Tim Roos

Professeur Cian
Latin 1, Period 8
12.5.2016
I.

When Greece and Rome, rose to power, they believed in deities, or gods and goddesses.
When people needed something, they would pray to the god that was the god of what
they needed. Some of the most famous gods were Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, and Hera (all
Greek). In roman mythology, they were referred to as Jupiter, Pluto, Neptune, and Juno.
They also believed in monsters, such as the Gorgons, Centaurs, and Lares.
After the Romans defeated the Greeks, they decided to share the Greek gods and
practiced syncretism, except a few things changed. The Roman gods had different names
and acted more responsible. Poseidon who was very important in Greek mythology,
became Neptune, and was not very popular in Rome.
Both the Greek and Roman life centered around the gods. Everything they had
involved the gods. Government, War, Festivals, Games, and many more things
surrounded the gods. In governmental life, they would force people to practice paganism.
In war they would pray to the god of war Ares, or Mars, to give them victory over their
enemies. In festivals they would praise the gods. Certain gods required special
requirements. In games like the Olympics, competitors could pray to Athena, or Minerva
for wisdom on how to beat their rival.

II.

One god that the Romans adopted was Dionysus, except to the Romans, they referred to
him as Bacchus. Bacchus is the roman god of wine, partying, ecstasy, drama, good-cheer,
hilarity, mirth and revels, and basically having a good time. He is the son of Zeus and a
mortal named Semele. He had many children, and loved chasing after girls, nymphs, and
other goddesses. The name Bacchus derives from bacca, meaning berry. Bacchus is a
major god and one of the Dei Consentes, or the Coucil of the gods. His symbol is a
bunch of grapes and a wine cup. Henotheism is the belief that a god is known by other
names in other cultures Not cynical, not accommodation, but subjugation.
The name of his festival was 'Bacchanalia' which has since been used to refer to
any forms of drunken revelry. The festival called Bacchanalia was held in his honor. The
terrible reputation of these festivals, notorious for their debauchery and where all kinds of
crimes and political conspiracies were supposed to be planned, led to a ban on these
festivals. In 186 B.C. the Roman Senate issued a decree, the so called 'Senatus consultum
de Bacchanalibus' by which the Bacchanalia were prohibited throughout the whole of
Italy, except in certain special cases, in which the senate reserved the right of allowing
them. Admission to the Bacchanalian rites were subsequently extended to men and
celebrations took place five times a month.
His wife was Ariadne, but he had many women who he had children with. The
names of his children by Ariadne were Oenopion, Thoas, Staphylos and Peparethus.
Other children, by Venus, included the Charites, Hymenaios and Priapus. He also had
demigod children, and nymph children.

Silenus was the tutor of Bacchus and was generally represented on an ass. The
Thyrsus was the name of the vine encircled wand borne by the followers of the god. The
Bacchantes was the name given to female followers of the god. There were many temples
erected to him by the Romans. Sacrifices to the god were the goat and the swine because
these animals were destructive to the vine.
III.

The early Christians believed in only Monotheism. While the Romans respected the
Judaism, they did not respect Christianity. Christians were willing to die for faith,
Romans thought that the gods would protect them. Christians were persecuted for their
faith, at the time. When Constantine rose to power, he went into battle and saw a sign
from God. Under Constantine, Christianity became the main religion. Praise to gods was
not like Mass or a congregation. Christianity is much about loving and devoting your life
to God.
A comet was seen by the sky and was named Caesar's comet, and stayed for 7 days. The

Romans believed Caesar was made one with the god's, because of the comet. Emperors were not
gods, but the Emperor joins the gods. Different regions of the roman empire had different gods.
Romans do not have faith, while the Christians did. Romans believe in duties. Pagan practice
is very diverse. In each household, it was different. In the home worship begins with veneration
of ancestors, or majors, which mean greater ones. They're would be sculptures of gods, or
paintings. They also believed in all sorts of household gods, which are lesser deities. If shrines in
homes needed wine for rituals, then you must follow the directions. All they had to do was
perform the action. If you worshipped them you got physical gain, fertile offspring, success in
war, etc.

Works Cited
Wiginton, Patti. "Meet Bacchus, the Roman God of Wine & Fertility." About.com Religion &
Spirituality. About.com, 24 Sept. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.
<http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/romandeities/p/BacchusProfile.htm>.
Sayne, Marina. "10 Most Spectacular Ancient Roman Temples." Touropia. Touropia, 10 Nov.
2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016. <http://www.touropia.com/ancient-roman-temples/>.