Top 10 Roman Gods and Goddesses

Mercury’s duty as messenger of the gods carried over from his Greek counterpart Hermes, but his Roman incarnation further develops his role as patron god of travelers, financial gain, providence and more – that’s a pretty wide range of responsibilities! In the ancient poem, Fasti, by Ovid, Mercury is tasked with bringing the nymph Larunda to the underworld, though Mercury, also a god of trickery, gets a bit sidetracked, and the two have sex. What a reputation. Mercury’s depicted wearing a winged hat and shoes. Look familiar? They should: they were adopted by DC’s The Flash, who’s based on this Roman God. Mercury’s speed also inspired Ford to name a division of premium cars after him. Well, a guy’s gotta get places.
 

If there’s one Roman god you’d want to party with, it’s definitely Bacchus. The complete Roman equivalent of the Greek Dionysus; he’s best known as the God of Wine. Hmm, the fact that the ancient Romans had a god specifically for wine makes us think that they were probably pretty awesome and definitely had their priorities in order. The Romans took their worship of Bacchus to the next level by holding a festival in the god’s honor called Bacchanalia, which – from what we can tell – was just a giant orgy. The festival was considered so debaucherous that the government basically tried to ban it across all of Italy in 186 BC.
 

Honestly, Cupid has always kind of creeped us out. You’ll definitely recognize this chubby, winged naked baby as one of the symbols of Valentine’s Day and thus a mainstay in popular culture. In myths, he plays a comparatively small role, whose purpose is mostly to stir up trouble by piercing someone with an arrow and putting them under his lustful spell. Cupid has managed to surface in modern media from “The Santa Clause 2” (and 3!) to the one-season ABC flop “Cupid” starring Jeremy Piven. You’d think the god of erotic love and desire would have a little more street cred… maybe putting some pants on would help.
 

Another god; another awesome festival. Near the end of December, Romans celebrated Saturnalia in honor of Saturn. It was a joyous time when gifts were exchanged and slaves were given temporary freedoms. The festival actually shares a lot of similarities with the Western tradition of Christmas, and its placement near the end of the calendar year meant that Saturn came to be connected with the passage of time and particularly the shift to the New Year. Even today, our calendars bear his name in the form of Saturday, and the planet Saturn also demonstrates his lasting influence. But, like his Greek counterpart Cronos, Saturn’s relationship with his children was less than perfect… since he had a tendency to, y’know, eat them.
 

Whereas the Greek god of death, Hades, was basically the most diabolical guy around, Pluto was actually a revered and respected Roman god, seen as a pitiable figure. Hades provoked fear but Pluto was worshipped as the god of wealth and abundance, especially of the earth and its crops. Given that the underworld was located below the soil, he came to be responsible for that as well. Unlike his brother Jupiter, who procreated excessively, Pluto was never said to have any children and was monogamous with his wife Proserpina. Of course, Christianity later drew associations between Pluto and the Devil, but it seems like he may’ve just been one seriously misunderstood dude. 
 

Minerva’s beginnings were...well...strange. After the god Jupiter impregnated the titaness Metis, Jupiter remembered a prophecy saying that one of his offspring would usurp him. Logically, he ate the pregnant Metis and hoped for the best. After suffering from terrible headaches, he got one of his buddies to split his head open and out came a fully formed – and armed – Minerva. Clearly this chick was hardcore. Minerva has become a symbol of academia, and is featured in the seals and emblems of many educational institutions. Mythology loving writer JK Rowling also gave a nod to the Romans when she named the wise and stern Professor Minerva McGonagall after the goddess.
 

Remember how it was Jupiter who gave birth to Minerva and not, y’know, a woman? Well, Jupiter’s wife, Juno, not Minerva’s mother Metis – yes, Jupiter was a player – decided to get back at Jupiter for stealing her role in childbirth and having Minerva alone. The myth tells of a magical flower that let her conceive without the help of a man. And the result of this little experiment? Mars. Like Pluto, Mars is the more likeable version of his Greek counterpart, Ares. Though Mars is the god of war, he is not a violent or aggressive figure, but rather someone who uses warfare as a means to achieve peace.
 

In Botticelli’s famous painting “The Birth of Venus,” we see the myth of Venus’s inception depicted in all its glory. The painting may be beautiful but the story is… not. As legend goes, Saturn castrated his father, Caelus, and threw his genitalia into the sea, and from the horror and gore came something truly beautiful: this alluring goddess. Her connection to the Roman people is perhaps closer than any other figure on this list, as her son, Aeneas, brought the surviving Trojans over to Italy to establish Rome. In today’s pop culture, the image of Venus still represents the ideals of female beauty and is even used in marketing feminine hygiene products.
 

Believe it or not, Neptune – ruler of the deep blue – had humble beginnings. He started off as a god of smaller bodies of water, like rivers and lakes. Before he took over as head honcho, it was Portunes or Fortunus who were to be sacrificed to and credited for any triumphs at sea. But by the first century BC, Neptune had solidified his place. Of all the gods on our list, this brother of Jupiter and Pluto definitely makes the most impressive entrance, rolling in on a chariot pulled by water horses, while brandishing his trident.

 
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Apollo
God of the Sun, Archery, Music and Prophecy
 
- Diana
Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon
 
- Vulcan
The Blacksmith God
 
- Juno
Goddess of Marriage and Childbirth
 
- Faunus
God of the Forest
 

Until Christianity was adopted by the Roman Empire, Jupiter was their number one deity. He was an omnipotent and all-encompassing god whose domain covered all aspects of life, from government to religion. In fact, an entire class of priests was devoted to making sure Jupiter was receiving proper sacrifice, something the Romans believed would earn them favor with the god. The incestuous relationship Jupiter had with his sister/wife Juno was carried over from their Greek counterparts, though their relationship was probably more complicated because Jupiter had trouble keeping it in his toga. Despite these… shortcomings, Jupiter is the most powerful and epic of all the gods, earning him the title as King of the Gods and the king of this list. 
 
Do you agree with our list? Who is your favorite Roman god or goddess? For more divine top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.