The Roman Games and Gods.

We are almost out of the Roman Empire for the last time studying it in the standard every four year rotation.  It is impossible to learn it all but we have gained a lot of knowledge.

First up a few interesting facts about the Roman Games.

Amphitheater Flavian-
Colosseum-image from the web

*The Roman Games were held in the Colosseum.

*The original name for the Colosseum was the Amphitheatrum Flavium.

*There were 80 entrances into the Colosseum.  There were also around 30 "trap doors" under the floor of the Colosseum.

*This massive arena could hold 50,000 people.

*Sadly over a million animals were killed during the time the Colosseum hosted the people versus animals games, and +/-50,000 people were also killed during that time.

*The first games lasted for 100 days in which 3,000 gladiators fought.

*A dead gladiator was carried out of the Gate of Death on the west side of the Colosseum.

*The last of the games was in 435 A.D.

*It took around 9 years to build the Colosseum.

*It is said that thousands of Jewish slaves built the Colosseum.

Now just a quick review of the Roman Gods.

Jupiter-image from the web

~If you remember, the Romans borrowed and adapted many of the Gods in Greek mythology and made them their own.  They really just renamed them with Roman names.  Here are a few of the top Gods/Goddesses.

*Jupiter-i.e. the Greek god Zeus.  The Patron God of Rome.  The king of the gods, the god of thunder, and lightening.

*Juno or as the Greeks called her, Hera.  This is Jupiter's wife.  She is the protector of Rome.  Juno is the queen of the gods.

*Mars-i.e. the Greek god Ares.  Mars is the son of Jupiter and Juno.  He is the god of war.

*Mercury-Greek god Hermes.  Mercury is the god of trade.

*Neptune-i.e. Poseidon, the god of the sea.  His weapon of choice was the

Neptune-image from the web

trident.  Neptune is Jupiter's brother.  He was the patron of horses.

*Venus or the Greek goddess Aphrodite.  The goddess of beauty and love.

*Apollo from the Greek god Apollo.  Twin brother of Diana.  The god of music, poetry, and archery.

*Diana-Greek goddess Artemis.  Twin sister to Apollo.  Goddess of archery, the hunt, and animals.  Symbols include the snake, the moon, and the bow and arrow.

*Minerva from the Greek goddess Athena.  The goddess of wisdom.

*Ceres-i.e. Greek goddess Demeter.  The goddess of the seasons and agriculture.  Oddly enough the

Minerva-image from the web

word cereal is a derivative of Ceres.

*Vulcan or the Greek God Hephaestus.  Vulcan was the blacksmith for the other gods.  He was the god of fire.  Volcano is a derivative of Vulcan.

*Bacchus-The Greek god Dionysus.  The god of wine and theater.  He is the only god born mortal.  He was the youngest of the gods.

More about the gladiators. 
BBC
PBS Roman Gods
Comparison between the Greek and Roman Gods.
My previous blog post/lessons here, here, here, and here.

Have fun with the games and gods!