Origin of Roman Religion
Like all other religions, the religion of Rome had to have it's start somewhere. Most of the Roman's gods were greatly influenced by the gods of the Greeks and other near by areas. In the beginning Romans believed in only three gods; they were Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus. Because the Romans were very flexible with their beliefs, they adopted many more gods and goddesses over time. The idea that gods controlled unexplained happenings in nature was derived from the Italic people who believed that spirits lived in natural objects and that they controlled the destiny of humans. People began giving names to and worshiping gods like Vesta who supposedly protected ones house hold when prayed too. These beliefs eventually evolved into the multi-god religion of Rome.
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