Roman Culture Final

Describe the three main ways that individual Romans interacted with the gods

Ritual (religio), prayer (votum), sacrifice (sacrificium)

Religio

Ritual

Votum

Prayer

Sacrificium

Sacrifice

How are Roman gods typically envisioned and depicted in art?

Anthropomorphic, resembled humans

Which two neighboring cultures shaped Roman religious beliefs and practices and in what ways?

Greek: Gods, artistic representation

Etruscan: Rituals, temples, augury (omen)

What are the seven basic categories of gods worshiped by the Romans?

Anthropomorphic Olympian Gods

Anthropomorphic Demigods

Deified Romans

Nature Spirits

Household Divinities

Abstract Ideas

Foreign Gods

Anthropomorphic Olympian Gods

Jupiter, Juno, Mars

Anthropomorphic Demigods

Hercules, Aenas, Romulus

Deified Romans

Ceasar, Augustus, popular emperors

Nature Spirits

Tiberinus, Pan, Oreads

Household Divinities

Penates, Lares, Vesta

Abstract Ideas

victoria (victory), virtus (courage), fortuna (luck)

Foreign Gods

Isis (Egypt), Mithras (Persia), Cybele (Asia Minor)

Zeus

Jupiter: king of the gods, god of heaven and sea, seasons

Hera

Juno: goddess and protector of women / marriage

Poseidon

Neptune: god of the sea

Hestia

Vesta: goddess of hearth / home

Hermes

Mercury: messenger god

Hephaestus

Vulcan: god of forge / blacksmith / fire

Aphrodite

Venus: goddess of love and beauty

Apollo

god of sun, truth, poetry, music, healing

Ares

Mars: god of war, hatred, violence

Artemis

Diana: goddess of hunting / moon

Demeter

Ceres: goddess of agriculture

Hades

Pluto: god of underworld, wealth

Dionysus

Bacchus: god of wine / partying, promoter of the law

Eros

Cupid: god / promoter of love

What are the four main priestly "colleges" at Rome and what are their primary functions?

Ponitfical College

Augural College

Decemviri

Fetiales

Ponitfical College

Groups of priests were in charge of rituals, prayers, festivals connected with the major gods

16 pontifexes and 15 flamens

Augural College

Understand signs around us that are coming from the Gods

Decemviri

Protect and interpret sibylline books in times of stress

Fetiales

Sanction final decisions

What are the two basic types of religious offerings?

Votives

Sacrifices

Votives

something of value

• Spoils of war

• Figurines

• Gold / Silver items

• Miniature body parts

Sacrifices

• Wine: Libation

• Bloodless sacrifices: fruit, flowers, cakes, honey

• Animal sacrifices: cattle, pigs, sheep

Templum

sacred area

Aedes

temple: House of the deity

Cella

chamber: Innermost chamber that housed the cult statue and offerings

Ara

altar: Outside chamber

Name three non-Greek gods associated with "mystery" rituals.

Mithras, Cybele / Magna Mater, Isis

Describe Tacitus' attitude towards Christians.

Thought negatively of Christians, viewed it as an evil

As governor of Bithynia, how did Pliny the Younger deal with Christians and what was Emperor Trajan's assessment of his actions?

Pliny the Younger either threatened Christians, and those who persisted he executed

Trajan acknowledges that Pliny is handling the situation appropriately by carefully examining each case, if someone is formally accused of being a Christian and they admit guilt, they should be punished. However, if an accused person denies being a Christian and proves their loyalty to Rome by worshiping Roman gods, they are to be forgiven

In what ways does Emperor Constantine support Christianity?

Starts building churches, legalizes all religions

Which emperor first locates his residence on the Palatine Hill and why?

Augustus, propaganda effort to portray himself as just another Roman citizen

First monumental residence

Domitian, becomes symbol of Roman Empire

Which Roman leader first builds his own forum and why?

Caesar, Forum of Caesar

Describe the main features of the forum of Augustus and their purpose

Symbolic message glorifying Augustus, his family, and his achievements

Cult statue of Mars flanked by statues of Venus on one side and defied Caesar on the right

Personifications of Fortune and Rome, Tiber and Palatine

Mars in the center, Venus on his right, Romulus on her right

Linked Augustus with founders of the city

Senate meets to discuss war and peace

Governors make offerings before heading out to their provinces

Assumption of the toga virilis by young men

Legal and commercial activities

exedras and porticoes

Describe the main features of the forum of Trajan and their purpose

Temple of Deified Trajan

Trajan’s Column (Dacian Wars, Trajan’s tomb, indicates height of excavated land)

Libraries (Greek and Latin)

Basilica Ulpia (legal and commercial activities, manumission ceremonies)

Forum (statues of Dacian prisoners, Roman generals, and popular emperors)

Equestrian Statue of Trajan

Markets

What are some features that the Imperial Fora have in common?

Piazzas and colonnades

Spaces for public and socializing, political, religious

Basilica, temple

Arch of Titus

Sack of Jerusalem

Arch of Septimius Serverus

3 archways

Pallinian vicoties

Arch of Constantine

Maxentius, Milvian Bridge

Column of Trajan

Subjugation of Daica

Column of Marcus Aurelius

Danubian Victories

Augustus

Mausoleum

Mausoleum of Hadrian

connection to the beginning of the Roman Empire

Why is Ostia important for Rome's safety and growth?

Port where goods could be unloaded, stored, and then transferred / transported

Had a castrum – military fort

Functioned as a maritime gateway to the rest of the world

Describe the growth of Ostia (and Portus)

Played a role in transportation system as Rome grew

City expanded, apartment buildings, warehouses, dock workers and shipbuilders

Theatre, piazza, vigiles established

More defined harbor area

Claudius – boom time

Harbor works

First rate harbor when Trajan rebuit Portus

Describe the decline of Ostia (and Portus)

Decline in population of Rome and river mouth silting up caused the end of Ostia’s growth, maritime traffic declined and Portus was sufficient to carry reduced load

Ostia lost bustling industrial nature

Turned into a seaside resort

Portus became its own city

Swampy nature became a dominant factor, Ostia abandoned and became a looting area

Why is Ostia important for our understanding of both Rome's growth and daily life in Rome?

Best reflection of ancient Rome

Hub for people, commerce, trade

Key for well-being for the city of Rome

Anything that was destined for Rome stopped off in Ostia

Totally preserved ancient city

Describe the two basic types of living options in Ostia

Domus and Insulae

Describe some of the shops and amenities used on a regular basis by the people of Ostia

Horrea: warehouse

Theatre of Ostia

Piazza of the Corporations

Pistrinum: bakery

Fullonica: fullery

Forum baths

Dolia: storage jars

Nymphae and lacus: water features

Macellum: meat market

horrea

warehouse

pistrinum

bakery

fullonica

fullery

dolia

storage jars

Nymphae and lacus

water features

Macellum

meat market

Describe how grain was stored and protected in Ostia

Horrea had false floors, indicating that they were used to store grain

Kept cool and dry to prevent the growth of harmful mold

What was the Square of the Corporations and its functions in Ostia?

Where many shipping companies had their offices

Collegia

guild

Naviculari

shippers

Negotiantes

traders

Describe the diversity of religious beliefs and areas of worship in Ostia.

Great deal of religious diversity due to being a international port city 

• Mithrea, cybele, early christian church, europe’s first jewish synagogue 

Describe the major types of burials in Ostia

• Columbaria: ashes 

• Inhumation: burying the body intact

• Sarcophagus  

• Family style tombs 

Why is Pompeii such a significant site for our understanding of the ancient world?

Became time capsules

Volcanic flows preserve objects and highly perishable evidence

Provide a brief overview of Pompeii's history

c. 350 BC: a small Samnite settlement is established

c. 200 BC: Roman ally with limited political rights

91-88 BC: participates in the “Social War”: a military defeat, but a political victory (re: citizenship)

80 BC: designated a Roman colony and receives an infusion of new Roman inhabitants; “Romanization” begins (amphitheater)

27 BC-14 AD: copies Augustus’ transformation of Rome

5 February 62: a major earthquake devastates Pompeii

24-25 August [?] 79: eruption

Who is our main source of information about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and why was he in the area?

Pliny the Younger, he saw the tree shaped cloud form the mountain wanted to investigate

was with Pliny the Elder

Describe the major features of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

Dense black cloud, tree shaped

Spreading over earth like a flood, caused darkness like the night

Everything covered in ash

Describe how Pompeii (and its inhabitants) were destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

pumice and ash

Describe how Herculaneum (and its inhabitants) were destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

surges and flows

What are the three main types of public buildings at Pompeii

Political, legal, commercial, religious, entertainment

Atrium

open courtyard + reception hall

Cubicula

small bedroom

Cauponae

small inns

Popinae

bars

Describe at least three important businesses at Pompeii.

Cauponae // small inns

Popinae // bars

Bakers, potters, shoemakers, metalworkers

Food and Animal Markets

Fulleries

Textile and Leather Shops

Builders, Craftsmen, and Artisans

Provide a brief overview of Pompeii's water supply.

Served by an aqueduct system (Aqua Augusta)

water distributed throughout the city, streets were sewers

What are the three main periods of Roman history (including their dates)?

Monarchy (753-509 BC)

Republic (509-31 BC)

Late Republic (133-31 BC)

Empire (Imperial Period) (31 BC – AD 476)

Each period of Roman history is characterized by the

form of government

Monarchy (753-509 BC)

Founded by Romulus and Remus, twins of the god Mars

Sequence of seven kings

Religious institutions and cultural institutions established

One of hundred city-states in Italy, often under the control of more powerful city-states (Estruscans)

Republic (509-31 BC)

Revolution, last Estruscan king, Tarquin the Proud expelled from Rome

Military expansion through Italy

Constant warfare

Unique policy to the treatment of conquered cities, granted partial citizenship instead of enslaving → contributed troops to Roman army

Constitution developed → annually elected magistrates, legal code, balance of powers among different organs of the state

Punic wars (264 BC – 146 BC)

After second punic war (281-201 BC), armies highly professionalized and conquered nearly the entire Mediterranean basin

Late Republic (133-31BC)

bloody civil wars

Ceasar and Pompey the Great

How do the Romans explain the origins of their city? (Aeneads)

Aeneads, Trojan who escaped the destruction of his city by the Greeks, landed in Italy and founded city of Lavinum

How do the Romans explain the origins of their city? (Romulus and Remus)

Romulus and Remus: Romulus became king by usurping the throne from his brother

What roles do the gods play in Rome’s founding and continued success?

Deeply influencing its identity and statecraft

Roman religious practices, including rituals and the deification of emperors, reinforced the idea that divine favor was essential for Rome’s prosperity

The gods symbolized key Roman values

Success depends on the good will of the gods

Describe the natural features and advantages of Rome's location.

convenient supply of volcanic stone for building

crossroads of trade

hills for defense

Seven hills of Rome

Capitoline: smallest but most important

Palatine: central hill of Rome

Aventine: southernmost hill

Quirinal: long ridge

Viminal: ridge paralleling the Quirinal to the South and probably least important

Esquiline: large bluff with various ridges extending out from it

Caelian: narrow ridge curving to the south of the Esquiline

How were the seven hills of Rome formed?

volcanic eruptions: belched forth ash and debris that was deposited in the plains around the Tiber River, formed into hills and mounds by water