Roman Gods

• The Roman Gods, known as Dii Consentes, were the Council of Twelve Roman Gods in the Roman Pantheon.
• They were the same Gods as the Greek Twelve Olympians.

The Twelve Roman Gods

1. Jupiter (Zeus)
   • Son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.
   • King of all the Gods. God of the sky and thunder.
2. Juno (Hera)
   • Daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.
   • Queen of all the Gods. Wife of Jupiter.
3. Neptune (Poseidon)
   • Son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.
   • God of the Sea.
4. Ceres (Demeter)
   • Daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.
   • Goddess of Agriculture, Human Fertility and Motherhood.
5. Minerva (Athena )
   • Daughter of Zeus and Metis (Oceanid)
   • Goddess of Wisdom, War, Art, Schools and Commerce.
6. Vesta (Hestia) – later Dionysus  (Bacchus).
   • Daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.
   • Virgin Goddess of Hearth, Home and Family.
   • Temple of Vesta attended to by the Vestal Virgins. Unlike other Temples it contained no image of the Goddess, but instead she was symbolised by a sacred flame. The temple was only open during the Festival of Vestalia.
7. Apollo (Apollo)
   • Son of Zeus and Leto.
   • God of the Sun and Light, Healing and Diseases, Archery, Music, Dance and Archery.
8. Diana (Artemis)
   • Daughter of Zeus and Leto.
   • Goddess of Wild Animals and the Hunt. Portrayed with a bow and quiver attended by a deer.
   • Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
9. Mars (Ares)
   • Son of Zeus and Hera.
   • God of War. Second God in importance to Jupiter.
10. Venus (Aphrodite)
    • Daughter of Uranus’ genitals transformed when dropped into the sea.
    • Goddess of Love, Beauty and Fertility.
11. Vulcan (Hephaestus)
    • Son of Hera alone.
    • God of Fire, Volcanoes, Metalworking and Forges.
    • Portrayed with a blacksmith’s hammer.
12. Mercury (Hermes)
    • Son of Zeus and Maia (Pleiad)
    • God of Commerce, Financial Gain, Communications, Messages and Travellers.
    • Depicted with winged sandals and a winged hat. He acted as a Messenger for the Gods.

The Capitoline Triad

• Three Roman Gods, one male, two female, were the most important in the Ancient Roman Religion. They were possibly based on the Trio of Three Etruscan Gods and were eventually replaced by the Christian Holy Trinity.

1. • Jupiter
   • Juno
   • Minerva

The Aventine Triad

• Another Trio of three Roman Gods, again one male and two female, established in c. 493 BCE and associated with the Plebeians, possibly as a counter to the Patrician Capitoline Triad.

1. • Ceres
   • Liber (or Liber Pater)
   • Lebera

Other Roman Gods

• Bacchus
  • Bacchus was the Roman God of Agriculture, Wine and Fertility, known as Dionysus in Ancient Greece. The Roman Festivals of Bacchus were called Bacchanalia.
• Vesta
  • Vesta was one of the Twelve Roman Gods in the Roman Pantheon, known to the Greeks as Hestia.
  • She was the Virgin Goddess of the hearth, home and the family. The Temple of Vesta was maintained by the Vestal Virgins.
• Janus
  • Janus was the God of Transition and Duality, also of gates, doorways and passages, and is usually depicted with two faces.
  • The month of January is named after Janus.
  • Janus was considered to be as important as Jupiter.