Roman and Greek Gods

Ancient Roman and Greek Gods - The Worship of Many Gods and Goddesses
The religious beliefs of the many ancient civilizations including the Greeks and Romans was based on an extraordinary number of different gods and goddesses. The gods and goddesses of the Ancient World adopted different functions and presided over specific dominions. In each of these ancient cultures there were therefore gods of war, gods of love, gods of the Underworld and gods of the sea. Different divinities and deities encompassed overseeing functions relating to various elements and roles such as fire, the forge and blacksmiths, hunting and hunters, the harvest and agriculture. Many of the Roman gods and goddesses were therefore counterparts of the Greek divinities and deities. Comprehensive facts and information about the ancient Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses with numerous images and pictures which bring the ancient world of classical mythology to life.

The Olympian Gods and Goddessses

Ancient Roman and Greek Gods and Mythology
The Greek and Roman guide provides a glossary of terms and dictionary relating to the Roman and Greek Gods, goddesses, people, places and events that feature in Roman and Greek mythology. Definitions are provided in the dictionary of Greek and Roman Gods and mythology guide. A who's-who of the Greek and Roman names of heroes, villains, goddesses, monsters and mythical creatures in classical Roman and Greek mythology. Chart providing details of the differences, similarities and a comparison between Greek and Roman Gods and mythology. The principle Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses included the famous Greek Olympian gods whose names were Zeus, Athena, Hestia or Dionysus, Apollo, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus and Hermes. The names of their Roman counterparts were Jupiter, Juno, Vesta, Minerva, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Vulcan & Apollo.

Mythology of Roman and Greek Gods Creation Myths
The family of Roman and Greek goddesses, divinities and deities were based on the creation myth (cosmogony) of each religion. A mythical family tree was used to explain how the major Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses of each religion came into being and the nature and origins of the universe. There are facts and information about the mythology of these ancient cultures and details of their creation myths.

Picture of Apollo riding his golden chariot

Mythology & Names of the Greek Gods and Goddesses
The major Greek Gods and goddesses of the pantheon are referred to as the Olympians and according to Ancient Greek Mythology lived on the mythical Mount Olympus where they were entertained by the Nine Muses. The Twelve Olympians gained power in their victory over the Titans in the war of the gods. The Twelve Olympians were led by Zeus who is also known as the king of the Greek divinities and deities. The names of the principle Greek Olympians, were Zeus, Athena, Hestia or Dionysus, Apollo, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus and Hermes. Pluto, also known as Hades, was not generally included among the Olympians because his realm was the underworld. Other important Olympians, notably Eros, Selene, Hebe, Helios and Persephone are occasionally included in ancient depictions of the twelve Olympians.

Greek Gods Genealogy & Family Tree
The Greek Gods Family Tree and Genealogy and the relationships between the different generations of the principle Greek deities can be clarified by this overview of their Genealogy and Family Tree showing the names of the first primeval deities, the names of the Titans and the names of the Olympians:

Greek Family Tree and Genealogy

Mythology & Names of the Roman Gods
When the Romans conquered the Greeks, the Romans assimilated much of the Greek religious culture. Many of the Roman gods and goddesses were therefore the counterparts or equivalents of the Greek divinities and deities. The Romans also adopted the primordial deities from Greek mythology. Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods is sometimes referred to as Jove, and is the counterpart of Zeus. In ancient Rome, the pantheon of 12 major deities were called the 'Dei Consentes' meaning the Council of Gods. The names of the other principle Roman divinities and deities in Roman Mythology were Juno, Neptune, Ceres, Minerva, Bacchus, Apollo, Diana, Mars, Venus, Vulcan and Mercury.

In Roman literature (Latin) the gods and goddesses were depicted as married couples or lovers. The Roman gods and goddesses were paired as follows:

Jupiter and Juno (married)
Neptune and Minerva (married)
Mars and Venus (lovers)
Apollo and Diana (married)
Vulcan and Vesta (married)
Mercury and Ceres (married)

As the Roman Empire expanded important deities from other foreign cultures, like the Ancient Egyptian Gods were also incorporated into the Roman religion.

Families of ancient Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses
The ancient Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses not only looked and dressed like mortals but they also had a family, married and had children. The relationship between the Gods and Goddesses were personified and organized into a 'cosmic family' that was central to the belief system of the Roman and Greek cultures. There are articles containing details of the genealogy of the deities with the Greek gods family tree and the Roman gods family tree and genealogy.

Roman Gods Family Tree and Genealogy

Orders of Roman and Greek Gods
The number of divinities and deities expanded as the religious belief system of the culture developed, eventually resulting in a hierarchical system of divinities and deities in which each was placed in order of rank. The different orders of Roman and Greek Gods in ancient mythology included:

• Primordial Roman and Greek Gods in mythology (supernatural beings of pure elemental power who resided in 'The Chaos')
  • The Titans were a family of large primordial divinities that once battled with the Olympians
• Major, or principle deities in mythology
  • Pantheon refers to the collective major divinities in mythology
  • The Twelve Olympians were the principle deities of the Ancient Greeks
• Minor deities in mythology
  • These were the lesser divinities of Greek and Roman Mythology and legend

The Primordial deities were often imprisoned by the gods and sought to escape their prisons to exact their revenge upon the divinities and their Creation. The Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses of ancient religions created terrible creatures and monsters to do their bidding and these also featured in the stories and legends of these mythical beings and their mythology.

Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses

Ancient Roman and Greek Gods

• The Roman and Greek deities of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome
• Names of the Olympians and Greek Divinities and Deities
• The names of the Roman and Greek deities and goddesses
• Facts and information about the Divinities and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids
• Facts and information with lots of pictures and images