Popular Roman religion was similar to the ancient Greek religion, both of which were polytheistic. The gods were portrayed in countless statues as superhuman figures.

The great Roman god Jupiter (Jove) can be equated with the great Greek god Zeus, father of twelve gods, representing various powers of nature, and associated with the sacred mountain of Greece, Mount Olympus. The great Roman goddess Juno can be equated with the great Greek goddess Hera, the last wife of Zeus. Jupiter was the sky-god and the days of the full moon were sacred to him.

 

tha roman god jupiter 

He was associated with rain and thunder and temples were built to him where lightning had struck. Jupiter was thought of as the protective deity of the Roman people and was also the guardian of public morality, oaths being taken in his name. The consuls of the republic took office on a day dedicated to Jupiter. Juno was both wife and sister to Jupiter and was thought of as the special protector of women. Women prayed to her and she protected marriage. She was thought of as the moon goddess as the moon was supposed to exert an influence on the sexual life of women; she was worshipped on the days of the full moon.

Amongst the Roman gods and goddesses, we may mention Mars, Janus, Vulcan, Saturn, Mercury, Vesta and the Lares and Penates. The worship of Mithras, followed by soldiers, was derived from Persia. Its rites were kept secret from others and involved feats of endurance and the sacrifice of bulls.

 

roman gods
Mars was the next in importance to Jupiter, and was the god of war.

Janus was the god of beginnings-the first hour of the day, the first day of the month and the first month of the year. Vulcan was the god of fire and his shrines were most numerous in the areas of Italy where there were volcanoes. Saturn was associated with farming and agriculture and his annual festival, the Saturnalia, was in December when the winter sowing of seed for the next year's crops took place. Mercury was worshipped by Romans as the god of trade and prosperity.

Vesta was the goddess of the domestic hearth and cooking fire. In each Roman home a small altar might be found, dedicated to the 'household gods', the Lares and Penates, who protected the welfare of the family and averted hunger.

The Romans tolerated the; religions of other peoples in their empire.

Roman religion eventually disappeared from the world but several small reminders that it once existed are with us today in the names of the months of March and January and in the name Saturday. March took its name from Mars, January from Janus, and Saturday from Saturn.