Interpretatio graeca 1449016 212457580 2008-05-14T21:58:48Z Lord Hidelan 5744483 '''''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]]&mdash;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>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>Atunis</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Αμφιτρίτη</td> <td>[[Amphitrite]]</td> <td>Salacia</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Aνάγκη</td> <td>[[Ananke (mythology)|Ananke]]</td> <td>Necessitas</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Άνεμοι</td> <td>[[Anemoi]]</td> <td>Venti</td> <td>''Winds''</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Aφροδίτη <td>[[Aphrodite]]</td> <td>[[Venus (mythology)|Venus]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Turan (mythology)|Turan]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Απόλλων (''Apollōn'') /<br>Φοίβος (''Phoibos'')</td> <td>[[Apollo]] / [[Phoebus]]</td> <td>Apollo / Phoebus</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Aplu]]</td> <tr> <td>Άρης</td> <td>[[Ares]]</td> <td>[[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Maris]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Άρτεμις</td> <td>[[Artemis]]</td> <td>[[Diana (mythology)|Diana]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Artume]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ασκληπιός (''Asklēpios'')</td> <td>[[Asclepius]]</td> <td>Aesculapius / [[Veiovis]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Αθηνά</td> <td>[[Athena]] / Athene</td> <td>[[Minerva]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Menrva]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Άτροπος</td> <td>[[Atropos]]</td> <td>[[Morta (deity)|Morta]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>Leinth</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Βορέας</td> <td>[[Anemoi#North wind|Boreas]]</td> <td>Aquilo / Aquilon</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>Andas</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Χάριτες (''Kharites'')</td> <td>[[Charites]]</td> <td>Gratiae</td> <td>''Graces''</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Χάρων (''Kharōn'')</td> <td>[[Charon (mythology)|Charon]]</td> <td>Charon</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Charun]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Χλωρίς (''Khlōris'')</td> <td>[[Chloris]]</td> <td>[[Flora (mythology)|Flora]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Κλωθώ (''Klōthō'')</td> <td>[[Clotho]]</td> <td>Nona</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Κρόνος (''Kronos'')</td> <td>[[Cronus]]</td> <td>Saturnus</td> <td>[[Saturn (mythology)|Saturn]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Κυβέλη (''Kubelē'')</TD> <td>[[Cybele]]</td> <td>[[Magna Mater deorum Idaea|Magna Mater]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Δημήτηρ</td> <td>[[Demeter]]</td> <td>[[Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Διόνυσος (''Diōnusos'') /<br> Βάκχος (''Bakkhos'')</td> <td>[[Dionysus]] / Bacchus</td> <td>[[Liber]] / Bacchus</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Fufluns]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ενυώ</td> <td>[[Enyo]]</td> <td>Bellona</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ηώς</td> <td>[[Eos]]</td> <td>[[Aurora (mythology)|Aurora]] / Matuta</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Thesan]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Ερινύες</td> <td>[[Erinyes]]</td> <td>Dirae / Furiae</td> <td>''Furies''</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Έρις</td> <td>[[Eris (mythology)|Eris]]</td> <td>Discordia</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Έρως</td> <td>[[Eros (mythology)|Eros]]</td> <td>Cupido / Amor</td> <td>[[Cupid]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Εύρος (''Euros'')</td> <td>[[Anemoi#East wind|Eurus]]</td> <td>Vulturnus</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Γαία</td> <td>[[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]] / Gaea</td> <td>[[Terra (mythology)|Terra]] / Tellus</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Galanthis]] / Galinthias</td> <td>Galinthis</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</td> <td>Aita</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ήβη</td> <td>[[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]]</td> <td>Iuventas</td> <td>Juventas</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Εκάτη (''Hekatē'')</td> <td>[[Hecate]]</td> <td>[[Trivia (mythology)|Trivia]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ήλιος</td> <td>[[Helios]]</td> <td>Sol</td> <td>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Εστία</td> <td>[[Hestia]]</td> <td>[[Vesta (mythology)|Vesta]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Υγεία</td> <td>[[Hygeia]]</td> <td>Salus</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ύπνος</td> <td>[[Hypnos]]</td> <td>Somnus</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ειρήνη (''Eirēnē'')</td> <td>[[Horae#Second generation|Irene]]</td> <td>[[Pax (mythology)|Pax]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Λητώ</td> <td>[[Leto]]</td> <td>Latona</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Μοίραι (''Moirai'')</td> <td>[[Moirae]] / Moerae</td> <td>Parcae / Fatae</td> <td>''Fates''</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Μούσαι (''Mousai'')</td> <td>Musae</td> <td>[[Camenae]]</td> <td>''[[Muse]]s''</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Νίκη</td> <td>[[Nike (mythology)|Nike]]</td> <td>[[Victoria (mythology)|Victoria]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Νότος (''Notos'')</td> <td>[[Anemoi#South wind|Notus]]</td> <td>Auster</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Νυξ (''Nuks'')</td> <td>[[Nyx (mythology)|Nyx]]</td> <td>Nox</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Οδυσσεύς</td> <td>[[Odysseus]]</td> <td>Ulixes / Ulysses</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>Uthuze</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Παλαίμων (''Palaimōn'')</td> <td>[[Palaemon]]</td> <td>[[Portunes]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Πάν</td> <td>[[Pan (mythology)|Pan]]</td> <td>Faunus</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>Silvanus</td> <td>Selvans</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Περσεφόνη</td> <td>[[Persephone]]</td> <td>[[Proserpina]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Φήμη</td> <td>[[Pheme]]</td> <td>Fama</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Φωσφόρος (''Phōsphoros'') <td>[[Hesperus|Phosphorus]]</td> <td>[[Vesper]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Σελήνη</td> <td>[[Selene]]</td> <td>Luna</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Σεμέλη</td> <td>[[Semele]]</td> <td>Stimula</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Semla (mythology)|Semla]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>θάνατος</td> <td>[[Thanatos]]</td> <td>[[Mors (mythology)|Mors]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>Leinth, [[Charun]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Θέμις</td> <td>[[Themis]]</td> <td>[[Lady Justice|Iustitia]]</td> <td>Justitia</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Τύχη (''Tukhe'')</td> <Td>[[Tyche]]</td> <td>[[Fortuna (mythology)|Fortuna]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Nortia]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ουρανός (''Ouranos'')</td> <td>[[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]]</td> <td>[[Caelus]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Vertumnus]]</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>[[Voltumna]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ζέφυρος (''Zephuros'')</td> <td>[[Anemoi#West wind|Zephyrus]] / ''[[Zephyr]]''</td> <td>Favonius</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</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]]