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DA7. Roman Religion Borrowing from Greek Religion

Statement

The Romans borrowed many aspects of the Greek Religion and changed them in a way that suited the Roman life. Based on your readings, answer the following questions.

  • Identify any five Greek Gods that found a place in the Roman religion and elaborate upon their traits.
  • Do you think that the Roman religion was an exact copy of the Greek religion or did it evolve to become distinct in its own way? Justify with relevant examples.
  • Which religious ritual or practice of the Romans do you find fascinating and why?

Answer

Introduction

The Roman religion was polytheistic, with many gods and goddesses that were being worshiped and prayed to at the same time. “Gods were anthropomorphic (in human form) and powerful but not eternal or all-powerful” (Dillon, 2019). The Romans borrowed many Gods from the Greek religion; including other ditties such as prayers, animal sacrifices, and festivals (Dillon, 2019).

Identify any five Greek Gods that found a place in the Roman religion and elaborate upon their traits

Zeus, the king of the gods, was adopted and renamed Jupiter by the Romans. “Jupiter also concentrated on protecting the Roman state. Military commanders would pay homage to Jupiter at his temple after winning in battle” (The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Rome, 2023).

Hera, the queen of the gods, was adopted and renamed Juno by the Romans. Juno was Jupiter’s wife and sister; she was protective of women and watched over all aspects of their lives (The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Rome, 2023); She is the goddess of marriage, childbirth and fertility.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was adopted and renamed Minerva by the Romans. Minerva was the goddess of wisdom, arts, and war. She was also the patron goddess of the city of Rome (Gods and goddesses of the Greek and Roman pantheon, 2021); She was a daughter of Jupiter.

Poseidon, the god of the sea, was adopted and renamed Neptune by the Romans. Neptune was the god of the sea and freshwater. He was also the god of horses and earthquakes (Gods and goddesses of the Greek and Roman pantheon, 2021); He was the brother of Jupiter.

Ares, the god of war, was adopted and renamed Mars by the Romans. Mars was the god of war and agriculture. He was also the father of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome (Gods and goddesses of the Greek and Roman pantheon, 2021); He was the son of Jupiter.

Do you think that the Roman religion was an exact copy of the Greek religion or did it evolve to become distinct in its own way? Justify with relevant examples

The Roman religion was not an exact copy of the Greek religion; indeed, it shared similarities with the Greek religion, but the Romans adapted the Greek gods and re-branded them into their own. For example, the gods that we saw above had all the characteristics of the Greek gods but were given different names and were worshiped differently. The Romans also had their own gods and goddesses that were not part of the Greek religion. They also adapted other religious practices and gods from other cultures they conquered such as Etruscans, Persians, and Egyptians.

Which religious ritual or practice of the Romans do you find fascinating and why?

The act of sacrificing animals to the gods grabs my attention; especially as it survived till today in some religions like Islam and Judaism. Animal sacrifices in Roman religion were public or private; sometimes bloody or not; a sacrifice can be devoted entirely to be consumed by the gods (eaten by its fire), or shared between the people and their gods, where people eat their share and whatever is left for the god is burned into the flames (Adam, 2018). The Abrahamic religions have a similar practice, where the animal is slaughtered and shared between the people and the poor, but none is literally burned or devoted to God.

Conclusion

The Roman religion was a mix of different cultures and religions, including the Greek religion. Zeus, Hera, Athena, Poseidon, and Ares were some of the Greek gods that were adopted by the Romans and renamed Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Neptune, and Mars, respectively. The Romans borrowed many gods and religious practices from the Greeks and other cultures they conquered, but it was not an exact copy of these religions as Romans would rebrand them.

References

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