Roman mythology is one of the most majestic and divine cultural traits of ancient history. The first founders of the Roman state were Romulus and Remus, the sons of Mars, the god of war, and the goddess Venus, the god of beauty and love. The legendary founders were the grandsons of the thunder god Jupiter.

The king of the gods, Jupiter was the supreme deity of the cosmos and Roman mythology, who protected the people of Rome and maintained the law of divine justice for their pilgrims. Legendary founders like Romulus and Remus have built and created many magnified temples and cults to devote to the thunder god and remain present in the future. Many European cultures like Greek, Roman and Norse have made a remarkable history in ancient times.

1. Almighty God of Roman, Jupiter

Jupiter is a Romanian god equivalent to the Greek god Zeus, also known as Jove in ancient Rome. In Roman mythology, the Roman god Jupiter is the sky god holding a thunderbolt, controlling the weather and maintaining lawful justice. God Jupiter not only symbolizes the thunderbolts but even symbolizes an eagle, which represents strength and divine authority; an oak tree, which represents endurance and longevity; and the Capitolium hills where his temples are present on top of the hill, which represents Jupiter Optimus Maximus’ life and his temple for ages in the roman history.

The Roman Pantheon Jupiter was believed to be the ideal king of the Romans and ensured the protection and safety of all gods and mortals. He ensures the right-doer gets justice and the wrongdoer gets punished for a perfect, peaceful living life. The Roman god Jupiter was the supreme god and deity of the Romans to justify that many cults and worshipping temples were craved for the magnified shaping of the Roman culture.

2. Roman God Jupiter’s Marriage

Roman mythology and Greek mythology have sibling incest which means that marriage of brother and sister was common in ancient times of their religion. The phenomenon existed to maintain the strong deities to be born within us and make a powerful empire. Jupiter married his sibling and sister, Juno, and not only Jupiter but also many other Greeks, like Neptune, married his sister Salacia. Roman gods marry their siblings to follow their religion and continue the divine theme.

The marriage of Jupiter and Juno is considered the most divine and central partnership of the Roman emperors. Their marriage is a symbol of love and divine unity, which creates the central league of Roman mythology. Although Jupiter had multiple affairs with other mortal women, the goddess was a glimpse to maintain the respect of marriage because she is the protector of marriages, childbirth, and women.

3. The Myth of Io

The myth of IO is a popular and suspicious myth of the Romans. The god Jupiter had a marital affair with IO, who was a mortal. To hide IO from the eyes of Juno (his wife) god Jupiter transformed her into a Heifer (a young cow).

However, Juno learned about IO and requested the heifer as a gift. Eventually, Jupiter couldn’t refuse it and gifted the heifer to Juno. Juno placed IO under the watchful guard called Argus, a giant with a hundred eyes. To rescue IO from Argus, Jupiter sent Mercury to sing a lullaby for him to sleep and then slay him. After Jupiter found IO again, he transformed her into human form.

4. Is Jupiter the Grandfather of Romulus and Remus?

Roman mythology contains many untold tales and history and one of them is this tale. The story is like Romulus and Remus were twin sons of the gods Mars and Rhea Silvia. Rhea was the daughter of Numitor, the alba longa. However, their uncle Amulius ascended the throne and ordered the killing of the twins to prevent them from taking over the Roman throne. However, the plan malfunctioned and the twins were saved. They grew up in the wilderness and were nurtured by the shepherd Faustulus. They learned about the archive as they grew up and decided to avenge Amulius and bring Numitor back to the throne.

To do things right, they decided to build a new city and stressed about where to build it. In this conflict, they sought the help of the sky and thunder god Jupiter, and Jupiter’s favour towards the twins made many Romans believe that Romulus and Remus were Jupiter’s grandsons. Eventually, this led to the founding of Rome on April 21, 753 BC, and the Romulus became the first king of Rome.

5. The Myth of Hercules

Ancient Rome repeatedly told the myth of Hercules and can be found in the literature of Roman religion. As we all know, Hercules is the son of Jupiter and the mortal woman Alcmene. Jupiter had disguised himself as Alcmene’s husband and impregnated her, which resulted in the birth of Hercules, a powerful and legendary god of Roman religion.

Hercules was punished with twelve labours which is a series of seemingly impossible tasks assigned by King Eurystheus of Tiryns for killing his wife and children. This punishment showcased his immense strength and courage in rescuing the city of Thebes from a monstrous serpent. After completing these tasks, he was rewarded with immortality and respectedly welcomed to Mount Olympus, becoming the ideal figure of Roman mythology.

6. Iuppiter Lapis

In the Roman Republic, Jupiter was the king of all the gods and all mighty of the Roman culture. In ancient religion, when any god was the powerful and divine hero of religion, then their stone or altar was represented in the temples for their worshipper to worship him.

Iuppiter Lapis refers to the “Jupiter stone, ” which is created and represented in the temple of Jupiter on his behalf for their worshippers and pilgrims to worship and ceremonies and rituals are conducted insights of him. In ancient Rome and Greek mythology, sacred forms of stones and altars were created and dedicated to gods to keep in the temples or places.

7. Jupiter, the Son of Saturn and Ops

The Roman god Jupiter is the son of Saturn, who is the god of agriculture and a primordial Roman god and Ops, who is the goddess of fertility and wealth and also the primordial Roman god both are siblings. Saturn, god of agriculture is one of the Roman deities and a great figure of Roman mythology. Saturn is also associated with the period called the “golden age” when there was peace, fertility and harmony in the ancient Romans. One of the most popular festivals is called Saturnalia which is dedicated to the god Saturn in which a celebration is held by some quality time and gift giving.

One of the most well-known myths of the Roman Empire was when Saturn swallowed his children after a prophecy warned that one of his children would overthrow him in the future. However, Jupiter managed to survive because of his mother, who gave a stone wrapped in swaddling cloth to Saturn instead of him. Eventually, Jupiter grew up and overthrew him for injustice

8. Luppiter Optimus Maximus

Iuppiter Optimus Maximus in Latin means “Jupiter best and greatest”. The Roman god Jupiter is considered the god of the sky. In ancient Rome, Jupiter was authorized with the sky, thunder, weather, the whole universe and a judge of justice. He always protected and served the people of the cosmos and Capitoline hills, where his temples are located.

Jupiter Optimus Maximus is associated with the prayer and hopes of many people and pilgrims of him. The name Jupiter Optimus Maximus name was given to Jupiter in the sense of powerful, supreme god and deity of the Roman religion.

9. Titles and Epithets

The people of Rome gave Jupiter multiple epithets to describe his honesty. Some of them are:

1. Jupiter Optimus Maximus: It means “Jupiter best and greatest” in Latin. It narrates his position as the supreme deity of the cosmos and the whole universe and more over the god of even gods.
2. Jupiter Capitolinus: It means “Jupiter of capital”. It narrates his association with his temple which is located on Capitoline Hill.
3. Jupiter Stator: It means “Jupiter the stayer”. It narrates his present at the time of war and his need and endurance.
4. Jupiter Tonans: It means “Jupiter the thunderer”. It narrates his power of thunderbolt and lightning Jupiter of Rome.
5. Jupiter Feretrius: It means “Jupiter of the spolia opima “. It narrates his power during the highest military honour.
6. Jupiter Lapis: It means “Jupiter stone”. It narrates his stone or altar which is dedicated to him.
7. Jupiter elicius: It means “Jupiter, the revealer”. It narrates his divine guidance towards his people.

10. Numa and the Cult of Jupiter Elicius

Numa was the second founder of Rome after Romulus and Remus. Numa was a wise ruler who introduced a new religion and supported the legal culture of Rome. Jupiter elicius, the epithets, were somewhat developed by the great Numa and he supported the cult of Jupiter elicius and performed rituals and ceremonies for him.

Jupiter elicius means the revealer or caller and he supported and gave guidance to mortals and even gods. The cult of Jupiter elicius was one of the most important aspects of ancient Rome. Numa, the ruler believed that Jupiter had majestic power and was the supreme god of the cosmos. He performed rituals and performed cults to celebrate the Roman pantheon Jupiter Optimus Maximus.

11. The Temples and Festival of the Roman God Jupiter

According to Roman mythology, the Roman god Jupiter was the thunder god and even the god of other gods. There were many temples and festivals in the Roman state that were built in devotion to the Roman pantheon and ultimate Jupiter Optimus maximum. The Roman god Jupiter and Greek god Zeus were equivalent in ancient times but temples dedicated to them vary from place to place.

Temples of Chief God Jupiter:

1. Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus (Capitolium): This temple is located on Capitoline Hill in Rome where people worship Jupiter and conduct ceremonies. A magnified marble statue of Jupiter Optimus Maximus is seated on his throne.
2. Temple of Jupiter Stator: This temple was built by the legendary founder of Rome, Romulus.
3. Temple of Jupiter Tonans: This temple was built by the emperor, Augustus in gratitude to the Roman god Jupiter for his protection during thunderstorms.

Roman Festivals of Chief God Jupiter:

1. Ludi Romani: Ludi Romani is the most important festival celebrated to devote the king of the gods and Jupiter Ammon. This festival is held in September and includes games like chariot races, theatrical performances, challenges, and public speaking. It is held to remember the god Jupiter Feretrius for the majestic performances of ancient Rome and Roman myths.
2. The ides of March: This festival is an annual festival commemorating the remembrance of Roman culture, the beginning of the new year, military campaigning season for Roman temples and the Roman calendar. The war god Jupiter was the supreme deity of the Roman army and various Jupiter cults were celebrated across the Roman senate.

12. Aeneas and The Founding of Rome

Aeneas was one of the founders of Roman culture and also the great and divine figure. Aeneas was a Trojan hero who was the son of Venus (Aphrodite in Greek mythology). He is also one of the survivors of the great tragic situation called the fall of Troy. After the fall of Troy, Aeneas decided to build his new homeland and formed a group with other great Roman emperors.

When he arrived in Italy, he met Queen Dido and formed a romantic brief. Eventually, after a long way, Aeneas reached Latium in Italy where he met King Latinus and became the founder of the city of Lavinium and married the king’s daughter Lavinia. Their union is called the beginning of Rome and its people. According to Roman mythology, Aeneas is said to be the ancestor of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founder of Rome. Aeneas is said to be the legendary founder and central figure in both Greek mythology and Roman mythology.

13. The Tarquins and the Rise of the Roman Republic

The Tarquins were a powerful and majestic Etruscan family that ruled over ancient Rome and Roman state religion for ages. They were the reason for the republican and imperial eras’ which transformed a monarchy into a republican. They were originally from Etruria but came to Rome to establish their new homeland and society.

Three tarquins ruled over Rome, and their last ancestors transformed the monarchy into a republican

1. Tarquin the Elder: Tarquin the Elder was first from the Tarquin family who came from Etrucia to Rome and later established and founded Circus Maximum.
2. Servius Tullius: Servius Tullius was the son-in-law of Tarquin the elder. After him, he succeeded in establishing Rome and a wealthy society.
3. Tarquin the Proud: Tarquin the Proud was the last king who ruled over Rome. He was also known as the Tarquin the Tyrant. According to Roman mythology, Tarquin the Proud ruled Rome and established Rome through his rebellion rule, which he led and introduced the republic.

According to ancient Rome, the overthrow of the monarchy was due to the acts of Sextus Tarquinius, the son of Tarquin the Proud. Tarquinius raped a noblewoman named Lucretia and the husband of Lucretia and others rose against this injustice and expelled the Tarquins from Rome. In 509 BC, Rome was led by Lucius Junius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. They overthrew the Tarquins, ruled over Rome, and ended the monarchy.

14. Conclusion

According to Roman mythology, various Roman and Greek deities have ruled over the Greek and Roman myths. As we all know, the Greek counterpart Zeus was equivalent to the Roman god Jupiter, and they both shared the same majestic storyline in history. The chief god of Roman people was Jupiter, and he ruled over the weather and the whole universe as the king of the gods. Roman culture consists of various mythological creatures, which created a remarkable history in the Roman armies.

Last Updated on March 24, 2024 by Gautam