Jupiter - the god of the Roman pantheon.He was identified with the supreme god of the ancient Greeks - Zeus.He had two brothers - Neptune and Pluto.Each of them ruled in a particular area of the universe - the sky, the water element, the underworld.However, there were some differences.So Zeus, despite the fact that to some extent control the destiny could be eliminated with the supreme office the other gods, if, of course, they managed to do.He had more authority and power than others, but he was not omnipotent and omniscient, unlike Jupiter, which is the king of the gods and of all living things, the patron saint of the State, its laws and the defense of public order.
its evolution can be traced from the primitive nature of the deity.It was the spirit of the oak, and, in general, the trees.From there and epithets - fertile ("frugifer"), beech ("fagutal"), reed ("vimin"), the fig tree ("Roumeen").Worship Jupiter affected the entire Western European world.It is named after the largest planet in the solar system.The English word «jovial» comes from its alias «Jove».
Actually, he had a variety of functions, he combined the traits of not only the Greek Zeus, but many of the Italic gods.In accordance with its flattering epithets, Jupiter - the god of light (Lutset), thunder (Tonans) and lightning (fulgurite).He was also associated with vows and treaties.For example, Roman citizens, an oath, called him as a witness.
Many churches in the Roman Empire were dedicated to the supreme deity.The biggest one was on Capitol Hill, where the Jupiter, the god, a member of the triad, along with Juno and Minerva, was worshiped as the "Optimus Maximus" (omnipotent).Construction of the shrine began even during ancient Tarquinia (Tarquinia Priske Lucia), the fifth king in ancient Rome, and ended when Lucy Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh and last king.Officially the temple was opened at the beginning of the republican era, in 509 BC.The consuls sacrificed white oxen, thanking god for the protection of the state.
Given that it is the supreme god, Jupiter extensive use their privileged position, the factory many novels thus produced a lot of offspring.He - the father of Vulcan, Apollo and Diana, Mercury, Venus, Proserpina, Minerva.
Throughout the existence of the Roman Republic "Almighty" is the central figure of worship.Not only Capitol Hill, all the hilltops in the state is a place of worship of a deity.In addition, as the god of the sky, thunder and lightning, Jupiter was considered the owner of the places where the lightning fell.These places are limited to a circular sacred wall.Thunder was his main weapon, and he had a shield, known as Aegis, who made volcano.
His popularity declined somewhat at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Augustus.With him began to compete Apollo and Mars.However, in August of much went to Optimus Maximus was deposed from his throne.During his Jupiter - God ruling emperor - was, accordingly, the patron saint of the whole empire, just as Augustus himself was a defender of a free republic.
