2. Paganism – State Religion “Pagan” – country dweller
Roman Religion
Paganism – State Religion
“Pagan” – country dweller
adapt Greek Gods to meet urban needs
Gods are modified to exhibit Roman values
housed in Pantheon
evolves into emperor worship
Cults
Astrology / Magic
Babylonian origins
popular among masses of gullible Romans
Female
Isis [Egypt] – nurturing
priests & priestesses
Cybele – [Asia Minor]
frenzied - self-castration
Mysteries
Eleusinian Mysteries –
overcome fear of death
Mithraism – Zoroastrian
very popular, especially among soldiers
Christianity [Judaism]
monotheism precludes emperor worship
persecuted as threat to state, scapegoats
underground movement – catacombs
periods of tolerance and growth

3. Roman Philosophy
Materialistic & Practical – deals with Roman realities
How does one live well in a decadent society?
All imported from Athens

4. Epicureanism Soul perishes with body
– founded by Epicurus ( BC), based on Democritos
Roman adherents: Lucretius (96-55BC), Horace (65-8BC)
Soul perishes with body
Death is both extinction and liberation
Pleasure, not virtue or justice, is the ultimate good
Intellectual pleasure over sensual
Moderation over hedonism
Religion and belief in afterlife only cause fear
Followed by a cultivated minority

5. – founded by Zeno (335-263 BC), based on Herakleitos
Stoicism
– founded by Zeno ( BC), based on Herakleitos
Roman adherents: Seneca (3 BC – AD 65), Epictetus (AD ), Marcus Aurelius (AD )
Senses over metaphysics
Everything real is solid matter (including the soul)
Cosmic determinism – everything determined by Logos
Must seek harmony with nature
Virtue is the sole good in an individual’s life
Virtue is a matter of will power
An individuals actions determine good or bad outcomes
Austere and sober – avoid all passions

6. – taken from the Academy in Athens
Neo-Platonism
– taken from the Academy in Athens
Ideas are true reality / Ideas are unknowable
Goal is to approach these Ideas as closely as possible
True Reality comes after death
A good life leads to salvation
most religious Roman Philosophy
lays philosophical foundation for Christianity

7. BUT Educated Romans use Greek
Roman written/verbal arts
LANGUAGE:
Latin is a major unifying force
Contradiction:
Both languages used in administering the Empire
Source of intense pride
BUT Educated Romans use Greek
PRESERVATION:
Rome becomes the guardian of the Greek/Hellenistic legacy

8. Mandatory in such a political society Cicero Seneca HISTORY:
ORATORY:
Mandatory in such a political society
Cicero Seneca
HISTORY:
Destiny chronicled & Propaganda
Cicero Livy Tacitus
LITERATURE:
Virgil [70-19 BC] – commissioned by Caesar Augustus
To write Aenead for imperial propaganda
Aeneas is the literary model of Roman virtues
Catullus [84-54 BC] – lyric poetry
Horace [65-8 BC] – odes espousing Epicureanism
Martial [AD ] – epigrams: satirical & sardonic criticisms

9. EDUCATION:
Parental responsibility – highly valued
Pragmatic – State, not individual oriented
Development of the “Academic Curriculum”
LAW:
justice Based on reality, not Abstraction
Main purpose – keep tax revenues flowing
Implied:
Constitutional Rights Consent of the Governed