Roman mythology was in bug part derived from the Greek mythology. The Romans had almost the same system for deities and they both had one ruling deity and several other deities which were under the ruling deities. The highest deity in Rome was Jupiter, and all other deities had to be faithful to him. roman mythology consist out of many stories which teach us about moral and other qualities that we need to understand and apply in our own lives.
Roman mythology has been the base of many other religions such as Christianity and even Islam. People often fail to see this connection but the connection is definitely there. There are always three main deities or holy beings around which the entire religious concept is based. In this text we will be talking about the Roman god Jupiter, which was the god of thunder, the sky and storm.
Jupiter was also the highest deity in the Roman mythology and was often called upon in various situations. This highest deity was the base around which the entire religion was surrounded, but besides Jupiter, Romans had many other deities or one deity for almost everything that represented something important for them.
Mythology and Symbolism
Jupiter was the Roman god of storm, thunder and the sky. His equivalent in the Greek mythology was Zeus and in Etruscan the Tinia. Jupiter was also the ruler of all laws and regulations. Jupiter’s name comes from the Latin word lupiter. According to the legend, Jupiter was the twin of Juno and he was nursed by Fortuna Primigenia. In another legend, Fortuna was portrayed as his first born child. The reason why Jupiter’s origins are so different is because people inhabited different regions and therefore their religious beliefs varied a little bit. There is very little evidence about the Jupiter’s childhood, unlike Zeus where there is a lot of evidence about its origin.
Another origin of the Jupiter’s name and also Zeus’s name is from the Indo-European god Dyeusus. Jupiter and Zeus are usually linked or associated as gods of the lightning in the sky and as the birght sky. Jupiter was the child of Saturn and Ops. Saturn was the ruler of Golden Age, even though he wasn’t often depicted as a positive character. The reason why this is the case is because Saturn actually ate his children and killed his father.
Jupiter was also the hughest deity in the Roman mythology and was often called upon in various situations. This highest deity was the base around which the entire religion was surruounded, but besides Jupiter, Romans had many other deities or one deity for almost everything that represented something important for them.
Jupiter’s mother Ops, gave birth to him and five other brothers and sisters. When Saturn decided to eat them, Ops hid Jupiter and saved him from this destiny. Jupiter’s grandmother Terra raised Jupiter and when he grew up, he castrated his own father (Saturn), in order to revenge his grandfather who was killed by Saturn.
After Jupiter became the ruler of the sky, he married Cerera and Juno. Two wives gave birth to five children and each child got one part of the world to rule. According to legends, Jupiter is a kind god that always sends rain but when the people make him angry, he then sends storm and thunder. This mythological representation was derived from the Greek mythology and we can see many similarities between Jupiter and Zeus.
From the Jupiter’s head, the goddess of wisdom Minerva was born. Sexual unity between Jupiter and Juno was called hieros gamos or the holy marriage. After the couple got their child Vulcano, they decided to throw him in the water because he was too ugly. After that the Jupiter decided to get Vulcano back, because he was very useful when it comes to forging.
Jupiter ruled Rome from the mount Olympia. Even this was a similarity between the Roman and the Greek mythology and it wasn’t too hard to understand how Roman and Greek mythology were linked. The biggest temple in Rome is the Jupiter’s temple. Of course, across the entire Roman Empire, there are many temples’ that were built in the honor of Jupiter, but the one in Rome is currently the biggest one.
The great square in front of the temple is full of smaller temples that are dedicated to smaller deities. Besides other religious objects, there are a lot of trophies, statues and other smaller objects. The temple was built around 509 BC and the object itself is extraordinary. The temple was devoted both to Minerva and Juno. It is located on Capitol Hill in Rome, which is the place where people usually gather and make sacrificed to the gods.
Jupiter was often pictured as a great governor and leader of the Roman Empire. He ensured that the people of Rome had plenty in time of peace and that they end up victorious in time of war. Jupiter protected the entire empire and ruled with justice and not with fear. There was an equal amount of
Jupiter played an important role in the Battle of the Titans. The Battle of the Titans was led against Saturn and other Titans, and Jupiter led Cyclops in order to gain power.
During the rule of Jupiter, the Roman Empire was strong and had plenty to offer. People weren’t as rich as during the rule of Saturn, but the Jupiter’s position as the highest deity in Rome was proof enough that Jupiter was seen as a completely different figure than Saturn.
Meaning and Facts
Jupiter was the son of Saturn and goddess Ops. His father Saturn killed his siblings but before that, he killed his own father. In order to avenge everyone who was hurt by his father Saturn, Jupiter decided to rise against his father and his tyranny. In this war, or clash of the Titans, Jupiter managed to take his father’s throne and avenge everyone who has been hurt by Saturn.
Jupiter, unlike his father, was considered to be a merciful god who gave rewards to people when they deserved them and punished them when they didn’t deserve it. He would send rain to farmers and helped their crops, but also storms and strong winds when their behavior wasn’t according to his rules.
Besides being a part of the Roman mythology, Jupiter was also an important part of medicinal astrology. Jupiter is usually associated with a personality which is phlegmatic and mild. People who are under the influence of this planet are usually easy to work with and accept other people easily. There is always a way to communicate with them and make some kind of agreement.
In medicinal astrology, planet Jupiter usually indicates problems with the fatty tissue, hips, glands, digestion, throat and navel. All of these body parts are very sensitive and can easily be hurt, if you are under the influence of this planet. Common diseases are liver problems, coughing, flatulence, anemia and dyspepsia.
According to some popular beliefs, aliens are most likely to be found on planets like Jupiter and Saturn. According to some scientific research, icy planets like Jupiter are the best places for alien life to evolve and survive, because ice means water.
In Western Astrology, Jupiter represents the way we look at life and how we interpret the laws of life. On the other hand, his father Saturn represents our limitations. The Hindu word for Jupiter is Guru and this word represents Dharma or the way we solve problems that appear in front of us. To determine the way you solve your problems, you need to determine which Zodiac sign is in Jupiter. Jupiter is also linked to vocation and Jupiter is also the largest planet in the sky.
In art, Jupiter was usually represented with a large white beard and a red robe. Many statues and temples were built in his honor across Rome, which makes him one of the most popular or important deities in the Roman Empire. The way this Roman deity was depicted, is proof enough that Romans had a very high opinion about him.
Jupiter’s decline began after the Caesar’s rule ended. Caesar was succeeded by Emperor Augusts, who immediately initiated an imperial cult. Augusts wasn’t too in love with the idea of being a god. However, as new rulers succeeded one another, all of them wanted to be seen as gods and not as humans, which eventually led to the fall of religion in Rome. The end of an era of Roman religion was brought after the fall of Empire in the 5th century and the rise of Christianity.
Jupiter and other gods became just a part of mythology and old folk stories that were told from one generation to the next. Jupiter’s significance was often overshadowed by the importance of Greek God Zeus, who somehow became or held a much stronger position in mythology and in history in general. Jupiter certainly played an important role in Romany culture for the biggest part and despite the success and the failures of this divine ruler, Jupiter was never too present in Roman daily life.
The reason why this is the case is not certain, but perhaps the Greeks held a much closer bond to their deities and worshipped them much lavishly.
Conclusion
Roman mythology has been the base of many other religions such as Christianity and even Islam. People often fail to see this connection but the connection is definitely there. There are always three main deities or holy beings around which the entire religious concept is based. In this text we will be talking about the Roman god Jupiter, which was the god of thunder, the sky and storm.
Jupiter was often pictured as a great governor and leader of the Roman Empire. He ensured that the people of Rome had plenty in time of peace and that they end up victorious in time of war. Jupiter protected the entire empire and ruled with justice and not with fear. There was an equal amount of
Jupiter was also the highest deity in the Roman mythology and was often called upon in various situations. This highest deity was the base around which the entire religion was surrounded, but besides Jupiter, Romans had many other deities or one deity for almost everything that represented something important for them.
Like we mentioned earlier, in medicinal astrology, planet Jupiter usually indicates problems with the fatty tissue, hips, glands, digestion, throat and navel. All of these body parts are very sensitive and can easily be hurt, if you are under the influence of this planet. Common diseases are liver problems, coughing, flatulence, anemia and dyspepsia.
Jupiter’s beginnings weren’t as optimistic and there aren’t many proofs of his childhood, but he still managed to take the position of one of the highest respected deities in Rome. Saturn, Jupiter’s father, will forever remain to be a crueler and much more vicious version of Jupiter. Jupiter was seen as the avenger and someone who retrieved moral and brought it back to Rome.
Artistic depictions of Jupiter are proof enough that he was respected and considered to be the highest deity of all. The biggest temple in Rome is the Jupiter’s temple. The great square in front of the temple is full of smaller temples that are dedicated to smaller deities. Besides other religious objects, there are a lot of trophies, statues and other smaller objects. Of course, across the entire Roman Empire, there are many temples’ that were built in the honor of Jupiter, but the one in Rome is currently the biggest one.
The temple was built around 509 BC and the object itself is extraordinary. The temple was devoted both to Minerva and Juno. It is located on Capitol Hill in Rome, which is the place where people usually gather and make sacrificed to the gods. Jupiter gained an extreme amount of cult following in Rome but also across the Rome’s borders. He was seen as a fair ruler who wowed just the right amount of strength and fear, to gain respect but he was never cruel.
Jupiter’s rule might not be remembered as one of the wealthiest and most positive ones, but he was certainly fair. In many cases, Jupiter’s existence is overshadowed by the rule of Zeus in Greek mythology. Zeus somehow remained as a much stronger character not only in Greek culture but also in the minds of people today. Most people don’t know the highest deity in Roman mythology, while many know that the ruler of Greek gods is Zeus. The reason why this is the case is not certain, but perhaps the Greeks held a much closer bond to their deities and worshipped them much lavishly.
Besides that, the way Jupiter’s image was preserved throughout time and his influence on the Roman culture is significant. Even though his much crueler father, Saturn, is now far more known than him, Jupiter is still remembered as the much kinder but still respectable god. Of course, as time demands, Jupiter’s significance is now only important for people who are interested in ancient cultures and who are willing to know more about the world. In other cases, Jupiter’s rule simply remains to be information we occasionally stumble upon.
