Greek and Roman Deities in Ancient Times

Greek and Roman Deities

In ancient times traditions, histories and other elements of society were passed down by the way of stories told from one generation to another. Ancient Greek culture predates Roman culture. As the two cultures developed there was a certain degree of interaction between the peoples. The myths of these two cultures reflected many of the ethical issues that were important in that time. It is not surprising considering their close geographic proximity that there was a certain degree of mixing of cultures and consequently mythology as well. This research will explore the similarities and differences between Green and Roman deities.

The first ancient Greek writings date to around 600 BC. However, the oratory tradition of the myths dates from a much earlier time. Greek mythology centered on the idea that a group of immortals were responsible for the creation of the world as it is today. Many of the traditions center on the creation of the earth, which resulted from the interactions and conflicts between these immortal creatures. Greek mythology centered on the idea that Mt. Olympus was the center of the universe and that this is where the immortals lived. The immortals seldom interacted with mortals.

Roman mythology was based primarily on the various beliefs and rituals associated with a very ancient religion. The Roman Empire eventually covered a vast area. The Romans were exposed to many other cultures and belief systems. Inevitably these belief systems found their way into Roman religion and mythology. The Roman deities are based on a set of ancient deities largely tied to the cycles associated with agriculture. Romans worshipped these deities in a cyclical fashion, each god or goddess associated with a certain ritual and certain type of agricultural activity.

The Roman deities were a part of every day life and were thought to interact with humans on a regular basis. Their worship acted as a type of calendar to keep track of the seasons. This is a key difference between Greek and Roman deities. Roman deities were a part of everyday life and ritual. Whereas Greek deities seldom interacted in the human realm and were there actions had little to do with daily activities.

There are many equivalent gods and goddesses in Greek and Roman Culture. The names are different, but the purpose of he characters is the same. For instance the Greek Goddess Aphrodite is essentially equivalent to the Roman Goddess Venus. Both represent love and feminine qualities. Roman deities were considered to be a personification of a quality or something in the natural world. For instance the Roman God Vesta was the equivalent of the Greek God Hesta. Vesta, the guardian of the domestic hearth and was the personification of the ceremonial flame. Hesta had no earthly personification or symbol.

Virgil wrote the Aeneid in the early Roman period. Virgil wrote the Aeneid based on the Greek Gods and Goddesses. However, he wrote characters that would appeal to the Roman social structure and ideology. He essentially Romanized the Greek deities. His works were based on the Greek writer Homer, who portrayed Zeus and Hera as petty complainers. The Roman ideals would not allow for a noble complainer, therefore Virgil transformed Zeus and Hera into heroic Jupiter and an angry God Juno, who struck fear in the hearts of men.

The Greeks and Roman deities have many similarities in function. This is not surprising as the Roman deities are based on early Greek writings. However, the similarities are only superficial and many of the underlying qualities and characteristics of the deities are different. Roman ideals differed significantly from Greek ideals and this is reflected in the individual action and personalities of seemingly equivalent entities. Apollo is a perfect example of this principle. In Greek mythology Apollo is associated with a mythical fight with a giant serpent at Delphi, which is the origin of the oracle at Delphi. Apollo was also known as the god of light, the god of truth, who can not speak a lie. These concepts are abstract in nature. Apollo in the Roman tradition has a more practical and earthly position. In the Roman tradition, Apollo had a more earthly and practical task, it was his job to harness the chariot to the four horses and drive the sun across the sky. This example is one of the best examples of the differences between Greek and Roman deities.