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Roman mythology

In Roman mythology, Jupiter (Jove) held the same role as Zeus in the Greek pantheon. He was called Jupiter Optimus Maximus as the patron deity of the Roman state, in charge of laws and social order.

This article focuses on Jupiter in early Rome and in cultic practice. For information on mythological accounts of Jupiter, which are heavily influenced by Greek mythology, see Zeus.

1 Name and Titles

Latin Iuppiter, Diespiter or Iovis pater is cognate with Classical Greek Zeus pater and Sanskrit Dyaus pitar, all derived from Indo-European * Dyeus Phter " sky/god father". The first element (Di- or Iovi-) is also cognate with Germanic Tyr and Latin dies "day" and deus "god".

Other Latin gods, such as Dius Fidius and Dis or Dispiter also bore similarly cognate names. Dius Fidius was sometimes considered an aspect of Jupiter, while Dis was considered entirely separate.

Many other Italic tribes invoked their chief divinities under similar names: "Diu-" or "Iuve-"

1.1 Other Titles of Roman Jupiter:

  1. Jupiter Caelestis ("heavenly")
  2. Jupiter Fulgurator ("of the lightning")
  3. Jupiter Latarius ("God of LatiumLatium (now Lazio in Italian) is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The regional capital is Rome. The name of the region recalls the ancient population of Latins, from whom the Romans")
  4. Jupiter Lucetius ("of the light")
  5. Jupiter Pluvius ("sender of rain") See also PluviusIn Roman mythology, Jupiter Pluvius was the reliever of droughts. See Jupiter (god) for more details. The name could also be used to describe the Hyades. Rain gods Roman gods.
  6. Jupiter Stator (from stare meaning "standing")
  7. Jupiter Terminus or Jupiter Terminalus (defends boundaries). See also TerminusIn Roman mythology, Terminus was the god of boundaries. The stones used to mark borders were sacred to him. On February 23, a festival called Terminalia was celebrated annually by the Romans in his honor. The stone boundary-markers were drenched in sacrif
  8. Jupiter Tonans ("thunderer")
  9. Jupiter Victor (led Roman armies to victory)
  10. Jupiter Summanus (sender of nocturnal thunder)
  11. Jupiter Feretrius ("who carries away [the spoils of war]")


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