The Romans generally borrowed their gods from the ancient Greeks, adopting not only their stories but also many of their gods, renaming some of them. Roman mythology contained a number of major gods and goddesses that were central to Roman religion and culture, including Jupiter, king of the gods and god of the sky; Juno, goddess of marriage; Minerva, goddess of wisdom; Mars, god of war; and Mercury, messenger of the gods. Many Roman myths aimed to explain cultural and social virtues through the feats and actions of these central characters. -END