Between Romans and Greeks why do they share so many similar myths and gods?

Answer 1

They lived so close together that frequent communication led to the myths merging. Romans adopted Greek myths and vice versa. Gods and other mythological characters did keep different names in Latin and Greek.

Answer 2

The Romans loved all aspects of Greek culture.

I would imagine this was similiar to other periods where one culture looks to another older culture asexemplary in several fields. The Americans were somewhat jealouse of British culture and considered it as somewhat more "civilized" in the latter half of the 19th century, when the US was recovering from a ruinous civil war, and political scandals. Queen Victoria set the mood in style and morals over a large portion of the Globe. This continued even as the US overtoof Britain in economic and political influence in the 20th century. These anglophiles were influential in politics, style, law, and even music and art. Britain, being the older, more established culture, elicted some feeling of inmferiority in certain American quarters.

Romans appreciated Greek artistic prowess, as well as thier religionj, art, drama, peoetry, and ideas of chivalry, honor, treatment of vanquished peoples, and even ideas of family, sexuality, and architecture. Even ideas about public health, diet, and sanitation were copied.

In Asia, the Japanese admired ancient Chinese culture, although it was thought china had seen and passed through it's height of culture. In modern America, ancient Eastern theology and thought have been revered during the past 45 years or so.

In medeviel Eastern Europe, the Khazars decided to practice Judaism for a period of about 200 years. Such periods when one society models itself on another volutaririly are not that uncommon. For common is a forced adioption of a foreign culture and belief system after military defeat. Such is the saga of Islamic rule and sharia law across theMaghrebmiddle East, and parts of Eastern Asia, and central Europe.

Answer 3

Civilisation arises from a surplus of produce which enables resources to be directed to both cultural and physical activity. They also needed a form of government to direct and control the organisation necessary for this advancement of society. The end products were similar, even if different in detailed application.