The 10 most important Roman goddesses
There is much talk of the assimilation that the Roman Empire made on the culture and knowledge of the Greeks, especially as far as mythology was concerned.
In fact, many of the Roman gods and goddesses coexist in parallel with their counterparts in Ancient Greece. And is that as the Romans were imposed on the old continent (Europe), more presence of their most famous deities.
Every time we talk about the Romans, the epics of gladiators, battles against other empires or the wisdom of Júlio César come to mind. However, the need to believe and embrace mythological beings is intrinsic to the development of history. In this article we will focus on the Roman goddesses and their characteristics .
- Related article: "Types of religion (and their differences of beliefs and ideas)"
The 10 most important Roman goddesses
In this article we will focus on the most influential Roman goddesses in our culture, who have served, among many other things, to give rise to many feminine names.
1. Diana
Diana, patron of virginity and hunting, is the daughter of Jupiter and Latona. The etymology of its name has its origin in its first name: Diviana, which means "radiance". What this deity represents is the protector of children and chastity .
As a tribute, the women cut their hair before getting married or having children. Nowadays it is very common to hear this name in most Western countries.
2. Minerva
Daughter of Jupiter too, she was born without a mother. It is said that this was his favorite daughter for everything what she represented: magic, craftsmanship, wisdom and medicine, among others . It is always represented with an innocence and extreme wisdom, and purity, with a touching physique. Interestingly, she is also considered the goddess of war.
- Maybe you're interested: "25 Egyptian gods (biography, personality and legacy)"
3. Vesta
Another of the most interesting Roman goddesses, and one that is spoken of rather little, is Vesta, who represents fire and passion . Goddess of the home as something sacred, in his Roman temple was the famous "flame that never goes out" . In that building the most important documents and archives of the Empire were housed. Its origin is not yet known in ancient mythology, nor who were its progenitors.
4. Felicitas
Felicitas corresponds to the meaning of happiness in the present, inherited from the literature and fantasy of the moment. Its meaning is good luck, fortune, blessed. Definitely, she was considered the Roman goddess of success and prosperity , and the merchants of the Empire were entrusted to her to be able to thrive.
5. Fortune
This is one of the most famous Roman goddesses in Western culture. Although it seems somewhat contradictory, Fortuna represented in the beginning the whims of life , and ended up deriving in the personification of good luck. It occupied a great significance during the Roman Empire since it was built a Temple and a public sanctuary.
6. Victory
Undoubtedly he was the most relevant deity in the armies of Greater Rome . As its name indicates, it represents the successes of the soldiers before their enemies. The etymology comes from the Latin "Vincere", which means to conquer. Each time a general returned with a victory under the shield, an offering was made to Victoria with large parades and military crowds.
7. Venus
Venus she is the goddess of sex, fertility and love . It is the equivalent of the Aphrodite of Greek mythology, but with many more qualities than her. As a curious fact, Venus also represented prostitution.
8. Aurora
Sister of Helios, god of the Sun and Selene, goddess of the moon, Aurora represents the glow of the dew . According to Roman mythology, Aurora had the function of waking up every day and from the sea, to cross the skies and to pour on the Earth a good amount of dew, jug by means of. In Spain and Latin America it is increasingly common to use this name for daughters.
9. Cybele
Who does not know one of the most famous squares in Spain? In the heart of Madrid, is the fountain that pays tribute to the Roman goddess Cibeles, represented with her car pulled by two lions . The two football teams of the city bathe in the fountain surrounding the sculpture to celebrate their sporting triumphs.
The symbolism of Cibeles is that of healer and protector at the same time, being another reference for the battles of Hannibal the Carthaginian.
10. Juno
She is the mother of all goddesses, the maximum representative of the female figure in Roman mythology . It symbolizes marriage and childbirth, that is, the family.For the sculptures that remain in museums around the world, Juno seems to have incarnated a warrior and brave goddess, because his image is that of a woman with a spear and coat of unknown animal skin, as Roman soldiers dressed .
Bibliographic references:
- Cameron, A. (2004). Greek Mythography in the Roman World. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.
- Grandazzi, A. 1997. The Foundation of Rome: Myth and History. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Univ. Press.
