19.2 Uniquely Roman Deities and Myths

Roman mythology blends indigenous deities with adopted Greek gods. Unique Roman gods like Janus and Vesta protected thresholds and hearths, while rural deities like Faunus oversaw nature. These gods reflected Roman values and daily life.

Rome's founding myths, including Romulus and Remus, and legendary figures like Aeneas, shaped Roman identity. War deities and early kings further illustrate how mythology intertwined with Roman history and society, reinforcing cultural beliefs and practices.

Early Roman Deities

Guardians of Thresholds and Boundaries

Top images from around the web for Guardians of Thresholds and Boundaries

• 

  Terminus - Viquipèdia, l'enciclopèdia lliure View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Janus - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:N29Janus-u-Bellona.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Terminus - Viquipèdia, l'enciclopèdia lliure View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Janus - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Guardians of Thresholds and Boundaries

• 

  Terminus - Viquipèdia, l'enciclopèdia lliure View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Janus - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:N29Janus-u-Bellona.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Terminus - Viquipèdia, l'enciclopèdia lliure View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Janus - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Janus presided over beginnings and transitions
  • Depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions
  • Symbolized doorways, gates, and passages
  • January named after him, marking the transition to a new year
• Terminus protected boundary markers and property lines
  • Represented by stone pillars or boundary stones
  • Annual festival called Terminalia celebrated on February 23rd
  • Sacrifices performed at boundary stones to honor Terminus

Protectors of Home and Hearth

• Vesta guarded the sacred fire of Rome
  • Represented the hearth and home
  • Tended by the Vestal Virgins in the Temple of Vesta
  • Eternal flame symbolized the continuing prosperity of Rome
• Lares and Penates safeguarded households and families
  • Lares protected specific locations (crossroads, fields, homes)
  • Penates guarded the pantry and food supplies
  • Small shrines called lararia housed figurines of these deities
  • Daily offerings made to ensure continued protection

Rural and Agricultural Deities

• Quirinus associated with the Roman state and military might
  • Originally a Sabine god, later incorporated into Roman pantheon
  • Formed part of the Archaic Triad with Jupiter and Mars
  • Quirinal Hill in Rome named after him
• Faunus presided over forests, fields, and animal husbandry
  • Often depicted with goat-like features (horns, hooves)
  • Associated with prophecy and divination
  • Lupercalia festival celebrated in his honor (February 15th)
  • Later identified with the Greek god Pan

Roman War and Mythical Figures

Deities of War and Combat

• Bellona personified war and military prowess
  • Sister or wife of Mars, the Roman god of war
  • Temple located in the Campus Martius, used for war councils
  • Priests of Bellona (Bellonarii) practiced ritual bloodletting
  • Symbolized by a sword, whip, torch, or shield

Legendary Founders of Rome

• Romulus and Remus featured in Rome's foundation myth
  • Twin brothers suckled by a she-wolf after being abandoned
  • Romulus founded Rome in 753 BCE on the Palatine Hill
  • Killed Remus in a dispute over the city's boundaries
  • Romulus later deified as the god Quirinus
• Aeneas considered the mythical ancestor of the Roman people
  • Trojan hero who fled the fall of Troy
  • Son of Venus and the mortal Anchises
  • Journey detailed in Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid
  • Established a settlement in Latium, precursor to Rome

Early Roman Kings and Religious Reformers

• Numa Pompilius served as the second king of Rome
  • Succeeded Romulus and reigned from 715-673 BCE
  • Known for religious and legal reforms
  • Established many Roman religious institutions and practices
  • Credited with creating the office of Pontifex Maximus
  • Supposedly received divine guidance from the nymph Egeria