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Priesthoods of Rome

Priesthoods of Rome. (State Religion). The Priesthoods of Rome. The ceremonies and methods of divination Romans gave credit to Numa Pompilius Predecessor: Romulus = the god Quirinus Early days: King: army and religious practices Often out of Rome Fear gods being offended.

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Priesthoods of Rome

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  1. Priesthoods of Rome (State Religion)

  2. The Priesthoods of Rome • The ceremonies and methods of divination • Romans gave credit to Numa Pompilius • Predecessor: Romulus = the god Quirinus • Early days: King: • army and religious practices • Often out of Rome • Fear gods being offended

  3. Read #22 – Institution of Priesthoods Author: Summary: QUESTION: Which priesthoods were introduced?

  4. The Pontifices - 16 • Overall in charge of state religion • Made judgements • Lay down and interpret rules • Regulate the religious calendar • Fix dates of feasts of unfixed dates each year • Assembly • Disciplinary power • Supervised rex sacrorum, the Vestal Virgins and the flamens • Advise the senate when to consult the Sibylline books

  5. The Pontifices • Regulating the calendar • Lunar calendar (355 days) • Solar calendar (365 ¼ days) • Inserting extra days each year • By Julius Caesar’s time – agricultural festivals month before or after the event • Caesar employed Greek mathematician Sosigenes

  6. The Pontifex Maximus • In charge of Pontifices • Elected separately by the people • Status and power • Official residence: the Regia • By Caesars day -a store house for religious archives andceremonial gear • Regia supposedly built by Numa Pompilius

  7. Pontifex Maximus and Pontifices • In 13BC August took position of Pontifex Maximus • Pontifices supervised rex sacrorum • Take over any religious observances not covered by Pontifices • By Augustus’ time: barely any duties left – title automatically went to the emperor

  8. The Vestal Virgins • Priestesses who saw to the state cult of Vesta • 6 Vestal Virgins at any one time • Daughters of aristocracy • Originally daughters of king • Selected when very young (6-10 years old)

  9. SEX The Vestal Virgins • Serve for 30 years • 10 years training • 10 years serving • 10 years teaching new recruit • Remaining a virgin • Break vow of chastity = buried alive • Records indicate that this happened 11 times • Lovers also executed

  10. The Vestal Virgins • After 30 years Vestal Virgin could retire and marry • Temple of Vesta in Forum beside Regia • Private household worship elevated to level of state cult

  11. The Vestal Virgins • Duties of a Vestal Virgin represented household tasks once carried out by daughters of the king • Prime duty: keep the sacred flame burning • Household: fire was source of warmth, cooking food • State: temple of Vesta symbolised the life of the city • Let the fire go out… punished by whipping • Flame extinguished 1st March and rekindled with ceremony

  12. The Vestal Virgins • Vestals baked – mola salsa • Holy water from sacred wells • Responsible for guarding sacred objects • Cleaned storehouse and temple of June 15th • Duties paralleled daughters of homes of Roman aristocrats

  13. Vestal Virgins • Brought honour to family • Aristocrats • Unlike male priesthoods – Vestals were full time and supported by the states Statue of chief Vestal Virgin3rd Century AD

  14. READ PRIMARY SOURCE The Vestal Virgins (Aulus Gellius) Author: Summary:

  15. The Flamens • Supervised by Pontifices • 15 flamens – each responsible for a god or goddess • Jupiter, Mars, Qurinus (Numa Pompilius), Flora, Ceres, Vulcan, Pales and eight other obscure agricultural gods • See to the festivals and temple of his divinity – responsible for cult

  16. Flamen Dialis (Jupiters) • Most important – ancient position • Responsible for Cult of Jupiter • If Pontifex Maximus away – Flamen Dialis chief religious official • The restrictions of a Flamen Dialis…

  17. Flamen Dialis (Jupiters) • Must be married – must be confarreatio • Both he and wife had to be once married only • If wife died = no longer flamen • Obliged to appear in festival toga and wear strange, cone shaped hat • If hat fell off while at ceremony he had to resign • Fire must not be taken from his hearth • No one else may ever sleep in his bed A very important hat

  18. Flamen Dialis (Jupiters) • Not allowed to: • Ride a horse • Touch a corpse, goats, uncooked meat, beans or ivy • See an army • Swear an oath • Hair must be cut by a free man (never a slave) • May spend a day outside the city but not the night • From 87BC to 12 BC no one filled the roll. Augustus persuaded someone to finally take it on

  19. Augurs • Second major group – 15 augurs • Interpret omens or signs sent by the gods • Make judgements on affairs of state and also on affairs of private individuals • We covered their duties when we discussed divination…YOUR TASK:GO OVER YOUR NOTESON AUGURS DUTIES

  20. The Quindecimviri • 3rd college = 15 priests • Less important than pontifices and augurs • Quindecimviri sacris faciendis (fifteen men conducting sacred rites) • Guard Sibylline books • Consult and interpret oracles when senate asked them too • Supervise foreign cults that reached Rome

  21. The Epulones • 4th College = Epulones or feast organisers • By Augustus’ time = 10 Epulones • Organise public feasts at major festivals and games • Roman and Plebeian games • Feast shared by all senators and magistrates at thefestival of Jupiter Optimus Maximus

  22. Minor Priesthoods • 4 Major colleges: Pontifices, Augurs, Quindecimviri, Epulones • Small number of groups connected with special rituals • Salii – danced in honour of Mars • Luperci –performed rites of Lupercalia • Arval Brothers– old priesthood revived by Augustus = secure numen for crops by carrying out series of complicated ceremonies each year

  23. The Haruspices • Men who interpret the will of the gods from entrails • Might occasionally be called on to interpret other omens as well • Never an official priesthood = no limit on numbers • By Augustus’ time = 60 • Generally of Etruscan descent • Paid for their work • Lack of official status • Lower standing than other priests

  24. Temple Attendants • Full or part time attendants • Performed minor sacrifices • Maintain temple • Guard cult statues and gifts from worshippers • Butchers and flute players paid for duties • Much lower status than members of the four college of priests

  25. Appointment of Priests • Four major colleges: • No doctrines to study • Did not tell people what was moral or immoral • Filled by election • Officials of the state • Part-time job – no pay – had other paid occupations • Carried social status and political advantage • 56 members in total – held for life

  26. Appointment of Priests • Names put forth for nomination • Emperor could endorse a candidate • Religious fervour not important • Julius Caesar • Cicero • What mattered was the performance of required rituals – to preserve pax deorum

  27. Discuss:How are the positions and duties of modern priesthoods different to Roman priesthoods

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