Roman Mythology v.s. Greek Mythology

Here is my paragraph on the influence that Greek mythology had on Roman Mythology. Tell me what you think:

The Roman religion is the most well-known example of a religion adopting the Olympian beliefs and stories and merging them with their own mythology. During the developing stages of the Roman Empire, particularly in the early stages at approximately 500 B.C., “the eastern provinces were steeped in the culture of Greece”[1], due to contact with nearby Greek colonies. Because of this, many Romans, “adopted many of its religious and philosophical beliefs together with its elaborate mythology”[2], and merged it with their own beliefs as they were nowhere near as elaborate and colourful. Unlike the Greeks, the Romans were not creators of myth. Their belief was that objects and events had a supernatural force and were labelled as gods, but they were not of human form and the Romans did not worship them in the earlier times. When the Roman Empire had expanded to cover the Greek nation by 146 B.C., the Greek gods could have diminished into insignificance, however the, “Roman religion was very open ended”[3], and this left, “the Greek family of gods more or less unchanged, merging their personalities with characteristics of their own native powers and spirits”[4], and thereby preserving the ancient Greek culture. The Olympian immortals attained Roman counterparts[5], and in the development of these characteristics, many of the native Roman gods emerged with their status greatly increased. For example, in Roman mythology, Venus[6] was a minor figure, but the connection to Aphrodite turned her into a popular and sacred goddess. In reverse, Ares’[7] importance was increased by his association to Mars, as the Romans regarded him over many of the other deities. With the rapid increase of popularity with the gods and the wealth of material suddenly opened up to them, Roman poets, “began retelling the Greek tales in Latin, substituting the Roman names for the gods”[8], and this also assisted in the preservation of the Olympian religion: despite the poets frequently elaborated the stories, they rarely invented new material. Regardless of all this borrowing from the ancient Olympian religion, “the Roman religion remained a separate entity, with its own distinct atmosphere and identity”[9], because most of the foundation for their gods was from the original Roman beliefs. For instance, “while Greek religion was a civic faith, Roman worship had domestic roots in the farms and estates of the city’s agricultural hinterland”[10], because the early Romans were farmers and relied upon the land for their survival and prosperity. As the Roman Empire grew, the Olympian religion was adopted into Roman society and became a large part of the Roman lifestyle, however the Romans continued to use their own names for the gods and the religion remained a separate entity.

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[1] Usher, K., Heroes, Gods and Goddesses from Roman Mythology. Hodder & Stoughton Pty, New South Wales. 1983. P. 12.

^[2]ibid.

[3]ibid. P. 13.

[4]ibid.

^[5] For example: Zeus became Jupiter; Hera, Juno; Hermes, Mercury; Persidon, Neptune; Athena, Minerva. (Allan, T. and Maitland, S., Titans and Olympians: Greek and Roman Myth. Duncan Baird Publishers, London. 1997. P. 138.)  

[6] The Roman Goddess of  love, beauty, fertility and marriage.

[7] The Greek God of  war.

[8] ibid. P. 15.

[9] ibid. P. 16.

[10] ibid. P. 17.