THE ROMAN EMPIRE & ROMAN MYTHOLOGY
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROME Rome, known as 'the eternal city„, is believed to be founded in the year 625 BC. Early Rome was governed by kings, but after only seven of them had ruled, the Romans took power and ruled themselves. They established a council known as the „ Se Senate' which ruled over the roman people who are as the 'Roman an Republ blic ic'. The Roman Republic was a very successful government. It lasted from 510 BC until 23 BC - almost 5000 years. In comparison the United States of America only exist since 1776 - less than 300 years.
JULIUS CAESAR Rome's most famous citizen was no doubt Julius Caesar. He was a Roman politician and general. In the year 49 BC, Caesar conquered Rome and then ruled as a dictator. Julius Caesar, having claimed to be a direct descendent of Aeneas, the son of Venus, was among the first to deify himself in such a manner. His life was ended as he was infamously murdered in the senate in Rome and is the subject of a play by Shakespeare.
ROMAN RELIGION Roman mythology is the combination of the beliefs, the rituals, and the observances of supernatural occurrences by the ancient Romans from early periods until Christianity finally completely replaced it.
ROMAN VS. GREEK MYTHOLOGY Most of the Roman gods and goddesses were a blend of several religious influences. Many of these were introduced via the Greek colonies In some cases the Etruscan or Latin names survived throughout the cultural existence of Rome, but many were adopted so completely that they maintained their names from other cultures. the Greek names remained the choice of the people and the major gods of the system therefore, were known by both.
URANUS & GAIA Uranus was God of the Sky Gaia was Goddess of the Earth They had many children together including giants. They had a violent argument and split up. Ever since the earth and sky have been apart. Uranus was a shadowy figure right at the start of time. Uranus was not worshipped by the Romans, and as such there are no pictures of him .
SATURN ~ GOD OF TIME Son of Gaia and Uranus He is called Old Father Time. Held a sickle or scythe in his left hand and a bundle of wheat in his right The Roman version of Saturn‟s myth is similar to that of Cronus with his children Saturn ruled the Gods before Jupiter. The Roman version of Saturn‟s myth is similar to that of Cronus with his children. Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto were his children. They represent Air, Water and Death , the three things that Time cannot kill.
JUPITER ~ RULER OF THE GODS Son of Saturn, Brother of Neptune & Pluto Jupiter was King of the Gods The eagle was his messenger Jupiter means Father Jove Thunderbolt, thunder & lightening Other gods were terrified of him, although he was a little scared of his wife Juno! Patron God of Rome – his temple was the official place of state business and sacrifices There was a big temple on the Capitol in Rome dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus (which means Jupiter Best and Greatest).
NEPTUNE God of the Sea God of Earthquakes Son of Saturn He rode a dolphin or a horse Carried a trident, which had three prongs. When the sea is rough enough to show white tops to the waves called sea horses. The back half of the seahorse is a fish. (see picture above) He was also the God of Horses and horse-racing.
PLUTO Son of Saturn Brother of Jupiter & Neptune Husband of Proserpine God of Death Ruler of the Underworld Romans were afraid to say Pluto's name because they were afraid he might notice them and they would die.
THE UNDERWORLD When someone died, they travelled down to the Underworld. First, they had to cross the River of the Dead, called the Styx. Everyone was buried with a coin, to pay the ferryman, Then they had to get past Cerberus, a fierce dog with three heads, which would only let the Dead through. Finally they had to come before the Judges of the Dead.
JUNO Mother of Mars & Vulcan Wife of Jupiter Queen of the gods En Englis glish h wor ord “ Junoesque” means a large beautiful woman Goddess of women and marriage. Her bird was the peacock.
CERES Goddess of Earth & Corn Mother of Proserpine, Queen of the Underworld Sister of Jupiter She carried the cornucopia, a horn full of vegetables and fruit. ROMAN N MYTH: Pluto fell in love with Proserpine, and carried her off to the Underworld. Ceres searched everywhere, but couldn't find her. Eventually Ceres refused to let the plants grow any more, and everyone begun to die of hunger. Pluto then admitted he had Proserpine. Proserpine had eaten six seeds from a pomegranate. This means that she could go home, but had to return to her husband for six months every year. When this happens, Ceres stops everything growing, and winter comes.
VESTA ~ GODDESS OF THE HOME Sister of Jupiter Vesta was the center of the Roman home In Roman homes, every day, during a meal, a small cake was thrown on the fire for Vesta. It was good luck if it burnt with a crackle. She was a quiet well-behaved goddess, who didn't join in the arguments and fights of the other gods. She was protector of the sacred flame. The flame was relit every March 1st and had to be kept alight all year. If this flame ever went out, disaster would fall on Rome. The flame was kept alive by the Vestal Virgins, priestesses were chosen to serve for thirty years, and were not allowed to marry.
MARS ~ GOD OF WAR Son of Jupiter and Juno En English lish word: d: Martial means warlike. Father of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Because of this mythological lineage, the Roman people felt as though they were also the children of Mars and he was regarded as their protector. The month March (Martius) is named after him. March was called after Mars because that was when the soldiers started fighting again after winter. He was a god of spring, growth in nature, and fertility, and the protector of cattle.
MARS ~ GOD OF WAR Mars is portrayed as a warrior in full battle armor, wearing a crested helmet and bearing a shield. His sacred animals are the wolf and the woodpecker, and he is accompanied by Fuga and Timor, the personifications of flight and fear Mars held a special place in Roman life because of the importance of military achievement in the Roman Empire who conquered Northern Africa and much of Europe and the Middle East.
MINERVA GODDESS OF WISDOM Daughter of Jupiter Her symbol was the owl. The Roman goddess of wisdom, medicine, the arts, dyeing, science, trade, and war. As Minerva or “ Medica ” she is the patroness of physicians. Minerva is believed to be the inventor of numbers and musical instruments.
MINERVA GODDESS OF WISDOM ROMAN AN MYTH TH: : She had a strange birth. One day, Jupiter had a bad headache. Nothing would cure it. Eventually Vulcan split open Jupiter's head. Out jumped Minerva in amour with shield and spear! ROMAN AN MYTH TH: : Minerva was the goddess of arts and crafts. She was particularly good at weaving. Once a woman called Arachne wove a beautiful picture. Minerva tried to find something wrong with it. When she couldn't, she tore it up and turned Arachne into a spider. The spider still weaves beautiful webs. ROMAN AN MYTH: H: Minerva helped the hero Perseus to kill the gorgon Medusa. Minerva told Perseus to look at Medusa's reflection in a polished shield. That way he could cut the head off without looking directly at the gorgon. He gave the head to Minerva, who put it on her shield, so it would turn her enemies to stone.
VENUS ~ GODDESS OF LOVE Daughter of Jupiter Mother of Cupid Venus was born in the sea and first came to shore at Cyprus, floating on a scallop shell with “For the Fairest" written on a Golden Apple. ROM OMAN AN MYTH: Venus, Juno & Minerva all wanted to be named the most beautiful. They decided to let a mortal man, Paris, judge. They were all so beautiful that he couldn't make his mind up. The Goddess tried to bribe him: Juno said she would make him powerful, Minerva said she would make him wise and Venus offered him Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. He chose Venus and her gift. Unfortunately, Helen was married to someone else, and when Paris carried her off to his home at Troy, her husband came with his allies to get her back. Paris and all his family were killed and Troy was destroyed. Many famous stories were written about Helen of Troy.
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