Archive for 'Latium'

Continuing on from our introductory article on the gods of ancient Rome, here are some more familiar faces that you may already know a little about!

Pluto was god of the underworld and another brother of Jupiter’s. He was a gloomy fellow, jealous of his siblings who had a better life of it high up in the clouds!

Mars was a son of Jupiter and god of war. He wasn’t that popular with the other gods as he was extremely vain and quite cruel. The only other deity that liked him was Venus, goddess wife of Vulcan.

The civilisation of ancient Rome was a major believer in higher powers. They had gods and goddesses for almost anything imaginable! There were gods of war, sea, love, and wisdom for example and each one would be specifically prayed to for a corresponding crisis or wish in that area.

There were hundreds of Roman gods, many of which transcended into being through influences of Greek and Latin civilisations. In many cases, each of these cultures had equivalent gods for different purposes.

For example the Greek god, Zeus was the god of gods and was the equivalent of the Roman god Jupiter. Hades was the Greek ruler of the underworld, very similar to Pluto the Roman version.

The origins of what went on to become one of the largest and most powerful empires in the ancient world began on the peninsula of Italy around the 8th century BC near the site where Rome city now stands.

Through its 1200 years of existence the ancient Roman civilisation went through stages of monarchy, classical republic before transforming into the formidable empire that expanded across much of Europe and around the Mediterranean.

Situated just west of central Italy, Latium is a magnificent region that’s home to the capitol Rome! Tourists could quite easily spend a month soaking in all the culture, sights and activities available here as Latium is full of incredible cities, towns, villages and attractions that you simply must see! Savour the traditional flavours of Latium’s cuisine, visit historical sites and take part in some of the fun festivals hosted here throughout the year!

Stay in a stunning villa with swimming pool in Latium where you can enjoy sunbathing before and after your incredible tours of the region.

Have you ever been to Rome? This ancient city was once the headquarters of the powerful Roman Empire and many remnants of its glorious past still stand. See the Colosseum where gladiators once fought or explore Vatican City, home of the Catholic Pope.

The artistic treasures you will gaze upon here is a treat for the senses; especially Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, a true masterpiece that took many years for the master painter to complete.

Why not escape for a few days to the tranquillity of the Latium countryside and go on a scenic cycling trail around Lake Bolsena, the largest volcanic lake in Europe. There are many lovely activities to engage in here such as exploring the towns and villages along the lake shores or diving into some fun water sports like wake boarding and canoeing!

Once upon a time according to legend, two twin boys called Romulus and Remus were born and they were destined for greatness as their parents were famous in their own right. Their mother was called Rhea Silvia, a sacred priestess and their father was Mars, the Roman god of war.

Their uncle, a jealous man who wanted to bypass the twins’ right to royal leadership so he could be king, plotted to have them murdered. But the servant he ordered to commit this heinous crime instead placed them in a basket and set it floating down the River Tiber.