Religions in Rome

Religions in Rome

By Shamona Lewis

Through contact with the Greeks, the Romans’ idea of gods and goddesses changed.

The Greeks believed in gods and goddesses who behaved very much like human beings. Their gods could be jealous, angry, passionate, kind, foolish, or petty.

Multiple Choice

Greeks believed in Gods and Goddesses

• who behaved like human beings.

• who behaved like kids.

• who behaved like animals.

Multiple Select

Gods were

• jealous

• angry

• kind

• foolish

The Romans borrowed this idea from the Greeks and some of the Greek gods and goddesses. The Roman gods were no spirits or forces of nature. They were now divine and human at the same time.

Through contact with the Greeks, the Romans’ idea of gods and goddesses changed.

The Greeks believed in gods and goddesses who behaved very much like human beings. Their gods could be jealous, angry, passionate, kind, foolish, or petty. The Romans borrowed this idea from the Greeks and some of the Greek gods and goddesses. The Roman gods were no spirits or forces of nature. They were now divine and human at the same time.

The Romans borrowed many gods and goddesses from the Greeks.

The Romans borrowed the Etruscan goddess of crafts, Minerva (right), gave her the traits of the Greek goddess Athena, and made her the goddess of wisdom and war.

​

Multiple Choice

Minerva was given the traits of which Greek goddess

• Hera

• Athena

• Archnae

Some Roman Gods and Goddesses

Roman	Greek Counterpart	Role
Jupiter or Jove	Zeus	Chief god
Juno	Hera	Chief goddess
Mars	Ares	God of war
Venus	Aphrodite	Goddess of love and beauty
Mercury	Hermes	Messenger of the gods
Apollo	Apollo	God of sun, music and poetry, healing

The Romans honored their gods by building temples. Inside each temple was a statue of a god or goddess. People did not go to a temple to worship the god. The temple was where priests made offerings of cakes and honey, burned sweet-smelling incense, and sacrificed animals to honor the god. 

Multiple Choice

Inside each temple was a

• Animal

• cake

• Statues

The Romans honored their gods with more than 100 festivals every year.

​

Quinquatria was a five-day festival honoring Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.

​

During Cerealia, Romans honored the goddess of grain, Ceres.

​

At Saturnalia, honoring the god Saturn, gifts were exchanged.

Multiple Choice

was a five-day festival honoring Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.

• Quinquatria

• Cerealia

• Saturnalia

Multiple Choice

The Romans honored their gods with how many festivals every year

• 1,000

• 100

• 10

Until the 300s CE, Roman religion was a state religion. The emperor was the leader of the government. Everyone had to observe the Roman religion publicly. In private people were free to think and say what they wanted to. Over time, the emperor was seen as a god who must be worshipped. Those who didn’t worship him could be punished by death.

​

Open Ended

What happened if people didn't worship the emperor?

The Romans were a very practical people. They believed that religious observances were a way of keeping on the good side of the gods, who had the power to help or destroy them. Religion was not about how you treated other human beings. It was about making sure that the gods and goddesses treated you well.

​

Multiple Choice

Religion was about making sure that the gods and goddesses treated you well.

• true

• false

Rome was a large empire with people of many different cultures and religions. The Romans allowed conquered people to practice any religion they chose, as long as they also publicly took part in the Roman religion.

​