Religion in Roman Life

Daily phenomena

• Prayer
• Vows
• Household offerings, libations
• Blood sacrifice (at temple)

Fasti: Roman state/religious calendar
 dies fasti: "auspicious days"
 dies nefasti: "ill-omened days"

 Ovid (43 BC - AD 17), Fasti

Parentalia (dead ancestors): Feb. 13-23
Lupercalia (< ?): Feb. 15
Megalensia (< Cybele): March 15-27
Floralia (< Flora): April 28
Parilia (< Pales): April 21
Lemuria (< lemures): May 9-13
Saturnalia (< Saturnus): Dec. 17

State Cults

Numa as source of religious tradition

Early Priesthoods

• Flamines, e.g. flamen dialis
• Salian priests (Salii)
• Fetial priests (Fetiales)
• Rex sacrorum ("ritual king")
• Vestal Virgins

• 16 Pontifices (led by Pontifex Maximus)
• 15 Quindecimviri (Sibylline Books)
• 16 Augurs (divination)
• 10 Epulones (arrange public feasts)

Augustus & Religious Revival

• Archaic revivals, e.g. Arval Brethren, fetials
• Modernization, e.g. flamen Dialis
• Temples & Ara Pacis ("Altar of Peace")

Integration of New Cults

• Evocatio rite: winning over enemy's gods
• Introduction of Cybele, 204 BC

• Suppression of Bacchic rites, 186 BC
• Edicts against astrology, magic
• Persecution of Christians