Ancient Rome and Religion

Religion played a very important role in the daily life of Ancient Rome and the Romans. Roman religion was centred around gods and explanations for events usually involved the gods in some way or another. The Romans believed that gods controlled their lives and, as a result, spent a great deal of their time worshipping them. The most important god was Jupiter. He was the king of gods who ruled with his wife Juno, the goddess of the sky. ther gods were! Mars Mercury Nepture Janus Diana Vesta Minerva Venus God of War The messenger of the gods God of the Sea God of the Doorway Goddess of Hunting Goddess of the Hearth Goddess of Healing and Wisdom Goddess of ove

After the reign of the "mperor Augustus #$% &' to A( )*+, the emperor was also considered to be a god and he was worshipped on special occasions. "ach god had a special festival day which was usually a public holiday. This holiday gave people the opportunity to visit the temple for whichever god was being celebrated. At this temple, priests would sacrifice animals and offer them to the god.

!nimals "eing led to slaughter at a temple sacrifice

Temples to worship the gods were built throughout the Roman "mpire. Temples usually always followed the same building pattern. The roof was triangular shaped and supported by great pillars. ,teps led up to the main doorway that was usually built behind the pillars. The inside of the temple would have been very well decorated and there would have been a statue of the god in it. There would also have been an altar where a priest would have

served the god and made sacrifices. -eople called augurs could also be found in the temples. These people used the entrails of the dead animals to predict the future. The Romans took these predictions very seriously and few ignored the advice of an augur. "ach family home would also have a small altar and shrine. The Romans had personal household gods or spirits called .lares. which were worshipped every day at home. The shrine contained statues of the .lares. and the head of the household led family prayers around the shrine each day. The service was considered so important that family slaves were also invited. /t is believed that most Romans were more keen to please their .lares. than the public gods such as Jupiter.

! family shrine at a house in #ompeii

$%n a corner at the entrance to the house was a huge cup"oard with a small "uilt&in shrine' %nside the shrine were the silver statuettes of the household gods( a Venus in mar"le and a golden cas)et'$ Written in !D *+