Origins and Development of Religion

Question 1

Early gods were associated with

Answer 1

Farming and warfare

Question 2

colo

Answer 2

stem: cult

‘I till the land’/ ‘I worship’

Farming was in itself an act of worship and prayer for blessings

Question 3

paganus

Answer 3

Villager/countryman

Pagan religion had its origins in the worship of country folk

Question 4

World view

Answer 4

Polytheistic

Saw gods in every part of nature

Question 5

Who to pray to for what?

Answer 5

Ceres: a good harvest 
Jupiter: rain 
Mars: help in war 
Neptune: safe sea voyage 
Apollo: success in a musical contest

Question 6

Describe gods

Answer 6

Anthropomorphic

Had faults and imperfections of human beings

Could be cruel or kind, helpful or vindictive, had human favourites

Question 7

Influenced by?

Answer 7

Etruscans

Greeks

Question 8

Etruscan influence

Answer 8

Adoption of some gods and practises: Jupiter, Mars, Minerva

First Roman temples built in style of Etruscan temples

Divination - predicting the fire
Especially haruspicy

Question 9

Greek influence

Answer 9

Lots of contact - some Greeks lived in Magna Graecia in southern Italy and Sicily

Jupiter = Zeus 
Mars = Ares 
Ceres = Demeter

Question 10

The Sibylline Books

Answer 10

Sibyl (at Cumae) - a woman with special powers of prophecy

Came to roman king Tarquinius Superbus the Proud and offered him 9 prophetic books. He scoffed and she burned 6 books until he paid the original asking price for 3

Placed in vault beneath the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill

Written in Greek hexameter verse, offered guidance about religion actions needed to diver or overcome a disaster; frequently recommended the introduction of a Greek deity or cult into Roman world

Special group of priests responsible for interpreting the books, aided by 2 Greek translators

Consulted throughout Roman history