Roman Myths

Martin J. Dougherty is the author of Greek Myths, Norse Myths and The Ancient Warrior, among many other books. A former defence consultant, he also writes on personal self-defence and modern military technology. He lives in northern England.

• Introduction Roman mythology before Greek influence and how Roman mythology built on the Greek pantheon.1: The History and Mythology of Rome Aeneas – (Virgil’s Aenid) a hero of the Trojan War and Anchises and Venus’ son, he led Trojan refugees to Italy at the end of the war to become the founder of the Roman culture. Romulus and Remus (400BC) – the children of Rhea Silvia and Mars, the twin brothers and demi-gods are known for being the founders of Rome. Abandoned at birth because of a prophecy that told of them overthrowing their great-uncle Amulius, they were brought up by a she-wolf and then the shepherd Faustulus. Eventually they killed Amulius, established Rome and reinstated Numitor (Silvia’s father) in power. However, Romulus ended up killing Remus, which was later taken to represent a history of political dispute in Rome.2: The Primary Deities Archaic Triad – Jupiter, Mars, Quirinus Capitoline Triad – Jupiter, Juno, Minerva Plebian/Aventine Triad – Ceres, Liber, Libera The Dii Consentes – the twelve major deities of the Ancient Roman pantheon; Juno, Vesta, Minerva, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Neptune, Vulcan, Apollo. Greek influence (Greek gods compared with their Roman counterparts) – the development of Roman mythology from spirits to the pantheon; Roman people originally worshipped numina as gods and goddesses, but they had few distinctive qualities; e.g. Janus, god of doorways and archways and Terminus, god of boundaries. Being inspired by the Greek deities, they started to adapt their gods into Greek equivalents, giving them different names; Aphrodite became Venus, Cronus became Saturn etc. Cybele was known as Magna Mater (‘Great Mother’). The Roman state adopted and developed a particular form of her cult after the Sibylline oracle recommended her conscription as a key religious ally in Rome’s second war against Carthage. Roman mythographers reinvented her as a Trojan goddess, and thus an ancestral goddess of the Roman people by way of the Trojan prince Aeneas. With Rome’s eventual hegemony over the Mediterranean world, Romanized forms of Cybele's cults spread throughout the Roman Empire. The meaning and morality of her cults and priesthoods were topics of debate and dispute in Greek and Roman literature, and remain so in modern scholarship.3: Lesser Deities & Magical Beings Along with the Dii Consentes, eight additional gods and goddesses made up the Dii Selecti. All aspects of daily life and state endeavour were governed by these or a host of lesser gods, and other supernatural beings also feature in Roman mythology. These include monsters, magical creatures and semi-divine heroes.4: Roman Writings Ovid’s Metamorphoses – a collection of Near Eastern and Greek myths that the Romans had adopted, documenting from creation to the pinnacle of Julius Caesar’s reign. Ovid’s Fasti – describes Roman myths about the gods according to the festivals in their calendar.5: The Mundane & the Mythological Rape of the Sabine women – after the founding of Rome by Romulus, there was a dearth of women to populate the city and so he abducted the Sabine women, resulting in a war with the Caeninenses. Horatius at the bridge – Publius Horatius Cocles, an army officer of ancient Rome, defended the Pons Sublicius from the Etruscans during the Roman and Clusium war. Raising the sun – Goddess Angerona is said to have known a spell to raise the sun in midwinter, on December 21st; the shortest day of the year. On that day, the days began to lengthen and spring returned. She also held the secret name of Rome, which would doom the people if she told it. Gaius Mucius Scaevola – a mythical assassin who, when captured, thrust his hand into the fire without showing any pain. His intended victim, Porsena, was shocked at the youth’s bravery, and dismissed him from the Etruscan camp, free to return to Rome, saying ‘Go back, since you do more harm to yourself than me’. At the same time, the king also sent ambassadors to Rome to offer peace. Servius Tullius – was the legendary sixth king of Rome, and the second of its Etruscan dynasty. He reigned 575–535 BC. Several traditions describe Servius’s father as divine.6. The Legacy of Rome How Roman myths and legends changed throughout the existence of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. Later, how the myths and legends survived after the Fall of the Roman Empire, how they were adapted during the Dark Ages and revived during the Renaissance.Bibliography Index