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Roman Mythology
Gods & Goddesses
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
By: Alicia Hornish
Roman Gods and Goddesses
Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn
Mars, God of War
We will discover some of the major mythological characters of
ancient Roman society
Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_rome/gods.htm
A quick reminder before we
begin…
• Rome is the capital of Italy
• Italy is a boot shaped country located in southern
Europe
• The Roman Republic and Roman Empire existed
from 753 B.C. to A.D. 500
Source: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link
=/mythology/roman_family_tree.html&cdp=/windows3.html&frp=/windows3.html
Major Roman Gods
● Jupiter
● Cupid
● Neptune
● Mercury
● Apollo
● Pluto
Major Roman Goddesses
~ Juno
~ Venus
~ Diana
~ Vesta
~ Minerva
Ancient Roman Religion
● Romans built temples in public and kept shrines in their homes to
certain gods and goddesses.
●Especially important goddesses was Vesta; most Roman homes paid
homage to her as she protected the hearth.
● Janus, god of beginning and end, was celebrated at the beginning of
each year, as well as the start of each month. The month of January
is named after him. He is depicted with a face that looks both
forward and backward:
Source: http://dougsmith.ancients.info/gods.html
Source: http://www.roman-empire.net/tours/rome/temple-saturn.html
For discussion:
Do you see similar religious devotion in our contemporary society?
Does the concept of Romans worshipping gods and goddesses seem so
foreign?