Summary
Highlights
Roman mythology, while less popular than its Greek counterpart, significantly borrowed and appropriated from Greek pantheons due to centuries of contact and Greek colonies. The Romans named planets after their deities.
Many Roman gods corresponded to the Greek Olympians: Zeus became Jupiter, Hera became Juno, and Athena became Minerva (the three patron gods of Rome). Ares became Mars, Aphrodite became Venus, and Poseidon became Neptune. Hermes became Mercury. Saturn, equivalent to the Greek Chronos, was a hugely important deity as the father of Jupiter, and his influence is seen in the planet Saturn, Saturday, and the Saturnalia festival. Hades became Pluto, and Hephaestus became Vulcan. Apollo was a unique case, seeming to blend with various deities, notably worshipped as the Sun God by the Trojans and associated with the Italian Etruscan god Sol and the Titan Helios.
Hercules, adopted from the Greek Heracles, was a very influential character in Roman times. Beyond his famous twelve tasks, Hercules has Roman stories, including killing Vulcan's son Cases and visiting Germany (where he was identified with Thor). He is also historically linked to the founding of Monaco after chasing away gods terrifying the locals.
Virgil's Aeneid is an epic saga detailing the founding myths of Rome, commissioned by Caesar Augustus. It follows Aeneas, a Trojan warrior and son of Venus, tasked with finding a new home for the Trojan survivors after the Trojan War. His journey to Italy is fraught with divine intervention and interference from gods like Juno, who was determined to stop him.
Aeneas reached Carthage, where he married Queen Dido. Prompted by Jupiter, he abandoned her, leading to Dido's curse that Carthage would forever be an enemy to his descendants. After arriving in Italy and a visit to the underworld, Aeneas learned of his destiny to father the Roman Empire. He settled in Latium, founded the city of Alba Longa, and became its first king.
Aeneas's descendant, Rhea Silva, became pregnant with the sons of Mars, giving birth to twins Romulus and Remus. Ordered to be killed by their grand-uncle, they were rescued by Tiberinus and suckled by a she-wolf. Raised as warriors, they eventually led a revolt, restored their grandfather Numitor to the throne, and then sought to found a new settlement. A dispute over the location led to Romulus killing Remus, and Romulus founded Rome, naming it after himself and becoming its first king, thus fulfilling the prophecy for the Trojan refugees.