The Roman Jupiter, who is so
frequently confounded with the Greek Zeus, is identical with him only as being
the head of the Olympic gods, and the presiding deity over Life, Light, and
Aerial Phenomena. Jupiter is lord of life in its widest and most comprehensive
signification, having absolute power over life and death, in which respect he
differed from the Greek Zeus, who was to a certain extent controlled by the
all-potent sway of the Moirae or Fates. Zeus, as we have seen, often
condescends to visit mankind, either as a mortal, or under various disguises,
whereas Jupiter always remains essentially the supreme god of heaven, and never
appears upon earth.
The most celebrated temple of
Jupiter was that on the Capitoline Hill in the city of Rome, where he was worshipped
under the names of Jupiter-Optimus-Maximus, Capitolinus, and Tarpeius.
The Romans represented him
seated on a throne of ivory, holding in his right hand a sheaf of thunderbolts,
and in his left a sceptre, whilst an eagle stands beside his throne.