Ancient Rome - RPG

Jupiter: He defeated the ancient Titans and became the king of the gods. He ruled the sky and protected the laws.
Juno: wife of Jupiter and protector of marriage, women, and the Roman state.
Neptune: brother of Jupiter. After the victory over the Titans, he received dominion over the seas.
Pluto: brother of Jupiter and Neptune. He ruled the realm of the dead and the hidden riches beneath the earth.
Mars: warrior god and protector of Rome. According to legend, he was the father of Romulus and Remus.
Venus: goddess of beauty and love. She was said to be the mother of the Trojan hero Aeneas, mythical ancestor of the Romans.
Mercury: swift messenger of the gods, protector of travelers, merchants, and thieves.
Minerva: goddess of intelligence, military strategy, and the arts.
Apollo: god of music, medicine, light and prophecies.
Diana: goddess of the moon, nature, and the hunt. Protector of wild animals.
General summary
According to Roman mythology, the gods defeated the Titans and divided the universe among themselves: Jupiter ruled the sky, Neptune the seas, and Pluto the underworld. From then on, the gods influenced the lives of mortals, protecting cities, sending blessings, or punishing those who disobeyed them. The Romans built temples to them and performed sacrifices to gain their favor.

Roman mythological creatures
Taps
Beings with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. They guarded treasures and sacred places.
Centaurs
Half man and half horse. Some were wise, while others were wild and violent.
Harpies
Creatures with the body of a bird and the face of a woman. They were swift, cruel, and associated with divine punishment.
Basilisks
Monstrous snakes or reptiles whose breath or gaze could kill.
Chimeras
Beasts composed of several creatures, usually lion, goat and snake.
Mermaids
Beings that lured sailors with hypnotic songs to lead them to their doom.
Fauns
Forest spirits with goat legs and human bodies. They were playful and loved music.
Nymphs
Female spirits of nature that inhabited rivers, mountains, and forests.
Lemurs
Restless spirits of deceased people that could torment the living.
The Capitoline Wolf
A legendary she-wolf who, according to Roman tradition, nursed Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.
Most feared creatures
Cerberus: giant three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to the underworld.
Hydra: a multi-headed aquatic monster that could grow back.
Giants: enormous beings who fought against the gods.
Furies: vengeful spirits that pursued criminals and murderers.

Main gods of Rome
Jupiter: king of the gods, lord of the sky, lightning and justice.
Juno: goddess of marriage, family and protector of Rome.
Neptune: ruler of the oceans.
Mars: one of the most important gods for the Romans.
Venus: goddess of love, beauty and fertility.
Mercury: god of travelers, merchants and divine messenger.
Minerva: goddess of intelligence, strategy, and the arts.
Apollo: god of music, medicine, and prophecy.
Diana: goddess of the moon, nature and hunting.
Pluto: ruler of the realm of the dead.

👨‍⚖️ Role of men
Men were at the center of public and political life. Their role included:
Heads of families (pater familias): They had total authority over the family, including legal and economic decisions.
Politics and government: Only men could be citizens with political rights (vote, be senators, govern).
War: They served as soldiers; defending Rome was a key duty.
Work and business: They participated in trade, agriculture, law, and administration.
👉 In summary: the man represented power, authority, and public life.
Role of women
Women were more closely tied to the home, although their influence was no less.
Household care: They managed the house, food, and early education of the children.
Mothers and wives: Their main role was to raise and care for the family.
Limited political participation: They could not vote or hold public office.
Indirect influence: Some upper-class women influenced political decisions through their husbands or children.
Limited education: It depended on social class; some learned to read, write, and manage.
👉 In summary: the woman represented the stability of the home and family continuity.

Women in Rome
They had no political rights.
They could not vote or govern.
But they had influence at home, especially in wealthy families.
Some managed properties or businesses.
📌 They were not equal to men, but neither were they totally invisible.

Slavery
The slaves came from wars or debts.
They could work in:
Houses
Mines
Fields
Some could buy their freedom and become "freedmen".
📌 Rome was heavily dependent on slavery.

Engineering and technology
They built:
Aqueducts (drinking water)
Roadways (super resistant roads)
Sewerage
They used Roman cement, which was very durable (some structures are still standing today).
📌 His engineering was key to the growth of the empire.
Daily life
The wealthy: lived in houses called domus.
Poor people: in buildings called insulae (apartment type).
They went to the thermae (public baths), which were social centers.
The children went to school, but not all of them (it depended on money).
📌 Life was very different depending on your social class.

Government and politics
Rome was not always an empire: first it was a monarchy, then a republic, and then an empire.
The Senate was the center of political power.
Key figures like Julius Caesar changed the course of Rome.
There were written laws such as the Law of the Twelve Tables, the basis of Roman law.
📌 Important: Many current laws have roots in Rome.

The Roman army
The army was extremely disciplined.
They used formations like the testudo (shell-like formation with shields).
The soldiers (legionaries) also built roads and cities.
Thanks to them, Rome conquered much of Europe.
📌 Being a soldier could give you money, land, and citizenship.

Roman culture
Roman culture was very rich and advanced:
Entertainment:
Gladiators in the Colosseum
Car racing
Theater
Religion:
Polytheists (many gods such as Jupiter, Mars, Venus)
Engineering:
Aqueducts
Roads
Impressive buildings
📌 They adopted many ideas from Greek culture, but adapted them to their own style.

Social status
Roman society was very divided:
Patricians:
Upper class (rich and powerful)
They controlled politics
Commoners:
Ordinary people (peasants, merchants)
Slaves:
Without rights
Considered property
📌 There were also “freedmen” (freed slaves).

Works in Rome
There were many types of jobs:
Peasants: they cultivated wheat, grapes and olives
Craftsmen: they made clothes, pottery, tools
Merchants: They sold products in markets
Soldiers: They defended and expanded the empire
Slaves: They did the hardest jobs (they had no rights)
📌 Slaves were very important in the economy.

Roman gastronomy
The food varied according to wealth.
Rich:
Banquets with meat, fish, fruit and wine
They used garum (a very popular fish sauce)
Poor:
Bread, cereals, legumes and some cheese
📌 They ate reclining on couches at banquets (only the rich).

Trade in Ancient Rome
Trade was one of the foundations of Roman power.
Rome had a huge network of trade routes throughout the Mediterranean (they called it Mare Nostrum).
They imported products such as:
Spices from Asia
Silk from China
Gold and ivory from Africa
They exported:
Wine 🍷
Olive oil
Ceramics
📌 Markets (forums) were the center of exchange, and ports were key to maritime trade.