HISTORY 112 Lecture 16: 4:5 Ancient Mediterranean Religion
10 Sep 2016
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Key terms: numa pompilius, paganus, do ut des, orthodoxy vs. orthopraxy, religio vs. superstitio, pontifex maximus, vestal virgin, (functional) polytheism, augury, auspices. Paganism, pagan: latin: paganus, from pagas (rural, what is paganism, no clear dogma, formal creed, written history, no fundamental teaching on creation, morality, death or evil, empty, emotionless and insincere according to some. Pontifex maximus (pons + facaere = bridge builder, highest. Roman priest: according to livy numa provided written directions for performing the rites of worship; all other public and private rituals he made subject to the decrees of the pontifex, today: pontifex maximus = pope. Prodigies (= signs fro the gods, esp. in natural world) allowed. Romans to account for misfortunes in rational way. Taking auspices (= inferring the will of gods, esp. in natural signs) and acceptance or rejection of them was a dramatic way of announcing that the roman people enjoyed approval of the gods.
