God of cleanliness and order among the Romans. Myths and Legends * Gods of Ancient Greece and Rome

There were many Roman gods. So many. In fact, the Roman pantheon of gods included the pantheon of gods of almost all peoples of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. As the Roman Empire grew, the Romans devoured not only territories, but also their heavenly patrons.

Unlike the Greeks, the Romans did not have a mythological storytelling story. However, they had a developed system of rituals and a rich set of legends about the founding of Rome. Of course, the basis of the Roman gods was either borrowed from the Greeks, or their gods and goddesses were tailored to the Greek cults. To this pantheon of gods were added nearby local gods and goddesses. Over time, the original religion of the ancient Romans was changed by the addition of numerous and often conflicting gods and traditions.

But the Romans should not be considered liberals in relation to religion and cults. In the Roman Empire, all gods could be worshiped, but the gods of Rome were in charge. In pagan culture, victory on the battlefield was won not only by the armies, but by the patron gods of this army. Thus, the gods of other cultures, as well as their worshipers, had to recognize the supremacy of the gods of the victorious tribe. Usually the pagans, having defeated and conquered their enemies, destroyed their temples and sanctuary. The gods are defeated, why should they pray. The Romans corrected this logic. Pray to your gods-losers, but accept our gods as supreme. If these peoples did not recognize the gods of Rome, then the Romans extremely brutally suppressed such currents.

An exception was made only for the Jews. They were allowed to pray to the one God of Abraham, not recognizing the gods of Rome. But the Jews have always lived in a special way and the Romans avoided communication with this people. You could understand them. The Romans believed that their guests had to come with gifts not only for the owners of the house, but also for the genius of the house, i.e. his patron. Those who came to the house without bringing a gift to the patron deity could incur the genius's wrath on the owner and his family. Well, on the part of the Jews, it is clear that it was a sin against God alone to make a sacrifice to some kind of brownie. Naturally, the same logic extended to the entire empire. Religious misunderstandings between cultures have certainly led to mutual fear and hatred. Therefore, the foundations of European anti-Semitism lie long before the advent of Christianity.

Speaking of Christians. The same logic of anti-Judaism has befallen Christians. But if the Jews did not want to especially communicate with the outside world, then the Christians of course carried their sermon to all the peoples of the empire and therefore undermined all the religious foundations of society. This explains the rare but very cruel persecutions against Christians.

Lineage of Greek and Roman gods

The main deities of ancient Rome

Triads of ancient Roman gods
Archaic Triad of ancient Roman gods: Jupiter, Mars, Quirinus.
Capitoline Triad of ancient Roman gods: Jupiter, Juno, Minerva
Plebeian or Aventist triad of ancient Roman gods: Ceres, Lieber, Libera, dated 493 BC.

Lesser Roman Gods

Abundantia, the divine personification of abundance and prosperity. also known as Abundia, Gabona, Fulla - the ancient Roman goddess of abundance, a companion of Ceres. She was portrayed as a woman pouring gold from a cornucopia. Her image was captured only on coins. No altars or temples were erected in honor of Abundantia. She was one of the incarnations of virtues in religious propaganda, which forced the emperor to serve as the guarantor of the conditions of the "golden age". Thus, Abundantia appears in art, cult and literature, but does not have mythology as such. It may have survived in one form or another in Roman Gaul and medieval France.

Akka Larentia, a mythical woman, later an ancient Roman goddess, in the pantheon of Roman mythology. It is believed that she is the first priestess of the goddess Tellus, the wife of the shepherd Faustula, the nurse of Romulus and Remus, the mother of twelve sons, of whom Romulus formed the priestly college of the Arval brothers. This religious group annually made a cleansing tour of the territory of Rome, accompanied by sacrifices and a three-day ritual holiday. Larentalia was celebrated on December 23rd.

Akis, god of the Akis river in Sicily. The tale of the love between Akis and the sea nymph Galatea appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses. There, the jealous Cyclops Polyphemus, who also loves Galatea, bumped into them while they were in each other's arms. He killed his opponent with a boulder. His destructive passion leads nowhere. Galatea transforms Akis into a river spirit, as immortal as she is. This episode became the subject of poems, operas, paintings, and statues during the Renaissance and beyond.

Aion(Latin: Aeon), Hellenistic - the Greek god of cyclic or unlimited time in ancient Greek mythology and theocosmogony. This deity is the personification of eternity.

Aiy Lokutsy, the divine voice that warned the Romans of the imminent Gallic invasion. According to Roman mythology, in 364 from the founding of Rome, the goros warned the Romans. He called to the inhabitants of Rome on one of the Roman streets, Gia nova. But they did not listen to the voice. The Senones, one of the Gali tribes, devastated the city. Offended by inattention to the deity, a temple was erected on that street.

Alernus or Elernus(possibly Helernus), an archaic ancient Roman god whose sacred grove (lucus) was near the Tiber River. The deity is mentioned only by Ovid. The grove was the birthplace of the nymph Kranea, and, despite the relative obscurity of the god, the state priests performed sacred rites (sacra) there during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Alernus may have been a chthonic god if the black bull was the correct sacrificial offering to him, since dark sacrifices were offered to the gods of the underworld. Dumézil wanted to make him the bean god.

Ananke, "Inevitability, fate, need, necessity" - in ancient Greek mythology, the deity of necessity, inevitability, personification of fate, fate and predetermination from above. She was revered in the Orphic beliefs. Ananka is close to Adrastea and Dike.

Anzherona, Roman goddess who freed people from pain and sorrow.

Angitia, Roman goddess associated with snakes and Medea.

Anna Perenna, an early Roman goddess of the "circle of the year", her feast day was celebrated on 15 March.
Annona, the divine personification of the grain delivery to Rome.
Anteworth, Roman goddess of the future and one of the Camenae; also called Porrima.
Ahrimanius, a little known god, part of the cult of Mithra.
Aura, often used in the plural Aura, "Breeze."
Aurora, Roman goddess of dawn.
Averrunck, Roman god, merciful to avert calamity.

Bellona or Duellona, ​​Roman goddess of war.
Bona Di, "female goddess" with functions related to fertility, healing and chastity.
Bonus Eventus, Eventus, originally the Roman god of the harvest, and later the divine personification of Good Result.
Bubona, Roman goddess of cattle.

Genius, faithful spirit or divine patron of each person
Graces or Charites (among the Greeks) are three goddesses of fun and joy of life, the personification of grace and attractiveness.

Hermaphroditus, an androgynous Greek god whose mythology was imported into Latin literature.
Gonos, the divine personification of honor.
Mountain, wife of Quirin.

Dea Dia, Roman goddess of growth.
Dea Tacitus ("Silent Goddess"), Roman goddess of the dead; later equated to the earthly goddess Larente.
Decimus, one of the three Parcs, or goddesses of Fate, in ancient Roman mythology. She measures how long the thread of the life of each individual person will be with the help of her staff. She is also the goddess of childbirth. In ancient Greek mythology, it corresponds to moira Lachesis. Together with Nona and Morta, they control the metaphorical thread of life.
Devera or Deverra, the Roman goddess who ruled with brooms used to cleanse temples in preparation for various services, sacrifices and celebrations; she protected midwives and women in labor.
Diana, Roman goddess of the hunt, moon, virginity and childbirth, twin sister of Apollo and one of the Council of the Gods.
Diana Nemorensis, local version of Diana. Roman equivalent of Artemis (Greek goddess)
Discordia, the personification of discord and strife. Roman equivalent of Eris (Greek goddess)
Dyus Phidias, the Roman god of oaths, is associated with Jupiter.
Di inferi, a Roman deity associated with death and the underworld.
Discipline, personification of the discipline.
Dist Pater or Dispater was the Roman god of the underworld, later belonging to Pluto or Hades. Initially, he was the chthonic god of wealth, fertile agricultural land and underground mineral wealth, later he was equated with the Roman deities Pluto and Orcus, becoming the deity of the underworld.

Indigi, deified by Aeneas.
Intercidona, minor Roman goddess of childbirth; designed to keep evil spirits from the child; symbolized by a wood splitter.
Inuus, Roman god of fertility and sexual intercourse, protector of livestock.
Invidia, Roman goddess of envy and wrongdoing.

Kaka, the archaic Roman goddess of fire and "proto-Vesta"; sister of Kakusa.
Cacus, originally an ancient god of fire, later considered a giant.
Stones, Roman goddesses with various attributes, including the patroness of fresh water, prophecy, and childbirth. There were four of them: Carmenta, Egeria, Anteworth and Postworth.
Cardea, the ancient Roman goddess of door locks (kryuchev - lat. Cardines) and the keeper of the house. Her holiday was June 1, this date was determined by Junius Brutus, one of the first consuls of Rome and one of the founders of the Roman republic after the expulsion of the Roman kings. Kardea identified by Ovid with Karna (below)
Carmenta, Roman goddess of childbirth and prophecy, and appointed a fiery minor. Leader Kamen (above).
Carmen, two goddesses of childbirth: Anteworth and Postworth or Porrim, future and past.
Karna, the Roman goddess who kept the heart and other internal organs healthy.
Clementia, Roman goddess of forgiveness and mercy.
Cloacina, the Roman goddess who ruled the sewage system in Rome; identified with Venus.
Concordia, Roman goddess of harmony, understanding and marital harmony.
Consus, a chthonic god who protects the storage of grain.
Kura, the personification of care and concern, which, according to one source, created people from clay.
Cybele - Anatolian mother goddess; she may have had an early Neolithic predecessor whose figurine was found at Catalhöyuk. Several such images have been found. She is the only known goddess of Phrygia and was probably her state deity. Her Phrygian cult was adopted and adapted by the Greek colonists of Asia Minor and spread to mainland Greece and its more distant western colonies around the 6th century BC.

Laras, everyday Roman gods. The Romans built altars in honor of the deities who guard the home and family. Coming to the family, friends were supposed to bring a gift to the laram patrons of the house. An insult to these gods could draw the wrath of the entire family. For Jews and later Christians, offering gifts to such idols was not acceptable. This, of course, led to friction and persecution, which initially led to the emergence of European anti-Semitism, and later to the persecution of Christians.
Laverne, patroness of thieves, crooks and charlatans.
Latona, Roman goddess of light.
Lemurs, the malevolent dead.
Levana, the Roman goddess of the ritual through which fathers accepted newborn children as their own.
Letum, the personification of death.
Lieber, Roman god of male fertility, viticulture and freedom, assimilated with Roman Bacchus and Greek Dionysus.
Libera, the female equivalent of Libera, assimilated with the Roman Proserpine and the Greek Persephone.
Liberalitas, Roman goddess or personification of generosity.
Libertas, Roman goddess or personification of freedom.
Libitina, Roman goddess of death, corpses and burial.
Lua, the Roman goddess to whom the soldiers sacrificed captured weapons, probably the consort of Saturn.
Lucifer, Roman god of the morning star
Lucina, Roman goddess of childbirth, but is often described as an aspect of Juno.
Moon, Roman goddess of the moon.
Lupercus, Roman god of shepherds and wolves; as the god of Lupercalia, his identity is unclear, but sometimes he is identified with the Greek god Pan.
Lymph, often multiple lymphs, is a Roman aquatic deity assimilated to Greek nymphs.

Mana Genita, goddess of child mortality
Mana, the souls of the dead, who came to be regarded as household deities.
Mania, the consort of the Etruscan freshwater god Mantus, and may have been identified with the shadow Mater Larum; not to be confused with Greek manias.
Mantus, Etruscan god of the dead and ruler of the underworld.
Mater Matuta, goddess of dawn and childbirth, patroness of sailors.
Meditrina, the goddess of healing, is introduced to account for the Meditrinalia festival.
Mephitis, goddess and personification of poisonous gases and volcanic fumes.
Mellons or Mellonia, the goddess of the bees and beekeeping.
Mena or Mene, goddess of fertility and menstruation.
Mole, daughter of Mars, probably the goddess of grain grinding.
Coin, minor goddess of memory, equivalent to the Greek Mnemosyne. Also used as an epithet for Juno.
Morse, the personification of death and the Greek equivalent of Thanatos.
Morta, petty goddess of death and one of the Parque (Roman equivalent of Moirey). The thread cutter of life, its Greek equivalent was Atropos.
Murcia or Murtia, a little-known goddess who was associated with myrtle, and in other sources was called the goddess of laziness (both interpretations arising from the false etymologies of her name). Later equated to Venus in the form of Venus of Murcia.
Mutunus Tutunus, phallic god.

Naenia, goddess of funeral lamentation.
Nascio, the personification of the act of birth.
Nemesis, goddess of vengeance (Greek).
Nerio, the ancient goddess of war and the personification of valor. The consort of Mars.
Nevitita, goddess and associated with Consus and Neptune in the Etruscan-Roman zodiac by Martian Capella, but little known.
Nixie, also di nixie, goddess of childbirth.
Nona, an insignificant goddess. Spins the thread of life, its Greek equivalent was Clotho.
Nortia is a Roman goddess taken from the Etruscan pantheon, a goddess of fate from the city of Volsinii, where a nail was driven into the wall of the main temple as part of the New Year's ceremony.
Knox, goddess of the night, derived from the Greek Nyct.

Ops or Opis, goddess of resources or wealth.
Orcus, god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths.

Palatua, a little-known goddess who guarded the Palatine Hill.
Pales, deity of shepherds and cattle.
Park, three destinies.
Pax, goddess of peace; the Greek equivalent of Eiren.
Penates or Di-penates, household gods.
Pikumen, minor god of fertility, agriculture, marriage, babies and children.
Picus, an Italian woodpecker god with divination abilities.
Pietas, goddess of duty; the personification of Roman virtue.
Pillum, the small guardian god, was concerned with protecting babies at birth.
Poena, goddess of punishment.
Pomona, goddess of fruit trees, orchards and orchards.
Porrima, goddess of the future. Also called Antevortra.
Portunus, god of keys, doors and cattle, was assigned a fiery minor.
Postvert or Prorsa Postvert, goddess of childbirth and the past, one of the two Carments.
Priapus, the adopted phallic guardian.
Proserpine, Queen of the Dead and Goddess of the Grain, Roman equivalent of the Greek Persephone.
Providence, goddess of foresight.
Puditzia, goddess and personification of chastity, one of the Roman virtues. Its Greek equivalent was Aydos.

Falacer, was an ancient Italian god. Some historians tend to consider him an epithet of Jupiter, since phalandum, according to Festus, was an Etruscan word meaning "heaven."
Fama, Roman goddess of fame and rumor.
Faskin, a phallic Roman god who protected against invidia (envy) and the evil eye.
Fauna, Roman goddess of prophecy, but possibly the name of other goddesses such as Maya.
Faun, Roman god of the flocks.
Faustitas, the Roman goddess who protected the herd and livestock.
Fevrus or Fevruus, the Roman god of Etruscan origin, after whom the month of February was named. Fevruus, whose name means "purifier," was the god of purification. For the Etruscans, Fevrus was also the god of wealth (money / gold) and death, both associated with the underworld in the same natural way as the more famous Roman god Pluto.
Febris, "Fever", Roman goddess who can cause or prevent fever and malaria.
Fecunditas, the Roman embodiment of fertility.
Felicitas, the personification of good luck and success.
Ferentina, Roman patron goddess of the city of Ferentina, latium, defender of the Latin commonwealth.
Ferunia, Roman goddess associated with the desert, plebeians, freedmen, and freedom in a general sense.
Fidesz, the epitome of loyalty.
Flore, Roman goddess of flowers.
Fornax - In the ancient Roman religion, Fornax was the divine personification of the furnace (fornax). Her feast, Fornakalia, was celebrated on 17 February among the thirty curiae, the most ancient sections of the city, made by Romulus from the original three tribes of Rome. Fornakalia was the second of two festivals associated with the curiae, and the other was Fordicidia on 19 April.
Fontus or Fons, Roman god of wells and springs.
Fortune, Roman goddess of luck.
Foofluns, Roman god of wine, natural growth and health. It was adopted from the Etruscan religion.
Fulgora, the personification of lightning.
Furrina, a Roman goddess whose functions are largely unknown.

Celus, Roman god of the sky before Jupiter.

Ceres, Roman goddess of the harvest and mother of Proserpine and one of the Council of the Gods. The Roman equivalent of Demeter.

Erikyure, a Roman goddess, possibly of Celtic origin, associated with the underworld and identified with Proserpine.
Equitas, the divine personification of justice.
Aesculapius, the Roman equivalent of Asclepius, god of health and medicine.
Eternitas, goddess and personification of eternity.
Egeria, a water nymph or goddess, later considered part of the Kamen.
Empanda or Panda, a Roman goddess whose temple was never closed to those in need.
Epona, Gallo-Roman goddess of horses and horsemanship, commonly regarded as a Celtic deity.
Edesia, the Roman food goddess who presides over banquets.

Justice, Roman goddess of justice
Yuturna, Roman goddess of fountains, wells and springs.
Juventas, Roman goddess of youth.

Janus, the two-faced or two-headed Roman god of the beginning and end, and the god of doors.

Andromeda

Andromeda , in Greek mythology, the daughter of Cassiopeia and the Ethiopian king Kefei. When the mother of Andromeda, proud of her beauty, declared that she was more beautiful than the sea deities Nereids, they complained to the god of the seas Poseidon. God avenged the insult by sending a flood and a terrible sea monster that devoured people to Ethiopia.
According to the oracle's prediction, in order to avoid the death of the kingdom, an atoning sacrifice should have been made: to give Andromeda to be devoured by a monster. The girl was chained to a rock by the sea. There Perseus saw her flying by with the head of the Gorgon Medusa in his hands. He fell in love with Andromeda and received the consent of the girl and her father for marriage in case of victory over the monster. Defeating the dragon Perseus was helped by the severed head of Medusa, whose gaze turned all living things to stone.
In memory of the exploits of Perseus, Athena placed Andromeda in the firmament not far from the constellation Pegasus; the names Kefey (Cepheus) and Cassiopeia are also immortalized in the names of the constellations.