Roman civilisation - Family religion

How were families bound?

By family gods the family worshipped

What was the lararium?

The place the family gods were worshipped, it was a small shrine that looked like a miniature temple where offerings may be given. Lares were the family gods while Penates were the spirits of the dead

What were the other divinities of the house?

The genius or “guardian spirit” of the paterfamilias and Janus, god of the doorway who protected the entrance

What were tombs like in Ancient Rome?

The rich had large tombs housing funerary urns and potentially freedmen or slaves of the family

What were the customs after burial?

Burying a meal near them to “nourish” the corpses, food and potentially wine put near by a son on anniversaries of deaths otherwise they would either waste away or plague the living

What was the Parentalia?

A festival from 13th to 21st February in which tombs would be honoured for the first 8 days and a public feast on the 21st, focused on making peace with the dead and with the living of each other

What was the Lemuria?

Celebrated on 9th, 11th and 13th of May: introduced by Romulus to honour Remus, done to appease restless spirits. Temples closed and marriages banned in this period.

Why would sacrifices be given to the gods?

Romans believed it helped them

Why did the Romans build cemeteries on roads?

They would have inscriptions which could show wealth and it was believed the dead should be nearby

What did they do with possessions “needed” by the dead?

Burn them or bury them with the corpse (such as one story where a widowed husband burns his wife’s possessions but forgets a sandal, is told to do so and the spirit is at peace. The dead were also given food and drink.