Rome - Priests Flashcards
What was an excellent example of the role of religion in society?
The priesthood
What was the priests role?
To uphold the state religion by maintenance of the pax deorum
What did priests have to do in their role?
- uttering the correct prayer
- completing the appropriate sacrifices
- fulfilling their priestly roles at festivals
How were Roman priests different from priests today?
They did not preach a way of life or moral code, it didn’t matter if a Roman killed or behaved poorly, provided the pax deorum was maintained
What did the Romans have to do in the hopes of a God granting a favour?
Offered a sacrifice
What did Roman priests do that Greek didn’t?
Veiled their heads when engaging in various religious duties
What is different from priests today compared to Roman priests time wise?
They only worked part time - the rest of their time would be spent engaging in business and politics
How did becoming a priest help a Roman?
It could greatly increase political power and could help to progress a Romans political career
What were the main colleges?
- the pontifices
- the Augurs
- the Vestals
