Minerva is one of the most recognisable Roman goddesses, with her shield and helmet. She continues to gaze at us whenever we see depictions of Britannia. But she’s also one of my favourite goddesses because she completely defies the contemporary tendency to consider all goddesses as either mother figures or love deities. Instead, Minerva is […]
roman gods
Meet Vulcan, Roman God of Fire, Volcanoes and Blacksmiths
For some among you, Vulcan conjures mental images of Star Trek, with the name being that of the planet Spock calls home. For others, you’ll know Vulcan as the Roman god of fire, volcanoes, and blacksmiths. That’s the incarnation of Vulcan we’ll be looking at in this article. He’s the equivalent of the Greek Hephaestus. […]
Meet Juno, Queen of the Gods and Protector of the Roman State
Depending on who you ask, Juno is either a NASA space probe studying Jupiter, or she’s the Roman queen of the gods, wife of Jupiter, god of thunder. As the Roman counterpart of Hera, the wife of Zeus in Greek mythology, she’s often characterised as a jealous, bitter, and vindictive wife, often punishing the nymphs […]
Meet Silvanus, Roman god of the wild and nature
Roman mythology offers plenty of gods associated with the natural world – just look at Neptune and his dominion over the sea, or Luna’s role as goddess of the moon. Yet it also offers a god of nature itself in the form of Silvanus. But he was also so much more than a nature god. […]
Meet Jupiter Optimus Maximus – The Greatest and Best!
The name ‘Jupiter’ conjures up various images. The fifth planet from the sun, the most rousing part of Holst’s Planets suite, and the chief of the Roman gods. He’s like Zeus, except in one major way. Jupiter was not only the god of the Romans but also the state and its empire. Thomas Apel suggests […]
Meet Mars, the Roman God of War and…Agriculture?!
Mars is primarily known as the Roman god of war. He’s also the god of rage, destruction and passion—and, surprisingly, agriculture (Hoerber 1958: 66). As Peter Carney puts it, Mars is the protector of both fighters and food (2019). In some traditions, he even has a healing aspect (Henig 1995: 51). So it’s fair to […]
