FULL TOPIC: Temples + Sacrifices

What was the design of roman temples?

A mix of Etruscan and Greek styling

What was the orientation of the temples?

East to West

How was the temple placed?

On a podium (Etruscan style temple)

How could you enter the Greek temples?

Only enter from the front

Where was the statue of the god?

The main room/ cella

Where did the colonnade stand

On the podium and ran around the temple

What were the columns like in Roman temples?

Side and rear columns were semi - engaged

Semi engaged columns

A supporting column that is embedded in a wall, half protruding

What were the responsibilities of both Greek and Roman priests?

Conducting rituals, offerings and sacrifices to the Gods

How did both Greek and Roman priests serve?

As custodians of temples, ensuring proper maintenance of sacred spaces

What did Greek priests serve as compared to Roman?

Greek priests mainly serve as caretakers of temples and performed sacrifices and rituals dedicated to specific gods, whereas Roman priests often played political roles and were seen as state officials

What was the anointing of Greek priests compared to Roman priests like?

Greek priests were often local and tied to a specific temples or cities whereas the Roman priesthood was highly organised with specific colleges that oversaw specific aspects of religious life

How did Greek priests handle worship compared to Roman priests?

In Greece, worship was personal, with priests ensuring proper rituals but not serving as mediators between humans and gods, whereas Roman priests acted as intermediators between the state and the gods ensuring that Rome maintained the gods favour

How were Greek priests chosen compared to Roman priests?

Greek priests were chosen by their cities whilst Roman priests were elected?

How long were Greek priests in the job for compared to Roman priests?

Greek = limited

Roman = For Life

What was the main role of the Roman priests?

To uphold state religion by maintenance of the pax deorum (peace of the gods)

What were the other duties of the Roman priests?

leads sacrifices, prayers, festivals

When did the Roman priests work?

Part-time, they had other commitments usually business or political

What benefits did becoming a priest have?

Increase political power / career

What was a pontifices?

Any senior members of the Pontifical college, presided over by the Pontifex Maximus

What was the Pontifex Maximus?

Chief priest of Rome

Who was the Pontifex Maximus?

Emperor, since Augustus

What were the responsibilities of the pontifices?

- Protection of temples

- Maintaining the peace of the gods through the interpretations of omens

- Bestowing punishments to those who broke the religious code

Who could be pontifices?

All males over 15, who were descended from the original tribes of Rome

What does the word "pontifex" mean?

"Bridge builder" alludes to priests role as a mediator between man and God

What were the Augures?

Priests who interpreted the will of Gods by observing natural signs (birds, sacred chickens)

Who were the Augures important to?

Military, political, and religious people

What are the requirements to be an Augure?

- High social status, chosen members of upper class (patrician, equestrian)

- Political influence (many were senators or magistrates)

How long was the position of the Augure held for?

Life

How did Augures use sacred spaces?

They learned to define a templum (sacred space) where divinations took place using a staff called a lituus

What is a lituus?

A special curved staff that was used to mark out a sacred space in the sky, known as a templum, and determine the favor or disfavor of the gods.

What is a haruspex?

A religious figure in ancient Rome (Truscan origins)

What did haruspices specialise in?

Divination by inspecting entrails of sacrificed animals (liver)

What sacred tool did the haruspices use?

lituus for ceremonies

What is the bronze liver of Placenza?

Bronze model of sheep's liver = Etruscan view of their universe -> Celestial map

What were the Vestal Virgins?

The Vestal Virgins were a college of six priestesses who represented the only major female priesthood in Rome.

What were the requirements to be a Vestal Virgin?

- must be a young girl (6-10 years)

- Had to come from patrician (aristocratic)

- physically and mentally healthy

- both parents alive

- new Vestals elected by Pontifex Maximus

What training did Vestal Virgins need?

First 10 years - Training period

- Learning rituals, duties, discipline

Second 10 years - Official

- Full priestess duties

Last 10 years - Passing over

- Training new Vestals

What duties did the Vestal Virgins have?

- maintaining the sacred flame of Vesta (safety of Rome)

- preparing sacred substances for rituals - mola saisa

- cleansing the temple and keeping it pure

- participating in religious ceremonies, especially during the Vestalia (festival of Vesta) and the festival of the Bona Dea (Good Goddess) woman only festival

- safeguarding wills and state documents inside the temple

- Observing strict chastity - breaking the vow = treason

What is Mola Salsa?

Special salted flour used in sacrifices

What are the advantages of being a Vestal Virgin?

- Highly respected

- Had an escort of a lictor

- Lived in platai residence, the House of the Vestals, in the Roman forum

- Could own property and legal decisions

- Rode in a special carriage

- Front row seats at public games

What is a lictor?

A Roman civil servant who acted as a body guard to a magistrate

What are the disadvantages of being a Vestal Virgin?

- Had to remain chaste for 30 years - breaking the vow would mean being buried alive

- If the sacred flame went out they could be blamed and whipped

- Strict discipline and constant surveillance from senior Vestals and the Pontifex Maximus

Which Gods did the Roman state favour?

Jupiter and his family of gods and goddesses (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Ceres, Apollo, Diana, Mars, Venus)

How did the Roman state organise official rituals and ceremonies?

Organised by colleges of priests and other religious officials, many were senators

How were rituals and ceremonies conducted?

The festivals and sacrifices were carried out by them on behalf of the state

What is a hiereus / hiereia?

One who sacrifices to a god, usually gods were attended by priests and priestess of their respected gender (Temple of Apollo at Delphi was an exception)

How long was the role of hiereus / hiereia for?

Temporary role - A year

How much training was required?

None

What was the roles of the hiereus / hiereia?

- Undertake and oversee the rituals at the correct time

- Assist in the keep of the temple

How did citizens see the role of the hiereus / hiereia?

As a way of showing commitment to their city

How important were the hiereus / hiereia?

Importance depended on who the god / goddess of their temple was

What types of priests were there?

Mantis, Auger

What was a mantis (pl. manteis)?

Soothsayer

What did the mantis do?

Examined entrails of sacrificed animals in order to predict the future

What would happen if the mantis saw blemishes or imperfections?

Seen as a bad omen

What does the auger do?

Examined flight and behaviours of birds to predict the future

What do augurs do related to the army?

They would accompany the army and made a reading before battles

What would worshippers where during a sacrifice?

Wash thoroughly and wear clean, or even new clothes. They also adorned themselves, most commonly with a garland woven from twigs

What requirements must the animal have to be sacrificed?

Appear willing to be sacrificed, the most physically perfect animal in the herd

How did they show off the animals that would be sacrificed?

It was adorned with ribbons, and if it had horns these were gilded (covered in a thin layer of gold)

Who was involved during the sacrifice?

1) The priest / pontifex -> Roman priest would veil his head with a toga before beginning

2) A maiden

3) A Man carrying inscence

4) An aulos (flute) player

What was the maiden carrying?

A carrying the sacrificial basket filled with barley to hide the knife; a water carrier

What were frightened victims meant to represent?

The victim was supposed to follow willingly, scared = bad omen = the sacrifice had to start all over again

Why would the aulos player play?

Supposed to soothe the animal

Where would the procession take place?

At an altar (made of stone or marked by a pile of ashes)

Why was a circle of barley sprinkled surrounding the altar, the animal, and the participants?

Showed who was involved in the sacrifice and therefore who was blessed

What allowed the area to be sanctified?

The sacrificial basket and water vessel is to be carried around the circle to sanctify the area

How would each participant purify themselves during the ritual?

After the fire is lit, each participant will rinse their hands in water - sacrifice begins now

How does the victim give consent?

The victim is sprinkled with water (Roman sacrifice, mola salsa was used, followed by wine), causing it to jerk its head = consent, larger animals are given a drink of water instead

How did the participants show they were taking part?

Taking the barley from the sacrificial basket then silence

Who could the sacrificer be?

Kings, warriors, ordinary men

What would the sacrificer recite during the sacrifice?

Raising his hands to the sky, a three stage prayer

What would the participants do after the sacrificer finished the vow?

Each participant tossed a handful of barley onto the altar and the victim

What would the sacrificer do with the knife?

Cut hairs from the victims forehead and throw them into the fire , in larger animals the animal would have been stunned before the kill by hitting it on the head with a rod or club - in Roman sacrifices this is done by the popa. Then raise the victim over the altar and cut its throat. In Roman sacrifices the cultrarius was the name of the throat slicer

What happens whilst the sacrificer slices the victim's throat?

The women present uttered a high pitched cry, making the passage from life to death.

What was done with the blood from the victim?

Collected in a basin, sprayed over the top and sides of the altar = holy duty

After the victim was skinned and butchered, how were the thighbones treated?

Cut off, wrapped in fat and burnt at the altar - smoke is to rise to the heavens and feed the gods (In Roman sacrifices the priest would say a prayer starting with the god's name and the reason for the sacrifice)

After the victim was skinned and butchered, how were the entrails (guts and organs) treated?

Cut out, examined to see if they were healthy = good omen etc. (In Roman sacrifices a haruspex would do this)

After the victim was skinned and butchered, how were the inner organs treated?

The heart and the liver = pierced with forks and roasted on the altar fire. Reserved for the most important participants (In Roman state sacrifice the priests ate first followed by the senate, and elite citizens)

After the victim was skinned and butchered, how was the rest of the meat treated?

Boiled, and shared out amongst the participants (One of the only time Greeks and Romans ate meat )

What happened to the inedible remains of the victim?

Bones, hooves, etc. were laid out in order on the altar = animals life is remembered and celebrated, skin = given to the sanctuary

What other food offerings were at sacrifices?

Cakes, broth were also burned along with bones as offerings to the gods

Why did the sacrificer pour wine over the fire?

The bright purple flame caused by the combustion of the alcohol was thought to signify that the god was present

Why did Romans offer sacrifices and gifts to the gods?

Hopes that gods and goddesses would be pleased and restore the health of the sacrifice. For a better chance for their prayers to be heard

Where is the Pantheon located?

Rome, Campus Martrus

When was the Pantheon built?

125 AD

Who was the Pantheon commissioned by?

Hadrian

Who was the Pantheon dedicated to?

All of the Roman Gods

What was the Pantheon made out of?

Marble, brick and concrete

What is the style of the Pantheon?

Corinthian

How preserved is it?

The best preserved ancient Roman building

Who was the Pantheon originally commissioned by?

Augustus

Who originally built the Pantheon?

Augustus' general: Marcus Agrippa

When did Marcus Agrippa build the Pantheon?

27 - 25 BC

Why did Hadrian rebuild the Pantheon?

It burnt down in 80AD

How do we know Marcus Agrippa had built the Pantheon?

He plastered "Marcus Agrippa, Son of Lucius, built this when consul; for the first time"

What shape is the Pantheon?

Circular

Where is the Temple of Fortuna Virilis?

Rome, forum of Boarium (cattle market)

When was the Temple of Fortuna Virilis built?

120 - 80 BC