Roman Gods and Goddesses

The ancient Romans had their own set of powerful gods and goddesses. Many of them were similar to the Greek gods but with different names. Jupiter was king of the gods, just like Zeus. Roman religion was an important part of daily life for hundreds of years.

Greek Gods with Roman Names

The Romans borrowed many ideas from Greek mythology. Zeus became Jupiter, Hera became Juno, and Ares became Mars. Aphrodite became Venus, and Poseidon became Neptune. The stories were similar, but the Romans gave them a Roman twist.

Roman Religious Life

Romans prayed to their gods before meals, journeys, and battles. They built temples all over their empire. The Pantheon in Rome was a temple for all the gods. Priests called augurs watched birds to learn what the gods wanted.

Fun Facts

• All the planets in our solar system except Earth are named after Roman gods.
• The month of January is named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doorways.
• March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war.

Did You Know?

The Pantheon in Rome is almost 2,000 years old and still standing. Its dome is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world!