The 10 most important Roman goddesses

Much is said about the assimilation that the Roman Empire made of the culture and knowledge of the Greeks, especially in terms of mythology.

Indeed, many of the Roman gods and goddesses coexist in parallel with their ancient Greek counterparts. And it is that as the Romans prevailed in the old continent (Europe), more presence of their most famous deities.

Every time we talk about the Romans, epic movies of gladiators, battles against other empires or the wisdom of Júlio César come to mind. However, the need to believe and embrace mythological beings is intrinsic to the development of the story. In this article we will focus on the Roman goddesses and their characteristics.

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The 10 most important Roman goddesses

In this article we will focus on the most influential Roman goddesses in our culture, who have served, among many other things, to give rise to many female names.

1. Diana

Diana, patroness of virginity and hunting, is the daughter of Jupiter and Latona. The etymology of her name originates from her first name: Diviana, which means "radiance." What this deity represents

she is the protector of children and chastity.

As a tribute, women cut their hair before marrying or having children. Today it is very common to hear this name in most western countries.

2. Minerva

Daughter of Jupiter too, she was born without a mother. It is said that this was her favorite daughter for everything what she represented: magic, crafts, wisdom and medicine, among others. She is always represented with extreme innocence and wisdom, and purity, with a touching physique. Interestingly, she is also considered the goddess of war.

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3. Vesta

Another of the most interesting Roman goddesses, and of whom rather little is said, is Vesta, who represents fire and passion. Goddess of the home as something sacred, in her Roman temple of hers was the famous "flame that never goes out". The most important documents and archives of the Empire were housed in this building. The origin of her in ancient mythology is not yet known, nor who were her progenitors.

4. Congratulations

Felicitas corresponds to the meaning of happiness today, inherited from the literature and fantasy of the moment. Its meaning is good luck, fortune, blessed. Definitely, she was considered the Roman goddess of success and prosperity, and the merchants of the Empire entrusted themselves to her in order to thrive.

5. Fortune

This is one of the most famous Roman goddesses in Western culture. Although it seems a bit contradictory, Fortuna initially represented the vagaries of life, and she ended up becoming the personification of good luck. She held great significance during the Roman Empire as a Temple and a public sanctuary were built for her.

6. Victory

Undoubtedly she was the most relevant deity in the armies of Greater Rome. As its name indicates, it represents the successes of the soldiers before their enemies. The etymology comes from the Latin "Vincere", which means to conquer. Every time a general returned with a victory under the shield, an offering was made to Victoria with large parades and military crowds.

7. Venus

Venus she is the goddess of sex, fertility and love. It is the equivalent to the Aphrodite of Greek mythology, but with many more qualities than her. As a curious fact, Venus also represented prostitution.

8. dawn

Sister of Helios, god of the Sun and Selene, goddess of the moon, Aurora represents the glow of the dew. According to Roman mythology, Aurora had the function of waking up every day from the sea, flying through the skies and pouring a good amount of dew on the Earth, jug by means of. In Spain and Latin America it is increasingly common to use this name for daughters.

9. Cybele

Who does not know one of the most famous squares in Spain? In the heart of Madrid, is the fountain that pays tribute to the Roman goddess Cibeles, represented with her chariot pulled by two lions. The city's two soccer teams bathe in the fountain that surrounds the sculpture to celebrate their sporting triumphs.

The symbolism of Cibeles is that of a healer and a protector at the same time, being another reference for the battles of Hannibal the Carthaginian.

10. Juno

She is the mother of all goddesses, the highest representative of the female figure in Roman mythology. She symbolizes marriage and childbirth, that is, the family. From the remaining sculptures in museums around the world, Juno seems to have incarnated a warrior and brave goddess, because her image is that of a woman with a spear and a cape of unknown animal skin, just as the soldiers wore Romans.

Bibliographic references:

• Cameron, A. (2004). Greek Mythography in the Roman World. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.
• Grandazzi, A. 1997. The Foundation of Rome: Myth and History. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Univ. Press.