Religion And City : Roman Temples Flashcards
What was a sanctuary (2)
A holy area in a town or city that contained a temple and an altar to a God.
It was separated from the city by a wall
Why would a sanctuary have a fresh water source at the entrance
So that people could wash their hands and feet as they didn’t want their sites to be polluted which would anger the Gods
What was the most important part of the sanctuary
The Altar which could exist on its own or with a temple
What happened at the Altar
It was where sacrifices and offerings took place
What did the Romans believe they would get in return for sacrifices and offerings
Favours from the Gods
What were Roman temples based on
Greek temples but the Pantheon is an anomaly
How were temples oriented
East to west so the sun would shine on the entrance in the mornings
What was the temples placed on
A podium which meant it could only be accessed from the front
What other three components did Roman temples have
Colonnade: an open-air walkway supported by columns, The side and rear columns were semi-engaged.
Cella/naos: the room of the temple that house the god’s cult statue
Opisthodomos: a treasury in the rear room of the temple
What did the Romans perfect
They perfected their use of concrete allowing them to create more free flowing structures
What was a priest’s role (5)
- uphold the state religion by maintaining Pax Decorum 
- uttering the correct prayer
- wearing veils when engaging in religious duties
- completing the appropriate sacrifice
- fulfilling priestly role in festivals
What benefits came with being a priest
It would greatly increase their political power and would help them to progress a their political career.
