Dii Consentes facts for kids

The Dii Consentes were the main group of gods and goddesses in ancient Roman religion. Their name, from Latin, means something like "Gods in Agreement" or "Council of the Divine." They were very similar to the Twelve Olympians in Greek mythology.

These important Roman gods and goddesses were first listed by an ancient poet named Ennius around the 200s BC.

The Main Gods of Ancient Rome

The Dii Consentes were considered the most important gods and goddesses that the ancient Romans worshipped. They were like a special council or team of twelve powerful deities who looked after different parts of the world and human life.

Who Were the Dii Consentes?

There were twelve gods and goddesses in this special group. Six were male gods and six were female goddesses. Each one had a unique role and was worshipped for different reasons.

Here are the twelve Dii Consentes:

• Jupiter: The king of the gods and the god of the sky and thunder. He was the most powerful.
• Juno: The queen of the gods and Jupiter's wife. She was the goddess of marriage and childbirth.
• Vesta: The goddess of the hearth, home, and family. Her sacred fire was kept burning constantly.
• Minerva: The goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts. She was very clever and skilled.
• Ceres: The goddess of agriculture, grain, and the harvest. She helped crops grow.
• Apollo: The god of music, poetry, light, and healing. He was also known for prophecy.
• Diana: The goddess of the hunt, the moon, and wild animals. She was a skilled archer.
• Venus: The goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. She was very charming.
• Mars: The god of war. He was strong and brave in battle.
• Vulcan: The god of fire, volcanoes, and blacksmiths. He was a skilled craftsman.
• Mercury: The messenger of the gods. He was fast and also the god of trade and travelers.
• Neptune: The god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. He ruled the oceans.

These twelve gods and goddesses were central to the Roman religion and were often shown together in art and worshipped in temples across the Roman Empire.

Images for kids

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  Although the ritual purpose of this 1st century BCE altar from Gabii is unclear, the twelve deities depicted correspond to the Dii Consentes

See also

In Spanish: Dii Consentes para niños