WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Roman Empire was a primarily polytheistic civilization, which meant that people recognized and worshiped multiple gods and goddesses. Despite the presence of monotheistic religions within the empire, such as Judaism and early Christianity, Romans honored multiple deities.

Detailed explanation-2: -As different cultures settled in what would later become Italy, each brought their own gods and forms of worship. This made the religion of ancient Rome polytheistic, in that they worshipped many gods. They also worshipped spirits. Rivers, trees, fields and buildings each had their own spirit, or numen.

Detailed explanation-3: -From its earliest days, ancient Rome was polytheistic. This meant they believed in many gods and spirits, each with their own vital role to play. But the nature of Roman religion inevitably evolved throughout the centuries of the empire.

Detailed explanation-4: -The gods of the Roman pantheon began taking on the forms known today during the dynasty of the Etruscan kings in the 6th century BC. These gods, Jupiter (Zeus), Juno (Hera), and Minerva (Athena), were worshiped at the grand temple on the Capitoline Hill.

Detailed explanation-5: -After the fall of the Roman republic, the pantheon of gods was thought to include their current emperor, so it was considered a capital offense not to acknowledge, accept, or honor his divinity.

Detailed explanation-6: -The Romans thought that their gods were all part of a family and people told stories or myths about them. The most important gods to the Romans were the Greek gods from Mount Olympus. The Greek gods were given Roman names, for example, Zeus became Jupiter. King of the Gods.