Protection, prosperity, ends family fueds. The palm tree was also sacred to Apollo because he had been born under one in Delos. Now that we are finished with the six children of Kronos and Rhea, let us continue with the second generation of Olympian gods and their symbols. His sacred animal was the wolf. Minerva is the powerful Roman goddess of knowledge. Around 180 BCE sacrificial rites in honor of Apollo, Aesculapius, and Salus took place there[16] Goats, donkeys, lions, serpents, and wild bulls were also considered sacred to the god. "[25], Varro makes various claims for Sabine origins throughout his works, some more plausible than others, and his list should not be taken at face value. 2. 03 He has a three-headed guard dog named Cerberus. He is Venus husband and often carries a hammer. Most sacred animals are not reflective of the animal itself, but rather the god it represents. [14] Although individual names are not listed, they are assumed to be the deities of the lectisternium. In line with his mythology, he is usually represented as a young man slaying a bull, with ears of corn emerging from the animals blood. Diana is the Roman goddess of wild animals and the hunt. Ravens, wolves, dolphins and swans were known as his sacred animals while larkspurs, cypress trees and laurels were Apollos sacred plants. Dogs and serpents are the sacred animals of Ares while there is no . Ceres was the goddess of grain. He was also the father of the twins Romulus and Remus. Athena has close ties to the city of Athens. The owl symbolises her wisdom and knowledge. . This is a list of the main Roman Gods and Goddesses and their Greek equivalent. Salus is identified with the Greek Hygieia. Diana is the twin sister of Apollo. Ancient sources talk about this God as one of the most ancient of the Rome Pantheon: his festivals were held in the month of August and are at the origin of the still current festivity of Ferrragosto. The goat is one of the 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Table of Contents Hades means "the one who presides over death." 10. 02 Hades is one of the three gods who defeated the Titans. an historic Greek goddess related to love lust magnificence pleasure ardour and procreationShe was syncretized with the Roman goddess VenusAphrodites main symbols embrace myrtles roses doves sparrows and swansThe cult of Aphrodite was largely derived from that of the Phoenician goddess Astarte a cognate of the . Within the home and garden, the range of animals kept as pets was almost boundless, including dogs, ducks, geese, caged birds, rabbits, hares, tortoises, goats, quail and mice. Aztec Numbers Guide What Numbers Did the Aztecs Use? Most of the 12 major Roman gods identified with their Greek counterparts, they had many similarities and were drawn from Greek iconography, myths and religious practices. "Agraulos [daughter of Kekrops king of Athens] and Ares had a daughter Alkippe. Delve into the fascinating tales of how and why certain animals are held in such high regard by some cultures. The laurel was largely used as a Rome symbol of victory and success. Ares represented the violent aspects of war and the bloodthirst unlike his sister, Athena who represented the strategy and intelligence aspects of it. An extensive alphabetical list follows a survey of theological groups as constructed by the Romans themselves. Fish, dolphins, horses and bulls are his sacred animals. As war was kind of a big thing for the Romans, they logically created a party to launch the date (around mid-March). Hades (Haides) also known as the King of the Underworld, is the Greek god of the dead and the underworld. Mars was the god of war. You might be surprised to learn that dogs also had a special place in this country. Dating back thousands of years, the people of Europe left their marks on cave wallssome of these drawings were of bears. The Pantheon and Sanctuaries of the Roman East. This page was last modified on 2 October 2013, at 15:59. While not part of the original Rome Pantheon, the worshipping of Isis started in Rome in the I century BC, when Egypt became Roman province, and grew ever since. Varro[18] gives a list of twenty principal gods of Roman religion: Varro, who was himself of Sabine origin, gives a list of Sabine gods who were adopted by the Romans[19]: Elsewhere, Varro claims Sol Indiges who had a sacred grove at Lavinium as Sabine but at the same time equates him with Apollo. Sacred Gifts, Profane Uses? A List of the most sacred animals around the world for the Fun of it! It also became a near ubiquitous title or honour for various minor local deities, including the Lares Augusti of local communities, and obscure provincial deities such as the North African Marazgu Augustus. Not to mention, the ancient Greeks dominated the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas for a long time. Greek God Symbols, Sacred Animals and PlantsWatch this video on YouTube, Carrying on with our series on the symbols of gods in Greek mythology, we will be discussing Hephaestus, the blacksmith of gods, who also happens to be the god of blacksmiths. Another title of Apollo is Alexikakos which means averter of evil. Gods were called Pater ("Father") to signify their preeminence and paternal care, and the filial respect owed to them. Jupiter, the king of the Roman Gods - A marble statue made around 150 AD, displayed in the Louvre Museum. Monkeys enjoy a high status here and are regarded as sacred. In the Roman world, Jovis would also overlook battles and was considered a symbol of honesty and justice since the time of the Roman Kings. I am a classics graduate for the University of Rome, with a degree in Roman History and, specifically, the relation between paganism and early Christianity. She is the celestial feminine principle, just like Jupiter is the celestial masculine one. She was the oldest of Saturn's six children. 2) Jupiter- The Roman god of the sky Jupiter, also known as Jove is the Roman deity of the sky. Big, strong, temperamental creatures that have had loomed large in man's past. Mercury was similar to the Greek god Hermes, and is known as the messenger god. In fact, it was believed that his mount was a chariot drawn by hippocampi, horses with fish tails that can ride on the sea. Venus was married to the Roman god Vulcan. Ancient Rome Animals. Not to be confused with, The three Roman deities cultivated by major flamens, Twelve Roman deities attended by the minor flamens, The three Roman deities cultivated by major, Twelve Roman deities attended by the minor, R.W. Juno was known as the Roman protector of women and childbirth. I hope whatever you are dealing with today, that you will turn in loving hope to our Lord's precious and merciful Heart. Juno has a complex history and she held many epithets, each for a different aspect of human life. Their deity appeared as a pig with erect bristles who kept an eye on storms, chaos, deserts, and darkness. His main festival was called Saturnalia and happened between 17-19 December. . The simple sanctuary of Romulus was replaced by a proper temple in 294 BCE [22] She is known as the Queen of Gods, and the goddess of women, marriage, skies, stars and childbirth. As a Roman Goddess, Minerva presided over science, arts and manual work as a goddess of knowledge in all forms although it also maintained some traits of the goddess of war that she used to have in Greek religion. Vesta is commonly associated with the donkey and fire. My name is Marta, I am a travel loving mama, born and bred in that messy, wonderful, infuriating, awe inspiring and unbelievably beautiful city that is Rome. Consus is an Ancient Rome God of agriculture, traditionally worshipped in the Circus Maximus with races of donkeys. In this way, Juno gave birth to Mars. The peak of cultic activities involving birds can be seen from the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty (c. 664-525 BC) to the Roman Period (c. 30 BC-AD 395), where sanctuaries dedicated to the worship of the ibis could be found throughout Egypt. We will be examining symbols of Zeus including his sacred animals and plants as well as providing information about his characteristics, family tree, wives and children. In Ancient Rome, there were three annual festivals for Ceres that were related to planting crops. The earliest gods and goddesses are more spirits than anything else, rulers of small domains and households. Zeus is the god of the sky, lightning/thunder, weather, fate and kings in Greek mythology. There is a sense that while Rome is a cosmopolitan city that is more than open to outside influence, nothing will ever be quite so grand as the myths on which the city was initially founded. Dionysus, the son of Zeus and Semele (although some sources suggest his mother was Demeter or Persephone), is the god of wine, wild frenzy, pleasure, fertility, vegetation, festivity, theatre, religious ecstasy and ritual madness in Greek mythology. His Greek equivalent is the god Ares. There are numerous mythical stories about the Wolf, one of them stating that the She-Wolf or the Lupa took in the human baby twins Romulus and Remus as her own and fed them with milk. Up next. This connection between the Rome founder and Venus had strong symbolic power as associated the birth of Rome with the generating power of love. The sacrifice of a sheep or lamb, in the symbol of purity, was also part of the more traditional marriage ceremony known as Confarreatio used by the Patrician (noble) class. In many societies, ancient and modern, religion has performed a major role in their development, and the Roman Empire was no different. Her father, Jupiter had swallowed the Titaness Metis, and in turn, he was left with a splitting headache. Apollo entered into the Roman Pantheon directly from the Greek religion and maintained most of his Greek character. He was the king of gods and the chief deity of the ancient Roman Empire before Christianity became dominant. The most extensive lists are provided by the Church Fathers who sought systematically to debunk Roman religion while drawing on the theological works of Varro, also surviving only in quoted or referenced fragments. Apollo is the only god in the classical pantheon to share the same name in both Greek and Roman traditions. Apollo is the Roman and the Greek god of the Sun. Early examples included Terra Mater (Mother Earth) and the Mater Larum (Mother of the Lares). Everything in the Roman world was divinely touched, and any new discovery would carry with it a touch of divinity. Later she became more a protector of personal health. They had Mars, the god of war, the sea god, Neptune, Bacchus, the god of wine, and much more. Bulls and eagles were the sacred animals of Zeus while his sacred plants were oak and olive trees. The deity with the oar and cornucopia is a representation of . The Hindu Festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with all the bells and whistles, especially in Maharashtra in India. 14+ Wolf Gods and Goddesses: Artemis, Odin, Apollo and More! Being one of the most revered ancient Greek goddesses, Artemis was the goddess of the hunt and wilderness as well as chastity, childbirth, and the moon. Even in invocations, which generally required precise naming, the Romans sometimes spoke of gods as groups or collectives rather than naming them as individuals. 2021 museumfacts.co.uk | All rights reserved. Bull jumping, bull baiting, bull fights and running of the bulls are events where they were, and in some cases still are, featured. Other Athena symbols include spears, helmets, armor, snakes, owls and olive trees. It is said that nurturing these characteristics will help us go beyond our physical and bodily limitations to finally embrace the Absolute Truth. His symbols were the eagle and lighting. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Greek God Symbols, Sacred Animals and Plants, Being the worlds smallest bird measuring only a few inches, , The labrys, or double-headed axe, is one of the earliest , The universe of culture has endless spaces with the most , Not many civilizations were as mathematically advanced as the Aztec , Angel numbers are a sequence of repeating digits, and they , The Mormon religion was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith, , The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the redemptive effects of , Carrying on our series on religious symbols, we will be . We are a community that offers to share information between the veterinary enthusiasts. Bird - Parrot So Planck said he did not want to discover anything & just wanted to learn the fundamentals. But cats took the spot as the favorites so nothing has changed over the centurieshahahaha! The bear is one of the most powerful and most feared of the animal kingdom. Zeus is the the most important deity in Greek mythology and accordingly is known as the King of Gods. A combination of the two that is the eagle carrying a thunderbolt was often seen on Roman coins. A lake near Minturnae was named after her. Mars was represented as a strong male figure and has special significance in the history or Rome: via his union with Rhea Silvia, he gave birth to Romulus, founder of Rome, and Remus his brother, a Roman legend that connects the birth of the city directly with this powerful God. The Confucian Perspective on Sacred Animals. He is also the god of the hidden wealth of the earth such as the precious metals that could be mined and the seeds of grain planted in the ground which would grow and provide sustenance for people. Sources for this articles are my studies and some of my favorite books about Roman religion and mythology (below). But above all other ancient Roman animals it was the elephant which became a symbol of Roman power and the success of its Emperors. [14] Snakes/serpents and pigs are sacred animals of Demeter while her sacred plants are wheat, barley, mint and poppy. The people of ancient Egypt worship the cats ability to control snakes and vermin made them a symbol of poise and grace. Egyptians believed cats were mystical animals, with the capability of bringing good luck to the individuals who housed them. As the city and its surrounding kingdom developed, so too did its gods soon, the immortal gods and goddesses would play important roles in every aspect of life, ruling realms both great and small while influencing the lives of all around them. Neptune is the Roman God of the sea, supreme rules of the world of water just like Jupiter of the Sky and Pluto of the underworld. Romans celebrated the festival of Veneralia to honor her. http://www.novaroma.org/nr/List_of_Roman_deities. Her sacred animals were bears, wild boars and deers while her sacred plants were cypress and walnut trees and amaranth flowers. Juno is the Roman goddess of fertility and the patron goddess of ancient Rome. The mythology of Rome is somewhat more cosmopolitan than most might think, with influences gained from all across the Roman Empire. Happy studying. It is believed that the earliest traditional feasts of Rome, famously known as the Lupercalia, feasts in honor of the God Pan, who himself was half man and half goat. In describing the lectisternium of the Twelve Great gods in 217 BC, the Augustan historian Livy places the deities in gender-balanced pairs:[13], Divine male-female complements such as these, as well as the anthropomorphic influence of Greek mythology, contributed to a tendency in Latin literature to represent the gods as "married" couples or (as in the case of Venus and Mars) lovers. [4], Grammatically, the form Caelestis can also be a masculine word, but the equivalent function for a male deity is usually expressed through syncretization with Caelus, as in Caelus Aeternus Iuppiter, "Jupiter the Eternal Sky. Mars is the Roman God of war, representing all forces of destruction. One of his oracles was the Oracle of Delphi, the most famous oracle of all times. It makes for a fascinating read indeed! A goddess known as Stata Mater was a compital deity credited with preventing fires in the city.[7]. HEPHAESTUS Roman Name: Vulcan 40. He was one of the most important figures in Greek religion as he was believed to get in contact with his believers and followers through his oracles. Screech owls are known to be his main sacred animals with serpents, sheep, cattle and horses being others. Her Greek equivalent was the Goddess Artemis. Athena has been known as majestic and stern, a talented goddess who was the best at both of her domains. . For example, the Roman god Mars was similar to the Greek god Ares, while the Roman goddess Juno was similar to the Greek goddess Hera. His Greek equivalent is Eros. Venus is a goddess with paramount importance in roman mythology and specifically for the roman empire. Mercury is the Roman deity overlooking trade and commerce. Your daily dose of History. Often represented with running horses, representing the power of the sea, he was also the Gods of horses. She was Cupid's mother and Vulcan's wife. Ancient Sea God, protects seafarers, can raise storms & cause shipwrecks Aesculapius. Vesta was also the guardian of the Roman people. The Implications of Animal Sacrifice at Rural and Suburban Romano-Celtic Shrines, Tony King 10. The goddess is credited for the discovery of ploughing, sowing and nurturing of seeds and the spelt wheat. There is a temple in The Valley of Nepal, in the Kathmandu region, called the Swayambhunath temple. [8] See also Magna Mater (Great Mother) following. Even Native Americans worshiped the wolf as god, and saw it as a symbol of courage, direction, family, endurance, and intelligence. "The All-Mother". Jupiter - God of the Sky Juno - Queen of the Gods Saturn - God of Time Neptune - God of the Seas Pluto - God of the Underworld Venus - God of Love and Beauty Minerva - Goddess of Wisdom Mars - God of War Mercury - Messenger of the Gods Apollo - God of the Sun Diana - Goddess of the Hunt When it comes to Greek Gods and dogs as sacred animals, Greek mythology reveres in a three-headed dog, named Hydra. She shares with Jupiter a dominant role over the other Gods and goddesses over the Roman Pantheon, of which she is essentially queen and mother. He is also portrayed as a young man with his beloved Psyche, with Venus or with a small group of winged infants (the Amoretti or Amorini). [2], From the middle Imperial period, the title Caelestis, "Heavenly" or "Celestial" is attached to several goddesses embodying aspects of a single, supreme Heavenly Goddess. The Romans had gods for everything imaginable. The 12 major Romans gods were called the Dii Consentes and their statues stood in the Roman Forum. As she is the patron goddess of marriage as well, a favourable time to marry is the month of June. Fun fact: each Roman God and Goddess had temples of places of worship. The Gallic and Germanic cavalry (auxilia) of the Roman Imperial army regularly set up altars to the "Mothers of the Field" (Campestres, from campus, "field," with the title Matres or Matronae). [23][24] Of those listed, he writes, "several names have their roots in both languages, as trees that grow on a property line creep into both fields. The indigitamenta are deities known only or primarily as a name; they may be minor entities, or epithets of major gods. She is often portrayed with an owl, known as the Owl of Minerva. Augustus, "the elevated or august one" (masculine form) is an honorific and title awarded to Octavian in recognition of his unique status, the extraordinary range of his powers, and the apparent divine approval of his principate. Zeus had eight wives, Hera, Metis, Themys, Eurynome, Demeter, Mnemosyne, Leto and Maia, although only Hera was known to be his legal wife. Heket was one of the first eight gods in one version of the Ancient Egyptian creation . Juno went to Flora, who in turn gave her a herb. Spirit animal is a great-horned owl. In the Metamorphoses of Apuleius,[3] the protagonist Lucius prays to the Hellenistic Egyptian goddess Isis as Regina Caeli, "Queen of Heaven", who is said to manifest also as Ceres, "the original nurturing parent"; Heavenly Venus (Venus Caelestis); the "sister of Phoebus", that is, Diana or Artemis as she is worshipped at Ephesus; or Proserpina as the triple goddess of the underworld. Mercury was the youngest son of Jupiter, and his mother was Maia. Goddess of beauty and love, Venus is a powerful symbol of all-natural forces of generation and birth. The people of ancient Egypt regarded pigs as sacred and as an important deity. Additionally, the Romans depict the goddess with a muscular build, adorning an armour and carrying a sword. [12] Groupings of twelve [ edit] Lectisternium of 217 BC [ edit] And it was supposedly built from the fines Roman women paid for sexual misconducts. [11] Plebeian or Aventine Triad: Ceres, Liber, Libera, dating to 493 BC. Who is Hera in Greek Mythology? He is also known as the King of the Gods since he is the main Continue reading the article, Despite not being a flashy character or having amazing war stories or mythical tales of love under her belt, Hestia was one of the most significant gods in Greek mythology. The goddess overlooked the passing of the seasons and the alternating of winter and spring. These religious feasts were held in the month of February and involved boys running . The main Poseidon symbol is his trident, his iconic weapon. Cuckoo birds, peacocks (her mount was a chariot drawn by peacocks), cows and lions were sacred to Hera. Roman god lists [ edit] Triads [ edit] Archaic Triad: Jupiter, Mars, Quirinus. Guilds and Gods: Religious Profiles of Occupational collegia and the Problem of the dendrophori, Koen Verboven 12. Ancient Greeks Continue reading the article, Todays post is about Zeus, one of the most important figures in Greek mythology, if not the most important. The God overlooking the start and finish of everything, Janus was represented as with two faces, looking the opposite way one from the other. The son of Zeus and Hera, Ares was the Greek god of war and courage in Greek mythology. Greek origins In Greece, myths were derived from a rich old oral tradition: Homer 's Iliad and Odyssey and Hesiod 's Theogony. We are NOT an official veterinary medicine organization. The Titans, Cyclopes, and Hecatonchires (Hekatonkheires, Hecatoncheires) were unable to escape and prosper. Often represented coming out of water, Represented in full armor and with an owl, like Greek Athena, Goddess of wilderness, nature and hunting, Represented as a man busy with metallurgic work, Represented as a mature woman with a sceptre, Asian and then Roman God of the light, sun and agriculture, Represented as a man slaying a bull with ears of corn sprouting from it, The ancient God of Rome, associated with Romulus, Often represented as a bearded young man, his symbol seems to have been the plant of the myrtle, God of beginnings and endings, of doors and change, A head with two faces looking opposite ways, His symbols were the 3 headed dog Cerberus and the snake, Wine, horticulture, ambiguity and theater, Represented as a hawk or as a woman with eagle eyes, The Muses, 9 Greek/Roman deities overlooking the arts, The three Graces, representing all that is beauty and grace, Juventus, the Greek Goddess Hebe, Roman symbol of youth, Aesculapius, God of medicine and health, whose work is represented by a snake around a rod, shedding his skin (symbol of renewal), Cibeles originally arrived in Rome from Crete and Asia Minor, she represented mountain life and the generating power of soil and nature, Bacchus God of wine and horticulture, often represented with grapes and vines, in the company of Satyres, Felice Ramorino Classical Mythology, Hoepli Milan, Lana and Fellin: Latin Literature Anthology. A god would have many different guises, some of which might explain why that god or goddess was worshipped in one country under one name and another country under a different name. Who is Artemis in Greek Mythology? Her aspect as a triple goddess is Diana Triformis, which includes herself, and the goddesses Luna and Hecate. Her worship dates from the very foundation of Rome and her temple used to have a central position in the Roman Forum, where it is still possible to see the house of the vestals, her priestesses. Juno Juno was known as the Roman protector of women and childbirth. Here are some canine gods and goddesses who have been revered throughout time. Juno overlooks over weather events, especially the lunar phases. Various symbols define Ancient Egypt's spectacular place in history. The God overlooks the solar and therefore the power of light and the alternating between day and night, Apollo in Rome was worshipped largely for his power of foresight, then for his healing power and finally as patron of music. He also had a half-brother, a centaur named Chiron. Vesta is the protector of home fires of Rome. Royal scepters and cornucopia are his main symbols. The Roman gods had majestic personas and great powers. German theoretical physicist Max Planck was told by his professor not to go into Physics as almost everything is discovered already. The Vestals had the role to keep the sacred fire of the deity burning perpetually, the extinguishing of which would have brought the end of the Roman world. He was usually depicted as a bearded, crippled man with hammer, tongs, and anvil, and sometimes riding a donkey. Her youngest, Cronus, was the only one who wasn't scared to do something about Uranus. The greatest ROman God has two brothers, One is Jupiter who is teh God of Sky and also chief of Roman Gods. This is a directory of Roman gods and goddesses, their offspring and consorts, and other minor dieties:[1]. Neptune - God of the Sea. Artemis, the sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus and Leto, is the goddess of the hunt, wild animals, forests, hills, the wilderness, the Moon, chastity, children and archery in Greek mythology. His descendants settled in Latium and count Rhea Silvia, mother of Romulus. Dogs were kept as pets, as guards, and even as hunting companions. Mercury is the Roman god of financial gain, communication, travellers, merchants, trickery and thieves. Juno and Jovis were a celestial couple and the solidity of their relationship is considered essential for the balancing of world forces and therefore prosperity. Greek Nymph. Hydra is said to keep a vigil at the gates of heaven and hell. Here, the Romans worshipped him under the name Iuppiter Optimus Maximus as part of the so-called Capitoline Triad. The symbol of the Wolf and the suckling babies is considered of great significance for ancient Roman society. Mercury's temple was on the Aventine Hill in Rome. The goat has also been worshipped in Greek and Egyptian mythology. Poseidon's sacred plants were the pine tree and wild celery which were used to crown victors at the god's Isthmian Games. It proved to be very auspicious to barren women and those who were touched by those leather hides called Februa meant to bring fertility to those barren women. The Fasti of Ovid depicts her as a jealous woman. A fantastic statue in Rome representing this myth is the famous taking of Proserpina by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Borghese Gallery. The domesticated feline is one of the most sacred animals in Egypt. Apollo was the Roman god of the Sun and agriculture. She was highly revered, and worshiped along with Jupiter and Juno as one of the Capitoline Triad. Additionally, he is the Roman god who leads the deceased souls of humans to the afterlife. If you liked our post on Zeus' symbols, sacred animals and plants, you will probably enjoy reading our extensive list of Greek god symbols here. Additionally, she was the ancestor of the Roman people through her son Aeneas. The reverence of worshipping sacred animals, can be tied back to a relation with a certain deity. His name seems to come from that of the city of Cures whose inhabitants were called Quirites. Here is everything you need to know about Hermes, his symbols, sacred animals and plants, and Greek Continue reading the article, In the next part of our series on Greek God symbols, we will be going back to ancient Greece to discuss Poseidon, the god of oceans and earthquakes, horses, floods and droughts in Greek mythology. He is the Greek god of fate, weather, thunder, sky and kings. Juno had a special connection with Roman women, who would ask for her protection at times such as marriage and birth, which the goddess overlooked. Essential guide to the main Roman Gods: their names, symbols and festivities. 1. Juno was associated with all aspects of a womans life, most particularly marriage. The others include bows and arrows, pythons, ravens, swans and laurel wreaths. A group of sacred monkeys Pigs The people of ancient Egypt regarded pigs as sacred and as an important deity. Her myth is strongly associated with that of her daughter Proserpina, taken by Pluto to the underworld and only given back to her mother for six months of the year. Like other major gods, he had many epithets. His sacred animal is the eagle which also became the symbol of the Roman army. Pluto is the God of the underworld, the main God of death, equivalent in power to Jupiter and Neptune. He was often represented as a young man with winged shoes symbolizing speed. The ancient Rome society was a pastoral society and Rome Animals were of immense utility. The books of the Pontiffs are lost, known only through scattered passages in Latin literature. She was of special importance to peasants and farmers of ancient Greece as she had the power to influence the yield of their crops according to their belief. The Hindusdo not consider thecowto be a god and thus they are not worshipped. Vestas temple had a sacred fire inside and the Vestal Virgins tended to it and saw to it that it never went out. [27] Varro, however, says that the altars to most of these gods were established at Rome by King Tatius as the result of a vow (votum).[28]. 12-19 April Cerialia festival and games to Ceres with chariot racing on the last day. She is the Roman patron goddess of the countryside, the moon and the hunters.