Question

Why did the romans copy the greek religion instead of inventing something new/original?

Answer 1

Rome conquered Greece, and really all it was, was cultural assimilation. The Romans thought it looked good so they took it. You can see evidence of this assimilation in their Art, Religion, and other things.

Answer 2

Yes but isn´t this kind of a weak foundation for a religion? It could be easily attacked from people with other believes.
What´s the point of copying everything except the names?

Answer 3

Imagine you are Rome and you by this point have become some what of a power, you started and won some wars and you have been around since about 700 BCE. You then find Greece, who has been around since about 1900 BCE and whose culture looks REALLY REALLY COOL... later on you promptly subjugate them, but by now a good portion of your citizens like the Greek culture, so consciously or unconsciously you take these gods and decide to put a Roman spin on them, because obviously you where chosen to rule the world.

Greek wasn't the only empire who had their culture co-opted by the Romans, Carthaginians, Persians, and others had bits and pieces of their culture intermixed.

Answer 4

It's sorta the Roman thing to start renaming things, Yeshua to Jesus, etc

Answer 5

When the Roman Republic conquered Greece in 146 BC, it took much of Greek religion (along with many other aspects of Greek culture such as literary and architectural styles) and incorporated it into its own. The Greek gods were equated with the ancient Roman deities; Zeus with Jupiter, Hera with Juno, Poseidon with Neptune, Aphrodite with Venus, Ares with Mars, Artemis with Diana, Athena with Minerva, Hermes with Mercury, Hephaestus with Vulcan, Hestia with Vesta, Demeter with Ceres, Hades with Pluto, Tyche with Fortuna, and Pan with Faunus. Some of the gods, such as Apollo and Bacchus, had earlier been adopted by the Romans. There were also many deities that existed in the Roman religion before its interaction with Greece that weren't associated with a Greek deity, including Janus and Quirinus.so..

Answer 6

All religions are copied from earlier beliefs. The life of Jesus in the bible is a straight-up copy of the life of Mithra in Zoroastrianism, and other parts of the bible are taken from earlier religious works. All Christian holidays are appropriated from other religions, notably paganism. There's nothing original in any modern religion.

Answer 7

Rome was well known for being an incorporater. The Romans took a little bit from everyone here and there with the intent of keeping everyone under their rule happy. It wasn't so much copying as it was more welcoming other ideas and practices into favor. Of course, Christianity certainly didn't have as easy of time at first...