Roman Mythology Flashcards
Match the Titles, Powers, & Story to the Roman god/goddess and his/her Greek Equivalent
Title: King of the Gods
Powers: Control over the sky and weather, particularly thunder and lightning.
He led the Olympian gods in a war against the Titans, overthrowing them and establishing a new order. Known for wielding a thunderbolt, he was the most powerful deity in Roman mythology.
Jupiter
Greek Equivalent: Zeus
Title: Queen of the Gods, Goddess of Marriage and Childbirth
Powers: Protector of marriage, women, childbirth, and family.
She was often jealous and vengeful due to her husband Jupiter’s numerous affairs. She is known for her protection of women and involvement in numerous myths concerning the marital fidelity of gods and mortals.
Juno
Greek Equivalent: Hera
Title: God of the Sea, Earthquakes, and Horses
Powers: Control over all bodies of water, causing earthquakes, creating horses.
He was the brother of Jupiter and Pluto. Known for his volatile temper, he is said to have caused earthquakes with his trident. His rivalry with Minerva over the patronage of Athens is a notable myth.
Neptune
Greek Equivalent: Poseidon
Title: Goddess of Agriculture and Harvest
Powers: Control over crops and the fertility of the earth.
Her grief over the abduction of her daughter, Proserpina, by Pluto caused the earth to become barren. This myth explains the changing seasons: when Proserpina is with Pluto, it is winter; when she returns, spring begins.
Ceres
Greek Equivalent: Demeter
Title: Goddess of Wisdom, War, and Crafts
Powers: Wisdom, strategic warfare, crafts, and weaving.
She was born fully armed from the forehead of Jupiter. She is known for her role in assisting heroes and her competition with Neptune over the patronage of Athens, which she won by creating the olive tree.
Minerva
Greek Equivalent: Athena
Title: God of the Sun, Music, and Prophecy
Powers: Healing, prophecy, music, and archery.
He fell in love with the nymph Daphne, who fled from him. To escape his advances, she prayed to her father, a river god, who turned her into a laurel tree. He then made the laurel his sacred tree.
Apollo
Greek Equivalent: Apollo
Goddess of the Hunt, Wilderness, and the Moon
Powers: Archery, hunting, protecting animals, and childbirth.
She was fiercely protective of her chastity. When the hunter Actaeon accidentally saw her bathing, she turned him into a stag, and he was torn apart by his own hunting dogs.
Diana
Greek Equivalent: Artemis
God of War
Powers: Physical strength and prowess in battle.
He was not well-liked by the other gods due to his violent nature. He had a notorious affair with Venus, the wife of Vulcan, which was exposed when Vulcan caught them in a net and displayed them to the other gods.
Mars
Greek Equivalent: Ares
Title: Goddess of Love and Beauty
Powers: Inducing love and desire, beauty.
She was born from the sea foam and emerged near the island of Cyprus. She had many lovers, both mortal and divine, and was married to Vulcan. Her affair with Mars is one of the most famous tales.
Venus
Greek Equivalent: Aphrodite
Title: Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld
Powers: Growth and fertility in spring, queen of the dead.
She was abducted by Pluto, which caused her mother, Ceres, to mourn and refuse to let anything grow. The compromise reached was that she would spend part of the year in the underworld and part on earth, explaining the seasonal cycle.
Proserpina
Greek Equivalent: Persephone
Title: God of Fire and Blacksmiths
Powers: Metalworking, craftsmanship, and fire.
He was thrown from Olympus by his mother, Juno, for being lame. Despite this, he became the gods’ master blacksmith, creating magnificent weapons and armor, including Achilles’ shield.
Vulcan
Greek Equivalent: Hephaestus
Title: God of Travel, Commerce, and Thieves
Powers: Speed, communication, commerce, and cunning.
He was the messenger of the gods and the guide to the underworld. As a newborn, he stole Apollo’s cattle but cleverly returned them, earning his place among the Olympians.
Mercury
Greek Equivalent: Hermes
Title: Goddess of the Hearth and Home
Powers: Presiding over the hearth, home, and family.
She is known for her vow of eternal virginity and her role in maintaining the hearth of Olympus. She was honored with the first and last offerings at every sacrifice to the gods.
Vesta
Greek Equivalent: Hestia
Title: God of Wine, Pleasure, and Festivity
Powers: Wine-making, pleasure, and revelry.
He was the only god born of a mortal woman, Semele, and Jupiter. He wandered the earth, spreading the art of wine-making and leading ecstatic rituals.
Bacchus
Greek Equivalent: Dionysus
Title: God of the Underworld
Powers: Ruler of the dead and the riches under the earth.
He abducted Proserpina to be his wife, leading to the myth of the changing seasons. He ruled the underworld with stern justice and was rarely worshiped by mortals.
Pluto
Greek Equivalent: Hades
