Chapter 4 The Roman Gods, Part II

Mrs. Teachwell’s Report

Good morning, class! Last time we learned about some of the Roman gods and goddesses Today, I’d like to tell you about a few more gods and goddesses

Vulcan was the blacksmith of the gods He melted iron and other metals Then, he shaped the metal to make a sword, a helmet, or a shield

Vulcan was the god of fire and volcanoes

Apollo was the god of the sun He was also the god of music and poetry

Apollo is another god who was worshipped by both the Greeks and the Romans He had a famous shrine at Delphi, in Greece When the Greeks and Romans wanted advice, they would send messengers to Delphi The priestess of Apollo would give them an answer It was almost never a clear answer, though Often, it was more like a riddle that they had to figure out on their own

Minerva was the goddess of wisdom She was also the goddess of crafts and weaving

According to legend, Minerva was not born in the usual way One day, Jupiter complained of a headache Then—presto!—Minerva sprang, fully grown, from his head

Minerva’s special animal was the owl Sometimes she was painted with an owl perched on her shoulder

Minerva springing forth from Jupiter’s head

Diana was the goddess of the moon She was also the goddess of the hunt In statues, she is often shown as a young girl, with a bow and arrow Sometimes, the sculptor will also show one of her dogs or a deer

Bacchus was the Roman god of grapes and wine

He was followed by women and satyrs, who were half man and half goat

A famous story tells how pirates tried to kidnap

Bacchus That was a big mistake The god transformed himself into a lion He turned the boat into a lush garden As for the pirates, he changed them into dolphins and sent them splashing away in the ocean

Bacchus, the Roman god of grapes and wine