Religion

Question 1

Jupiter

Answer 1

The mighty king of the gods. Roman God of the Sky, thunderstorms, lightning, weather and air. Also god of law, order, justice, governance and strength. Most important god of the Romans and usually had the highest divine authority over other gods.

Question 2

Neptune

Answer 2

One of the brothers of Jupiter, one of the prime gods and ruler of the seas. The patron of sailors and the protector of ships.

Question 3

Juno

Answer 3

Queen of the Gods and wife of Jupiter. Goddess of Marriage and Women. Protector and Counsellor of Rome.

Question 4

Mars

Answer 4

God of War, Spring and Justice. Patron of the Roman Legions and divine father of Romulus and Remus.

Question 5

Venus

Answer 5

Goddess of Love and consort of Mars. Divine mother of Aeneas, ancestor of the Romans.

Question 6

Bellona

Answer 6

Goddess of War, Conquest and Peace.

Question 7

Minerva

Answer 7

Goddess of Wisdom, Divine Counsel, Useful Arts, Crafts and Later War.

Question 8

Janus

Answer 8

God of Beginnings, Endings, Transition, Doorways and Keys

Question 9

Vesta

Answer 9

Goddess of the Home and the Hearth. Patron of Rome.

Question 10

Pluto

Answer 10

God of death

Question 11

Apollo

Answer 11

God of the sun

Question 12

Diana

Answer 12

Goddess of the moon and the hunt

Question 13

Cupid

Answer 13

God of love.

Question 14

Mercury

Answer 14

Messenger of the Gods

Question 15

Ceres

Answer 15

Earth goddess

Question 16

Proserpine

Answer 16

Goddess of the underworld

Question 17

Bacchus

Answer 17

God of wine

Question 18

Saturn

Answer 18

God of time

Question 19

Uranus and Gaia

Answer 19

Parents of Saturn

Question 20

Maia

Answer 20

Goddess of growth

Question 21

Flora

Answer 21

Goddess of flowers

Question 22

Plutus

Answer 22

Goddess of wealth

Question 23

Private Worship

Answer 23

Main Household Gods were Janus (God of doors) and Vesta (Goddess of hearths).
Every day prayers would be said to Vesta. During meals some food might be set aside and passed into the fire as an offering to the goddess.
The lares were the spirits of the family’s ancestors, represented by little figurines.
The penates were the spirits of the larder, and their figurines were placed on the table during mealtimes.

Question 24

Public Worship

Answer 24

Public religion was much more organised than private.
In public, Gods were worshipped by colleges of priests who performed religious rituals, where as the pater familias would be in charge of these at home.
Public worship was controlled by pontifices.

Question 25

Priests

Answer 25

Augures: preists that read and interpreted signs from the Gods.
Haruspices: read the entrails of sacrificed animals.
Pontifices: Determined festival dates, assisted the emperor and determined which days were legal for conducting business.
Pontifices maximus: Chief priest, later always the emperor.
Vestal Virgins: Six virgins that tended the sacred fire and made sacrifices to Vesta in Rome. Served for thirty years.