Roman mythology was primarily inspired by which other civilization's mythology?

Roman mythology was primarily inspired by Greek mythology due to the significant cultural exchanges between the two civilizations, particularly after the Roman conquest of Greek territories. The Romans admired Greek culture and adopted many of their gods, rituals, and mythological stories, often giving them new names and adapting them to fit Roman values and societal contexts. For instance, the Greek god Zeus became Jupiter in Roman mythology, and many stories, such as those involving heroic exploits or moral lessons, were directly influenced by Greek narratives.

While other civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, had rich mythological traditions that could have influenced aspects of Roman thought, their primary source of inspiration in terms of mythology and religious practices was certainly Greece. This cultural borrowing not only enriched Roman mythology but also helped to bridge cultural identity in the Mediterranean world during the ancient period. The influence of Greek mythology is evident in the themes, character archetypes, and storytelling methods that were prevalent in Roman literature and art.