Roman religion and gods

In ancient Greek times, the gods had been thought of as superhumans. In the earliest days of Rome, the Romans had their own gods. However, as the Romans conquered more widely they became aware of the Greek gods and these became more and more attractive to them. So, during Roman times, they took over many of the Greek gods, giving each of their old gods a new personality borrowed from the Greeks. Thus, Jupiter, traditionally the chief Roman god, was given the character of Greek Zeus, Mars became the same as the Greek god Ares, and Neptune became the same as the Greek god Poseidon.

Although they worshipped much the same gods as the Greeks, the gods became more vague, something like spirits, rather than superhumans. Romans thought that every person, place or thing had its own guardian spirit.

Beginning in the 2nd century, Christianity began to spread in the Roman empire, even though they had, to begin with, persecuted Christians. It became an officially supported religion in the Roman state under Constantine I, and all religions except Christianity were prohibited in 391 by an edict of Emperor Theodosius I.