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The Religion of Rome



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You have come to the right spot if you are interested in learning more about ancient Rome's religious beliefs. Learn about the 'lares' or gods that Romans worshipped, their rituals, and their sacrifices for victory in battle. This will help you understand why the 'lares' were so influential in early Roman History.

Romans worshipped lares'

Romans worshiped "lares," a god governing the weather, in various ways. Single or paired divinities were associated with the gods. The gods were believed to protect the home and family from the destructive effects the southern winds could cause or to stop the season from getting worse. These gods were often depicted in sculptures, statues, and murals.


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They worshiped and revered the sun

During the Roman Empire, sun worship was a common practice, and became the dominant official religion. The sun was the most important being in the pantheon, as many Roman gods had solar qualities. Even Christ and Mithra received solar qualities. Constantine I, Roman emperor, who was the first one to embrace the suncult, was a firm proponent. Constantius II his son legitimized sun cult by moving Jesus's birth date from December 25 to December 25.

They offered to sacrifice animals

Animal sacrifice was a practice that helped create political and socio-economic hierarchies as well as civic compromise. It was also used to communicate implicit beliefs regarding the divinity. Romans believed that animals were part of the universe and could help or harm people. This belief was made almost divine through the sacrifice of animals.


They used rituals to win the battle

Romans used rituals to win battles. Some of these rituals were public and some were private. Many sacrifices were offered to the gods, heroes, and dead. These sacrifices can be public or private, and they could take many forms. They could be food sacrifices of the gods or burnt offerings. Romans offered blood to the gods as a sacrifice.

They did 'augures' to predict what the future would look like.

Romans practiced 'augures.' This was divination by looking at omens found in nature. They considered the behavior and parts of animals as well as those of man-made objects. This was taken seriously by the gods, who were believed to be able to predict the future.


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They believed in the emperor worship

Romans believed emperor worship. In fact, many rituals and prescriptions were established to honour the emperor in the ancient world. This devotion extended well beyond politics.



 



The Religion of Rome