Ancient history

What was the religion of Roman Empire?

In the early centuries of the Roman Empire, the Romans were polytheists, meaning that they believed in many gods. The most important of these gods were Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Minerva, Apollo, Diana, and Venus. These gods were believed to control different aspects of life, such as the weather, war, love, and beauty. The Romans also believed in a number of lesser gods, such as the Lares and Penates, who protected the household, and the Genius, who protected each individual.

In the 1st century AD, Christianity began to spread throughout the Roman Empire. Christianity is a monotheistic religion, meaning that Christians believe in only one God. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he came to Earth to save humanity from sin. Christianity eventually became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and many of the Roman gods and goddesses were replaced by Christian saints.

However, some Romans continued to practice polytheism even after Christianity became the official religion. In the 4th century AD, the emperor Julian tried to restore polytheism as the official religion of the Empire, but he was unsuccessful. By the end of the 4th century, Christianity was the dominant religion in the Roman Empire.