Roman Mythology Coloring Pages
The Romans kept a very open door when it came to gods. They borrowed the big ones from the Greeks and gave them new names, welcomed in gods from as far away as Egypt, and still kept plenty of their own, like a two-faced god of doorways and a goddess who looked after door hinges.
What they didn't have much of were stories about their gods. Roman religion was mostly about doing the rituals properly, so when they wanted a good myth they usually borrowed a Greek one.
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Roman Gods with Greek Inspiration
These are the Roman gods most people know, and each one is borrowed from Greek mythology. Many of their names ended up on the planets too, so when you spot Mars or Venus in the night sky you're looking at a little piece of Roman mythology.
Apollo
Apollo originated as a Greek god, but the Romans adopted him with the same name and largely the same attributes... an unusual case, since most Greek gods were renamed. He is the radiant god of music, poetry, prophecy, and the sun.
Legends tell of Apollo’s skill with the lyre, his prophetic powers at the Oracle of Delphi, and his role in bringing light and order to the world.
As a symbol of harmony, wisdom, and artistic inspiration, Apollo was revered across the Roman Empire. He was a favorite!
Bacchus
Bacchus was the Roman god of wine, parties, and celebration. He loved music, dancing, and anything that brought joy and excitement. His festivals were full of colorful costumes, wild performances, and plenty of wine, he reminded people to enjoy life and celebrate with friends.
Bacchus is the Roman version of the Greek god Dionysus. When the Romans adopted him as Bacchus, they emphasized the festive and social aspects of his character, linking him more to public celebrations and less to the sometimes dangerous unpredictability of Dionysus.
Greek Dionysus was more of a party animal... Roman Bacchus was more of a party planner!
Cupid
Cupid, the mischievous Roman god of love, loved to make people fall in love sometimes in unexpected ways! Armed with his magical bow and arrows, he could spark attraction and romance wherever he went. He’s often shown as a playful little figure with wings and a twinkle in his eye.
Rome's Cupid was inspired by the Greek god Eros.
In early Greek myths, Eros was sometimes a primordial force of desire, representing love and creation itself. The Romans turned him into Cupid, a playful, mischievous young god with arrows who causes people to fall in love, focusing on more personal, human-centered stories of romance.
Diana
Diana was the Roman goddess of the moon, hunting, and wild animals. She protected women and children and was often shown with a bow and arrows, surrounded by the creatures of the forest. Diana represented independence, courage, and a connection to nature.
Rome's Diana evolved from the Greek goddess Artemis.
Both are hunters and protectors of young women, but Roman stories emphasized her role in society as well as her ties to the countryside and sacred groves, blending adventure with moral guidance.
Juno
Juno was the Roman queen of the gods and goddess of marriage, family, and childbirth. She protected women and the Roman state, watching over both personal lives and society. Often depicted with a crown or scepter, Juno was a symbol of loyalty, care, and responsibility.
Rome's Juno was inspired by the Greek goddess Hera.
Like Hera, she was married to the king of the gods, but the Romans focused more on her role in protecting the city of Rome and supporting family and society rather than just her personal rivalries with her husband's girlfriends.
Jupiter
Jupiter was the king of the Roman gods and the ruler of the sky and thunder. He was the protector of Rome, guiding leaders and helping maintain order in both the heavens and on Earth. Often shown holding a lightning bolt, Jupiter represented strength, justice, and authority, inspiring respect from gods and humans alike.
Rome's Jupiter was inspired by the Greek god Zeus.
While both are kings of the gods and control the sky, the Romans emphasized Jupiter’s role as a guardian of the state and law, making him central to Roman religion and society.
Mars
Mars was the Roman god of war but also of protection and courage. He guided soldiers, watched over Rome, and symbolized strength, discipline, and bravery. Unlike some gods of battle, he was respected not just for fighting, but for defending and leading with honor.
Mars was inspired by the Greek god Ares, who represented war, bloodshed, and chaos.
The Romans adopted Mars as their god of war but emphasized his role as a protector of the Roman state and a symbol of courage, discipline, and honor. Unlike Ares, Mars was respected and celebrated rather than feared.
Minerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom, strategy, and clever thinking. She guided people in arts, crafts, and battle plans, encouraging clever solutions and learning. Brave and fair, she was a protector of cities and a champion of knowledge.
Rome's Minerva was inspired by the Greek goddess Athena.
Athena was known as a goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts in Greek mythology. When adopted by the Romans, Minerva retained her intelligence and strategic skill but was also associated more with peaceful arts and learning, becoming a protector of cities and culture rather than just warriors.
Pluto
Pluto was the Roman god of the underworld, the quiet kingdom deep underground where the spirits of the dead went to stay. He sat on a dark throne with his queen beside him. He was also called Dis, a name that means “rich,” because gold and silver were hidden in the earth he ruled.
Pluto is the Roman version of the Greek god Hades, and the two share the same stories and the same kingdom.
The big difference is how people felt about them. The Greeks were so afraid of Hades that they wouldn’t say his name out loud, and when they prayed to him they struck the ground with their hands and turned their faces away. Pluto was a bit more of a dignified wealthy god while Hades was a bit of a scary fellow.
Venus
Venus was the Roman goddess of love, beauty, and charm. She inspired feelings of attraction, friendship, and devotion, and was often called upon to bless weddings and families. People admired her for her elegance, kindness, and magnetic presence.
Venus evolved from the Greek goddess Aphrodite.
Aphrodite was linked not only to love and beauty but also to passion, desire, and sometimes unpredictable behavior. The Roman Venus retained the qualities of love and beauty but became a more socially oriented goddess, often tied to family, marriage, and the ideals of harmony and attraction in Roman society.
Vulcan
Vulcan was the Roman god of fire, metalworking, and crafts. He created weapons and armor for gods and heroes and was admired for his skill and creativity. Though sometimes associated with destructive fire, he also represented invention, craftsmanship, and hard work.
Vulcan was inspired by the Greek god Hephaestus.
Both are masters of the forge, but the Roman Vulcan was especially linked to practical craftsmanship and the control of fire, highlighting the value of skill and industry in Roman society.
Homegrown Roman Gods
Not every Roman god came from Greece. Some were old Italian gods with jobs the Greeks never thought of, and nobody else had a god quite like Janus.
Janus
Janus was the god of doorways, gates and beginnings, and he had two faces so he could look both ways at once. One face looked back at what had already happened while the other looked ahead to what was coming. Romans called on him first whenever they prayed, since every prayer was a kind of beginning.
The month of January is named after him and it was said one of his faces looked back at the old year and the other looked forward toward the new.
His most famous temple in Rome had doors that stood open whenever Rome was at war and were closed in peacetime. Rome was at war so often that those doors were hardly ever shut.
Carna
Carna was a goddess with a very particular job: she looked after door hinges. That made her exactly the right goddess to call when a flock of striges found their way into a baby prince's nursery...
Proca and Carna story and coloring pages
Gods from Faraway Places
Isis
Roman Heroes and Stories
Hercules
Hercules was the strongest hero in Roman mythology, the son of Jupiter and a mortal woman named Alcmena. He is best known for completing twelve impossible tasks, the Twelve Labors, which included defeating monsters and capturing wild beasts.
Hercules was inspired by Greek hero Herakles.
The biggest difference was how popular Hercules became to the Romans... they loved him! Soldiers, travelers, and merchants prayed to him for protection and success, and he had altars and festivals in Rome.
Psyche and Cupid
Psyche was a mortal girl so beautiful that she caught the attention of Cupid, the Roman god of love. Cupid fell in love with her, but their story was not easy... Psyche had to face a series of difficult tasks set by Venus, Cupid’s mother, who was jealous of Psyche’s beauty. In the end, she and Cupid were reunited and allowed to be together forever.
Pamphile
Pamphile was an enchantress who could rub on a magic ointment and turn herself into an owl. Her nosy houseguest wanted to fly too, so he helped himself to one of her jars. Unfortunately, it was the wrong one...
Roman Creatures
The Strix
The strix was a screeching night owl with a head much too big for its body, and Roman parents feared it more than any wolf. Nobody could agree whether it was a real bird or a witch in disguise...
The Phoenix
The phoenix was a magical bird that lived for hundreds of years and was then reborn from its own ashes.
The Romans loved what it stood for. Emperors put the phoenix on their coins as a sign that Rome would always rise again.
Mermaids
Mermaids were creatures in Roman mythology... sailors and storytellers often spoke of them. These mythical creatures, half-human and half-fish, were believed to appear near the sea, sometimes warning of storms or guiding ships safely.
Animals in Roman Mythology
The Romans saw signs everywhere in the animal world. A bird flying past or a chicken skipping its breakfast could change the course of a battle. Some animals even helped found the city of Rome itself!
The She-Wolf
Twin baby boys named Romulus and Remus were set adrift on the Tiber River in a basket. They washed ashore under a fig tree, where a mother wolf found them and fed them as if they were her own pups. A shepherd later took them home and raised them. When they grew up, Romulus founded the city of Rome, and the she-wolf became its symbol.
The Woodpecker
The Vultures
The Raven of Valerius Corvus
The Snake of Aesculapius
Juno's Geese
In 390 BC, an army of Gauls attacked Rome, and the Romans took shelter on the Capitoline Hill. One dark night, the Gauls quietly climbed the steep cliff. The guards were asleep, and even the dogs didn’t hear a thing. But the sacred geese in Juno’s temple did. They honked and flapped until a soldier named Marcus Manlius woke up and sounded the alarm. The Romans rushed to defend the hill and saved Rome.
Rome never forgot its geese. Every year, the Romans held a ceremony to honor the geese that saved the Capitoline Hill. A goose was carried through the city on a soft cushion, like a little royal guest. The Romans remembered that the geese had kept watch when the guards and the dogs failed, and they wanted to thank them.
Jupiter's Eagle
The Lynx
Pliny the Elder wrote a giant encyclopedia called Natural History, packed with everything Romans believed about the world. According to Pliny, the lynx had the sharpest eyes of any four-legged animal.
He also insisted that lynx pee hardened into an amber-coloured gem called lyncurium, and that the lynx buried it out of jealousy so no human could have it. (that's not real, but he was convinced of it!)
The Basilisk and the Weasel
