Jupiter is the god of the Roman pantheon.He was identified with the supreme god of the ancient Greeks - Zeus. He had two brothers - Neptune and Pluto. Each of them dominated in a certain sphere of the universe - the sky, the water element, the underworld. However, there were some differences. So, Zeus, despite the fact that he managed to some extent destiny, could be ousted from the supreme position by other gods, if, of course, they managed to do it. He had more power and strength than the rest, but he was not omnipotent and omniscient, unlike Jupiter, who was the king of the gods and everything alive, the patron of the state, the defender of his laws and public order.
Its evolution can be traced from the primitivedeities of nature. He was the spirit of an oak and, in general, a tree. From there, epithets are also fruitful ("frugifer"), beech ("phagutal"), reed ("vimin"), fig tree ("rumin"). The worship of Jupiter had an impact on the entire Western European world. His name is the largest planet in the solar system. In English, the word "jovial" comes from its alternative name "Jove".
In general, he had a variety of functions, hecombined the features inherent not only to the Greek Zeus, but also to many Italic gods. In accordance with its flattering epithets, Jupiter is the god of light (Luccy), thunder (Tonans) and lightning (Fulgur). He was also associated with vows and treaties. For example, Roman citizens, when swearing, called him to witness.
Many temples in the Roman Empire were dedicated tothe supreme deity. The largest of them was on the Capitol Hill, where Jupiter, the god who was part of the triad along with Juno and Minerva, was revered as "Optimus Maximus" (almighty). The construction of the shrine began even under Tarquinius the Ancient (Lucius Tarquinius Prisca), the fifth king in ancient Rome, and ended under Lucius Tarquinius Gord, the seventh and last king. Officially, the church was opened at the beginning of the Republican era, in 509 BC. The consuls sacrificed white ox, thanking the deity for the protection of the state.
Considering that he is the supreme god, Jupiter is widelyenjoyed his privileged position, started many novels, thus, produced many descendants. He is the father of Vulcan, Apollo and Diana, Mercury, Venus, Proserpine, Minevra.
During the existence of the Roman Republic"Almighty" is the central figure of the cult. Not only the Capitol Hill, all the peaks of the hills on the territory of the state were places of veneration of the deity. In addition, as the god of the sky, thunder and lightning, Jupiter was considered the owner of those places where lightning struck. These places were confined to a circular sacred wall. Thunder was his main weapon, and he had a shield, known as the aegis that the Vulcan had made.
The popularity of it somewhat decreased in the beginningthe reign of Emperor Augustus. With him began to compete with Apollo and Mars. However, August went to great lengths, so that Optimus Maximus was not deposed from his throne. Under him, Jupiter - the god of the ruling emperor - was, accordingly, the patron of the whole empire, just as Augustus himself was the defender of the free republic.
