Roman Gods

Origin

The Romans believed in many different gods and goddesses. They had a god or goddess for everything imaginable just to be sure that they were honoring, worshiping, or giving homage to all the right gods. The entire collection of their gods and goddesses was called the Roman Pantheon. As Rome grew into a city and began to become more powerful it came in contact with the Greeks, who had a complex Pantheon of their own.

The Romans identified with Greek Mythology as most are analogues of Greek gods pantheon.These Roman gods and goddesses were counterparts which integrated Greek myths, iconography, cultural traits, and religious practices into Roman culture. The Roman pantheon deities carried similarities to human characteristics. The difference in each culture’s mythology is practically on how the people interpret them and how they picture their lives. Many of the Roman deities were named after the stars or planets, however the Greek deities were not. The Romans would adapt these into Latin literature, Roman art, and religious life throughout the Empire. The Romans also worshiped the roman Deities on both individual and communal levels. An individual would be a family that would pray at home for more food. At the communal level was when a group of people, most of the time the citizens of a town, would go and meet for a communal celebration or festival.

The Roman Pantheon also included archaic deities thought to be inherited from other sources, most commonly Etruscan deities. Deities with obscure origins are thought to have been inherited from the Latin and Sabine ancestors of the Romans, or from other Italic tribes. Within time the Roman pantheon eventually incorporated deities of diverse origins.

Major Deities

Jupiter: The mighty king of the gods. Roman God of the Sky, thunderstorms, lightning, weather and air. Also god of law, order, justice, governance and strength. Most important god of the Romans and usually had the highest divine authority over other gods.

Juno: Queen of the Gods and wife of Jupiter. Goddess of Marriage and Women. Protector and Counselor of Rome.

Neptune: One of the brothers of Jupiter, one of the prime gods and ruler of the seas. The patron of sailors and the protector of ships.

Ceres: Goddess of farming and agriculture, lady of the green.

Pluto: God of death and the lord of the dead and the riches under the Earth.

Minerva:Goddess of Wisdom, Divine Counsel, Useful Arts and Crafts. Unlike her Greek counterpart, Athena, she wasn't a war goddess.

Mars: God of War, Spring and Justice. Patron of the Roman Legions and divine father of Romulus and Remus.

Venus: Goddess of Love and consort of Mars. Mother of Cupid, ancestor of the Romans.

Vulcan: God of fire and blacksmiths.

Mercury: Messenger of the Gods; also the God of thieves, commerce and travelers.

Apollo: God of the sun, music, he rides the sun chariot into the heavens.

Diana: Goddess of the Moon and the hunt.

Bacchus: God of wine, festivals, madness, and merriment.

Cupid: The God of love, son of Venus.

Vesta: Goddess of the home and the hearth.

Roman Pantheon In Comics

The Roman gods were influenced by two distinct traits, Latin and Greek mythology. Although the Greek Pantheon has been a more popular draw into mainstream comics genera, The Roman Pantheon has been an inspiration in several comic titles throughout the years. Each character published with their names have taken the various traits and dispositions of the mythological Deities from ancient history. Here are a few of the characters which have been developed as a representation of the Roman God and Goddesses in many publishes companies such as Marvel, DC Comics among various mentions and descriptions in graphic novels.

Habitat

Habitat: Earth-like

Gravity: Normal

Atmosphere: Normal

Population: 2000 (estimated)

Type of Government: Monarchy

Level of Technology: Magic

Powers and Abilities

The Roman gods and goddesses all possess certain superhuman physical attributes as is notable of other Pantheon depicted in Marvel comics publications, as are the Asgardians, Olympians and so forth. They are true immortals who cease to age upon reaching adulthood, and they cannot die by conventional means. The Romans Deities flesh and bone are about three times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to the gods' superhuman strength and weight. An average male god can life about 30 tons; an average goddess can life about 25 tons. The gods' metabolism gives them superhuman endurance in all physical activities. All Roman Deities are functionally immortal. They are immune to the effects of aging and haven't aged since reaching adulthood. Their bodies are also immune to all known Earthly diseases and infection. Many of the Roman deities have also developed and possess additional superhuman powers.

Essential Story-lines

DC Comics

In the DC universe the Roman gods have been depicted in the Captain Marvel/Shazam mythology, however DC Comics has also put a stronger role on the Greek pantheon which play a prominent role in the Wonder Woman history and story lines. DC Comics have explained that they were actually the same entities. It was then since the Captain Marvel character had been bought from the Fawcett Comics publisher and the character eventually started publishing him themselves. Although Captain Marvel did obtain his mystical attributes from several mythological characters only Mercury and Hercules were from the Roman pantheon.

Image Comics

The publication from Image Comics titled Danger Club calls upon a myriad of mythological Roman Pantheon. Apollo is trapped in the same strange afterlife as Kid Vigilante in the pages of Danger Club #6 and he calls out the pantheon of Roman Gods and Goddesses to save him.