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Roman Religion

Roman Religion. CHW3M. What happens when you die?. The soul is immortal When you die, your soul is escorted to the river Styx by Mercury Romans buried their dead with a coin in their mouths You use this coin to pay Charon the ferryman for passage over the river Styx.

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Roman Religion

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  1. Roman Religion CHW3M

  2. What happens when you die? • The soul is immortal • When you die, your soul is escorted to the river Styx by Mercury • Romans buried their dead with a coin in their mouths • You use this coin to pay Charon the ferryman for passage over the river Styx

  3. What happens when you die? • On the other side of the Styx, you pass Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog • Cerberus will pay you no mind going in, but if a soul tries to leave the underworld without permission, he’ll be mean as hell

  4. What happens when you die? • You then go before the three judges, Minos, Rhadamanthos and Aeacus • If you’re a warrior or hero, they’ll send you to the Elysian Fields (paradise) • If you’re an average good citizen, you’ll go to the Plain of Asphodel (similar to normal life) • If you’ve been bad, they’ll send you to Tartarus (the Furies will punish you until your debt to society/the gods is paid) • No “eternal damnation”

  5. What happens when you die? • Sometimes – for example if you’ve been unjustly murdered - you could be granted passage back out of the underworld to be reborn again • You’ll have to drink from the river of forgetfulness so you won’t remember anything

  6. Similarities/Differences? • Egyptian afterlife? • Mesopotamian afterlife?

  7. Activity • Draw a picture showing what the Romans believe happens when you die • You may want to include any of the following • Mercury • The River Styx • Charon • Cerberus • The three judges • The Furies • Elysian Fields, Plain of Asphodel, Tartarus

  8. The Roman Pantheon • As discussed yesterday, based on the Greek pantheon • But also on Etruscan and Latin gods • In fact, the Romans incorporated the gods of everyone they conquered, which made things very complicated by the late Empire, which made the switch to Christianity kind of a relief

  9. Other minor deities • Spirits of trees, water, fire, stones • Spirits to watch over everyday events • Spirits of ancestors • Spirits of parts of the house

  10. Practices • Lots of rituals • Sacrifices • Divinations • Monthly festivals • Ex: Festival of Saturnalia • Held in December in honour of Saturn • Involved exchanging gifts • Sound familiar?

  11. The Priesthood • Elected officials • High priest is Pontifex Maximus • Sound familiar?

  12. Christianity • Based on Judaism, emerged around 30 CE • Fairly unique in that it was monotheistic • Zoroastrianism (founded in Persia around 600 BCE) also monotheistic and highly influential on Judaism

  13. Christianity • Jesus was born and preached in Palestine (a Roman province) • Ran afoul of the Jewish and Roman authorities • Was crucified around 33-36 CE

  14. Christianity • Jesus’s followers continued to follow his teachings and spread Christianity • 2 of his original apostles, Paul and Peter, were executed in Rome by Nero • Initially, however, Christianity is not seen as a threat, just a minor, underground religion

  15. A growing threat? • Highly organized church system with well documented sacred writings • Christianity’s promises of equality, forgiveness, eternal happiness look pretty attractive compared to Roman religion

  16. Persecution • Christians are Roman citizens, bound to Roman law, yet refuse to worship the Emperor • It became popular to blame Christians for natural disasters • Christian rituals offensive (endorsing cannibalism?)

  17. The tables turn • Despite widespread persecution and executions, Christianity grows • By 300 CE about 10% of the Roman empire is Christian • Soon after, Constantine converts to Christianity • In 380 CE Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion of the Empire

  18. A Roman Perspective • See “Through Their Eyes” on page 182

  19. Role Play • Write a letter as either… • A Roman who has recently converted to Christianity, outlining the reasons for your conversion • A Roman who is concerned about the spread of Christianity, outlining what you are worried about and what the authorities are doing about it

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