Rome: Religion

Before Rome conquered other territories (such as Greece), whose culture and religion they assimilated into their own, the Romans had Numina Gods. These were:

• Lares: Gods who guarded the field
• Penates: Gods who guarded the household and food supply
• Janus: God who guarded the doorway
• Vesta: Goddess who guarded the hearth.

The Ius Sacrum was the code of laws regulating worship. These laws were very strict. There were twelve Pontiffs, who were the interpreters of the Ius Sacrum. The Pontifex Maximus was the leader of the Pontiffs. He was elected for life by his colleagues. Also, the Augurs were the interpreters of the signs from the gods. The Roman father, the patriarch had the duties of the pietas, or offering proper sacrifices to the household gods at the right times. Later on, Rome took on the mythology and gods of Greece. To adapt the Greek gods to the Roman society, the gods underwent name translations.

Male Gods		Female Gods
Roman name	Greek name	Roman name	Greek name
Jupiter	Zeus	Juno	Hera
Neptune	Poseidon	Minerva	Athena
Mars	Aries	Diana	Artemis
Pluto	Hades	Venus	Aphrodite
Vulcan	Hephaistos	Vesta	Hestia
Mercury	Hermes	Ceres	Demeter

Apollo, the god of sun, music, and art, was actually named "Apollo" in both the Roman and the Greek religious systems. In the Roman religious system, the three most important gods (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva) were grouped in a triad. It was known as the Capitoline Triad.

Below are descriptions of the chief Roman gods. These were:

• Jupiter was the king of heaven, earth, and gods. He was also the god of justice.
• Neptune was the god of the sea and earthquakes.
• Mars was the god of war.
• Apollo was the god of music and poetry and he was also the sun king.
• Vulcan was the god of blacksmiths.
• Mercury was the god of thieves and Jupiter's messenger.
• Pluto was the god of the underworld.
• Juno was the queen of gods and the protector of women.
• Minerva was the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.
• Diana was the goddess of the hunt.
• Venus was the goddess of love.
• Vesta was the goddess of the hearth.
• Ceres was the goddess of the harvest.

During the Empire form of government, Christianity became the main religion of Rome.