The Roman Empire was a vast, polytheistic, fascinating civilization. Throughout the eternal city, we recognized and worshiped multiple gods and goddesses. Although the monotheistic religion of Judaism thrived throughout the empire—a religion that eventually gave rise to Christianity and Islam—the original Romans honored multiple deities. We truly believed that these gods and goddesses served a role in founding our civilization. Most importantly, we also believed that these gods and goddesses helped shape our daily lives.

Calling on my training in ancient Greek language and culture while pursuing my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chicago, I can say that these foundational studies galvanized my passion to learn about the gods and goddesses in Greek and Roman culture.

In Chicago, the Field Museum and Soldier Field, glowing with grandeur and evocations of ancient Greek temples, were locales where I would imagine the gods and goddesses dwelled.

When I was in the military, I would run on gravel, grass, or pavement and then get to the physical training—push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, carry, drag, and roll around in dirt fields with weighted backpacks. A simple run in a straight line wasn’t enough for a soldier’s way of life, and I am glad I was trained to be more flexible to do all the things needed to be a soldier. My training in the ancient Greek language and history allows me to narrate how the goddesses and gods of Greek culture have significantly influenced the development of Roman deities and mythology, which I demonstrate in situ throughout the ancient ruins and in the museums of the eternal city.

I live in Cori (originally Cora) with my husband, one of the oldest cities in Lazio. I am within walking distance of the Temple of Hercules (150 BCE) and the Dioscuri Temple of Castor and Pollux, dating back to the first decade of the first century BCE. Living in this historic town and working in Rome is a testament to my deep immersion in the cultural heritage of Italy. The goddesses and gods had supernatural powers but also human qualities, such as love, hate, compassion, and jealousy. Every deity was responsible for a different area of life, and the Greeks and Romans worshipped the ones who they believed would take care of them. This worship took the form of building elaborate temples and sanctuaries, holding festivals, making sacrifices, and offering the gods part of the harvest.

In Piazza Venezia, there is a singular gigantic white marble building towering 265 feet (81 meters) high towards the heavens, and it is called the Altar of the Fatherland because it commemorates the last King of Italy, Vittorio Emmanuel II (built between 1885 and 1935 to honor Victor Emmanuele II, the first king of unified Italy). My early morning jogging journey begins at the base of the steps, looking up. It is here I imagine the Temple of Jupiter in the eternal city of Rome (the Temple of Zeus in the city center of Athens).

Throughout my easy-peasy jogging itinerary, I like to begin with the three most important goddesses and gods recognized by the Romans: Jupiter (Zeus), King of the Gods and God of the Heavens; Juno (Hera), Queen of the Gods and married to Jupiter; and Minerva (Athena), Goddess of Wisdom.

When I face the monument of Vittorio Emmanuel, I go around to the left side and head down one of the most scenic roads in the center of Rome. The Via Fori Imperiali runs from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. This magnificent street covers large portions of the Forums of Julius Caesar, August, Vespasian (his temple of peace), Nerva, and Trajan. I sometimes pause to look at the marvelous bronze statues of the emperors that still decorate the road, which were added by the dictator Mussolini in an effort to pay tribute to the emperors whose forums he destroyed.

I continue towards the end of the Via Fori Imperiali street, passing the Roman Forums. I then make a short stop to admire the greatest amphitheater on earth, the Colosseum. This magnificent monument was built during the reigns of three Flavian emperors: the first three tiers of seats were built under Vespasian, who ruled from 69 to 79 CE. His son Titus, who ruled from 79 to 81 CE, added two more tiers of seats. The Colosseum was completed under Titus’s brother Domitian, who ruled from 81 to 96 CE.

I then curve around to the right to the Via Sacra road to view the Arch of Titus (through the security gate), then turn around jogging down the Via Sacra to look at the Arch of Constantine and proceed down the Via Gregorio, passing under the Aqua Claudia, an ancient aqueduct constructed between 38 CE and 52 CE. To the right is one of the most famous hills in Rome, the Palatine. It is where the mighty emperors lived, and each one built increasingly lavish palaces. The word actually derives from the word palatium. I make a stop at the largest stadium in ancient Rome, the Circus Maximus, first constructed in the 6th century BCE.

Another significant point on my early morning run is at the only quadifrons triumphal arch dating from the 4th century CE, known as the Arch of Janus, situated in what was the cattle market of Forum Venalium in ancient Rome. This is significant during my run because it leads to the temple dedicated to Hercules Victor, protector of traders. It was meant to be a resting place for Hercules after his tenth labor. Hercules was the son of Jupiter and Alcmena and was the Roman equivalent of the Greek Heracles. The next ancient Roman temple built associated with Hercules was probably dedicated to Portunus, the god of keys, doors, livestock, and granaries.

I continue down the Via Luigi Petroselli and come across a particular archaeological area of the Gate of Octavia (Portico di Ottavia), the ruins of a temple dedicated to God Apollo Medicus (the healer), and another temple called Apollo Sosiano (from the name of the Roman consul Gaius Sosias, 32 BCE). The other ruins are of the Temple of Bellona, a particular temple vowed to the ancient Roman Goddess of War in 296 BCE. Adjacent to these ruins is the Theater of Marcellus (Teatro Marcello), built between 422 and 421 BCE.

One final stop I try to include is the Tiber Island (Isola Tiberina). I like to go down the stairs to the walking/running path along the Tiber River. The island was supposedly founded in the 6th century BCE after one of the Kings of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus. According to legend, after his death, an angry mob threw his body into the river, where it supposedly settled on the riverbed, accumulating so much silt that it grew to form the Tiber Island.

The Tiber Island is also known as the Temple of Aesculapius, the Greek god of healing, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. According to legend, the Roman Senate sent a delegation to Epidauros to find a statue of Aesculapius. The Romans took a snake from the temple of Epidauros and returned to Rome by boat. As they traveled up the Tiber River, the snake slithered off the ship and disappeared onto the Tiber Island. The Romans interpreted this as a sign from the god and built a temple on the island.

The last and final stop is the mother of all pagan temples—the Pantheon. The meaning of the Pantheon derives from the Greek words pan and theon, which mean all and gods. Essentially, the Pantheon was dedicated to all gods. The final structure we see today was rebuilt in 126 CE by the emperor Hadrian.

I have shared with you one of my favorite early morning running routes that allows me to travel back to an ancient civilization rich in some well-known and lesser-known epic heroes/heroines, powerful goddesses and gods, myths, and legends.

Stay tuned for my next article as I step up my game and run around Rome with Archaeologist Darius Arya—“HOOAH”!

When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless and intelligence cannot be applied.

(Herophilius)