Religion

Question 1

Attitude to religion

Answer 1

• Romans saw supernatural powers in everything that we can explain through science - weather, crop growing.
• they saw no reason to change their religion as is achieved results.
• compared to now, Romans were very superstitious .
• gods were not seen as naturally kind or benevolent (unlike today).
• life after death was nothing or the underworld.
• performing rituals correctly was hard - if something went wrong they would start again.

Question 2

Janus

Answer 2

• God of doorways

- protected way in and out of house

Question 3

Vesta

Answer 3

• Godess of the hearth

- important for cooking and sacrifices

Question 4

The Lares

Answer 4

• Spirits of the household

- worshipped at the Lararium, a shrine in the atrium

Question 5

Penates

Answer 5

Spirits of the store-cupboard

Question 6

The Manes

Answer 6

The spirits of the family’s dead ancestors

Question 7

The Genius

Answer 7

The guardian spirit of the Paterfamilias

Question 8

What did priests not have?

Answer 8

A vacation - they were practically aways politicians

Question 9

Major Gods:

Answer 9

• Mars (war)
• Juno (women)
• Diana (fertility in women)

Question 10

Where were most of the temples?

Answer 10

In the Forum

Question 11

Pontiffs

Answer 11

• Led by the Pontifex Maximus

- ran state ceremonies and looked after sacred law

Question 12

Augurs

Answer 12

• Interpreted signs sent by the God

- used the flight of birds, sacred chickens and the sky for signs of omens

Question 13

Sybilline Books

Answer 13

Collection of oracles consulted in times of crisis to help Rome avoid disaster

Question 14

Vestal Virgins aim

Answer 14

To watch over the fire of Vesta in her temple and make sure it never went out

Question 15

What age do Vestal Virgins start and how long do they do it for?

Answer 15

• Enrolled at age 7

- served for 30 years

Question 16

How many Virgins were there?

Answer 16

6

Question 17

How were the VV’s chosen?

Answer 17

From old patrician families of good health

Question 18

Where did the VV’s live?

Answer 18

In a palatial building next to the temple of Vesta in the heart of the Roman Forum

Question 19

Punishment VV’s got for blowing flame out

Answer 19

Whipping or stoning to death

Question 20

Punishment VV’s got for breaking chastity

Answer 20

Buried alive

Question 21

Advantages for VV’s

Answer 21

• Front seats at games
• only women allowed to travel in carriage
• no legal guardian
• vote
• buisness

Question 22

Priests had to

Answer 22

• Obey strict rules in their personal life and follow very complicated ritual carefully
• wore veil on head

Question 23

Flamines

Answer 23

• Priests for individual Gods
• to please gods, Flamines could never go outside without a cap and has to bury his hair and nail-clippings under a fruitful tree

Question 24

Bacchus

Answer 24

God of wine, worshipped by both men and women at night with drinking, music, dancing

Question 25

Isis

Answer 25

Promised life after death and was thought to protect her worshippers in a motherly and caring way

Question 26

Christians

Answer 26

• Welcomed converts from all backgrounds
• believe in life after death
• regarded as criminals (crucifixion only used on criminals)
• used as scapegoats for great fire of Rome in 64 AD