Religion in ancient Rome

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"Religio romana" redirects here. For other uses, see Roman religion.

Religion in ancient Rome
Marcus Aurelius (head covered) sacrificing at the Temple of Jupiter
Practices and beliefs
libation sacrifice votum temples festivals ludi funerals Imperial cult mystery religions
Priesthoods
Pontifices Augures Vestales Flamines Fetiales Epulones Fratres Arvales
Deities
List of Roman deities Twelve major gods Capitoline Triad Aventine Triad underworld gods indigitamenta Deified emperors Divus Julius Divus Augustus
Related topics
Glossary of ancient Roman religion Roman mythology Ancient Greek religion Etruscan religion Gallo-Roman religion Interpretatio graeca Decline of Greco-Roman polytheism
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Religion in ancient Rome encompasses the ancestral ethnic religion of the city of Rome that the Romans used to define themselves as a people, as well as the adopted religious practices of peoples brought under Roman rule. The Romans thought of themselves as highly religious, and attributed their success as a world power to their collective piety (pietas) in maintaining good relations with the gods.

According to legendary history, most of Rome's religious institutions could be traced to its founders, particularlyNuma Pompilius, the Sabine second king of Rome, who negotiated directly with the gods. This archaic religion was the foundation of the mos maiorum, "the way of the ancestors" or simply "tradition", viewed as central to Roman identity.

Contents

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• 1Overview
• 2Founding myths and divine destiny
• 3Roman deities
• 4Holidays and festivals
• 5Temples and shrines
• 6Religious practice
  • 6.1Prayers, vows, and oaths
  • 6.2Sacrifice
    • 6.2.1Animal sacrifice
    • 6.2.2Human sacrifice
  • 6.3Domestic and private cult
• 7Religio and the state
  • 7.1Public priesthoods and religious law
    • 7.1.1The Vestals
  • 7.2Augury
    • 7.2.1Haruspicy
    • 7.2.2Omens and prodigies
• 8Funerals and the afterlife
• 9Religion and the military
• 10Women and religion
• 11Superstitio and magic
• 12History of Roman religion
  • 12.1Religion and politics
  • 12.2Early Republic
  • 12.3Later Republic to Principate
  • 12.4Roman Empire
    • 12.4.1Absorption of cults
    • 12.4.2Imperial cult
    • 12.4.3Jews and Roman religion
    • 12.4.4Christianity in the Roman Empire
      • 12.4.4.1Emperor Constantine and Christianity
    • 12.4.5Transition to Christian hegemony
• 13See also
• 14Notes
• 15References and further reading

Overview[edit]