Religion and Philosophy - AP European History

The Roman god of war was named Mars. In Roman mythology, Mars was the father of Romulus and Remus, the two supposed founders of Rome.

Inspiration for Mars was taken from Ares, the god of war in Ancient Greek Mythology. The myths and legends of Ares were often taken and reinterpreted in Roman literature with Mars taking the place of Ares.

The Roman God Janus was principally the God of doors and gateways. In Roman tradition Janus also rules over beginnings and ends, making him the natural God to be celebrated at the end of a war. Janus has no equivalent in Greek mythology.

Diana was the Roman Goddess of hunting, the moon, nature, and wild animals. After the Roman conquest of Greece, Diana came to be associated with the Greek Goddess Artemis.

Mercury is based on the Greek God Hermes and was known as “the messenger of the Gods.” Mercury was also the Roman God of luck, wealth, thieves, and travelers.

Minerva was the Roman Goddess of wisdom and learning, as well as poetry, medicine, and trading. After the Roman conquest of Greece, the Romans associated Minerva with the Greek Goddess Athena.

Many of the deities in the Roman pantheon were either directly inspired by Gods in the Greek pantheon, or else were equated to Greek Gods following the Roman conquest of Greece in the second century BCE. Of these Gods, only Venus and Athena are incorrectly paired. Venus, the Roman Goddess of love and beauty, should be paired with Aphrodite. Whereas, Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom, should be paired with Minerva.

Neptune was the Roman God of the sea, as well as the God of ships and sailors. Neptune was the Roman equivalent of the Greek God Poseidon.

Mars was the Roman God of war (the Roman equivalent of the Greek God Ares). People in the classical world tended to embrace deities who related to their personal experiences. So, soldiers, were most likely to revere the Roman God of war.

Bacchus was the Roman God of wine, festivals, partying, and debauchery. Bacchus is equated to the Greek God Dionysus. Bacchus was introduced to Roman society by Greek settlers in southern Italy. During the latter years of the Roman Republic, a cult emerged in Rome around the depraved celebration of Bacchus, and many festivals were carried out in his name.

The Roman pantheon of Gods was very fluid and accommodating. Almost all of the Roman deities were drawn from foreign cultures, but the majority of them were inspired by the Gods of the Greek pantheon. For example, Jupiter, the chief God in the Roman pantheon, is merely the Roman equivalent of Zeus.

Vesta was the Roman Goddess of hearth and home. The Romans, particularly during the era of the Roman Republic, placed a great emphasis on family and home life, and so Vesta was naturally one of the most commonly worshipped Gods in day-to-day Roman life.

Vulcan is the Roman God associated with craftsmen and blacksmiths. Vulcan is also the Roman God of fire and the forge. Vulcan is equated to the Greek God Hephaestus.

In the Roman pantheon of Gods, Jupiter was the chief God. Jupiter is based on the Greek God Zeus. Many of the Gods in the Roman pantheon were either drawn from, or later equated to, Gods from Greek mythology.

Venus was the Roman Goddess of love and beauty. Venus was the Roman equivalent of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite.

The Roman God Saturn is one of the earliest Gods in the mythology of ancient Rome. Saturn was viewed as the God of wealth, time, agriculture, and the city of Rome. The equivalent of Saturn in Greek mythology is the God Cronos.

Household shrines and ancestor worship were important components of worship in the Roman Republic. The early Romans placed a great deal of emphasis on family life and on connection with one’s ancestral past. They believed that ancestors had to be placated and appeased or else they would “haunt” the family home in destructive ways.

The “tripartite” system of government in the Roman Republic refers to the separation of political power into the hands of the Senate (comprised of aristocratic patrician families), the Consuls (who replaced the function of king in the Roman monarchy), and Assemblies (which were made up of representatives of the common people of Rome). The separation of power was an important political concept to the Romans and has inspired the structure of governments ever since (including the structure of the modern United States’ government).

The correct answer is pietas (duty, loyalty). This refers to the great sense of loyalty the Roman citizens felt towards their country. While dignitas (dignity), gravitas (seriousness), comitas (humor), and firmitas (tenacity) were all considered important traits of a Roman citizen, pietas is the only option that refers to the duty a citizen had to serve the Republic.

Julius Caesar, while an important figure, was not known for his philosophical contributions, so he would not be the best choice. Nero was known for corruption and self-interest rather than intellectual pursuits, so he too would not be a good choice. Constantine the Great was a religious man and crafted the Edict of Milan, but he was not a Stoic, so he would not be a good answer. Lucius Verus was the co-emperor of Marcus Aurelius but he was not a Stoic, so he would not be the best choice. Finally, Marcus Aurelius was the author of Meditations and a renowned Stoic, so he would be the best choice.

Following the end of the republic, and beginning with the accession of Caesar Augustus, the 'golden age' of Rome began in what was known as the Pax Romana (Roman Peace).

This period of time lasted for over 200 years and was marked with very little military expansion or conquests and the Roman Empire was at its peak in terms of land area and population. This period lasted until the death of Marcus Aurelius.