Roman Gods

Also on this page:
Christianity
Superstitions

Jupiter, King of the Gods

Juno, Goddess of Women

Before the Romans came to Britain the Celts had lots of different religions. The Romans brought a standard state religion with them, based on the belief that the Emperor would become a God when he died.

The Romans believed in many gods. When they conquered more people they sometimes adopted some of their gods too. They believed that a different god looked after a different part of life.

• Jupiter - King of the gods
• Juno - Jupiter's wife, goddess of women
• Mars - the god of war
• Minerva - the goddess of wisdom
• Neptune - the god of the sea
• Diana - the goddess of the moon and hunting
• Mercury - the messenger of the gods
• Venus - the goddess of love and beauty
• Mithras - the sun god.
• Cupid - the god of love
  

The Romans let local people carry on worshipping their own Gods, as long as they also worshipped the Roman ones. If people refused to do this they would be punished.    

Christianity

Across their empire, there were many different religions. In the east of the Roman empire, in Palestine the people were Jewish and a man called Jesus lived. The Romans did not like Jesus because he believed in only one God.

The followers of Jesus became known as Christians, and at first the Romans banned them and treated them very badly. However after 300 years, Christianity spread over the entire empire and most people, including the Romans became Christians.

Superstitions

The Romans were very superstitious. They wore a bulla, a little leather purse, hanging round their necks with lucky stones inside.

Natural things, like a flock of birds, or a thunder storm were thought to be messages from the gods.

Astrologers told fortunes and palm reading was a popular way of foretelling the future

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