Gods of Ancient Rome : contracts with the divine / Lynda Telford.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Telford, Lynda, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mythology, Roman.

Legends--Rome.

Legends.

Mythology.

mythology (literary genre).

Physical Description:

287 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (color), plans ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Gloucestershire : Amberley Publishing, 2024.

Summary:

"From the family shrine, the Lararium, to huge public festivals, which embodied the sanctity and viability of the state itself, religion permeated every aspect of Roman life. Roman religion was a very definite 'contract' with the Gods, offering devotion and the blood sacrifices which 'fed' and nourished the gods, in exchange for their continued protection and for Rome's security and prestige. This 'contract' was a very real expectation that the gods were alive and aware, and that in return for the regular nourishment of human worship they could, and would, honor their part of the bargain. If this bargain was not honored, then its nullity could bring disaster. This was best shown by the utter astonishment in Rome at the news of the defeat at Cannae in 216 BC. Surely the gods were unhappy - and two Vestal Virgins were chosen to be buried alive to appease them! The original gods and goddesses would be joined, but not superseded, by the importation of Greek gods, who with their names changed, but with their anthropomorphic characteristics intact, also served Rome and gave her their support. There would eventually be others, foreign gods from the East, bringing new ideas to Rome, along with outlandish and curious ceremonies, weird and wonderful gods like nothing ever before seen, requiring initiations, sacrifices and rituals of their own, performed by equally unusual priests, some of them celibate, who would add to the already replete Roman priesthood, with its many Flamens, Pontifices, Augurs and Haruspices, but bringing even a tantalising whiff of magic. All of these would eventually become accepted, by all classes of society"--Amazon.ca.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-280) and index.

Other Format:

ebook version :

ISBN:

1398111643

9781398111646

OCLC:

1377798108

Publisher Number:

90101743787

CIPO000050192