Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization that existed in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476. For several centuries, the Romans controlled the whole of Western Europe, as well as the entire area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and some of the area surrounding the Black Sea.

Religion

Main articles: Roman mythology, Roman religion

Related Topics:
Roman mythology - Roman religion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Early Roman Religion

Archaic Roman "mythology", at least concerning the gods, was made up not of narratives, but rather of interlocking and complex interrelations between and among gods and humans. Gods were not personified, unlike in Ancient Greece. Romans also believed that every person, place or thing had their own genius (such as "Lares Familiares" - the family guardian spirits). Therefore the early Roman cult could be described as polydemonism instead of polytheism.

Related Topics:
Ancient Greece - Genius - Lares Familiares - Polydemonism - Polytheism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Romans distinguished two classes of gods, the di indigetes and the de novensides or novensiles. The indigetes were the original gods of the Roman state (see List of Di Indigetes). The novensides were later divinities whose cults were introduced to the city in the historical period, usually in response to a specific crisis or need.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the head of the earliest pantheon were the triad Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus. Their priests, or flamens, were senior to others. Later this triad was supplanted by the Capitoline Triad, Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva.

Related Topics:
Pantheon - Jupiter - Mars - Quirinus - Flamen - Capitoline Triad - Juno - Minerva

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the Roman republic there was a strict system of priestly offices, of which the Pontifex maximus was the most important. Flamens took care of the cults of various gods, while augurs were trusted with taking the auspices. The rex sacrorum, or "sacrificial king" took on the religious responsibilities of the deposed kings.

Related Topics:
Roman republic - Pontifex maximus - Flamen - Augur - Auspices - Rex sacrorum

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Late republic and the empire

As contact with the Greeks increased, the old Roman gods became associated with Greek gods. Therefore Jupiter was perceived to be the same deity as Zeus. Mars was associated with Ares and Neptune with Poseidon. The Roman gods also assumed the attributes and myth of these Greek gods.

Related Topics:
Jupiter - Zeus - Mars - Ares - Neptune

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The transference of the anthropomorphic qualities to Roman Gods, and the prevalence of Greek philosophy among well-educated Romans, brought about an increasing neglect of the old rites, and in the 1st century BC the religious importance of the old priestly offices declined rapidly, though their civic importance and political influence remained. Roman religion in the empire tended more and more to center on the imperial house, and several emperors were deified after their deaths.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spread of Eastern Religions

Under the empire, numerous foreign cults grew popular, such as the worship of the Egyptian Isis and the Persian Mithras. Also, starting from the second century, Christianity began to spread in the Empire. Despite persecutions, Christianity steadily gained converts. It became an officially supported religion in the Roman state under Constantine I. All cults save Christianity were prohibited in AD 391 by an edict of Emperor Theodosius I.

Related Topics:
Isis - Persian - Mithras - Christianity - Constantine I - 391 - Theodosius I

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~