CLAS/PHIL 2610. Paganism to Christianity

Lecture 7. Roman Pantheon II: Roman State Cult

I. The Roman State (Res publica)

A. Magistrates: esp. Consuls (2 per year)

B. Senate: c. 400-500 former office holders; sovereign

II. State Priesthoods

A. Senatorial Control: 1. imported cults 2. prodigies 3. problems with divine

B. Generalities: "Colleges"; Life terms; co-option >> election; not professional

C. Four Most Distinguished Colleges

1. Pontiffs: Calendar; sacrifices; records; advisors (e.g. burial law)

2. Augurs: "inaugurate temples"; Divination

3. XVviri (15 men) for Making Sacrifices: Sibylline Books; foreign cults

4. VIIviri (7 men) for Feasts: Ritual feasts >> Public festivals

C. Vestals: City Hearth; Virgins (10-40yrs); Mola Salsa

D. Lesser Priesthoods: Flamen (priest for a deity); e.g. Flamen Dialis (priest for Zeus)

III. Religion of the Roman State

A. Vesta: Goddess of hearth (household >> Republic)

B. Mars: grain >> war

C. Capitoline Triad

1. Iupiter Optimus Maximus (Jupiter Best Greatest; = Gk Zeus)

2. Iuno (Mother / City Goddess = Gk. Hera)

3. Minerva (City / Craft Goddess = Gk. Athena)

D. Triumph

IV. The Late Republican Crisis and the Augustan Recovery

A. Religious Crisis

Skepticism (Cicero); Stagnation (priesthoods / temples); Abuse (Bibulus); Neglect (Horace Odes 3.6)

B. Political Crisis and Civil War

C. Peace

Octavian (= Augustus) v. Antony (Battle of Actium 31 BC)

Empire: the Principate (31 BC - AD 235)

D. Recovery

1. Control of Priesthoods

2. Restoration / Construction of Temples: Mars Ultor

3. Festivals: Secular Games (17 BC)