Household and agricultural gods

Many people still worshipped original numina, gods of household and farm State cults revived Festivals set out in calendar Divination still practised Gods with human form accepted Myths and legends prominent in Roman Art Roman religion in augustus’ time

Several schools of philosophy studied Mystery religions flourishing Emperor worship gained acceptance As long as: –Original gods received their due –State was peaceful People were free to believe and worship and practice what they wished AS LONG as they were INSIDE of the law Roman religion in augustus’ time

Early religion did not require virtuous behaviour Contract to be fulfilled – prayer and sacrifice Romans did not live immoral lives –Strict ideas about behaviour –No need for gods to enforce behaviour Pietas – doing one’s duty to the gods, to state and to one’s family and followers Roman Moral values

Private Religion

2 Categories Regular worship –Daily offerings –Annual festivals –Anniversaries Special Events –Births –Deaths –Marriages –Family/business crisis –journeys

Household gods

Janus 2 faces Guardian of doorways/gateways God of… –Beginnings –Departures –Returns –New enterprises –New year January Janus – doorways –Defence lay with men –Male responsibility to worship two faced god

Janus Cult – early days Popular figure Temple dedicated to him (forum) –Gates open in times of war –Closed in peace NB. Gates were seldom closed –Augustus closed them 3 times during 45 years

Janus Unique to Rome Janus PatulciusJanus Patulcius = Guard open doors Janus ClusiviusJanus Clusivius = Guard closed doors

VESTA Vesta – living flame –Cult – oldest in Roman religion –Honoured by women of house Used her numen to prepare meals –Hearth – centre of home –Duty of flame – unmarried daughters –Hearth – symbol of home (focus)

Lares Little gods of individual households Spirits of ancestors of those in the house –Single Lar watched over home Lar Familiaris – Lar of the family –Worshipped – annual festival of Compitalia –Special responsibility –Worshipped daily –Offering made on: birth, death, marriage, coming of age, departure/return, son of house utters first word

penates Penates - cupboard –Numina –Preserve and increase food –Ceres (goddess of corn) –Pales (protector of flocks) –Guard home – especially cupboard where food was stored –Food offerings made (as well as to Vesta) –‘Personal gods’ –Little personality

Genius Anonymous spirit which protected head of household –Honoured on birthday Idea spread – every street, town district… –Presiding and protecting Genius (Genii) Augustus –Institute cult of his Genius Protector of Rome and Empire Called Father of Rome

Genius Genius – patron/guardian –gave man power to procreate –Man – Genius –Woman – Iuno Numen of womanhood –Represented as snake in some paintings Symbol of luck – ground dwelling – close to mother earth

Roman Society Strongly patriarchal –Authority over wife, children and slaves pater familias –his genius was included in daily household –genius domus Genius domus –Honoured on birthday

5 Household gods Honoured at main meal –Members of family ate together Incense and small amount of wine Small statues of Lares, Penates –Placed on table – present at meal

Read Primary Source #19 – A simple offering Author: Summarise: Find quotes that help back up the ideas of Private religion Question: What does Horace say about the performing large sacrifices?

agricultural gods

Saturn (cronos) Old agricultural god = abundance Legend: Once king of Italy during Golden Age of Peace and Plenty –Jupiter drove him out Saturn – refuge – site of Rome –Taught locals skills and customs –Make civilised

Saturn (cronos) Festival Saturnalia – Roman December Week long Festivity Presents given Masters and slaves equal In memory of Golden Age Sound familiar?

Faunus Faunus (Pan) –Woodland spirit –Called Lupercus –Honoured in Feb. with Lupercalia Important Roman festival Purification Fertility Fauna – female figure –Associated with Faunus –Worshipped in mysterious BONA DEA ceremony Men forbidden to attend

Faunus Associated with Ops –Ancient Sabine goddess Creative force Agricultural fertility Confused with Silvanus –Forest god –Preside over clearing of land for pasture

Consus and pales Consus –Ancient god –Preside over sowing crops –2 festivals – August and September –CONSUALIA Pales –Protector of flocks and herds –Guard domestic animals –Health and fertility –PARILIA (April 21) – date of Romes foundation – official birthday of city

Liber Pater and Baccuhus Liber Pater –Fertility god –Honoured in March –Liberalia (festival) –Female equivalent = Libera Bacchus –Associated with Dionysos –Worship through rites of mystery (East)

Tellus Mater Mother earth goddess Guard soil and seeds in it Watch over marriage and procreation Flora Goddess – flowers and spingtime Festival – April and May –Eat, drink, make love

Gods of the underworld

Ideas… Original ideas of Romans – vague Thought of underworld as dark region –Spirits of dead –Manes – friendly –Lemures – mischevious No single king of dead Dis Pater Orcus Libitina – goddess of funerals –Identifed with Proserpina Offerings at feast of dead Associated with Pluto

Ideas… Eventually Romans took ideas from Etruscans and Greeks –Ideas of the underworld became totally Greek TASK: Research the Greek underworld

GODS AND DEMI GODS

Gods and demi-gods Former founder of Rome –Romulus –Said to have been taken to heavens when died Aeneas (Trojan) –Founder of Roman race –Honoured as minor protective figure

Gods and demi-gods Twins – Castor and Pollux –Sons of Leda (and Zeus as swan) –Minor in Greek –More status in Rome –494 BC – miraculously appeared to help in battle and then reappeared in Roman Forum to announce victory –Temple built to honour them on spot they appeared

Gods and demi-gods Hercules –Associated with site of Rome –Visited on way back from stealing cattle of Geryon –Killed a monster – Cacus Aesculapius (Asklepios) –Son of Apollo –God of healing –Cult brought to Rome – early 3 rd Century

Fortuna Bellona Victoria Pax Concordia Felicitas Aequitas Pudicitia Spes Libertas Virtus Pietas Names Goddess of good luck Goddess of war Victory Peace Harmony Happy events Equity and fairness Chastity Hope Freedom Courage Piety