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 Predecessor: Romulus = the god Quirinus  Early days: King: army and religious practices army and religious practices Often out of Rome Often out of Rome Fear gods being offended Fear gods being offended

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

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

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

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 and ceremonial gear Regia supposedly built by Numa Pompilius Regia supposedly built by Numa Pompilius

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 Take over any religious observances not covered by Pontifices By Augustus’ time: barely any duties left – title automatically went to the emperor By Augustus’ time: barely any duties left – title automatically went to the emperor

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

 Serve for 30 years 10 years training 10 years training 10 years serving 10 years serving 10 years teaching new recruit 10 years teaching new recruit  Remaining a virgin Break vow of chastity = buried alive Break vow of chastity = buried alive Records indicate that this happened 11 timesRecords indicate that this happened 11 times Lovers also executed Lovers also executed 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 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 Prime duty: keep the sacred flame burning Household: fire was source of warmth, cooking food Household: fire was source of warmth, cooking food State: temple of Vesta symbolised the life of the city State: temple of Vesta symbolised the life of the city  Let the fire go out… punished by whipping  Flame extinguished 1 st March and rekindled with ceremony The Vestal Virgins

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

Vestal Virgins Statue of chief Vestal Virgin 3 rd Century AD  Brought honour to family  Aristocrats  Unlike male priesthoods – Vestals were full time and supported by the states

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

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

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…

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

Flamen Dialis (Jupiters)  Not allowed to: Ride a horse Ride a horse Touch a corpse, goats, uncooked meat, beans or ivy Touch a corpse, goats, uncooked meat, beans or ivy See an army See an army Swear an oath 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

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 NOTES ON AUGURS DUTIES

The Quindecimviri  3 rd 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 Consult and interpret oracles when senate asked them too  Supervise foreign cults that reached Rome

The Epulones  4 th College = Epulones or feast organisers  By Augustus’ time = 10 Epulones Organise public feasts at major festivals and games Organise public feasts at major festivals and games Roman and Plebeian gamesRoman and Plebeian games Feast shared by all senators and magistrates at the festival of Jupiter Optimus MaximusFeast shared by all senators and magistrates at the festival of Jupiter Optimus Maximus

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

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 Paid for their work Lack of official status Lack of official status Lower standing than other priests Lower standing than other priests

Temple Attendants  Full or part time attendants Performed minor sacrifices Performed minor sacrifices Maintain temple Maintain temple Guard cult statues and gifts from worshippers 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

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

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

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