Religion In Pompeii And Herculaneum: Religion
Religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum was polytheistic, meaning that the civilisation believed and worshipped spirits of the Gods. Religion was an active part of everyday life of the citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum and the worship of offerings was performed in order to keep the Gods satisfied, to ensure the prosperity and safety of all aspects of ones life, and ones family. However, there was a vast selection of different religions available to the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum, ranging from belief in Greek influenced deities, foreign cults like that of the Egyptian god Isis, to cults that believed the Roman Emperor himself was a divine being. All of these variations of religion seemed to be openly accepted and practiced in Pompeii
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and Herculaneum with out social disturbance between those who differed in beliefs. The archaeological evidence supporting this is the vast array of Temples (especially around the Forum in Pompeii) and household monuments dedicated to a variety of gods from different religions (Shown in sources A, B, C and D).
The Roman nation had no set religion.
Instead, they worshipped many gods and adopted gods from every part of their conquered world. Heavily influenced by Greek tradition, the Romans had a Pantheon consisting of Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Vesta, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Vulcan and Apollo (these were replicants of the Greek Gods). This religion is thought to be the most commonly practiced throughout Pompeii and Herculaneum and this is evident by extravagant Temple of the Capitoline Triad or Temple of Jupiter in Pompeii (Source C). It was situated on the northern side of the Forum and was dedicated to the triad of the highest divinities of ancient times. The Gods included in the triad were, Jupiter, Juno and Minerva and are identified with Zeus, Hera and Athena of the Greek culture. They where projected as the protector of the state, the protector of women and the patroness of craftsmen. As the Roman society strongly believed that the Gods controlled everything, the population would have been drawn to this temple, as they believed their well-being and business would be protected and maintained. Through Roman (and initially Greek) influences, Religion played a major part in the lives of the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum as the population turned to them for guidance, protection and …show more content…
succession.
As religion was evidentially integral to the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum, it was central to have religion with in the home. The lararium in the House of Vettii (Source D) is an excellent example of this. Lararium’s imitated the form of a temple in the home and were shrines to the gods of the household. Lararium have been found and excavated all over Pompeii and Herculaneum, by modern archaeologists such as Guiseppe Fiorelli. They are found in different shapes and forms in many houses of Pompeii and Herculaneum, ranging from simple wall paintings to large and elaborate shrines and frescoes. Each morning as a daily practice, the Paterfamilias (master of the house- generally the father) would gather their family in the Lararium to pray and make offerings to their Gods for protection and prosperity of the household. The most common things depicted in a Lararium’s shrine are “Lares” - protectors of the household, “Penates” – protectors of the stores, “Genius” – guardian spirits of the family, “Bacchus”- the god of wine, Mercury- messenger of the god Jupiter and god of commerce and a Snake and altar – the snake is shown rearing its head or wrapping itself around the altar which was said to bring fertility to the family. The lararium in the House of Vettii (Source D) the extravagant portrait depicts two dancing Lares hold raised drinking horns. They are positioned on either side of the Genius who is dressed in a toga and making a sacrifice and beneath all of that is the serpent. With an analysis of the artwork, it can be concluded at the theme of this lararium was to bring protection to the occupants of the household. As it is suggested that Religion was an integral part of the life of citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Lararium’s with in the home provided a chance to practice and pray to their Gods privately, creating a more personal and intimate connection for an individual and was believed to bring protection and prosperity to the family of the house.
Elements of Greek religion were not the only foreign religion to influence the population of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The society was one that tolerated and accepted of the worship and rituals brought about by foreign Gods and imported cults. Pompeii and Herculaneum were flooded with influences from Egypt and Eastern Mediterranean, which affected the structure, traditions and rituals of their religion. Two cults that had a significant affect and presence in Pompeii were the Egyptians cult of Isis and the cult of Bacchus. In the Roman view, Egypt was an enigmatic and exotic land associated with fertility, the ancient customs of pharaohs, and the popular goddess, Isis. The evidence of these Egyptian influences is the Temple of Isis (Source A). In commemoration of the goddess, the Temple of Isis was erected and is believed to have been constructed during the second century BC (and was rebuilt after being damaged by the earthquake in 62AD). Unlike the other temples, it was built on a raised platform. The temple 's eastern orientation allowed for brilliant illumination by the rising sun. It was a small temple, with a mix of Roman, Egyptian, and Greek architectural features, and was highly decorated. Inside, the open cellar held the instruments and symbols sacred to the cult and was used during the ceremonial rituals and there was sacred water from the Nile kept in an underground passage. The Isis cult appealed to those Romans who wanted a more dignified and traditional way to worship a foreign deity lso and it provided the celebrant with the promise of eternal salvation and a personal union with the divine in the afterlife. Through the incorporation of foreign religions into society, the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum where given a choice to celebrate non-traditional religions that they believed in with out discrimination or retaliation from other religious cults.
Incorporated in to the mix of traditional and foreign religion, there was a cult that believed the Roman Emperor was a divine being. The Imperial cult of ancient Rome identified emperors and some members of their families with the divinely sanctioned authority of the Roman State. The framework for the Imperial cult was formulated during the early Principate of Augustus, and was rapidly established throughout the Empire and its provinces, with marked local variations in its reception and expression. They particularly worshipped the genius or divine part of the emperor. The priests of this cult – the Augustales - gave praise and thanks to the gods on behalf of the people. They worshipped the Roman ruler as the paterfamilias and celebrated his genius. The imperial cult was popular because it appealed to all races and all social classes as it gave people equality, an example being no restrictions to marriage due to social status. The assimilation of this cult in Pompeii and Herculaneum is evident through the Temple of Vespasian (Source B). The temple is located on the eastern side of the forum in Pompeii and was constructed after the earthquake in 62 AD in honour of the Emperor Vespasian. The small temple stands at the back of the atrium and has four columns on the façade. Inside these, a staircase on either side led up to a podium on which stood the cella containing the cult statue. In the middle there is a white marble altar decorated with a bas-relief. It portrays a scene of a bull sacrifice, typical of the Imperial worship; in the background a temple is sculpted, similar to this one. The sculptures probably recount celebratory sacrifices which took place when the temple was inducted. It also depicts ritualistic tools along the short sides and the other long side has a crown of oak leaves lying on a shield, symbolizing the majesty of the emperor. It is thought by historians that by assimilating to this cult, the population of Pompeii and Herculaneum was profoundly influenced them it gave them more choice and identity like Freed men having a place with in society and it gave them a physical deity to worship.
In Herculaneum, it is hard to grasp religious influence on the lives of its occupants because no temples or large monuments have been uncovered. However, the name Herculaneum itself is likely to be derived from the Greek God Heracles, therefore, its very origin could be linked to a foreign God. Not only that, many statues and frescoes of Gods including Aphrodite, Jupiter, Apollo, Priapus, Mercury, Neptune and foreign goddess Isis. Also, a shrine of the Augustales (Imperial Cults Priests) has been uncovered. Although Herculaneum does not provide much information through temples or tombs, there is enough evidence to suggest that the people of Herculaneum were subject to the same religious influences then the population in Pompeii.
Evidence shows that Religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum was an important part in life.
Religion was divided into private and public worship, each with their own different set of norms. Public worship in Pompeii and Herculaneum was daily observation of ritual rather than a relationship with a deity. Evidence of public worship is offered through the temples though out the forum, frescos, paintings and statues. While private worship brought some intimacy, citizens prayed and gave offerings to Gods for the protection and prosperity of the people in their homes and evidence to support this is provided through larariums. The most important feature of Pompeii and Herculaneum was the variety of religions to choice from, whether it is traditional, foreign or imperial with out social discrepancies and discrimination. This is also evident by the number of different religious temples in the Forum in Pompeii and statues excavated in Herculaneum. This influenced people in Pompeii and Herculaneum as it aloud them to express individualism and worship Gods with traits and ideals that they thought would bring them protect and/or prosperity. Through the given archaeological evidence, it can be suggested that religion held great significance in the lives of the inhabitancies of Religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum." StudyMode. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .
"Pompeii: Its Discovery and Preservation." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 25 Mar.
2014. .
"Religion." Coffsharbourancient Historians -. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. http://coffsharbourancienthistorians.wikispaces.com/Religion
"Roman Religion." Ancient History Encyclopaedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
"Roman Emperor Cult & Early Christianity: Some Recent Studies." Larry Hurtados Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
Temple of Vespasian." , Pompeii. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
"Temple of Vespasian - AD79eruption." Temple of Vespasian - AD79eruption. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
"Temples." Vico -. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. .
"Religion in Ancient Pompeii." The Classroom. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Religion In Pompeii and Herculaneum: Household Gods and Foreign Cults." Prezi.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Isis in Rome." Isiopolis. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Temple of Jupiter - AD79eruption." Temple of Jupiter - AD79eruption. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Household Gods in Pompeii _ Herculaneum." Docstoc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Temples." Temples. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. .
"ROOM VIEW SHOWCASE." Art.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. .
and Herculaneum with out social disturbance between those who differed in beliefs. The archaeological evidence supporting this is the vast array of Temples (especially around the Forum in Pompeii) and household monuments dedicated to a variety of gods from different religions (Shown in sources A, B, C and D).
The Roman nation had no set religion.
Instead, they worshipped many gods and adopted gods from every part of their conquered world. Heavily influenced by Greek tradition, the Romans had a Pantheon consisting of Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Vesta, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Vulcan and Apollo (these were replicants of the Greek Gods). This religion is thought to be the most commonly practiced throughout Pompeii and Herculaneum and this is evident by extravagant Temple of the Capitoline Triad or Temple of Jupiter in Pompeii (Source C). It was situated on the northern side of the Forum and was dedicated to the triad of the highest divinities of ancient times. The Gods included in the triad were, Jupiter, Juno and Minerva and are identified with Zeus, Hera and Athena of the Greek culture. They where projected as the protector of the state, the protector of women and the patroness of craftsmen. As the Roman society strongly believed that the Gods controlled everything, the population would have been drawn to this temple, as they believed their well-being and business would be protected and maintained. Through Roman (and initially Greek) influences, Religion played a major part in the lives of the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum as the population turned to them for guidance, protection and …show more content…
succession.
As religion was evidentially integral to the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum, it was central to have religion with in the home. The lararium in the House of Vettii (Source D) is an excellent example of this. Lararium’s imitated the form of a temple in the home and were shrines to the gods of the household. Lararium have been found and excavated all over Pompeii and Herculaneum, by modern archaeologists such as Guiseppe Fiorelli. They are found in different shapes and forms in many houses of Pompeii and Herculaneum, ranging from simple wall paintings to large and elaborate shrines and frescoes. Each morning as a daily practice, the Paterfamilias (master of the house- generally the father) would gather their family in the Lararium to pray and make offerings to their Gods for protection and prosperity of the household. The most common things depicted in a Lararium’s shrine are “Lares” - protectors of the household, “Penates” – protectors of the stores, “Genius” – guardian spirits of the family, “Bacchus”- the god of wine, Mercury- messenger of the god Jupiter and god of commerce and a Snake and altar – the snake is shown rearing its head or wrapping itself around the altar which was said to bring fertility to the family. The lararium in the House of Vettii (Source D) the extravagant portrait depicts two dancing Lares hold raised drinking horns. They are positioned on either side of the Genius who is dressed in a toga and making a sacrifice and beneath all of that is the serpent. With an analysis of the artwork, it can be concluded at the theme of this lararium was to bring protection to the occupants of the household. As it is suggested that Religion was an integral part of the life of citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Lararium’s with in the home provided a chance to practice and pray to their Gods privately, creating a more personal and intimate connection for an individual and was believed to bring protection and prosperity to the family of the house.
Elements of Greek religion were not the only foreign religion to influence the population of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The society was one that tolerated and accepted of the worship and rituals brought about by foreign Gods and imported cults. Pompeii and Herculaneum were flooded with influences from Egypt and Eastern Mediterranean, which affected the structure, traditions and rituals of their religion. Two cults that had a significant affect and presence in Pompeii were the Egyptians cult of Isis and the cult of Bacchus. In the Roman view, Egypt was an enigmatic and exotic land associated with fertility, the ancient customs of pharaohs, and the popular goddess, Isis. The evidence of these Egyptian influences is the Temple of Isis (Source A). In commemoration of the goddess, the Temple of Isis was erected and is believed to have been constructed during the second century BC (and was rebuilt after being damaged by the earthquake in 62AD). Unlike the other temples, it was built on a raised platform. The temple 's eastern orientation allowed for brilliant illumination by the rising sun. It was a small temple, with a mix of Roman, Egyptian, and Greek architectural features, and was highly decorated. Inside, the open cellar held the instruments and symbols sacred to the cult and was used during the ceremonial rituals and there was sacred water from the Nile kept in an underground passage. The Isis cult appealed to those Romans who wanted a more dignified and traditional way to worship a foreign deity lso and it provided the celebrant with the promise of eternal salvation and a personal union with the divine in the afterlife. Through the incorporation of foreign religions into society, the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum where given a choice to celebrate non-traditional religions that they believed in with out discrimination or retaliation from other religious cults.
Incorporated in to the mix of traditional and foreign religion, there was a cult that believed the Roman Emperor was a divine being. The Imperial cult of ancient Rome identified emperors and some members of their families with the divinely sanctioned authority of the Roman State. The framework for the Imperial cult was formulated during the early Principate of Augustus, and was rapidly established throughout the Empire and its provinces, with marked local variations in its reception and expression. They particularly worshipped the genius or divine part of the emperor. The priests of this cult – the Augustales - gave praise and thanks to the gods on behalf of the people. They worshipped the Roman ruler as the paterfamilias and celebrated his genius. The imperial cult was popular because it appealed to all races and all social classes as it gave people equality, an example being no restrictions to marriage due to social status. The assimilation of this cult in Pompeii and Herculaneum is evident through the Temple of Vespasian (Source B). The temple is located on the eastern side of the forum in Pompeii and was constructed after the earthquake in 62 AD in honour of the Emperor Vespasian. The small temple stands at the back of the atrium and has four columns on the façade. Inside these, a staircase on either side led up to a podium on which stood the cella containing the cult statue. In the middle there is a white marble altar decorated with a bas-relief. It portrays a scene of a bull sacrifice, typical of the Imperial worship; in the background a temple is sculpted, similar to this one. The sculptures probably recount celebratory sacrifices which took place when the temple was inducted. It also depicts ritualistic tools along the short sides and the other long side has a crown of oak leaves lying on a shield, symbolizing the majesty of the emperor. It is thought by historians that by assimilating to this cult, the population of Pompeii and Herculaneum was profoundly influenced them it gave them more choice and identity like Freed men having a place with in society and it gave them a physical deity to worship.
In Herculaneum, it is hard to grasp religious influence on the lives of its occupants because no temples or large monuments have been uncovered. However, the name Herculaneum itself is likely to be derived from the Greek God Heracles, therefore, its very origin could be linked to a foreign God. Not only that, many statues and frescoes of Gods including Aphrodite, Jupiter, Apollo, Priapus, Mercury, Neptune and foreign goddess Isis. Also, a shrine of the Augustales (Imperial Cults Priests) has been uncovered. Although Herculaneum does not provide much information through temples or tombs, there is enough evidence to suggest that the people of Herculaneum were subject to the same religious influences then the population in Pompeii.
Evidence shows that Religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum was an important part in life.
Religion was divided into private and public worship, each with their own different set of norms. Public worship in Pompeii and Herculaneum was daily observation of ritual rather than a relationship with a deity. Evidence of public worship is offered through the temples though out the forum, frescos, paintings and statues. While private worship brought some intimacy, citizens prayed and gave offerings to Gods for the protection and prosperity of the people in their homes and evidence to support this is provided through larariums. The most important feature of Pompeii and Herculaneum was the variety of religions to choice from, whether it is traditional, foreign or imperial with out social discrepancies and discrimination. This is also evident by the number of different religious temples in the Forum in Pompeii and statues excavated in Herculaneum. This influenced people in Pompeii and Herculaneum as it aloud them to express individualism and worship Gods with traits and ideals that they thought would bring them protect and/or prosperity. Through the given archaeological evidence, it can be suggested that religion held great significance in the lives of the inhabitancies of Religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum." StudyMode. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .
"Pompeii: Its Discovery and Preservation." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 25 Mar.
2014. .
"Religion." Coffsharbourancient Historians -. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. http://coffsharbourancienthistorians.wikispaces.com/Religion
"Roman Religion." Ancient History Encyclopaedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
"Roman Emperor Cult & Early Christianity: Some Recent Studies." Larry Hurtados Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
Temple of Vespasian." , Pompeii. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
"Temple of Vespasian - AD79eruption." Temple of Vespasian - AD79eruption. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
"Temples." Vico -. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. .
"Religion in Ancient Pompeii." The Classroom. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Religion In Pompeii and Herculaneum: Household Gods and Foreign Cults." Prezi.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Isis in Rome." Isiopolis. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Temple of Jupiter - AD79eruption." Temple of Jupiter - AD79eruption. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Household Gods in Pompeii _ Herculaneum." Docstoc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
"Temples." Temples. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. .
"ROOM VIEW SHOWCASE." Art.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. .