Bacchus
Romans knew him as Bacchus but he was better known as Dionysus in Greek mythology. He was god of wine, vegetation and fruitless. Majorly known as god of wine and ecstasy. His worship was introduced into Greece from Asia Minor, and he became one of the most important of the Greek gods, but his cult remained associated with that of many Asian deities.
He was son of Zeus and Semele; he was brought up by Maenads, or Bacchantes. Another myth about him is that he is son of Zeus and Persephone. Interesting fact about his birth is that when Semele was pregnant, Hera, the jealous wife of Zeus, discovered the affair and befriended her, appearing as old crone. Semele not knowing that she was Hera, confided in her that the child was of Zeus. Now since Hera’s work of planting doubt in her mind was successful, Semele went to Zeus and asked him to prove himself to be her lover, which was almost like a scandal. Zeus didn’t wanted to, but did finally, but there’s a twist, mortals couldn’t see Zeus without dying, so Semele has to die. And she that with flare, eating up the lightning ignited flame.
But Zeus rescued the child, Dionysus and sewed him into his thigh. And so Dionysus was, after a few months later, called “the twice born”.
When he grew up, he rescued his mother from Hades, and then she became goddess on Mount Olympus with a new name Thyone. This was no other than Persephone. It is as well a myth like being the original mother of Bacchus or Dionysus.
Bacchus is also considered as “man-womanish”. Later in Rome there was a secret society called Bacchanalia which was only attended by women, later men were also allowed.
Aurora
Aurora was goddess if dawn. Her Greek counterpart is Eos. Hesiod said she was daughters of Titans, Hyperion and Theia. Since she was goddess of dawn it was said that she renews every morning and announce the arrival of sun, his brother, Helios who was later associated with Apollo. She also had a sister, Luna or the moon.
Aurora had four children’s, the Anemoi or the winds. These Anemoi’s were wind gods and were responsible for change in climate and seasons. They were
Boreas : North wind and commander of cold winter air.
Notus : South wind and late summer and autumn
Zephyrus : West wind and ruler of spring and early summer breezes.
And
Eurus : The east wind and very different from all the above three. He was however only mentioned later by poets in poetry and their stories.
Coming back to Aurora, she appeared in Latin poetry as lover of prince of Troy, Tithonus. The funny thing was that Tithonus was mortal and Aurora a god, so she asked Zeus for his immortality. Zeus granted her wish, but she completely failed to understand her mistake by not asking for eternal youth as well, resulting, Tithonus grew older till eternity till Aurora herself turned him into grasshopper.
Ladies you know!
Roman mythology is very interesting, the fact that it was later adopted by Greek mythology and then because of this Greek mythology, roman mythology gained its importance and fame. Much of the Greek mythology was borrowed from Romans. And the rise of Roman Gods should be given to the awesome Greek history. The basic of Roman mythology is based upon twin brothers Romulus and Remus. They were sons of Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia, fathered by the god of war, Mars.
Vestal Virgin means virgin holy priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of hearth. And it’s hard to believe that Rhea Silvia is said to be raped by Mars, then she conceived Romulus and Remus.
But before getting to know about roman gods, let’s get to know a little of Rome itself.
Rome was formed literally by decision of birds. One day when they wanted to decide who would rule Rome in future, they both stood on hill, Romulus on one and Remus on another, since birds stared circling at Romulus head, he was declared king, and both named the city, Rome.
Romulus didn’t stop only at naming the city, but made Legions and Senate. Not only that, he even abducted women from neighboring city of Sabine tribes. This led to mixing up of Sabine and Romans into one people.
Romulus further expanded the Roman Empire and was one of the greatest conquerors. After his death he was given a god status and named as Quirinus, the divine persona of the Roman people. This again brings us to Roman gods.
Let’s meet some of them….
Apollo: God of sunlight, music, poetry, prophecy
Aurora: Goddess of dawn
Bacchus: God of Wine
Bellona: Goddess of war
Ceres: Goddess of agriculture
Cupid: God of love
Diana: Goddess of fertility
Dis or Orcus: God of underworld
Faunus: God of pasture, forest and herds
Flora: Goddess of flower
Janus: God of gates
Juno: Goddess of marriage and women
Jupiter: Supreme god, god of sky and weather
Libitina: Goddess of funeral
Maia: Goddess of growth and spring
Mars: God of war
Mercury: Messenger god and god of commerce
Minerva: Goddess of wisdom, arts and trades
Mithra: God of light
Neptune: God of sea
Ops: Goddess of abundance
Pales: Goddess of flock and shepherds
Pomona: Goddess of fruit trees and fruit
Proserpine: Goddess of underworld
Saturn: God of seed time and harvest
Venus: Goddess of beauty and love
Vertumnus: God of season
Vesta: Goddess of hearth
Vulcan: God of fire
we will meet each of them personally very soon :)
