Roman Religion
• Before Christianity, the Romans prayed to
hundreds of different gods. Everyone
made sacrifices in the temple or their
home to keep the gods happy. Each god
looked after one aspect of people’s lives.
• They adopted many of the Greek Gods
and Goddesses, and based their beliefs
on a series of myths
• Other gods important in the home were
the family spirits (lares) and domestic
spirits (penates).
• The Lararium altar is the sacred place of
the home where offerings and prayers
were made to the gods everyday.
• The main Lararium altar was usually in
the Atrium -front reception room, near
the front door or located near the hearth.
Jupiter
Roman Name: Jupiter
Greek Name: Zeus
Domain: Supreme god of
Roman pantheon; god of
thunder and sky
Characteristics: Short
temper, many affairs,
feared his wife (Juno)
above all
Symbols: Eagle,
thunderbolt, bull, oak
Juno
Roman Name: Juno
Greek Name: Hera
Domain: Queen of the
Gods, goddess of
women and marriage
Characteristics:
Jealousy of husband,
anger and revenge
Symbols: Peacock, cow
Neptune
Roman Name: Neptune
Greek Name: Poseidon
Domain: God of the sea
and earthquakes
Characteristics:
Terrifying to sailors,
powerful, attractive,
always moving
Symbols: Trident,
dolphins, horses
Minerva
Roman Name: Minerva
Greek Name: Athena
Domain: Goddess of
wisdom, warfare,
medicine and crafts
Characteristics: Born of
Jupiter’s brain and his
favorite daughter, wise
Symbols: Owl
Mars
Roman Name: Mars
Greek Name: Ares
Domain: God of war and
bloodshed
Characteristics:
Handsome, strong,
arrogant, troublesome,
avoided by other deities
Symbols: Vulture,
burning torch, spear and
shield
Venus
Roman Name: Venus
Greek Name: Aphrodite
Domain: Goddess of
love and beauty
Characteristics: Could
be kind but also harsh,
vain, caused havoc if
angered
Symbols: doves,
sparrows, swans
Apollo
Roman Name: Apollo
Greek Name: Apollo
Domain: God of music,
sun, truth, prophecy and
arts
Characteristics: Twin to
Diana, protective of
mother Latona, gentle
and warm, flew sun
across the sky
Symbols: Lyre, bow and
arrow, sun, laurels
Diana
Roman Name: Diana
Greek Name: Artemis
Domain: Goddess of
the moon, hunting,
virginity
Characteristics: Twin
to Apollo, cold and
pitiless
Symbols: Bow and
arrow, cypress tree,
deer
Vesta
Roman Name: Vesta
Greek Name: Hestia
Domain: Goddess of
hearth, home and
family
Characteristics:
Guardian of women,
watched over domestic
tasks, Vestal Virgins
guarded her flame
Symbols: Sacred flame,
plain wooden throne
Mercury
Roman Name: Mercury
Greek Name: Hermes
Domain: Messenger
God of commerce,
athletes and travelers
Characteristics:
Mischievous, quick and
clever, loyal, good
negotiator
Symbols: Winged
sandals and hat,
caduceus
Vulcan
Roman Name: Vulcan
Greek Name: Hephaestus
Domain: God of fire,
volcanoes, blacksmiths and
craftsmen
Characteristics: Created
Jupiter’s thunderbolts, cast
off of Olympus by Juno
because he was born ugly
Symbols: Hammer, anvil,
tongs, fire
Pluto
Roman Name: Pluto
Greek Name: Hades
Domain: God of the
Underworld, judge of
the dead
Characteristics: brother
to Jupiter and Neptune,
married to Proserpina
Symbols: scepter,
Cerebrus