The origin of the universe according to the Romans and their mythology began with the creation of three fundamental elements: the Earth, the Sky and the Sea, which when combined were called Chaos. This genesis is associated with the main characters and gods of the Roman myth, ensuring that they were responsible for the formation of the universe.
Legend has it that Uranus (god of the sea), by marrying Gaea (goddess of the earth), assigned the task of Heaven to keep the cosmos safe. Later, the two elements or gods became parents, with Saturn being the eldest son of the marriage. Eager for power, the firstborn confronted and defeated Uranus to crown himself as god of the gods.
Uranus and Gaia
Saturn seeing himself powerful, married Rea, a demigoddess (not descended from humans), from that union three children were born but only one was left alive.
The survivor was named Jupiter, his mother took it upon herself to protect him because she discovered that the first two sons had been eaten by Saturn for fear of being dethroned. The demigod asked her warrior priests for help in keeping her heir safe.
After this, Jupiter in his adult stage, learned about the entire family event, the event motivated him to battle against his father for ten years and ended up becoming the new god. Saturn did not die, however, he was exiled and placed in Lazio where he taught agriculture to men.
Roman creation myth
Myths play a fundamental role in the stories of each culture. The narrations considered as sacred and that express the creation of the universe, the creation of humanity and cultural evolution, are influenced by mythology, where the Roman and the Greek share similarities, although they differ in the names of the gods.
Regarding the formation of the cosmos, Roman mythology indicates that Jupiter asked the god of fire, Vulcan, to create mortals, it would be the emergence of humanity and the civilization of Rome.
Vulcan formed three races of mortals in different periods, since the first men became extinct for lack of knowledge of cultivation.
The second failed due to ignorance of the reproduction. The third survived for two reasons; because they were given the wisdom of fire and the teachings of agriculture by Saturn; and by the origin of women (represented by Pandora), who was chosen for the reproduction and survival of the human race.
Creation of the stars according to the Romans
Jupiter did not stand out for being a god faithful to his wife, he had many lovers and with one of them he fathered two children, who were sent to Heaven to protect them from Juno (Jupiter's wife).
The two brothers, upon being placed in their new home, became the constellation of Gemini. Likewise, the god formed more constellations for the protection of his other descendants.
Finally, the last thing mentioned in mythology is that Rome believed in destiny guided by the gods, that according to what tradition indicates, Jupiter before his throne, is dedicated to deciding the fate of each mortal and managed them depending on the state of mind you were in at the time.
Main gods
Roman mythology is symbolized by a series of characters and gods that over the centuries have become a reference to one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
It is important to note that the gods were agreed to the rites and offerings that were deemed appropriate in those times. Next, the main heroes and their representation in this mythology will be detailed.
Saturn: God of agriculture and harvest. He is also known as the Eater of Children, as he ate two of them.
Jupiter: Younger son of Saturn. Thought as the father of all gods. He ascended to the throne after overthrowing his father for having eaten his brothers.
Neptune: Brother of Jupiter, he had the power to control the water. He lived in the depths of the seas.
Juno: Sister and wife of Jupiter and queen of the gods. It is thought as the protective goddess of the family and marriage.
Minerva: Daughter of the god Jupiter and Metis, divinity of prudence. She was described as the goddess of the arts, wisdom and tactics of war. Similarly, she was the protector of Rome and patron of artisans.
Vulcano: Listed as the god of volcanoes, fire and blacksmithing.
Venus: Goddess of love, beauty and also of reproduction.
Pluto: He is the god of the underworld. The equivalent of this in Greek mythology is Hades, however history points out that Pluto was more tame.
Pales: It was thought of as a dark divinity. Protector of the land, cattle and shepherds.
Ceres: The goddess of agriculture, fertility and harvests. If mention is made of Greek mythology, its equivalent was Demeter. The name Ceres is an attribute of what is known today as Cereals.
Pomona: Goddess of fruits, fruit trees, gardens and orchards.
Mars: This god had many attributes, that is, in addition to being the defender of young people and of each of the activities carried out by them, he was also the god of male virility, passion, sexuality and violence.
conclusion
In conclusion, the mythology of the Romans shows a history full of symbolism, mysticism and a lot of cultural load. Through myths and stories they describe how the creation of the universe, man and the divinities was engendered, representing one of the most important mythological expressions on a world scale.
Roman mythology is still present today, evidence of its incidence are the signs of the zodiac, the name of the planets (which refer to some gods), and even certain seas and some continents owe their names to influences from said mythology.
References
- Sue Blundell. The Origins of Civilization in Geek and Roman Thought (Rutledge Revivals). Ebook published: February 2016.
- Anders Andrén, Kristina Jennbert, Catharina Raudvere (EDS). Old Norse religion in long-term perspectives Origins, Changes, and Interactions. Nordic Academic Press and the authors 2006.
- Phillip Wilkinson. Myths and Legends: An Illustrated Guide to Their Origins and Meanings. Published in the United States by DK Publishing. New York, July 2009.
- Kathleen N. Daly, Marian Rengel. Geek and Roman Mythology, A to Z. (2009, 1992). New York.
Luke Roman and Monica Roman. Encyclopedia of Geek and Roman Mythology. 2010, New York.