Roman Culture Exam 3

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

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

How are Roman gods typically envisioned and depicted in art?

Anthropomorphic, resembled humans

Made gods look more human and powerful

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 (be sure to include at least one example for each category)?

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)

What are the Greek and Roman names for the major gods and goddesses and what is the "title" of each?

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: 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 and what are some examples of each?

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

Describe the four main features of an area dedicated to a Roman god.

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

Which emperor initiates an "architectural revolution" and what was so revolutionary?

Nero, it contained concrete, vaults, curvilinear and polygonal shapes, marble, painted stucco, and mosaics

Which emperor builds the first monumental residence on the Palatine Hill and why?

Domitian, becomes symbol of Roman Empire

Which Roman leader first builds his own forum and why?

Caesar, Forum of Caesar

Augustus, after the assassination of Caesar, he vowed to construct a temple to Mars Ultor if he was able to successfully avenge Caesar’s death

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

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

Describe the images and/or significance of at least one arch, column, and mausoleum

Arch of Titus: commemoration of Titus’s military victories

Arch of Septimius Serverus: 3 archways, commemorate campaigns against Parthia

Arch of Constantine: Made of recycled statues, reliefs, and materials from earlier buildings and monuments

Column of Trajan: commemorate military campaigns waged by Trajan

Column of Marcus Aurelius: Illustrates emperors campaigns

Mausoleum of Augustus: enormous cylinder, turned into a fortress

Mausoleum of Hadrian: resembled Augustus’, Castel Sant Angelo

Continuity from one to another

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 and decline 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

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

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.

Population was diverse due to many people associated with maritime trade passing through the town

Seasonal workers who were in and out

Describe the major types of burials in Ostia

Mithraeums

Synagoges

Tombs

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

Become 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

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 Herculaneum (and their inhabitants) were destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

Buried under pumice and volcanic ash

What are the three main types of public buildings at Pompeii (be sure to give a few examples of each type)?

Political

• Comitum

• “Municipal offices”

Legal

• Basilica

Commercial

• Macellum // meat market

• Building of Eumachia

Religious

• Temple of Jupiter

• Temple of Apollo

• Temple of the Lares

• Temple of Vespasian

Entertainment

• Amphitheater

Describe at least three prominent rooms/features of a private home in Pompeii

Atrium // open courtyard

Tablinum // multipurpose reception hall

Triclinium // dining hall

Cubicula // small bedroom

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)