How Much Do You Remember About Ancient Deities? Find Out With Our Roman Mythology Quiz!
Written by Vasilii Kulev
Last updated · 7 min play time
While the Ancient Romans borrowed much of their mythology from their Greek predecessors, they had their own unique take on gods and goddesses. As their empire expanded, so did the imaginative myths that emerged. Ready to go back in time to the land of the Romans? Waste no time and take our quiz!
The Roman Empire was mainly a polytheistic society, meaning that its inhabitants acknowledged and worshiped a variety of gods and goddesses. They thought that these gods aided in the establishment of the Roman civilization and shaped the everyday lives of ordinary people.
As the Roman Republic became more influential and expanded, it annexed many Greek lands, incorporating them into the Roman state's governance. As a result, the Romans absorbed many elements of Greek culture, modifying them to their own. Many of the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses have comparable features.
How well do you know Roman mythology? Do you know the Capitoline Triad? Take our quiz to find out!
Quiz written by
Vasilii KulevVasilii Kulev is a digital marketing specialist during business hours and a trivia writer in his spare time. His areas of interest range from cars and music to science, history, and food. Whenever he's not busy writing quizzes, you can catch him at the local used records store or the newest craft beer bar. He also wrote this entire bio himself in third person.
Roman Mythology Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 303 Plays · 1 Comment
Question 1
There are many depictions of Neptune in different parts of the world, but they all have one thing in common: what object that he's always holding?
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AShield
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BCrown
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CTrident
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DVeil
Trident
A trident is a spear with three blades, traditionally used for fishing and as a pole arm. In ancient mythology, the trident is held by Neptune (or Poseidon). It is said that the trident was created by cyclopes and used by Neptune to cause earthquakes.
Question 2
According to Roman legend, what goddess of beauty was also the progenitor of the Roman people via her son, Aeneas?
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AJuno
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BVenus
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CMinerva
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DVesta
Venus
Venus was associated with love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, wealth, and conquest. According to Roman mythology, she was the progenitor of the Roman people via her son, Aeneas, who escaped Troy's destruction and fled to Italy. Even Julius Caesar claimed her as his direct ancestor.
Question 3
Neptune was the brother of Jupiter and Pluto; these three ruled the kingdoms of Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld. Neptune was the God of what?
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AThunder
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BLight
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CFresh Water and the Sea
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DFertility
Fresh Water and the Sea
Neptune was the Roman deity of fresh water and the sea, and was the equivalent of the Greek deity Poseidon. As with Poseidon, the Romans worshiped Neptune as a deity of horses and called him Neptunus Equester, a patron of horse racing.
Question 4
Minerva was the Roman goddess of knowledge and strategic warfare, as well as the patroness of the arts and commerce. What was her sacred animal?
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AOwl
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BCat
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CTiger
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DCuckoo
Owl
Minerva was often portrayed with her holy creature, an owl, sometimes referred to as the "owl of Minerva." To the Romans, this fascinating bird symbolized Minerva's connection with learning and understanding.
Question 5
Which ancient Roman Goddess - and the guardian of the state - worshipped the colorful and flamboyant peacock as her holy animal?
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ABellona
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BJuventas
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CJuno
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DSaturn
Juno
Juno was an ancient Roman goddess who served as the state's guardian and special advisor. She was the daughter of Saturn, the wife of Jupiter, and the mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, and Juventas.
Question 6
Lending his name to a planet, Jupiter was the Roman deity of sky and thunder, as well as the ruler of gods. What was his sacred animal?
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AEagle
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BDolphin
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CSerpent
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DTiger
Eagle
Jupiter is often believed to have originated from the sky. His distinguishing weapon is the thunderbolt and his main sacred animal is the eagle, which was given priority over other birds and became the Roman army's most frequent symbol.
Question 7
Many historians believe that the month of January was named after what god of time, passageways, and beginnings?
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AJanuary
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BJan
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CJuno
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DJanus
Janus
In Roman mythology and religion, Janus was the deity of beginnings, gates, time, doors, passageways, and frames, and is usually portrayed with two faces. The gates of a building in Rome are named after him, and they were opened during times of conflict and closed during times of peace.
Question 8
According to Roman myths, what festival of frenzied rituals, sexual violence, and unlimited alcohol consumption was banned because it was considered a conspiracy against the state?
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AFloralia
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BLupercalia
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CVulcanalia
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DBacchanalia
Bacchanalia
The Bacchanalia were Bacchus-related Roman festivities modeled after the Greek Dionysia. They seem to have been widespread and well-organized across the Italian peninsula's central and southern regions. Once the festivals gained popularity, the Roman Senate saw them as a danger and banned them in order to avert any rebellions.
Question 9
Considered the god of wealth, trade, communication, borders, fortune, and deceit, name this prominent deity in Roman religion and mythology.
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ADies
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BMercury
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CJupiter
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DMaia
Mercury
Mercury is considered to be either the son of Maia or the son of Caelus and Dies. In his earliest manifestations, he was linked to the Etruscan deity Turms, and he's often portrayed holding the caduceus bestowed on him by Apollo.
Question 10
The son of Zeus and Leto, Apollo was both a Greek and a Roman God. What was the name of his twin, who served as the goddess of hunting?
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ADurga
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BHecate
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CAthena
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DDiana
Diana
Named Diana by the Romans, Artemis was the Greek goddess of hunting, greenery, as well as of virginity, and childbirth. She was Zeus and Leto's daughter and Apollo's twin sister, and she considered cypress trees to be sacred.
Question 11
Composed between 29 and 19 B.C., who wrote the epic poem The Aeneid, which recounts the tale of Aeneas, a Trojan who traveled to Italy to became the progenitor of the Romans?
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AAugustus
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BPlato
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CVirgil
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DOvid
Virgil
<i>The Aeneid</i> was written by Virgil between 29 and 19 B.C. The first six books of the poem chronicle Aeneas' journey from Troy to Italy, while the second half chronicles the Trojans' victorious war against the Latins.
Question 12
Often shown with a blacksmith's hammer, Vulcan was the god of fire and metalworking. The Vulcanalia was an annual celebration conducted in his honor, occurring when?
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ANovember 5
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BJanuary 7
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CAugust 23
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DSeptember 21
August 23
The Vulcanalia was traditionally celebrated with an enormous bonfire on August 23. In a twist of fate, the infamous Mt. Vesuvius eruption in Pompeii occurred one day after the Vulcanalia celebration concluded.
Question 13
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival dedicated to the deity Saturn, beginning with a sacrifice followed by a public banquet and carnival. During which solstice did this festival occur?
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AWinter
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BSummer
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CSpring
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DAutumn
Winter
Saturnalia began on the 17th of December and was subsequently extended to the 23rd of December. It is said that this festival may have inspired a number of subsequent midwinter festivities in Western Europe, most notably those connected with Christmas, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and Epiphany.
Question 14
Numerous legends credit Romulus and his contemporaries with the creation of many of Rome's first legal, political, religious, and social institutions. Who was Romulus' father?
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AMars
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BJupiter
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CVulcan
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DNeptune
Mars
Romulus and his twin brother Remus were the children of Rhea Silvia and Mars. According to the legend, the twins were abandoned by the riverbed at the foot of Palatine Hill where they were suckled - and raised - by a she-wolf.
Question 15
Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and the most famous of the Roman army's patrons. In addition to being the God of War, he was also the guardian of what?
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ALight
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BPeace
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CAgriculture
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DFertility
Agriculture
Mars was a god of battle and agriculture, a combination that was typical of early Rome. The majority of his festivals took place in March, the month that bears he name, and in October which marked the start of the military campaigning season and the end of the agricultural season.
Question 16
Proserpina is an ancient Roman goddess whose mythology and mysteries were merged with those of Libera. What was Libera the goddess of?
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AThe Underworld
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BWine
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CFertility
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DLove
Wine
Libera is considered to have been an early Roman goddess of wine. She was the daughter of Ceres, the agricultural goddess, and the wife of Liber, the god of wine and liberty. In the the town of Lavinium, a whole month was dedicated to Liber, and the festival activities they held were believed to help seeds grow.
Question 17
Which deity became a famous character in Roman erotic art and Latin literature, and became the topic of hilariously filthy poetry?
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ABacchus
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BDomitius
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CPriapus
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DFascinus
Priapus
In Greek mythology, Priapus was only a minor fertility deity who protects fruits, trees, and gardens. In Roman mythology, however, he is distinguished by his constant erection, which inspired the medical name "priapism."
Question 18
Bacchus was a God of wine and agriculture, but also fertility, theater, and festivity. His father was Jupiter while his mother was what Theban princess?
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AAntiope
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BNycteus
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CSemele
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DAgave
Semele
Semele was a princess of Thebes, the daughter of the hero Cadmus and his wife Harmonia. She was the only mortal to become a god's mother. Jupiter fell in love with her after seeing her sacrifice a bull on his altar and paid her many visits thereafter.
Question 19
The son of Venus, Cupid was the deity of desire, sexual love, and affection in Roman mythology. What was the name of his father?
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AJupiter
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BApollo
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CJuno
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DMars
Mars
Cupid is the son of Venus and Mars, the god of battle. During the Hellenistic period, he was depicted as a plump child and adopted the bow and arrow as symbols of his source of power: anyone struck by Cupid's arrow will be filled with overwhelming romantic or sexual desire.
Question 20
With a striking resemblance to Mars, there isn't much known about this Roman deity, though he was said to be one of the main gods before the Greek influence. Name him.
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AMinerva
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BQuirinus
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CCacus
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DUranus
Quirinus
Despite his prominence, little information on Quirinus exists. With a striking resemblance to Mars, some think he is just another of Mars' manifestations. However, by the late republic time, Quirinus was fully associated with Romulus. Even his festival coincided with the day Romulus was believed to have risen to the gods.
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the one question that was wrong was that no one knows if mars was cupids father