Roman Divinities in the Archaic Period
(from Seltzer 11)
Juppiter =ju (to shine) + pater = father
The Latins represents this divine power (numen) as an
individual and personal being.
Tendency toward divinized abstraction
Ceres, goddess of grain, as
Vervactor (plowing)
Reparator (renewal of cultivation)
Imporcitor (furrow marking)
Insitor (sowing)
Obarator (surface plowing)
Occator (harrowing)
Sarritor (weeding)
Subruncinator (hoeing)
Messor (harvesting)
Convector (carting harvest)
Conditor (storing)
Promitor (distributing)
A Roman divinity is essentially defined by its action.
Divinity associated with location.
pomerium (boundary)
Religio = religare ("to tie")
care to avoid divine wrath
desire to win god's favor
territorial expansion
procession in March to mark expansion of city
political tensions between patricians and plebeians
protection of food supply (Ceres)
Syncretism (influence of Hellenism)
Importance of Public (Civic) Worship
religious ceremonies and ludi
household cults (lares et penates)