Classical Civilisation- Rome

Jupiter

• King of the gods and god or thunder, lightening & rain
• Son of Saturn
• Symbols- eagle (fetch lightning bolts), shield with stormcloud, scepter and breast plate
• Also known as Jove

Neptune

• Helped overthrow saturn- took place as god of the sea
• God of sea creatures, horses, earthquakes and storms
• symbol is trident

Juno

• Queen of the Gods
• Goddess of women, childbirth, marriage and fertility
• Symbols- crown, peacock and scepter

Minerva

• Virgin goddess- daughter of Juno and Metis
• Goddess of wisdom, poetry, tactical warfare, weaving, crafts, magic and inventor of music
• Symbols- owl, helmet, spear, aegis (cloak with snakes around the edge)

Pluto

• King of underworld and God of death and the dead
• Looked over funerals, and made sure everyone had a proper burial
• God of hidden wealth- gold, silver etc...
• Son of Saturn and pictured on throne next to his wife with a sceptor decorated with a bird
• Symbols- cap of invisibility, black chariot and black horses.

Vesta

• Virgin goddess of the hearth, home, fire and family
• Goddess of fertility and peace
• Symbols- Fire, veils, ovens, baked goods, long dress, head covered and donkey

Mars

• God of war- son of Jupiter and Juno
• God of spring, growth, agriculture and fertility- father of Roman people
• Symbols- full body armour, crested helmet, shield and spear
• Second in importance to Jupiter- very prominent and much worshipped God

Apollo

• Twin of Diana and son of Jupiter
• God of music, poetry, sun, medicine, knowledge, education and light and healing
• Symbols- lyre, laurel wreath and a raven
• Same name in both Roman and Greek mythology

Ceres

• Goddess of grain, harvest and motherly love
• Adopted as a goddess during a terrible famine
• Symbols- sheaths of wheat, cornucopia, honey, acorns and a torch

Mercury

• Messenger and god of trade, communication and business
• Worshipped by merchants and travellers
• Symbols- winged sandals, winged cap and wand with a serpent
• God of thieves

Venus

• Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, marriage and pro-creation
• Symbols- girdle, shells, doves, swans, hand mirror and being naked!
• Myrtle doves, sparrow and horses
• Roman state descended from her

Diana

• Virgin goddess of the hunt, the moon and protection of young women
• Twin of Apollo and daughter of Jupiter
• Symbols- bow & arrow, moon, woodland animals, short tunic

• A tempulum was any space marked out as sacred
• It did not need to be a building, although buildings are common types of tempulums
• Groves, gardens and places of outstanding beauty were also sometimes Tempulums
• The buildings were influenced by Greek temple design
• The base was called the podium
• There were engaged columns supporting the roof, and freestanding columns near the porch
• Entrace steps would lead to the porch, which would lead into the cella- the single roon in which a statue of the god stood.
• The alter was always outside, as sacrifices occured and a significant amount of mess was made.
• Temples could also be Museums, Art galleries and banks
• The senate also sometimes met at temples.

• Sacrifice was a vital part of Roman religion
• Sacer is the Latin for something which is divine property
• Facere is to make, so sacrificium means to make something into divine property
• Sacrifice was thought to strengthen a person's relationship with the gods and make them feel like they owe that person a favour
• Ovid tells us " Gifts believe me win over both men and gods.  Giving gifts keeps Jupiter himself content."
• Sacrefice could therefore be seen as a type of business deal
• 1- ask a god for help- this is reflected in the Latin formula "do ut des" which means "I give so that you may give"
• 2- To thank a god for help given- Horace tells us that he offered his clothes in thanks for not drowning at sea in Odes 1:5
• 3- To simply honour a god in order to keep them on side
• Cato tells us that he wanted protection in return for the sacrifice of an animal
• A Piaculum was an offering to restore good relations with a god
• Safrifices were not always animals- they could be articles of value (art, weapons etc..), statues, food and drink and most importantly mola salsa (salted meal) prepared by the Vestal Virgins

• However, the most impressive offering was the life and bood of an animal
• There were many strict rules for sacrifices-
• No foreigner was allowed to be present
• Nobody was allowed to hear the most important parts of the prayers
• The ceremony had to be perfect in word and action- any mistakes meant that the whole thing had to be restarted
• A Roman preparing a sacrifice would agree on an appointed time with the priest of the relevent temple
• On the appointed day, he would buy an animal- it had to be perfect, with no blemish
• Certain animals would usually be offered to specific gods- eg a heifer offered to Jupiter
• The sacrificer would wear his best toga, and tie ribbons to the animal.
• They would lead it through the streets to the temple.  If it refused to walk willingly, or stumbled along the way, it was seen as a bad omen, and a new animal would be found.
• The ceremony took place outside the temple and was overseen by a priest, who covered his head with the folds of his toga and wash his hands in sacred water before the ceremony
• The animal's head was sprinkled with wine and mola salsa, the sacred bread while the priest said a prayer.

• The animal was then stunned by a hammer blow to the head, delivered by an attendant
• Next, it's throat was cut with a knife.
• The animal was then disembowelled and it's innards removed.  A soothsayer would examine the organs
• If they were discoloured or mishapen, the soothsayer would declare the omens bad
• A flute player would play throughout, trying to drown out any unwanted noises; even a sneeze could be interpreted as a bad omen.
• Any problem in the ceremony could be interpreted as a bad omen, and the process would need to be started all over again.
• If the innards were good, they would be burnt in a fire on the alter as an offering to the god.  The rest of the meat was cooked and shared out to the participants at a feast.