Transcript Roman Religion and Mythology - Options

Roman Religion and
Mythology
Remus and Romulus
• Twin brothers, sons of a
priestess named Rhea
and Mars (god of war)
• Their grandfather was
afraid that they would
overpower him so he
ordered them killed along
with Rhea
• Servant who was
supposed to kill them
instead placed them in a
basket and floated it
down the Tiber River
The Twins’ Journey
• River god Tiberinus
protected the twins and
guided their basket safely
down the river to a swamp
• The twins were then raised
by a wolf
• One day a shepherd
discovered them, took them
home, and raised them
• As they grew up, it became
clear the twins were of
noble blood
The Birth of Rome
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Remus and Romulus were very
popular and decided to found their
own city, but they could not decide
where to locate the city
They decided to let the gods settle
the dispute by sending a sign in
the form of a vulture (bird sacred
to Mars)
Remus saw six vultures but
Romulus saw 12, so Romulus
declared himself the winner and
began building a wall for his city
Remus tried to stop him and a
fight broke out – Romulus killed
Remus in the struggle
Romulus continued building the
wall and founded Rome, named
after himself
Roman Gods
• Reflect both their
agricultural heritage and
their warring history
• Gods were connected to
daily activities and
important events in the
agricultural calendar
• After the conquest of
Greece the Romans
adopted many Greek
gods as well as their
origin myth
Janus
• God of gates, doors
and doorways,
beginnings and
endings
• Connected to January
and janitors
• Represents
transitions
Vesta
• Goddess of Hearth
and home
• Carries a torch
• Symbolized in
temples by a sacred
fire
Lares
• Household gods that
protected the home
and the family
• Also were gods of
country, sea, and
cities
• Every Roman home
had a statue
representing Lares
placed high on the
wall
Saturn
• God of agriculture and
harvest
• “Sower of the seed”
• Later blended with
Greek god Cronus
• Represents limitations
on power and control
• Also rules old age and
the “golden years”
Mars
• God of military and
warriors, protector of
cattle, fields, and
boundaries
• Major religious festival is
in March, which is named
for him
• Associated with Tuesday
• Patron god of city of
Rome
The Pantheon
• Temple to all of the Roman gods
• Architectural wonder of ancient Rome
• Over 14 stories tall