Caelus facts for kids
Caelus was a god of the sky in ancient Roman myths and stories. His name usually appears in a masculine form, showing he was seen as a male power that created things.
Caelus was the Roman version of the Greek god Uranus. Both were known as the first gods of the sky. They were often seen as very old, powerful beings who came before many of the more famous gods like Jupiter or Zeus.
Who Was Caelus?
Caelus was the Roman god of the sky and heavens. His name literally means "sky" or "heaven" in Latin. He was considered one of the oldest gods in Roman mythology. He represented the vast, open sky above the Earth.
Unlike some other Roman gods, Caelus did not have many temples or a big cult dedicated to him. He was more of a background figure in Roman myths. He was important for understanding the origins of the world and the gods.
Family Tree
According to some Roman writers like Cicero and Hyginus, Caelus had interesting parents. They said he was the son of Aether, who was the god of the upper air and light, and Dies, who was the goddess of "Day" or "Daylight." This means Caelus came from light and air itself.
Caelus also had children. In some stories, he and Dies were the parents of Mercury, the speedy messenger god. This shows how Caelus was connected to other important gods in the Roman pantheon.
Caelus and Uranus
The Roman god Caelus is very similar to the Greek god Uranus. In Greek mythology, Uranus was the first god of the sky. He was the husband of Gaia (Mother Earth) and the father of the Titans. The Romans often adopted Greek myths and changed the names of the gods.
Because of this connection, Caelus is sometimes seen as the father of the Roman Titans, like Saturn (who was the Roman version of the Greek god Cronus). This makes Caelus a very important figure in the early history of the gods. He represents the very beginning of the universe in these ancient stories.
