Roman Religion And Ritual
Articles tagged Roman Religion And Ritual.
How Serapis Worship Spread Across the Roman Empire
Serapis rose from Egyptian and Greek traditions to win worshippers from Delos to Rome. Temples, merchants and emperors carried his cult across the empire.
How Did Ancient Greek and Roman Sacrifices Work?
Greek and Roman sacrifices involved prayers, animal slaughter, offerings and shared meals. Ancient texts and excavations reveal how the rituals worked.
7 Mystery Cults in Ancient Greece and Rome
Seven ancient Greek and Roman mystery cults, from Eleusis and Samothrace to Isis and Mithras, and what their secret initiations actually involved.
Roman Death Masks: How Ancestors Appeared at Funerals
Roman families displayed wax ancestor masks and used them in funeral processions. Polybius explains the ritual, while new research questions when it ended.
Vestal Virgins: Rome’s Most Powerful Priestesses
Rome’s Vestal Virgins guarded the sacred fire, prepared offerings, held unusual legal rights and faced severe punishment for breaking their vows.
The Sibylline Books: Rome’s Secret Oracles in Times of Crisis
Rome’s Sibylline Books guided public rituals during plague and war, shaped the arrival of foreign gods, and became entangled in political disputes. The original...
What Rituals Took Place in a Mithraeum?
Roman mithraea hosted sacred meals, offerings and initiations. Archaeology shows what worshippers did and why the famous bull-killing image misleads.
Elagabalus and the Black Stone of Emesa: Religion and Revolt in Rome
Elagabalus brought Emesa's sacred stone to Rome and elevated its sun god above Jupiter. Ancient texts, coins and excavations show what happened before his...
