The native Roman gods or numina (sing. numen) had no face or mythology but were spiritual forces. The word 'numinous' is derived from them although 'numen' literally meant 'a divinity'. Later Greek influence was very strong with the Greek pantheon being adopted by Rome and some of the numina were given a form, gender and name.
| Jupiter (Jove) | Dius Fidius
Optimus Maximus - best and greatest J. Stator - the Stayer J. Latiaris |
-
king of gods
gave soldiers courage to fight Latin Jupiter |
| Juno | Juno Moneta - warnings
Juno Lucina |
sacred geese |
| Minerva |
Gods
| Name | Attributes | |
| Amphitritis? | ||
| Aquilo | North wind | |
| Bacchus | Wine | |
| Bonus Eventus | Good luck | |
| Castor and Pollux | 'Dioscuri' | twin sons of Leda and Jupiter |
| Cupid/Amor | Love | |
| Faunus | Flocks | |
| Hercules Musarum
Olivarius |
||
| Janus | Beginnings | |
| Janus Patulcius | Opening of doors | |
| Janus Clusivius | Closing of doors | |
| Juventas | ||
| Liber Pater | Vine | Greek Bacchus |
| Lucifer | Light bringer (Venus) | |
| Mars | war, agriculture | |
| Mercury | Messenger | Greek Hermes |
| Mithras | Persian sun god | popular with legions |
| Monoeceus | Herakles | |
| Morpheus | Sleep | |
| Neptune | Sea | |
| Nodens | Healing | |
| Orcus | Greek Hades | |
| Pales | Flocks and herds | |
| Palicus | Sicilian god/hero | |
| Picus | Woodpecker | Mars of Picentum |
| Pilumnus | Spearman | |
| Pluto/Dis | Underworld | |
| Portunus | Harbours | |
| Quirinus | Quirinal hill | identified with Mars |
| Saturn | Agriculture wealth? | Greek Cronus |
| Semo Sancus Dius Fidius | Divine good faith | |
| Silvanus | Uncultivated land | |
| Sol Indiges? | ||
| Vediovis | disappointments/
underworld |
Roman, numinous |
| Vulcan | smith | Greek Hephaistos |
| Name | Attributes | |
| Ambrosia | ||
| Anna Perenna | originally a numen | |
| Aurora | dawn | |
| Bona Dea | fertility | |
| Ceres | corn, food crops | Italian/Roman |
| Cloacina | purification | |
| Cybele | mother goddess of Phrygia | |
| Diana | hunting | Greek Artemis |
| Disciplina | ||
| Diva Angerona | knows Rome's secret name | |
| Eumachia | patron of 'fullones' or clothmakers | |
| Flora | flowers, spring | |
| Fortuna | fortune | Greek Tyche |
| Juno Lucita
Juno Sospita |
childbirth, women | |
| Juturna/Juterna | springs, streams | native to Rome |
| Laia | ||
| Latona | Greek Leto | |
| Magna Mater/Cubaba Cybele | earth goddess | from Pessinus |
| Marica | mother of Latinus, whose dau. Lavinia married Aeneas | |
| Minerva | wisdom arts | |
| Mormolyce/Mormo | cannibal queen who ate children | used to threaten naughty children |
| Ops | plenty | wife of Saturn |
| Pietas | loyalty, duty, family | |
| Pomona | fruits | |
| Proserpina | daughter of Ceres | Greek Persephone |
| Sangaritis | nymph | |
| Tellus | earth, pre Magna Mater | |
| Terra | ||
| Ulpicina | childbirth | |
| Venus -
Venus Libitina - |
-vegetable fertility, love
-extinction of life force |
|
| Vesta | hearth | numinous, served by six Vestal Virgins |
| Victoria | victory |
| Di Penates | home, store cupboards | altar in most homes |
| Penates Publici | orig. belonged to the king, later State solvency | |
| Parcae | fates | |
| Manes 'good ones' | spirits of dead | |
| Lares Permarini | protected sea voyagers | |
| Lares Praestites | watched over state + public | |
| Lares familiares | watched over home + family | altar in most homes |
winds N Septentrio
NW Corus
This collection of names compiled by Kate Monk. Copyright January 1997, Kate Monk. Last updated April, 97. Copies may be made for personal use only.