Religion Flashcards
forms of evidence of religion
authors- eg livy- what individuals thought about the divine
architecture - importance of temples for sacrifices
epigraphy -temple dedications
iconography - mosaics to coins - how rituals were actually performed
votives- eg gifts to gods
archaeological remains - bones etc- often dosposed in a ritual manner
‘religion’ in the roman context
essential to understand that it differed form monotheistic sacred text religions of modern world
no list of things to be in order to be a member
there is something wherever due go due to multitude of gods
no single latin word which is a direct translation for word religion
fundamental elements of religion
polytheistic
ritual based - has to go well to please gods
i give so that you give type contracts with gods
‘religio’ - correct religious behavior
‘pietas’- respect and humility to gods and emperor
differences in the gods of rome
public cults- deities worshipped by the state and people pantheon- familiar gods capitolium- juipter, juno,minerva etc family spirits- shrine in home neighbourhood gods foreign gods- eg magna mater
types of worship
oaths - to gods then later to individuals
sacrifices
rituals - eg cato on agriculture
checking of omens - auspices, sibylline books etc
organisation of priests
priests organised into colleges
roles included organising rituals, officiating sacrifices, custodians of temples
rules about who could be a priest (patricians)
almost all priest were also normal citizens (not full time job)
key priesthoods
pontifex maximus - chief priest, emperor later takes on this role
pontifices - organised public festivals
flamines- priests of individual gods
augures- experts in taking the auspices
quindecemviri- reading of sibylline books
vestel virgins- priesthood for women
augustan religious buildings
by 28, claimed to have restored 82 temples
temples of apollo and jupiter ultor
both of major temples have ulterior motives
religious and political connections
religious implications and responsibilities for political office
political elite dominated priesthoods
triumph- political and religious ceremony
pontifex maximus- caesar, lepidus then all augustus’
senate could only meet in a religious space
religion in warfare
augustus as a religious figure
accumulation of religious offices for himself and family
religious authority surrounding augustus and domus
becomes object of religious activity
month of sextilius changed to august
restoration of ancestral practices
religious revivals of augustus
flamen dialis texts other than sibylline books burned increased number of priests lupercalia protects grave and sanctuaries by law religious golden age?
the imperial cult of augustus
greek acceptance of worshipping a living figure
insertion of caesar, emperors jealous
oaths of augustus - empire-wide demonstartion of allegiance
temple of rome and augustus and ancyra
deification
caesar and augustus deified after death
they bcame deified figures, eg they became gods
temples in rome, priests, worship
setting of precedent
a ‘flexible’ religious system
temples not just in one area, all over city
temples by magistrates to chosen gods
deities form empire eg magna mater
sibylline books- greek origin- completely incorporated by late republic
baccanalian affair- backlash against traditional society- allowed to continue in different form
a ‘traditional’ religious system
religion on 12 tables- emphasis standard practice
cato on agriculture
