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Roman religion Flashcards

1
Q

What was Pax Deorum?

A

Peace with the Gods

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2
Q

What relationship did Romans believe in with the Gods?

A

A reciprocal relationship
- By honouring and worshipping the Gods by making offerings and conducting specific rituals they believed they could maintain peace and prosperity

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3
Q

What were temples?

A

Sacred spaces dedicated to specific Gods and Goddesss
They weren’t places of worship

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4
Q

What would temples contain?

A

Statues, paintings and other works of art
Each temple would have a Cult Statue which was a physical representation of the presence of a God in a temple

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5
Q

Where were temples commonly found?

A

Atop hills
Other prominent locations
Centre of Roman towns

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6
Q

Who was allowed in temples?

A

Ordinary Romans couldn’t enter
Only priests, who would be in charge of looking after the temple

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7
Q

Where would worship usually take place?

A

Outside of the temple at an altar
- An alter is a raised platform where offerings were made to the Gods

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8
Q

What would be offered to the Gods and why?

A

Sacrifices could range from simple food items to complex processes of sacrificing an animal
This was done to maintain the Pax Deorum

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9
Q

What were priests responsible for?

A

Performing rituals
Interpreting omens and prophecies
Advising the Romans on religious matters

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10
Q

How were priests viewed?

A

They were seen as having a lot of authority and were treated with great respect
Their knowledge and expertise was considered essential for maintaining Pax Deorum

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11
Q

What did Priests belong to? + an example

A

Priests belonged to colleges, which were groups of priests with similar duties
- The Augurs were a college of priests who interpreted omens
- The Flamines were a college of priests where each one was dedicated to one of Romes 15 most important Gods

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12
Q

What were priests like?

A

Nearly all were male
Mostly from Rome’s elite families
It was usual for priests to be politicians

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13
Q

Who was the Pontifex Maximus?

A

The supreme religious figure of Ancient Rome, who held immense power and authority

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14
Q

What did the Pontifex Maximus do?

A

Head of the Pontifical College
- meaning he oversaw all aspects of Roman religion, from interpreting sacred texts to regulating religious practices

  • Responsible for appointing priests, interpreting omens and advising the Roman senate on religious matters
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15
Q

How long was the Pontifex Maximus role held for?

A

For life

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16
Q

Who were the Vestal virgins?

A

Six women selected from noble families, who held the unique position of being dedicated to Vesta

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17
Q

Who was Vesta?

A

Rome’s patron deity and chief protecter

18
Q

What did Vestal Virgins do?

A

Tended the sacred flame in Vesta’s temple
This ensured the continued protection and prosperity of Rome

19
Q

What did the Romans believe omens were?

A

How the Gods communicated with them through signs and messages embedded in the natural world

20
Q

Who interpreted omens and how?

A

Often interpreted by the specialised priests, Augurs.

  • they were trained to observe the flight of birds, the behaviour of animals and the pattern of lightning strikes
21
Q

How could an Augurs interpretation of an omen have a big impact?

A

Could have a significant impact on important decisions
- embarking on a military campaign
- choosing a new leader

22
Q

What did Augurs use to help with their observation of omens?

A

A Lituus
- A curved wand used to mark out an area in the sky for observation

23
Q

What were the Sibylline books?

A

A selection of prophecies attributed to the legendary Sibyl of Cumae
- Consulted by the Roman senate in times of crisis

24
Q

Who were allowed to consult the Sibylline books?

A

A college of fifteen priests- Quindecemviri
- They interpreted the books contents and passed instructions onto the Roman Senate

25
Q

What was the Fasti?

A

A guide to the Roman religious year
Calendar

26
Q

What did the Fasti outline?

A
  • Festivals
  • Holidays
  • Various other important dates when the Romans sought divine favour through prayers, sacrifices and other ritual observances
27
Q

Where does most of the knowledge of Roman religion come from?

A

Ovid’s Fasti
- A poem which records the rituals associated with each month

28
Q

What did each Roman household possess?

A

Its own set of Lares, known as the Lares Familiares

29
Q

What were the Lares Familiares?

A
  • Household deities
  • They were considered the protectors of the home and its inhabitants, ensuring harmony and prosperity
30
Q

How were the Lares Familiares often represented?

A

Small statues or figurines placed in the household shrine

31
Q

Whats the household shrine called, and what is it?

A

Lararium
- Typically located near the hearth or in the atrium
- Served as the focal point for household worship

32
Q

How did Romans express their reverence for the Lares Familiares?

A
  • Regular rituals and offerings
  • Daily prayers and dedications were made to them, seeking their offerings and blessings
  • Elaborate offerings of food, drink and incense would be made to them on special occasions, such as marriages, births and adoptions
33
Q

How did Lares extend their protective influence to a neighbourhood?

A

Through the Lares Compitales

34
Q

What were the Lares Compitales?

A

Deities associated with the crossroads and the intersection of streets and paths, which were considered liminal spaces by Romans

  • They were believed to safeguard the community from harm
35
Q

How were the Lares Compitales venerated?

A

Annual festivals known as the Compitalia

36
Q

Describe the Compitalia

A
  • Held in late January or early February
  • Involved elaborate processions, public feasting, and sacrifices for the deities
37
Q

What did the Lares connect the Romans to, and how?

A

With their mythological origin story
- They believed their ancestors were survivors of the Trojan war who were led to Italy by Aeneas.
- Aeneas was said to have brought the Lares of Troy with him to Italy, so these deities were believed to connect the Romans and their Trojan ancestors

38
Q

What is the Romans borrowing elements of other cultures and religions called?

A

Syncretism

39
Q

What was the Genius?

A

The personal spirit or Guardian Angel of each individual
- An inherent divine spark that that shaped their character, talents and overall destiny

40
Q

What was the Genius considered?

A

Not a God in the traditional sense
- But the Romans did engage in practices that could be considered a form of worship

41
Q

How would the Genius be worshipped?

A
  • Often prayed to for guidance and support
  • Offerings of food, drink and incense made
42
Q

How did Romans view their relationship with the Genius?

A

A reciprocal one

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