Roman Religion

Roman Religion: Varieties of ?Paganism? Roman Paganism Polytheistic Impersonal Civic minded: care about communities and the relationship to gods Rather abstract Largely amoral: gods don?t care as much about how the individual behaves, more about how the community behaves Different than modern religion, so it is hard to take it seriously, but need to! Immense variety of cults, gods, and practices so it makes it hard to make generalization One common thing is it is not hierarchical Help to understand the conversion of Christianity Civic Cults Most cities have patron god/goddesses Pay respect to the city god by: Building a temple Ceremonies: sacrifices Holy objects Lots of variation and change overtime, civic cults eventually decline Variety of Divinity (gods) Many gods Juno Regina: the queen Juno Sopita: the savior Juno Lucina: goddess of childbirth Juno Moneta: temple site of Roman mint Abstract qualities for gods Deified individuals: Caesar Greek Influences Important Roman gods are essentially Greek gods with different names Venus-Aprodite Jupiter-Zeus Some gods have local origins Priests Aristocrats in charge of major civic cults Main responsibilities of Priests Maintain relationship with gods Interpret signs from gods Ward off evil Categories of Priests Augures College of priests Responsible for divination?will of gods Interpret omens, weather Quindecimviri Sacris faciundis Guard sacred text (collection of Greek oracles) Consulted if need answers to religious questions Fetiales Diplomatic priests Priest for international relations Haruspices Not Roman?Etruscans Interpret thunder and Enterials (examine sacrifices) Ponifices: Pontifex Maximus Oversea major state cults Important in religious, burial, and adoption law In charge of the calendar Keep records to the rules Help advise political figures Flamines Most prestigious Priests in charge of making sure things for gods are good Vestal Virgins Group of six women Dedicated to the goddess Vesta Serve for 30 years, remain a virgin for that time Create the salt mixture used for sacrifices Keep safe documents (lock box) Religious Communication Sacrifice Ritual slaughter of domestic animal in front of an alter of sacred temple Examine the organs, if it is ok, then the gods have accepted it and then the people can have a feast Prayer Request for assistance from gods Done outloud, standing up with arms stretched Curses: appear around chariot races Vota (vows) Make contract with gods (warfare temples) Personal, small scale and deal with health most of the time Offerings in exchange for something else Common vows are with parts of the body Devotio Vow yourself?in payment within the contract of gods Most often in warfare but still really rare Oaths Interpretation of gods will through signs Celestial Phenomena Astrology, weather, dreams, birds, purification Religious Space Temples: centrally located, focal point of the community Alters: where perform sacrifices Sacred groves Sacred boundary Gravesites Lararium?in the house: niche in the wall where household gods are located Religious time Calendar is full of festivals Saturnalia: Festival for Saturn in December Public sacrifices and banquets Private parties Seven days long Eating, drinking, and gambling Lupercalia: Purification/fertility Feb. 15 Sacrifice goat and dog, ceremonial jog with goat skin thongs Parentalia: Festival for dead ancestors Bacchanalia: Cult of Bacchus Games, gladiator combats etc were all for religious events?pissed off Christians Afterlife: Some believe when youre dead its over Foreign religion Romans collect other gods