Hypothesis.
The Ancient Roman Religion was heavily influenced by surrounding cultures and the civilisations that where conquered by the Roman Republic in the expansion of the Empire. The Greeks had small colonies on the lower peninsular of Italy which allowed the Romans to borrow key aspects of their religion and incorporate it into their own religion, particularly aspects that their traditional religion didn’t afford them, such as a glorious afterlife. The Romans adapted many Greek gods into their own religion, the myths and religions became one. Because of the Roman expansion of powers, the Romans witnessed many different foreign religions and cults which became very popular during the republic. These cults included, the cult of Isis, Cybele or Magna Mater and Diana. All these cults had different aspects and beliefs that attracted the Romans to worship and participate in the cult activities. The Roman people connected with these new deities that had been introduced to their everyday. So much so that when the cults and religions were outlawed by the senate, the people refused to destroy the statues of their deities.