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I don't have much knowledge on the mythology of either the Greek or Roman pantheons. I have just enough to know that they are basically the same pantheon just with different names, but that is not always the case. So I was hoping that someone out there could help me with deciphering the differences between the gods and goddesses of these two pantheons and clarify what exactly they rule over.

Me too. I'll be back with at least a basic list, unless someone beats me to it.

You beat me to it. I'll have to peruse those links. I don't think she meant all of it though. Very few people know the whole of either pantheon. Most only know the main Olypians and thier Roman counterparts. And while they may not be identical, those specific gods certainly corespond closer to each other than any other pantheons I've come across.

I'd like to talk about why that idea exists too. As you said, the Roman's at least merged a great many of the main Greek Deities with those of thier own Pantheon. Some were adjusted more dramatically though and some few were lifted whole (excepting names). The Romans had a grand tradition of picking up ideas (including Gods) from the people they encountered or conquered. to my knowledge they were fairly flexible about such things. They admired the Greeks in particular and in their early days, they modeled many aspects of thier society off of the Greeks, mearging it with some elements of their Etruscan heritage. This is not to say that they were identical of course. Just heavily influenced.

No problem, and feel free to call me Kayna.


Well let me see. Drat it all. I need a book specifically on Roman mythology. All the books I have lump it in with Greek and don't bother to elaborate about origins or even slight differences.

From what I can tell though, both Zeus and Jupiter are sky Gods who rule over storms and use thunderbolts as thier main weapons, as well as being the kings of thier respective Pantheons. Zeus is pretty much a sky and weather god though, where I found references to Jupiter as being associated with the 'elements' which is a a slightly broader term. My one big book o' mythology also says that the cult of Jupiter Optimus Maximus began under the Etruscan Kings who were expelled from Rome around 507 BCE (or around the founding of the Roman Republic). The Etruscans were a northern Italian people that had thier own culture and influence on the Rome that would emerge so I imagine thier version of Jupiter was somewhat different from the Zeus analog that we are familiar with today.

Can't really help with suggestions. As I said, I'd like to find some straight out Roman mythology books myself. Anyway, did you want to continue the discussion, comparing and contrasting where we can, or would you just like a list of who coresponds to whom?

All right. Sorry for the late reply but better late then never right? Ans since you did start this thread I see no problem with you suggesting the particular deities for discussion. Who interests you? If you have no real top of the list questions though, I'd be willing to suggest a few.

Origami Dragon, I have a book on classical mythology you can borrow if you want. It focuses on Greek mainly, but it does have info on some Roman stuff mixed in. Let me know!