Roman Religion

Definition of feriae and what didn't happen in Rome on holidays.

The Roman pantheon was a temple for all gods that is now the oldest standing domed structure in Rome.

Spirits of the Dead - Lares, Larvae, Lemures, and Manes. The Romans believed the spirits of the dead became lares, manes or lemures (larvae).

Judaeo-Christian terminology may hamper our efforts to look at Roman religion objectively, but not totally block us from answering this challenging question.

Multiple choice questions on the tenure of the vestal virgins.

You could say Venus was 'the Roman goddess' since she was counted the ancestor of the ancestral founder of Rome. While Venus was the Roman goddess of love and beauty, like her Greek counterpart Aphrodite, there was more to her. Here you'll learn about various aspects of Venus the Roman goddess.

Scipio Africanus, in this dialogue from the sixth book of the De republica written by Cicero, answers a question, posed by Laelius, on the enduring rewards of virtue.

From your Guide. Morality, then as now, had some influence on a Roman male's sexuality.

The prophet Tiresias was consulted about the longevity of the newborn Narcissus, but his advice was, ultimately and unfortunately for the youth, not followed.

Also see: Tiresias Warns Pentheus, which is another case where following the seer's advice might have had less disastrous consequences.

Find out what Interpretatio Romana means.

Here you'll read a passage from Plutarch on what Numa Pompilius did to the festival calendar, including moving February.

Pomerium was a symbolic circumference of a Roman city.

Poplifugia - Roman festival on July 5.

Marcellus was declared consul after the augurs declared invalid the election of Flaminius and Furius.

From your Guide. Moralist as well as historian, Livy thought the lessons of history should inspire contemporary rulers.

Hera was known to the Romans as Juno. As Juno she was worshiped in many, conflicting aspects.

Chapter from Ancient Rome from the Earliest Times Down to 476 A.D., by Robert F. Pennell, on customs of daily life, including Roman houses, names, marriages, education, funerals, festivals and games, and more.

In his Ab urbe condita, Livy tells the story of Brennus and his Celtic band's defeat of the Romans at the Allia in 390 B.C.

Useful site because of its list of minor Roman deities and description of the calendar.

The Roman concept of fides and virtus mean more than the English faith and virtue. Chart of relationships governed by said virtues.