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 ruled in a certain sphere of the Universe - the sky, the water element, the underworld. However, there were some differences. So, Zeus, in spite of the fact that to some extent controlled the destinies, could be forced out of the supreme post 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 all living things, the patron of the state, the protector of his laws and public order.
Its evolution can be traced from the primitive deity of nature. He was the spirit of oak and, in general, of trees. From there, and epithets - fruitful (“frugifer”), beech (“fagutal”), 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, he combined the features inherent not only to the Greek Zeus, but also to many Italian gods. In accordance with his flattering epithets, Jupiter is the god of light (Lucetius), thunder (Tonance) and lightning (Fulgur). He was also associated with vows and contracts. For example, Roman citizens, taking an oath, called him to witness.
Many temples in the Roman Empire were dedicated to the supreme deity. The largest of them was on Capitol Hill, in which Jupiter, the god included in the triad along with Juno and Minerva, was revered as "Optimus Maximus" (omnipotent). The construction of the shrine began even under Ancient Tarquinia (Lucius Tarquinia Prisca), the fifth king in Ancient Rome, and was completed under Lucius Tarquinia with Proud, the seventh and last king. The temple officially opened at the beginning of the republican era, in 509 BC. The consuls sacrificed a white ox, thanking the deity for protecting the state.
Given that he is the supreme god, Jupiter made extensive use of his privileged position, made many novels, and thus produced many descendants. He is the father of Vulcan, Apollo and Diana, Mercury, Venus, Proserpine, Minevra.
Throughout the existence of the Roman Republic, the Almighty is the central figure of the cult. Not only Capitoline Hill, all the hilltops on the territory of the state were places of worship of the deity. In addition, as the god of heaven, thunder and lightning, Jupiter was considered the owner of those places where lightning fell. These places were limited by a circular sacred wall. Thunder was his main weapon, and he had a shield known as the aegis that Volcano made.
His popularity somewhat decreased at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Augustus. Apollo and Mars began to compete with him. However, Augustus did a lot to prevent Optimus Maximus from being overthrown from his throne. Under him, Jupiter - the god of the ruling emperor - was, accordingly, the patron saint of the whole empire, just as Augustus himself was the defender of a free republic.
