Theology Religion at Rome

Civic religion

state approved religious activity

Vestal Virgins

female religious functionaries from elite families - they maintained the cult of goddess Vesta, the Roman priestesses of Ceres, and those of the imperial cult - keep fires going(?)

Genius

the divine guardian of a freeborn Roman male

Pax deorum

equilibrium of relationship of Roman gods to Roman people/”peace with the goods”

Vota

vows taken on behalf of the wellbeing of the state

Imperial cult

integrated into other traditional/religious beliefs, not separate

Auspicia

the means by which divine will was determined - five categories for observation of signs : from the sky, from sound and flight of birds, from feeding behavior of sacred chickens, from four-hoofed animals, unfavorable signs of other natures

Lares familiares

protective deities of a household’s famiglia

Di Manes

the spirits of the dead also seen as the gods of the underworld

Defixiones

a lead curse tablet