Greek mythology affected almost every aspect of Romans and cultural transmission contributed a lot in this phenomenon. Several stories and historical accounts of both these great civilizations suggest about the founding of roman city and how the same was affected by Greek mythology. This paper intends to discuss how Greek mythology affected the idea of founding their city by Romans and other related aspects of life.
We get a substantial amount of information about founding of roam from Livy’s history of Rome which suggests Romans built their pantheon of gods after conquering Greeks. The deities of Romans were highly influenced by one of Greeks. Romans changed their gods after seeing gods of Greeks and it is visible after seeing gods of both civilizations. If we look at the culture of Romans and Greeks, it is very easily noticed that the culture of Romans is a kind of continuance of Greek culture. Greeks affected culture, architecture and other aspects of roman civilizations in a great manner.
Greek colonies were built on Italian peninsula which further inspired Etruscan cities. When Romans attacked and conquered Etruscan colonies, they were highly influenced by the city planning and they copied the same in their own land lately. Romans architecture, sculpture and engineering were based on that of Etruscan cities. One interesting fact is that whether they conquered Greeks but were conquered by thoughts, culture and were influenced by the Greek mythology. Apart from this, Greek mythology was transmitted to Romans through travelers, employees, merchants, artists and others. Rome became a paradise for people from different categories very soon (Richard, 2008).
Rome was brought into existence by Romulus and Remus somewhere around 753 BC. It was a small city on the river bank of Tiver. The idea of establishing a city on a river bank was also taken from Greeks. City planning, architecture, administration and government structuring of Romans were also affected by Greeks. Rome was expanded by the time and grasped ideas of architecture, literature, trade, and commerce mainly from Greeks. The city of Rome which was merely a small trading city was converted into one of most prosperous and expanded cities of world.
Reliable source for Ancient Greek mythology comes from poets like homer. Ancient Greeks have their way of understanding and interpreting things. Their gods were supreme for them and they did not dare to do any alter with their gods but Romans adopted a different approach from Greeks. They changed their gods by the influence of Greek gods. When Rome fell, the idea of Greek also fell. The Greek mythology did not affect only Romans but also other contemporary civilizations to a greater extent. Roman historians accept Greeks influence on their civilization without any hesitation.
It is clear from the abovementioned analysis of the subject that Romans were highly influenced by the Greeks while founding their great city. Greeks affected every aspect of roman civilization and it is prima facie noticed from roman gods, culture, city planning, architecture, sculpture, engineering, administration and government. The idea of establishing the city of Rome is prima facie influenced by Greek mythology.
Reference
Richard, C.J., 2008. Greeks and Romans Bearing Gifts: How the Ancients Inspired the Founding Fathers. USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
