List of Roman deities

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This is a list of Roman deities with brief descriptions.

Contents

[edit] Major Deities

  • Apollo - god of the sun, poetry, music, and oracles, and an Olympian
  • Bona Dea - goddess of fertility, healing, virginity, and women. Also known as Fauna
  • Bacchus - god of wine and sensual pleasures, not considered an Olympian by the Romans
  • Carmenta - goddess of childbirth and prophecy, and assigned a Flamen Minore. The leader of the Camenae.
  • Ceres - goddess of the harvest and mother of Proserpina, and an Olympian, and assigned a Flamen Minore
  • Cybele - earth mother
  • Diana - goddess of the hunt, the moon, virginity, and childbirth, twin sister of Apollo and an Olympian
  • Flora - goddess of flowers, and assigned a Flamen Minore
  • Fortuna - goddess of fortune
  • Janus - two-headed god of beginnings and endings and of doors
  • Juno - Queen of the Gods and goddess of matrimony, and an Olympian
  • Jupiter - King of the Gods and the storm, air, and sky god, and an Olympian, and assigned a Flamen Majore
  • Mars - god of war and father of Romulus, the founder of Rome, and an Olympian, and assigned a Flamen Majore
  • Mercury - messenger of the gods and bearer of souls to the underworld, and an Olympian
  • Minerva - goddess of wisdom and war, and an Olympian
  • Neptune - god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses, and an Olympian
  • Ops - goddess of plenty
  • Pluto - King of the Dead
  • Pomona - goddess of fruit trees, and assigned a Flamen Minore.
  • Portunes- god of keys, doors, and livestock, he was assigned a Flamen Minore.
  • Proserpina - Queen of the Dead and a grain-goddess
  • Volturnus- a god of water, was assigned a Flamen Minore.
  • Quirinus - Romulus, the founder of Rome, was deified as Quirinus after his death. Quirinus was a war god and a god of the Roman people and state, and was assigned a Flamen Majore.
  • Saturn - a titan, god of harvest and agriculture, the father of Jupiter, Neptune, Juno, and Pluto
  • Venus - goddess of love and beauty, mother of the hero Aeneas, and an Olympian
  • Vesta - goddess of the hearth and the Roman state, and an Olympian.
  • Vulcan - god of the forge, fire, and blacksmiths, and an Olympian, and assigned a Flamen Minore

[edit] Other deities

[edit] A

  • Abeona - a goddess who protected children the first time they left their parents' home, safeguarding their first steps alone
  • Abundantia - goddess of good fortune, abundance, and prosperity
  • Acca Larentia - goddess of cornfields. A mythological figure who started out as mortal but was later deified.
  • Acis - river god near the Etna, son of Faunus and the nymph Symaethis
  • Abeona - goddess who protected children as they left home
  • Adeona - goddess who protected children as they returned home
  • Aeolus - god of storms and winds, derived from the Greek Aeolus
  • Aera Cura - goddess associated with the underworld
  • Aequitas - goddess of fair trade and honest merchants
  • Aesculapius - god of health and medicine
  • Aeternitas - goddess and personification of eternity
  • Alemonia or Alemona - goddess responsible for nourishing the unborn child
  • Angerona - goddess who relieved men from pain and sorrow
  • Angita - early goddess of healing, magic and witchcraft. May be the same as Angitia
  • Angitia - goddess associated with snakes
  • Anna Perenna - early goddess of the "circle of the year"
  • Antevorta - goddess of the future and one of the Camenae; also called Porrima
  • Arimanius - an underworld god derived from the Greek Areimanios.
  • Aurora - goddess of the dawn
  • Averna - goddess of the underworld. May be equivalent to Proserpina
  • Averruncus - god of childbirth. Averts calamity, whilst bringing good fortune.

[edit] B

[edit] C

  • Caca - originally an ancient hearth goddess, later demoted to a minor figure in mythology and replaced by Vesta.
  • Cacus - originally an ancient god of fire, later demoted to a giant.
  • Caelus - god of the sky
  • Camenae - four goddesses with various attributes including fresh water, prophecy, and childbirth. There were four of them: Carmenta, Egeria, Antevorta, and Postvorta.
  • Candelifera - goddess of childbirth
  • Cardea - goddess of health, thresholds and door hinges and handles
  • Carmenta - goddess of childbirth and prophecy
  • Carmentes - two goddesses of childbirth: Antevorta and Postvorta or Porrima, future and past.
  • Carna - goddess who presided over the heart and other organs
  • Ceres (mythology): goddess of growing plants and of motherly love
  • Cinxia - goddess of marriage
  • Clementia: goddess of forgiveness and mercy
  • Clitunno - god of the Clitunno River
  • Cloacina - goddess who presided over the system of sewers in Rome
  • Concordia (mythology): goddess of agreement, understanding, and marital harmony
  • Consus - chthonic god protecting grain storage
  • Convector - god who oversaw the bringing in of the crops from the field
  • Cuba - goddess of infants who was invoked by mothers to help their babies sleep
  • Cunina - the protectress of infants
  • Cupid - god of love and son of Mars and Venus. Also called Amor
  • Cura - goddess who created humans from clay
  • Cybele - a goddess of caverns and mountains, walls and fortresses, nature, wild animals

[edit] D

  • Dea Dia - goddess of growth
  • Dea Tacita ("The Silent Goddess") - goddess of the dead; later equated with the earth goddess Larenta
  • Decima - minor goddess and one of the Parcae (Roman equivalent of the Moirae). The measurer of the thread of life, her Greek equivalent was Lachesis
  • Dei Lucrii - early gods of wealth, profit, commerce and trade. They were later subsumed by Mercury
  • Devera - goddess who ruled over the brooms used to purify temples in preparation for various worship services, sacrifices and celebrations
  • Deverra - goddess who protected midwives and women in labor
  • Diana (mythology) - virgin goddess of the hunt
  • Dius Fidus - god of oaths, associated with Jupiter
  • Disciplina - personification of discipline
  • Discordia - goddess of discord. Greek equivalent is Eris
  • Dis Pater or Dispater - god of wealth and the underworld, later subsumed by Pluto and Jupiter
  • Domiduca - goddess of protecting children on the way back to their parents' home
  • Domiducus - goddess who brought brides to their husbands' houses.
  • Domitius or Domidius - god who kept wives in their husbands' homes

[edit] E

  • Edusa - goddess of nourishment who guarded over children as they learned to eat solid foods
  • Egeria - water nymph/goddess, later considered one the Camenae
  • Empanda - goddess of generosity and charity
  • Epona - protector of horses, donkeys, mules
  • Evander - a deified culture hero
  • Eventus Bonus - god of success in agriculture and commerce.

[edit] F

  • Fabulinus - god of children, responsible for their first words
  • Facunditas - god of the harvest
  • Falacer - obscure god. He was assigned a Flamen Minore.
  • Fama - goddess of fame and rumor
  • Fauna - a minor goddess of vegetation. Also a title of other vegetative goddesses such as Bona Dea, Ops, and Terra
  • Faunus - god of flocks
  • Faustitas - god who protected herd and livestock
  • Febris - goddess who protected people against fevers and malaria
  • Felicitas - goddess of good luck and success
  • Ferentina - patron goddess of the city Ferentinum, Latium, protector of the Latin commonwealth
  • Feronia (mythology) - rural goddess of woods and fountains
  • Fides - goddess of loyalty
  • Flora (mythology) - goddess of flowers and the season of spring
  • Fontus - god of wells and springs
  • Fornax - goddess of bread and baking
  • Fortuna (mythology) - goddess of luck, usually good luck
  • Fraus - goddess of treachery. Her Greek equivalent was Apate
  • Fulgora - personification of lightning
  • Furrina - goddess whose functions are mostly unknown; may be associated with water. One source claims she was a goddess of robbers and thieves. She was assigned a Flamen Minore.

[edit] G

  • Glycon - snake god. His cult originated in Macedonia.
  • Gratiae - Roman term for the Charites or Graces

[edit] H

  • Hercules - god of strength
  • Hermus - a river god with a sanctuary at Sardis
  • Herulus or Erelus - god of the darkness of Hades
  • Hippona - goddess of horses
  • Honos - god of military honours
  • Hora - Quirinus' wife

[edit] I

  • Imporcitor - god responsible for the harrowing of the fields. Minor attendant of Ceres
  • Indiges - the deified Aeneas
  • Insitor - god responsible for the sowing of crops
  • Intercidona - minor goddess of childbirth; invoked to keep evil spirits away from the child; symbolised by a cleaver
  • Inuus - god of fertility and sexual intercourse, protector of livestock
  • Invidia - goddess of envy or jealousy

[edit] J

[edit] L

[edit] M

  • Mana Genita - goddess who presided over burials, mother or leader of the manes
  • Manes - the souls of the dead; came to be seen as household deities
  • Mania - goddess of the dead and ruler of the underworld, wife of Mantus. Not to be confused with the Greek figure of the same name.
  • Mantus - god of the dead and ruler of the underworld, husband of Mania.
  • Mater Matuta - goddess of dawn and childbirth; also seen as patroness of mariners
  • Mellona or Mellonia - goddess of bees and beekeeping
  • Mefitis or Mephitis - goddess and personification of poisonous gases and volcanic vapours.
  • Mellona - goddess of bees and beekeeping
  • Messor - minor agricultural god concerned with the growth and harvesting of crops; attendant of Ceres.
  • Minerva - goddess of crafts and wisdom
  • Mithras - god worshipped in the Roman empire; popular with soldiers
  • Moneta - minor goddess of prosperity; the spirit of the mint. Also used as an epithet of Juno
  • Mors - personification of death and equivalent of the Greek Thanatos.
  • Morta - minor goddess of death and one of the Parcae (Roman equivalent of the Moirae. The cutter of the thread of life, her Greek equivalent was Atropos.
  • Murcia or Murtia ("Of the Myrtle")- a little-known goddess who was associated with the myrtle, and in other sources was called a goddess of sloth and laziness. Later equated with Venus in the form of Venus Murcia.
  • Muta - goddess of silence.
  • Mutinus Mutunus - god of fertility; equivalent of the Greek Priapus

[edit] N

  • Naenia - goddess of funerals (also Libitina)
  • Necessitas - goddess of destiny, the Roman equivalent of Ananke
  • Nehalennia
  • Nemesis - goddess of revenge
  • Nemestrinus - god of woods and forests
  • Nerio - ancient war goddess and the personification of valor
  • Nixi - goddesses of childbirth, called upon to protect women in labour
  • Nodutus - god who made knots in stalks of wheat
  • Nona - minor goddess, one of the Parcae (Roman equivalent of the Moirae. The spinner of the thread of life, her Greek equivalent was Clotho.
  • Nox - goddess of night, derived from the Greek Nyx

[edit] O

  • Obarator - minor god of agriculture. Responsible for overseeing the top-dressing of crops.
  • Occator - minor agricultural god responsible for the growth and harvesting of the crops; attendant of Ceres.
  • Ops - goddess of fertility (more properly Opis)
  • Orbona - goddess of children, especially orphans. She granted new children to those who had become childless
  • Orcus - a god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths

[edit] P

  • Palatua - obscure goddess who guarded the Palatine Hill. She was assigned a Flamen Minore.
  • Pales - deity of shepherds, flocks and livestock
  • Parcae - personifications of destiny (Nona, Decima, and Morta)
  • Partula or Parca - goddess of childbirth; determined the length of pregnancy.
  • Patalena - goddess of flowers
  • Paventia - goddess who comforted frightened children
  • Pax - goddess of peace; equivalent of Greek Eirene.
  • Penates or Di Penates - household gods
  • Picumnus - minor god of fertility, agriculture, matrimony, infants and children
  • Pietas - goddess of duty; personification of the Roman virtue pietas.
  • Pilumnus - minor guardian god, concerned with the protection of infants at birth
  • Poena - goddess of punishment
  • Pomona - goddess of fruit trees, gardens and orchards
  • Porus - god and personification of plenty
  • Porrima - goddess of the future. Also called *Antevorta. One of the Carmentes or the Camenae
  • Postverta - goddess of the past and one of the two Carmentes (other being Porrima)
  • Potina - goddess of children's drinks
  • Priapus - localised god of the shade; worship derived from the Greek Priapus
  • Promitor - minor agricultural god, responsible for the growth and harvesting of crops; attendant of Ceres.
  • Prorsa Postverta - goddess of women in labor
  • Proserpina - goddess of springtime
  • Providentia - goddess of forethought
  • Pudicita - goddess and personification of chastity, one of the Roman virtues. Her Greek equivalent was Aidôs.
  • Puta - goddess of pruning vines and bushes

[edit] Q

  • Quiritis - goddess of motherhood. Originally Sabine or pre-Roman, she was later equated with Juno.

[edit] R

  • Redarator - minor god of agriculture, associated with the second ploughing
  • Robigalia
  • Robigo or Robiga - goddess of blight, who protected crops from disease. Sister of Robigus
  • Robigus - god of blight, who protected crops from disease. Brother of Robigo.
  • Roma (mythology): personification of the Roman state
  • Rumina - goddess who protected breastfeeding mothers (also known as Diva Rumina)
  • Runcina - minor goddess of agriculture, associated with reaping and weeding.
  • Rusina - protector of the fields or farmland (also known as Rurina)

[edit] S

  • Salus - goddess of the public welfare of the Roman people; came to be equated with the Greek Hygieia
  • Sancus - god of loyalty, honesty, and oaths
  • Sarritor or Saritor - minor god of agriculture, god of hoeing and weeding
  • Securita or Securitas - goddess of security, especially the security of the Roman empire
  • Semonia - goddess of sowing
  • Sentia - goddess who oversaw children's mental development
  • Silvanus - minor god of woodlands and forests
  • Sol Invictus - sun god
  • Somnus - god of sleep; equates with the Greek Hypnos.
  • Soranus - a god lated subsumed by Apollo in the form Apollo Soranus.
  • Sors - god of luck
  • Spes - goddess of hope
  • Spiniensis - minor agricultural god; prayed to when removing thorny bushes
  • Stata Mater - goddess who protected against fires. Sometimes equated with Vesta
  • Statanus - god also known as Statulinus or Statilinus. Presided over the child's first attempt to stand up. Along with his wife Statina protected the childred as they left home for the first time and returned.
  • Statina - goddess who, along with her husband Statanus protected the childred as they left home for the first time and returned.
  • Sterquilinus ("manure") - god of fertilisation. Also known as Stercutus or Sterculius
  • Strenua or Strenia - goddess of strength and endurance
  • Suadela- goddess of persuasion
  • Summanus - god of nocturnal thunder


[edit] T

[edit] U

  • Ubertas - minor agricultural god, associated with prosperity
  • Unxia - minor goddess of marriage, concerned with anointing the bridgegroom's door

[edit] V

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