ANCIENT SIMILARITIES

Meet 10 of the Most Powerful Greek Gods and Their Roman Counterparts

Image: Francisco Ghisletti

Greek and Roman mythologies have many points of contact. The reason why there are so many equivalences is due to a sociocultural phenomenon called syncretism. Syncretism, in the studies of religion and cultural anthropology, combines two different doctrines or schools of thought.

The Roman civilization was very open to external influences and usually embraced foreign ideas, concepts, and customs. By far, it was Greek culture that most influenced Rome. Therefore, each Greek god has a Roman counterpart with practically the same powers and responsibilities. The differences are mainly in the names, certain duties, and some of the events and myths in which they appear.

Can you guess the corresponding Greek and Roman names of the most influential gods in the Pantheon? Continue reading to find out!

Image: GAIMARD

Zeus is the greatest of the gods of the Hellenic Pantheon. He is essentially the god of light and the serene sky, although he is not identified with Heaven. Zeus presides not only over the celestial manifestations, causes the rain, and throws thunderbolts and lightning, but also maintains order and justice in the world.

Jupiter is the Roman god assimilated to Zeus. With the development and consolidation of the political structure of Rome, Jupiter acquired an increasingly important status in Roman religion. He is the divinity of the sky, daylight, weather, lightning, and thunder. In Rome he reigns in the Capitol, specially consecrated to him. He appears as the supreme power, the "president" of the council of the gods, the one from whom all authority emanates. While Zeus constantly meddled in earthly affairs, fathering children with mortal women and getting involved in mortal wars, Jupiter preferred to deal with divine affairs.

Image: Serge Taeymans

Poseidon, the god who reigns over the sea, is one of the Olympians, the son of Kronos and Rhea. Since the time of the Iliad, Poseidon has been assigned dominion over the sea. Not only does he have power over the waves, but he can also unbind storms, and unhinge the rocks of the coasts with a blow of his trumpet.

Neptune is the Roman god identified with Poseidon. His name, of obscure etymology, has a very ancient origin. God of the humid element, it does not possess, before its assimilation with Poseidon, a legend that is proper to him. The main difference between the two gods is that Neptune’s original realm was only freshwater bodies. Over time Neptune came to dominate oceans and took control of storms and other weather phenomena.

Image: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Hera is the greatest of all the Olympian goddesses. She is the eldest daughter of Kronos and Rhea and, therefore, sister of Zeus, whom she later also marries. As the legitimate wife of the first among the gods, Hera is the protector of married women. She is depicted as a jealous, violent, and vengeful woman.

Juno is the Roman goddess related to Hera. In her origins and the Roman tradition, she personifies the lunar cycle. In a very general way, Juno was the protector of women, and more particularly of those who had a recognized legal status in the city, that is, women who were legitimately married. Although Juno was also Jupiter's wife, she was much less jealous and vindictive about her husband's affairs.

Image: Hert Niks

In Greek mythology, Athena is a warrior goddess, armed with a spear and an aegis, a kind of goatskin breastplate. Athena is generally considered the goddess of Reason and presides over the arts and literature. Tall, with serene features, more majestic than beautiful, Athena is traditionally described as the "goddess with blue eyes".

Minerva's attributes are similar to those of the Greek Pallas Athena. Although she is not involved in any proper Roman legend, she is known to preside over all intellectual activity, mainly scholastic. Because the Romans assigned all war-related aspects to Mars, Minerva doesn’t have martial attributes like her Greek counterpart.

Image: Vlad Kutepov

Aphrodite is the goddess of love, identified in Rome with the ancient divinity Venus. There are two different myths about the birth of Aphrodite: either she is considered the daughter of Zeus and Dione, or the daughter of Uranus, whose sexual organs, cut off by Cronus, fell into the sea and gave birth to the goddess, the "woman born of the waves", or "born of the semen of the god".

Venus is a very ancient Roman goddess who, in her origins, seems to have been the protector of orchards. Before the foundation of Rome, she had a sanctuary near Ardea. Only since the first century B.C. was she likened to the Greek Aphrodite, whose persona and legends she took on. The main difference between the Roman and Greek goddesses is that Venus was also in charge of fertility, a role that the Greeks first associated with Demeter.

Image: Evan Lee

Although certain traditions make Artemis the daughter of Demeter, she is usually considered the twin sister of Apollo. Artemis remained a virgin, eternally young, and is the prototype of the aristocratic goddess, who indulged only in hunting. Like her brother, she is armed with a bow, which she uses against the deer and also against humans. She is vengeful, and numerous were the victims of her anger.

Diana is the Roman goddess identified with Artemis. This connection seems to have been made very early, perhaps in the sixth century B.C. through the mediation of the Greek colonies in southern Italy. Although both goddesses were associated with hunting, the difference between them is that Diana also presided over witchcraft and femininity.

Image: Guillaume Coustou the Elder, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera and belonged to the second generation of the Olympians. Since Homeric times, Ares appears as the god of war. He is the spirit of Battle, who rejoices in slaughter and blood. He is represented with a breastplate and helmet, and armed with a shield, spear, and sword. His stature is superhuman and he utters terrible screams. He usually fights on foot but is also seen on a chariot drawn by four steeds, accompanied by demons who serve as his squires.

Mars is the Roman god identified with the Hellenic Ares, although he is very ancient in the Latin religions and existed before the introduction of Ares. In classical times, Mars appears in Rome as the god of war. But he had other attributes, he is also the god of spring because the war season begins at the end of winter, and the god of youth because war is an activity proper to young people.

Image: Giorgio Ghisi, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

In the race of the Titans, Cronus is the youngest of the children of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth). Therefore, he belongs to the first divine generation, the one that preceded Zeus and the Olympians. Based on the word’s etymology, Cronus has sometimes been regarded as Time personified.

Saturn is a very ancient Roman god that is said to have come to Italy from Greece in very remote times when Jupiter (Zeus) dethroned him and precipitated him from the top of Olympus. He settled on the Capitol, on the site of the future Rome, and there he founded a fortified town which, in the tradition, bore the name of Saturnia. Saturn was represented armed with a sickle or a pruning shear. This is why his name was associated with the invention of vine cultivation and pruning.

Image: Jon Butterworth

Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maya, the youngest of the Pleiades. Hermes came into the world on the fourth day of the month, and this day was consecrated to him. In legends, he mostly intervenes as a secondary figure, as an agent of divinity, protector of the heroes. Apart from this, Hermes was considered to be the god of commerce and also of theft. He guided travelers on the roads, watched over the shepherds, and was often represented carrying a lamb on his shoulders.

Mercury is identified with the Greek Hermes and as with most Roman divinities, he has no myth of his own. Like Hermes, he protects travelers and merchants —in his name we find, in fact, the root of the word merx, which means "merchandise."

Image: Sara Darcaj

Eros, as its Roman counterpart Cupid, is the god of Love. His personality, though, has evolved greatly from the archaic era to the Alexandrian and Roman times. In the most ancient theogonies, Eros is considered a god born along with the Earth and who comes directly from the primitive Chaos. Eros was considered a "genius", an intermediary between gods and men.

Gradually, under the influence of the poets, Eros acquired his traditional physiognomy. He is later represented as a child, often winged, who amuses himself by bringing unrest to hearts. He either inflames them with his torch or wounds them with his arrows. For the Greeks, Eros was the god of love and passion in all its sense and scope. For the Romans, Cupid was the god of romantic love and desire.

Unavoidable words

I’m, you’re, we’re: These 12 common contractions help us talk faster

Image: Vitaly Gariev

Aside from their use to describe the pains of childbirth, contractions are little shortcuts that make English sound natural and easy in everyday speech. They work by blending words and dropping letters, usually with an apostrophe standing in their place. We all use them daily, often without even thinking about it. Let’s take a look at 12 of the most common ones.

Image: Fatemeh Heidari

The first item on our list is the contraction of "I am." It entered English centuries ago, as speakers sought smoother and faster ways to communicate. Here, the apostrophe replaces the missing "a."

Today, "I’m" is one of the most common contractions in both conversation and casual writing. You’ll hear it everywhere—from introductions like "I’m John" to everyday statements such as "I’m hungry."

Image: Adi Goldstein

"You’re" blends "you are" into a quicker form. The apostrophe stands in for the dropped "a." Its use became widespread in both spoken and written English over time.

Today, "you’re" is essential in everyday communication. Whether in texts, casual notes, or speech, most people favor it over the more formal "you are" in informal settings.

Image: Jonas Kakaroto

"He’s" is the contraction of either "he is" or "he has." The meaning depends on context: "He’s running" means "he is running," while "He’s gone" means "he has gone."

It’s one of the most common spoken contractions, helping speech and writing sound more natural. You’ll see it in conversations, books, and movies, adding natural flow.

Image: Ruben Ramirez

There’s no "he’s" without a "she’s." This contraction can mean "she is" or "she has," depending on how it’s used. Like many others, it reflects the natural rhythm of spoken English.

Like its masculine counterpart, "she’s" is an everyday staple, heard in phrases like "She’s ready" or "She’s been there." It makes speech and writing quicker, more direct, and more conversational.

Image: Jametlene Reskp

"It’s" is the contraction of either "it is" or "it has," with the apostrophe marking the missing letter. It is often confused with its, the possessive form (as in "The dog wagged its tail").

In current use, "it’s" is one of the most common contractions in English, referring to things or animals. Common sentences like "It’s cold outside" or "It’s been fun" show just how indispensable it is.

Image: Jerry Zhang

"We’re" is the contraction of "we are," with the apostrophe replacing the missing "a." It has been in use for centuries as a way to make speech and writing smoother and more efficient

Today, "we’re" is common in everyday English, especially in collaborative or group contexts. You’ll hear it in phrases like "We’re going out" or "We’re ready."

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"They’re" blends "they are," again with the apostrophe marking the missing letters. It’s often confused with the homophones their (possessive) and there (location), which makes it challenging for many learners.

Today, "they’re" is frequently used in both speech and informal writing. Common examples include "They’re happy" and "They’re working," showing how practical and natural the contraction is in everyday English.

Image: Francisco De Legarreta C.

"Don’t" is the shortened form of "do not." Its first known use dates back to the 17th century, when written English began reflecting casual speech.

Today, it’s one of the most common negative contractions. You’ll hear it everywhere, in phrases like "Don’t worry," "Don’t move," and "Don’t forget." It may be informal, but it’s practically universal.

Image: Jen Theodore

"Can’t" contracts "cannot," with the apostrophe replacing the missing "no." This form has been part of spoken English for centuries, reflecting natural speech patterns.

Today, it’s one of the most common contractions, used to express inability or prohibition. Phrases like "I can’t swim" or "You can’t do that" are everyday examples of its use.

Image: Zan Lazarevic

The third and final negative contraction on this list, "won’t," is the shortened version of "will not." Unlike most contractions, it does not follow the usual pattern of dropping letters, as it evolved from older English forms such as "wonnot" or "wynnot."

Currently, "won’t" is one of the most familiar negative contractions. Frequently used in speech and writing, it appears in everyday phrases like "I won’t go" or "He won’t listen."

Image: Tonia Kraakman

"I’ve" shortens "I have," usually when "have" acts as an auxiliary verb. The contraction drops the "ha" and replaces it with an apostrophe.

Today, "I’ve" is commonly used in casual speech: for example, "I’ve seen that movie" or "I’ve been there." It helps make everyday expressions smoother and more natural.

Image: Hannah Busing

"Let’s" comes from "let us," and has been used for centuries to invite joint action. The apostrophe shows the missing "u."

Today, "let’s" is common in casual English. From "Let’s go" to "Let’s see," it provides a friendly, inclusive way to suggest doing something together.