The origin of the universe according to the romans and its 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 Gaia (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 faced and defeated Uranus to crown himself as god of the gods..
Saturn, seeing himself powerful, married Rea, a demigoddess (not descended from humans), from that union three children were born but only one remained 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 demigoddess 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.
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Myths play a fundamental role in the stories of each culture. The narratives 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.
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, 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 destiny of each mortal and managed them depending on state of mind you were in at the moment.
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 accorded 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. In the same way, she was the protector of Rome and patroness of artisans..
Vulcan: Listed as the god of volcanoes, fire and smithy.
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 as a dark divinity. Protector of the land, livestock and shepherds.
Ceres: The goddess of agriculture, fertility and crops. 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.
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 of said mythology.
Luke Roman and Monica Roman. Encyclopedia of Geek and Roman Mythology. 2010, New York.
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