HOW DID GREEK PHILOSOPHY INFLUENCE ROMAN RELIGION?

Religion in historic Rome encompassed the ancestral ethnic religion of the metropolis of Rome that the Romans used to define themselves, in addition to the adopted spiritual practices of peoples introduced under Roman rule. The Romans thought of themselves as enormously spiritual, and attributed their fulfillment as strength to their collective piety (pietas) in preserving right relations with the gods. In line with legendary records, most of Rome’s spiritual establishments could be traced to its founders, especially Numa Pompilius, the Sabine 2nd king of Rome, who negotiated with the gods on direct basis. This archaic faith became the muse of the Mos Maiorum, "the manner of the ancestors" or certainly "subculture", considered as valuable to Roman identity.

An insightful rationalization can't be given as to how Greek philosophy prompted Roman faith without making reference to Interpretatio Graeca. Interpretatio Graeca (Latin, "Greek translation") is the manner in which historical Greek spiritual principles and practices, deities, and myths are used to interpret or try to recognize the mythology and religion of other cultures. It is accordingly a comparative method that looks for equivalencies and shared characteristics. The Romans had been specifically engaged in this practice.

Throughout the Hellenization of Roman literature and subculture, the Romans identified their personal gods with the ones of the Greeks, adapting the stories informed about them and importing different myths for which they had no counterpart. The Greeks philosophy become embedded in their mythology and as such the Romans adopted their mythology routinely from the Greek philosophy.

Rome as a power was rather new, and in order to cement its place Roman writers used Greek history and mythology to show that Rome had ancient origins. The Roman story of The Aeneid draws from Greek mythology to have Aeneas being the son of Aphrodite, and coming from the ruins of Troy to found a settlement that would eventually become a large part of the Roman Empire.

The Romans adoption of gods from different cultures led to famous deities with familiar roles during the reign of the Roman empire. Because their gods did not have human attributes, the Romans saw no need for a complex mythology to surround them. But contact with Greek culture changed this and the Romans saw advantages to affiliating their own gods with those of an established and prestigious culture.

The Romans began to fit their gods into the Greek mythological structure. Roman gods with the most applicable attributes found themselves cast in the roles of the Olympians. Jupiter, formerly the Roman god of skies and oaths became the Roman Zeus and Juno, a mother goddess figure, became Hera. Mars, previously a god of agriculture and war, had his agrarian role downplayed as he was cast as Ares.

Many previously minor gods found themselves promoted as they were cast in the remaining Olympian roles. Venus, formerly a minor garden deity, became the goddess of love, and Neptune, only one of many Roman water deities, became the god of the sea.

However, other key Roman gods could not be fitted into this new style pantheon. But they still retained their cult significance within Roman state religion. The goddess Vesta, guardian of the Roman state was one example and her ancient cult of the Vestal Virgins continued as an important part of Roman state religion.

Temples were built for the gods also, as done by the Greeks as the Romans adopted a professional system of priesthood to cater for those sacred places.

From Hero worship of the Greeks, the Romans adopted the domestic or private cults where the Pater Familiar doubled as the head of the sacred family cult.

I am however not ignorant of the first rate influence of Greek philosophy on Roman religion – however the Roman gods did predate the Greek gods they came to resemble. The Greeks manner of life set a path as to which helped the acculturation of Roman religion as most of the embodiment of the Roman religion can be discovered within the Greeks’ philosophy.