From Zeus to Jupiter
The Evolution of Greek Gods to Roman Gods
Have you ever wondered why ancient Roman and Greek gods share so many similarities, yet have completely different names? I knew of the Father Zeus to Jupiter link, but Mars instead of Ares? So I looked into this changing of the gods' names. Here is what I found.
The 12 major Roman/Greek gods
Jupiter, the king of the Roman pantheon, descended from the Greek sky god Zeus. His name stems from an ancient vocative compound meaning “Father Zeus,” which became “Zeus Pater,” and finally Jupiter.
Pluto, Roman god of the underworld, evolved from the dark Greek deity Hades. While the origins of the name Pluto aren’t fully clear, they may have linked him to the Greek word for wealth, befitting his control over the precious metals mined from the earth.
Mars, the emboldened Roman war god, sprang from the Greek Ares. While the morphing from Ares to Mars, although it sounds completely different, share the letters ‘ars’ and both Ares and Mars share that common root. The corruption to Mars also draws from an older agricultural term relating to masculinity and fertility, capturing the vigorous, virile nature of the deity.
Neptune, morphing from the Greek Poseidon, became the Roman overseer of the seas. His name likely came from the Proto-Indo-European root for wetness and flowing, encapsulating the watery essence of the god.
Mercury, born from the Greek god Hermes, became the Roman patron of communication, commerce, and travel. His name comes from the Latin word for trade, befitting his role as messenger of the gods.
Juno, wife of Jupiter, evolved from the Greek goddess Hera. Her name ties to Latin roots for youth and vitality, reflecting her association with womanhood and fertility.
Apollo, god of music, knowledge and divination, kept his Greek name in Rome, but took on renewed prominence as a major Roman deity.
Diana, Roman goddess of the hunt, nature and childbirth, sprang from the Greek Artemis. Her name contains Latin roots meaning “heavenly” and “divine.”
Vulcan, god of fire and volcanoes, originated from the Greek Hephaestus, known for blacksmithing and metallurgy. His Roman name invokes the heat, flames, and smoke of a smith's forge.
Vesta, goddess of home and family, kept a similar name to her Greek counterpart Hestia. You can see they are very similar, given the shift in languages. However, Vesta gained greater importance in Roman state religion.
Minerva, goddess of wisdom, learning and strategic warfare, was an Etruscan forerunner to the Greek Athena. As one of the Capitoline Triad, Minerva took on a more prominent role with the Romans.
Venus, Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility, sprung from Aphrodite in the Greek pantheon. Her name stems from the Latin root word vener- relating to sexual pleasure and spawned terms like venereal and vagina in the modern world. Venus denoting sexual vigor and freshness.
Takeaway
Next time you encounter these Roman gods, think back to their Greek predecessors! The differences in names and attributes spotlight the diverse ways that Roman culture adapted the rich Greek mythology to reflect their society and values.
Thanks for reading all of this post! If you enjoyed it, or found it inspiring, please give it a clap or two so others can find it!
If you enjoyed my post and don’t want to subscribe to Medium, you can also consider buying me a coffee. Click the button below.
