truth, Music, Healing | |
| Artemis, Orthia, Phoebe
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Diana | Goddess of Wild Things, Hunter-in-Chief | |
| Aphrodite, Anadyomene
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Venus | Goddess of Love and Beauty | |
| Hermes, Pyschopompus |
Mercury | God of Commerce and Market, Zeus' Messenger | |
| Ares
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Mars | God of War | |
| Enyo |
Bellona | Lesser Goddess of War | |
| Hephaestus
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Vulcan, Mulciber | God of the Forge and Fire, Workman to the immortals | |
| Hestia
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Vesta | Goddess of the Hearth and Home; also Fertility (Greek only) | |
| Priapus |
God of Fertility | ||
| Eros
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Cupid, Amor | God of Love | |
| Juventus |
God of Youth | ||
| Persephone, Kora
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Persipina, Libera | Goddess of Spring [Season], Underworld through Hades | |
| Demeter
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Ceres | Goddess of the Corn, Earth, Harvest | |
| Dionysus, Lycaeus
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Bacchus, Liber | God of the Vine, Wine, Merriment | |
| Pan |
Inuus,Faunus | God of Flocks, Sheep | |
| Selene |
Luna | Goddess of the Moon | |
| Helios |
Sol | God of the Sun | |
| Terminus |
Guardian of Boundaries | ||
| Pales |
Strengthener of Cattle | ||
| Sylvanus |
Helper of Plowmen and Woodcutters | ||
| Saturn |
Protector of the Sowers and the Seed | ||
| Janus |
God of good beginnings | ||
| Eileithyia, Ilithyia
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Lucina | Goddess of Childbirth | |
| Pomona & Vertumnus |
Powers Protecting Orchards and Gardens | ||
| Eos
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Aurora, Mater Matuta | Goddess of the Dawn | |
| Asklepios
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Aesculapius | God of Health and Medicine | |
| Boreas
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Aquilo | North Wind | |
| Zephyr
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Favonius | West Wind | |
| Notus
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Auster | South Wind | |
| Eurus
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Eurus | East Wind | |
| Eris
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Discordia | Goddess of Discord | |
| Maia
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Fauna, Bono Dea | Goddess of Fields, "Good Goddess" | |
| Flora |
Goddess of Flowers | ||
| Hypnos | Somnus |
God of Sleep | |
| Juturna |
Goddess of Springs [Water] | ||
| Nike
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Victoria | Goddess of Victory | |
| Below is an example of a prayer from the cult of Mithras the traditional middle eastern God of the sun worshiped in the armies of Rome | |||
A prayer to the God Mithras Deus lucis, deus saeculorum, deus legionum sol oritur, sol occidit, sol rursus oritor et nos servasti eternali sanguine fuso. Ave Mithras, sol invicte. Translated means God of light, God of the ages, God of the legions The sun thats rises, the sun that sets, the sun that rises again You have saved us too by shedding the blood that grants eternity. Hail Mithras, the sun unconquered |
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