Table from Encarta

Ancient Greek and Roman Gods

As the Roman Empire expanded, it assimilated elements of the cultures it conquered. In religion this process has been called interpretatio Romana, or the Roman understanding. When Roman and Greek culture mixed after the Romans conquered ancient Greece in the 3rd century bc, ancient Roman gods and goddesses became associated with those of the Greek civilization. The table lists some of the main gods and goddesses and the roles they played in both Greek and Roman mythology.
Greek Name Roman Name Role in Mythology
Aphrodite Venus Goddess of beauty and sexual desire (Roman mythology: Goddess of gardens and fields)
Apollo Apollo God of prophecy, medicine, and archery (late Greek/Roman mythology: God of the sun)
Ares Mars God of War
Artemis Diana Goddess of the hunt (late Greek/Roman mythology: Goddess of moon)
Asclepius Aesculapius God of medicine
Athena Minerva Goddess of arts and crafts, and war; Helper of heroes (late Greek/Roman mythology: Goddess of wisdom)
Cronus Saturn God of the sky; Ruler of the Titans (Roman mythology: God of agriculture)
Demeter Ceres Goddess of grain
Dionysus Bacchus God of wine and vegetation
Eros Cupid God of love
Gaea Terra Mother Earth
Hephaestus Vulcan God of fire; Blacksmith of the gods
Hera Juno Goddess of marriage and childbirth; Protector of married women; Queen of the gods
Hermes Mercury Messenger of the gods; Protector of travelers, thieves, and merchants
Hestia Vesta Guardian of the home
Hypnos Somnus God of sleep
Hades Pluto God of the underworld; Lord of the dead
Poseidon Neptune God of the sea and earthquakes
Rhea Ops Wife of Cronus/Saturn; Mother Goddess
Uranus Uranus God of the sky; Father of the Titans
Zeus Jupiter Ruler of the gods
Appears in these articles:
Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology
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