The Religions Book

80

THE GODS ARE

JUST LIKE US

BELIEFS THAT MIRROR SOCIETY

T

he pantheon of ancient

Roman gods was largely

adapted from that of other

civilizations, notably the Greeks.

As the Greek deities had done,

the Roman gods lived, loved, and

fought their battles in a way that

mirrored the lives of the mortals

and reflected their history.

However, while the Greeks saw

their gods as remote controllers

of the universe, the Romans

considered them to be an intrinsic

part of their lives, and to have

IN CONTEXT

KEY BELIEVERS

Ancient Romans

WHEN AND WHERE

8th century BCE, Rome

BEFORE

8th–6th centuries BCE

The Greek civilization flowers,

with its pantheon of deities.

AFTER

8th century BCE

Rome is founded.

c.509 BCE The Roman

monarchy is overthrown

and the Republic established.

133–44 BCE Civil wars finally

bring an end to the Roman

Republic; Julius Caesar is

named “dictator for life” before

his assassination in 44 BCE.

42 BCE Julius Caesar is deified.

c.335 CE Roman Emperor

Constantine I (the Great)

converts to Christianity.

391 CE Emperor Theodosius

bans the worship of pagan gods.

The gods are

just like us

The gods

take an active

interest in our

domestic

affairs.

Political leaders

can be given the

status of gods.

Household gods,

the penates,

reside in our

homes and help

provide for us.

Ancestor spirit

gods, the lares,

act as our

guardians.

The gods

take an active

interest in our

public affairs.

Public leaders

consult the gods

about political

decision making.