CLST 103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Di Penates, Pontifex Maximus, Pater Familias

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: CLST 103
• Professor: M Barbara Reeves

Document Summary

Roman religion is polytheistic (many gods and goddesses), not monotheistic (one god) The gods are involved in all aspects of life and in all places as well. Each deity (god or goddess) has its own area of authority: e. g. gods of particular places: gods of a city, gods of trees or springs. Each deity (god or goddess) has its own area of authority: e. g. gods of particular places: gods of a city, gods of trees or springs e. g. gods of particular tasks: goddess of childbirth, god of business deals. Coin of the first emperor augustus, one side is augustus" face and the other side the goddess of. Victoria, we know it is victoria because she has wings, holds out a palm branch, and is perched on a globe. Symbolically, the coin is saying that augustus is aligned with a goddess that is going to bring victory to the whole globe.