women and religion - The Worship of the Bona Dea (ROME)

Question 1

what wasn’t allowed in her temple

Answer 1

myrtle as Faunus beat her with a myrtle stick
wine - the libations allowed were milk or milk mixed with honey

Question 1

who was the Bona Dea

Answer 1

an earth and fertility goddess, sometimes called Fauna

Question 2

who was the Bona Dea worshipped by

Answer 2

women only
Fasti - “a maiden who had never submitted to a man’s embrace)

Question 3

when did the ritual take place

Answer 3

May 1st

Question 4

rules of the ritual

Answer 4

• strictly women - no men allowed (not even male animals)
• took place in private (mystery cult)
• presided over by Vestal Virgins and woman of the house
• blood sacrifice of a piglet

Question 5

what did Clodius Pulcher do and why was it sacrilegious

Answer 5

men weren’t allowed in the ritual
Clodius wanted to sleep with Pompei (organiser of ritual) so dressed as a girl and infiltrated
was found out quickly, ejected and charged with sacrilege

Question 6

what did the women do to say sorry for Clodius’ invasion

Answer 6

they gave grander offerings to the Bona Dea to apologise for presence of a man
–> god-fearing, strict rules, and always wanted to appease god