Many Gods into one Roman God

What is most interesting is how many of the various gods which were absorbed into Roman culture from the various corners of the empire were gradually translated and "interfaced" with existing deities. So that "Baal" for example might be recognised as a foreign reinterpretation of "Saturn". This sort of tidying up job was generally undertaken by the Decemviri order which also guarded the Sybilline prophecies.

Heliogabalus

A heroic, possibly mad, effort at a complete tidy up into one divinity called "Sol Invictu" (the unconquered sun) was made by Emperor Heliogabalus' in the third century AD. He instituted a specific order of priests and built a temple on the Palatine to fit the job. He then transferred Cibele, Vesta, the Palladium (image of Minerva) and various other bits and bobs into it. He detested violence and war and in rejection of ancient customs proceeded to marry a Vestal Virgin. Big no no Helio!

Not surprisingly he didn't quite get the effect he sought. The result for him and his mother who had influenced him during his reign, was in a word, tragic. He was murdered in a toilet and his dead body was then subjected to multiple humiliations by the crowds for several days before being thrown into the sewers and then into the Tiber.

Perhaps the following Roman saying is appropriate: "Quem di diligunt adulescens moritur" (He who is loved by the gods dies young).

Ancient Roman Gods | ancient roman religion | The Gods of Rome and Politics | Christianity in Ancient Rome |

Roman history | Roman Army | Ancient Roman Weapons | Rome Total War | Roman Emperors, Caesars and Leaders | caligula | augustus | Julius Caesar | Cleopatra | Emperor Nero |
Roman Empire | Economy of Ancient Rome | Roman Coins | Roman Art |Roman Architecture | Roads and Building | Hadrians wall |
Roman Government & Law | Social Structure and Class | Romans | Slavery | Senate |
Ancient Roman Religion | Pantheon | Roman Gods | Goddesses | god Jupiter | mars |Goddess Venus | hercules | Rome Vestal Virgins | Roman Catholic Church | Christian Persecution in the Roman Empire |
Roman Games, Sport and Leisure | Gladiators | Colosseum | Circus Maximus and Chariot Races | Roman Baths | Prostitution and Orgies in Ancient Rome|
Many aspects of Ancient Roman Life | Shopping | roman numerals | toga party |
About Rome Geography and City | Map of Ancient Rome | Maps |Pictures of Ancient Rome| Index of Ancient Rome | free screen savers | Ancient Pompeii |

Please email us if you feel a correction is required to the Rome information provided. Please read the disclaimer

"Many gods into one Roman god" was written by Giovanni Milani-Santarpia for www.mariamilani.com - Rome apartments