Interpretatio graeca
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2008-05-14T21:58:48Z
Lord Hidelan
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'''''Interpretatio graeca''''' is a [[Latin]] term for the common tendency of [[ancient Greek]] writers to equate foreign divinities to members of their own pantheon. [[Herodotus]], for example, refers to the [[ancient Egypt]]ian gods [[Amon]], [[Osiris]] and [[Ptah]] as "[[Zeus]]", "[[Dionysus]]" and "[[Hephaestus]]", respectively.
==Roman version==
<span id="Interpretatio Romana">
The equivalent Roman practice was called '''''interpretatio romana'''''. The first use of this phrase was by [[Tacitus]] in his ''[[Germania (book)|Germania]]'' ([http://la.wikisource.org/wiki/Germania#43 ch. 43]), in which he reports on a [[sacred grove]] of the [[Naharvali]], saying "Praesidet sacerdos muliebri ornatu, sed deos '''interpretatione Romana''' Castorem Pollucemque memorant" ('a priest presides in woman's dress, but in the interpretation of the Romans, they worship the gods [[Castor and Pollux]]'). Elsewhere ([http://la.wikisource.org/wiki/Germania#9 ch. 9]) he says that the chief gods of the ancient Germans were [[Hercules]] and [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]]—referring to [[Thor]] and [[Odin]] respectively.
===Rome assumes the Greek gods===
[[Culture of Rome|Roman culture]] owed much to the ancient Greeks. The [[Etruscans]] had already incorporated some Greek gods and used a version of the Greek alphabet. The Greek colonies founded [[Magna Graecia|in southern Italy]] from the eighth century BCE contributed much to the young city, and later, when the Romans conquered the [[Hellenistic]] world, they adopted a new wave of Greek beliefs and practices. (See ''[[Romans and Greeks]]'' for details.) Where the two mythologies shared an origin, the interpretations came naturally; [[Zeus]] and [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]], for example, were both derived from [[Dyeus]] of the [[Proto-Indo-European religion|Proto-Indo-European pantheon]]. Elsewhere the fit was less precise, and the Roman god might add attributes borrowed from the Greek, but remain distinct: [[Mars (god)|Mars]] retained his Latin association with agriculture and fertility alongside his warlike attributes and, quite unlike the fearsome Greek [[Ares]], was a benevolent and widely-revered cult figure.
Some [[List of Di Indigetes|''Di Indigetes'']] (native Roman gods), such as [[Janus (mythology)|Janus]] and [[Terminus (mythology)|Terminus]], had no Greek equivalent and so retained an independent tradition; a few, like [[Bona Dea]], did the same despite sharing attributes with a Greek figure (in this case [[Artemis]]). Others, like the twelve assistants of [[Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]], became mere adjuncts to imported Greek deities (here [[Demeter]]).
===Rome and the gods of the empire===
The Romans interpreted [[Celtic mythology|Celtic]] and [[Near East]]ern gods as Roman deities with equal facility. [[Cernunnos]] and [[Lugh]] were identified with [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]], [[Nodens]] to Mars as healer and protector, [[Sulis]] to [[Minerva]], and the [[Teshub|Anatolian storm god]] with his [[labrys|double-headed axe]] became [[Jupiter Dolichenus]], a favorite cult figure among soldiers.
Even the Jewish invocation of [[Yahweh]] [[Sabaoth]] may have been identified with [[Sabazius]].
Where the Romans had no equivalent figure, they did not hesitate to add foreign deities to their pantheon. Sometimes they would change the name: when [[Cybele]] was adopted from the [[Phrygians]] (the Greeks had previously interpreted her as [[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]]), she was called ''[[Magna Mater deorum Idaea]]''. Sometimes they would not: [[Apollo]] was called ''Apollo'' in both Greek and Latin.
==Greco-Roman equivalences==
[[Roman mythology]] was strongly influenced by [[Greek mythology]] and [[Etruscan mythology]]. The following is a list of most credited cult equivalences between the respective systems. Note however that many [[mythography|mythographers]] dismiss both the equivalences made in ancient times and those proposed by modern scholars.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
<table align="center" class="wikitable sortable">
<tr>
<th>Greek</th>
<th>Greek (Anglicized)</th>
<th>Roman</th>
<th>Roman (Anglicized)</th>
<th>Etruscan</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Άδωνις</td>
<td>[[Adonis]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
<td>Atunis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Αμφιτρίτη</td>
<td>[[Amphitrite]]</td>
<td>Salacia</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aνάγκη</td>
<td>[[Ananke (mythology)|Ananke]]</td>
<td>Necessitas</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Άνεμοι</td>
<td>[[Anemoi]]</td>
<td>Venti</td>
<td>''Winds''</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aφροδίτη
<td>[[Aphrodite]]</td>
<td>[[Venus (mythology)|Venus]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Turan (mythology)|Turan]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Απόλλων (''Apollōn'') /<br>Φοίβος (''Phoibos'')</td>
<td>[[Apollo]] / [[Phoebus]]</td>
<td>Apollo / Phoebus</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Aplu]]</td>
<tr>
<td>Άρης</td>
<td>[[Ares]]</td>
<td>[[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Maris]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Άρτεμις</td>
<td>[[Artemis]]</td>
<td>[[Diana (mythology)|Diana]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Artume]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ασκληπιός (''Asklēpios'')</td>
<td>[[Asclepius]]</td>
<td>Aesculapius / [[Veiovis]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Αθηνά</td>
<td>[[Athena]] / Athene</td>
<td>[[Minerva]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Menrva]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Άτροπος</td>
<td>[[Atropos]]</td>
<td>[[Morta (deity)|Morta]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>Leinth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Βορέας</td>
<td>[[Anemoi#North wind|Boreas]]</td>
<td>Aquilo / Aquilon</td>
<td> </td>
<td>Andas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Χάριτες (''Kharites'')</td>
<td>[[Charites]]</td>
<td>Gratiae</td>
<td>''Graces''</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Χάρων (''Kharōn'')</td>
<td>[[Charon (mythology)|Charon]]</td>
<td>Charon</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Charun]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Χλωρίς (''Khlōris'')</td>
<td>[[Chloris]]</td>
<td>[[Flora (mythology)|Flora]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Κλωθώ (''Klōthō'')</td>
<td>[[Clotho]]</td>
<td>Nona</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Κρόνος (''Kronos'')</td>
<td>[[Cronus]]</td>
<td>Saturnus</td>
<td>[[Saturn (mythology)|Saturn]]</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Κυβέλη (''Kubelē'')</TD>
<td>[[Cybele]]</td>
<td>[[Magna Mater deorum Idaea|Magna Mater]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Δημήτηρ</td>
<td>[[Demeter]]</td>
<td>[[Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Διόνυσος (''Diōnusos'') /<br> Βάκχος (''Bakkhos'')</td>
<td>[[Dionysus]] / Bacchus</td>
<td>[[Liber]] / Bacchus</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Fufluns]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ενυώ</td>
<td>[[Enyo]]</td>
<td>Bellona</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ηώς</td>
<td>[[Eos]]</td>
<td>[[Aurora (mythology)|Aurora]] / Matuta</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Thesan]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Ερινύες</td>
<td>[[Erinyes]]</td>
<td>Dirae / Furiae</td>
<td>''Furies''</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Έρις</td>
<td>[[Eris (mythology)|Eris]]</td>
<td>Discordia</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Έρως</td>
<td>[[Eros (mythology)|Eros]]</td>
<td>Cupido / Amor</td>
<td>[[Cupid]]</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Εύρος (''Euros'')</td>
<td>[[Anemoi#East wind|Eurus]]</td>
<td>Vulturnus</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Γαία</td>
<td>[[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]] / Gaea</td>
<td>[[Terra (mythology)|Terra]] / Tellus</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Galanthis]] / Galinthias</td>
<td>Galinthis</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Άδης (''Hadēs'') /<br> Πλούτων (''Plouton'')</td>
<td>[[Hades]] / [[Pluto (mythology)|Pluto]]</td>
<td>[[Dis Pater]] / Pluto / [[Orcus (mythology)|Orcus]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>Aita</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ήβη</td>
<td>[[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]]</td>
<td>Iuventas</td>
<td>Juventas</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Εκάτη (''Hekatē'')</td>
<td>[[Hecate]]</td>
<td>[[Trivia (mythology)|Trivia]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ήλιος</td>
<td>[[Helios]]</td>
<td>Sol</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Aplu]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ήφαιστος (''Hḗphaistos'')</td>
<td>[[Hephaestus]]</td>
<td>Vulcanus</td>
<td>[[Vulcan (mythology)|Vulcan]]</td>
<td>Sethlans</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ήρα</td>
<td>[[Hera]]</td>
<td>Iuno</td>
<td>[[Juno (mythology)|Juno]]</td>
<td>[[Uni (mythology)|Uni]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ηρακλής (''Hēraklē̂s'')</td>
<td>[[Heracles]]</td>
<td>[[Hercules]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>Hercle</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ερμής</td>
<td>[[Hermes]]</td>
<td>Mercurius</td>
<td>[[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]]</td>
<td>Turms</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Έσπερος (''Hesperos'')
<td>[[Hesperus]]</td>
<td>Vesper</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Εστία</td>
<td>[[Hestia]]</td>
<td>[[Vesta (mythology)|Vesta]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Υγεία</td>
<td>[[Hygeia]]</td>
<td>Salus</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ύπνος</td>
<td>[[Hypnos]]</td>
<td>Somnus</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ειρήνη (''Eirēnē'')</td>
<td>[[Horae#Second generation|Irene]]</td>
<td>[[Pax (mythology)|Pax]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
<td>Ianus</td>
<td>[[Janus (mythology)|Janus]]</td>
<td>[[Ani (mythology)|Ani]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Λάχεσις (''Lakhesis'')</td>
<td>[[Lachesis (mythology)|Lachesis]]</td>
<td>Decima</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Λητώ</td>
<td>[[Leto]]</td>
<td>Latona</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Μοίραι (''Moirai'')</td>
<td>[[Moirae]] / Moerae</td>
<td>Parcae / Fatae</td>
<td>''Fates''</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Μούσαι (''Mousai'')</td>
<td>Musae</td>
<td>[[Camenae]]</td>
<td>''[[Muse]]s''</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Νίκη</td>
<td>[[Nike (mythology)|Nike]]</td>
<td>[[Victoria (mythology)|Victoria]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Νότος (''Notos'')</td>
<td>[[Anemoi#South wind|Notus]]</td>
<td>Auster</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Νυξ (''Nuks'')</td>
<td>[[Nyx (mythology)|Nyx]]</td>
<td>Nox</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Οδυσσεύς</td>
<td>[[Odysseus]]</td>
<td>Ulixes / Ulysses</td>
<td> </td>
<td>Uthuze</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Παλαίμων (''Palaimōn'')</td>
<td>[[Palaemon]]</td>
<td>[[Portunes]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Πάν</td>
<td>[[Pan (mythology)|Pan]]</td>
<td>Faunus</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
<td>Silvanus</td>
<td>Selvans</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Περσεφόνη</td>
<td>[[Persephone]]</td>
<td>[[Proserpina]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Φήμη</td>
<td>[[Pheme]]</td>
<td>Fama</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Φωσφόρος (''Phōsphoros'')
<td>[[Hesperus|Phosphorus]]</td>
<td>[[Vesper]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ποσειδών</td>
<td>[[Poseidon]]</td>
<td>Neptunus</td>
<td>[[Neptune]]</td>
<td>[[Nethuns]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Πρίαπος (''Priapos'')</td>
<td>[[Priapus]]</td>
<td>Mutinus Mutunus</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ρέα</td>
<td>[[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]]</td>
<td>[[Magna Mater deorum Idaea|Magna Mater]] / [[Ops]]<br> (''See Cybele, above'')</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Σάτυροι (''Saturoi'') / Πάνες</td>
<td>''[[Satyr]]s'' / [[Pane (mythology)|Panes]] <br>(''See Pan, above'')</td>
<td>Fauni</td>
<td>''[[Faun]]s''</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Σελήνη</td>
<td>[[Selene]]</td>
<td>Luna</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Σεμέλη</td>
<td>[[Semele]]</td>
<td>Stimula</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Semla (mythology)|Semla]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>θάνατος</td>
<td>[[Thanatos]]</td>
<td>[[Mors (mythology)|Mors]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>Leinth, [[Charun]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Θέμις</td>
<td>[[Themis]]</td>
<td>[[Lady Justice|Iustitia]]</td>
<td>Justitia</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Τύχη (''Tukhe'')</td>
<Td>[[Tyche]]</td>
<td>[[Fortuna (mythology)|Fortuna]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Nortia]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ουρανός (''Ouranos'')</td>
<td>[[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]]</td>
<td>[[Caelus]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Vertumnus]]</td>
<td> </td>
<td>[[Voltumna]]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ζέφυρος (''Zephuros'')</td>
<td>[[Anemoi#West wind|Zephyrus]] / ''[[Zephyr]]''</td>
<td>Favonius</td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ζεύς</td>
<td>[[Zeus]]</td>
<td>Iuppiter / Iovis</td>
<td>[[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]] / Jove</td>
<td>[[Tinia]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
==Germanic version==
'''''Interpretatio germanica''''' is the equivalent practice among the Germanic peoples seen, for example, in the names of the [[days of the week]]. Much like the ''interpretatio romana'' with regard to the ''interpretatio graeca'', this was no independent practice, but rather an inversion of the Roman interpretation of Germanic gods following [[Germanic christianization]].
==See also==
*[[Greek mythology]]
*[[Roman mythology]]
*[[Syncretism]]
==External links==
*[http://www.maryjones.us/jce/interpretatio.html Essay on ''interpretatio romana'']
[[Category:Ancient Roman foreign relations]]
[[Category:Latin religious phrases]]
[[Category:Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Roman mythology]]
[[Category:Indo-European mythology]]
[[Category:Etruscan mythology]]
[[br:Taolenn doueed Hellaz ha Roma]]
[[it:Interpretatio graeca]]
[[da:Interpretatio graeca]]
[[de:Interpretatio Graeca]]
[[es:Interpretatio graeca]]
[[hr:Grčki bogovi - rimski bogovi]]
[[la:Index deorum Graecorum cum paribus deis Romanis Etruscisque]]
[[nl:Namen in Griekse en Romeinse mythologie]]
[[no:Likheter mellom romersk, gresk og etruskisk religion]]
[[ro:Similarităţi între mitologiile romană, greacă şi etruscă]]