Transcript Roman religion - Skidmore College

Temple of Vestal Virgins, Rome
Corinthia (Purdue Univ., HI101)
(also Temple of Vestal Virgins and Pantheon in
Rome, Temple of Baal in Palmyra)
Temple of Saturn, Rome
Menatius Minor (Lacus Curtius database)
Forum
Romanum
(Scribner Library
database)
Roman Forum (panorama)
Ara Pacis: Altar of Peace in Rome
Malus (Purdue Univ., HI101)
(also Temple of Vestal Virgins and Pantheon in Rome,
Temple of Baal in Palmyra)
Ara Pacis exterior
Thrax (Maecenas: Ara Pacis; Maecenas: Images of Greece &
Rome;
from Electronic Resources for Classicists)
Roman Temples (Pantheon
interior)
Scintilla (2020site.org)
Pantheon
(Southern Arkansas Univ. course)
Temple of Jupiter, Pompeii
Isis (Bates College Prof. Imber’s webpages)
Temple of Jupiter, Pompeii
(reconstruction)
Homerus (Beloit College, course on
Pompeii)
Pompeii Forum
(Scribner Library database)
Temple of Jupiter, Minerva,
Juno in Ostia (image 1; 2)
Leucothea (VRoma database)
Temple, Ostia (reconstruction)
Soprintendenza Archeologica di Ostia Antica
Temple of Bacchus
Artemidorus (“Leading Arab-American Website”)
Diana / Artemis of Ephesus
Cephisia (UMass student paper)
Mithras: initiation/mystery
cults
Oleosa (Museum of Antiquities, Univ. of
Newcastle)
Mithras: initiation/mystery cults
Sequana (Perseus database)
Roman Religion
Mythology
adopted from Greece
State religion: to preserve the res publica
Originally agricultural, with gods
responsible for all natural phenomena
Formalistic rituals with sacrifices
Part of daily life: worship in home
Closely connected to politics and society:
forum sacred, political, mercantile
Roman Religion
Not
static, absorbing gods from Etruscans,
Greeks (anthropomorphic deities)
Fall of res publica 1st c. BCE due to neglect
of the gods
Augustus’ revival: massive construction,
revival of rituals and cults
Expansion of empire  increasing contact
with other cultures and religious syncretism
Foreign gods recognized as Roman ones
Roman Religion
Could
slaves worship? Benevolent Society of
Diana and Antinous, Lanuvium, 136 CE:
–Meet once/month, special feasts, rituals
–~Social club offering companionship and
assurance of decent burial
–“… if a slave member of this society dies … a
token funeral ceremony will be held”
Were
there limitations? Inscription from
altar in Lanuvium:
–MAVORTIO SACR[?]. HOC SIGNUM A SERVO
TANGI NEFAS EST.
–“Sacred(?) to Mars. It is unlawful for this image
to be touched by a slave.”