Expert: Maria - 1/10/2008

Question
What is the difference between Greek Mythology and Roman Mythology?

Answer
Hello,

Actually this question is too long and involved for me to help with, since it would need to make an accurate analysis of every god/goddess both Greek and Roman, so that you can see the differences which however exist especially if we consider those divinities that belong only to Roman mythology  like Bellona, the Roman goddess of war; Anna Perenna, the Roman goddess of the new year; Bona Dea, the Roman fertility goddess; Faunus, the god of wild nature and fertility; Lupercus, the Roman god of agriculture and shepherds; Morta, the Roman goddess of death, etc.

All the above gods/goddesses in fact belong to the beliefs and practices of the inhabitants of the Italian peninsula from 753 B.C., when Rome was founded, until the ascendancy of Christianity in the 4th century AD and mostly have no counterpart in Greek mythology, while the Greek divinities Zeus, Hera, Ares, Athena, Apollo, Artemis,Poseidon, etc. have their Roman counterpart in Iuppiter, Iuno, Mars, Minerva, Apollo, Diana,Neptunus etc.

Finally please note that this question has nothing to do with Ancient/Classical History, i.e. with this category, as the category Mythology is at: http://www.allexperts.com/el/Mythology/

Best regards,
Maria