Roman Mythology: Top 20 Gods and Goddesses

God of Beginnings, Gates, Transitions, Choices, & Endings
The Greek Gods and Goddesses may predate the Roman Era, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that this pantheon is devoid of unique personalities. Janus is one such god, a symbol of new beginnings, of doorways into unique experiences. This could be translated as both metaphorical and literal, since openings of non-temple buildings in Rome were often named after Janus. The calendar year of January is named after this two-faced god. Meanwhile, a comparatively more recent example of his influence lies within the film distribution company Janus Films, a collaborator with The Criterion Collection. This company opened up the proverbial gates for arthouse cinema directors like Fellini, Kurosawa and Antonioni to be exposed to a new audience.

Personification of Death
Many members of the Roman pantheon were adaptations of Greek Gods and Goddesses that were already in place. That said, nearly every mythological heritage features a personification of death, and Mors served this place for the Romans. Mors is essentially a take on the Greek god Thanatos, in that Mors doesn’t necessarily preside over a domain (see: Hades). Instead, Mors embodies this physical state within ancient Roman culture and art. The name of Mors also possesses a confusing gender identity, since it is female in origin, yet usually depicted in a masculine form. This conflicts with poetic descriptions of Mors from artists like Seneca and Horace, who utilize female pronouns to describe her pale, ghostly appearance.

Goddess of the Moon
This next goddess is something of a softball pick, since her name has endured so much into the modern day. Luna is, of course, the Roman goddess of the moon, a counterpoint to Sol, the sun god. There exist other members of the Roman pantheon that are associated with this celestial body, such as Diana and Juno, but Luna still stands as a unique figure from this period. The image of Luna riding her yoked chariot across the night sky is a powerful one, and indicative of just how memorable these mythological beings still can feel to our culture today.

Goddess of Flowers & Spring
Flora is another somewhat obvious moniker on this list, that of the Roman goddess of flowers. This minor deity is just one of multiple members of the Roman pantheon that embody nature-based characteristics, with Flora celebrating specifically the fertility of springtime. This association with nature, as well as the sexualized celebration rituals that were often associated with her priesthood, have also made her popular with pagan sects. This modern-day appreciation ensures that the cycle of rebirth associated with goddesses like Flora remains in the conversation for New Age practitioners and historians.

Goddess of Agriculture, Fertility, Motherhood, & The Earth
The worlds of both Roman and Greek mythology possess gods that run the gamut from major to minor. For example, there are a number of minor deities from Rome that are associated with agriculture, yet Ceres is so important that she is included among Rome’s principal gods and goddesses. This earth mother is a member of the Dii Consentes, the 12-deity panel of Rome’s most important mythological figures. The maturity of Ceres in her physical and artistic depictions underline her matriarchal status, and she’s largely considered analogous today to Demeter in Greece.

God of the Forest, Plains, & Fields
The Roman god Faunus retains the word “faun” in his name, making it quite easy to make comparisons to films like “Pan’s Labyrinth” with regard to his appearance. Faunus possesses a close association with the Greek god Pan, both of whom are sacred to shepherds and those who till the fields. Early historical depictions of Faunus actually eschewed physical similarities to this end, although comparatively more recent images of this god have blurred those lines. Indeed, later sculptures and paintings of Faunus even deigned to include goat hindquarters to the god’s design, forever connecting him to fertility, nature and the wild plains.

Queen of the Gods, Goddess of Marriage & Childbirth
Every king needs a queen, and for the Romans, the name of that exalted goddess was Juno. This consort to Jupiter was the patron saint of Rome herself, and gave birth to fellow gods Mars, Vulcan, Juventas, Bellona and Lucina. Juno wasn’t just considered a wife and mother, however, but also a goddess of politics and battle. She was a counselor, and also a protector of Roman women. Juno’s Greek counterpart is Hera, and her reputation was equally as feared and respected as any other names throughout the Roman pantheon.

God of Fire, Metalworking, & the Forge
It’s quite easy, sometimes, to simplify how the Romans adapted the personality traits of the Greek gods into their own folk tales and stories. The image of Vulcan doesn’t feel, on the surface, to be much different from Hephaestus, his Greek counterpart. Both gods are blacksmiths, creating weapons and armor in their great forges. Vulcan is also the god of fire itself, a deity of dangerous volcanoes and barren deserts. This god also shares certain physical similarities to Hephaestus, in that both are often depicted as bearded and bearing a smith’s hammer. However, Vulcan doesn’t appear to retain the physical disabilities, nor marked “ugliness” of his Greek parallel.

Goddess of the Hunt, Wild Animals, Fertility, & the Moon
The origin story of Diana Nemorensis, a.k.a. “Diana of the Wood,” was ushered into Roman mythology from this nature goddess’s mirror image from Greece, Artemis. Both heavenly ladies are goddesses of the hunt, nature and fertility. Both are warriors, possess a strong independent streak, and make fearsome enemies for those who cross their paths. Additionally, there are other, minor deities that are often incorporated under the larger banner of Diana, including Luna and Cybele. This is due to Diana’s association with the moon, menstruation and womanhood. Artemis and Diana certainly possess many similarities, but this Roman goddess’ persona has also endured today, and her name is often mentioned whenever these myths come up in conversation.

God of Oracles, Healing, Music & Arts, Light, & Knowledge
The legacy of Apollo is similar to that of his sister Diana, in that large amounts of his Greek history was adapted when he moved to Rome. In fact, the Roman Apollo was considered to be one and the same from the Greeks, an inherited deity, if you will. This god was a seer and a prophet, a light-giver and muse for both law and the arts. Apollo was considered a musician, poet and doctor, healing the sick and injured. Yet, his wrath could also incur disease, for those who fell out of his favor. Additionally, one of Apollo’s many offspring was Asclepius, the patron saint of medicine and doctors.

The Messenger God, God of Travelers, Thieves & Commerce
Mercury’s duty as messenger of the gods carried over from his Greek counterpart Hermes, but his Roman incarnation further developed 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.

God of Wine, Agriculture, Ecstasy & Theatre
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.

God of Erotic Love & Desire
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.

God of Time & Agriculture
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.

God of Death
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 worshiped 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.

Goddess of Wisdom, Poetry & Weaving
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. Fans of the “Harry Potter” series will surely see the connection to education in the character of the wise and stern Professor Minerva McGonagall, who was named after the goddess.

God of War & Agriculture
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 likable 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.

Goddess of Love & Beauty
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.

God of the Sea
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.

God of Thunder & King of the Gods
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.

Who’s your favorite Roman god or goddess? Let us know in the comments!