The following article is for anyone who has ever wondered about the religious beliefs and practices of ancient Rome. Learn all about the Romans' 'lares or gods and their rituals. Also, learn how they sacrificed their victory in battle for their cause. This will help you understand why the 'lares' were so influential in early Roman History.
Romans revered 'lares.
Romans worshiped 'lares', a god of weather, in many different ways. Single or paired divinities were associated with the gods. The gods were believed to protect the home and family from the destructive effects the southern winds could cause or to stop the season from getting worse. These gods were often depicted by sculptures, statues, murals, and other artifacts.
They worshipped the sun
Sun worship was an established practice during the Roman Empire. It became the most important official religion. Many Roman gods were solar-powered, and the sun was seen as the ultimate being in the pantheon. Even Christ and Mithra possessed solar qualities. Constantine I, Roman emperor, who was the first one to embrace the suncult, was a firm proponent. His son, Constantius II, further legitimized the sun cult by changing the birth date of Jesus to December 25.
They sacrificed the animals
Animal sacrifice was a practice, which helped to create political and social-economic hierarchies. It also communicated implicit beliefs about the divinity. Romans believed that animals were part of the universe and could help or harm people. These beliefs were projected onto an almost divine level through animal sacrifice.
They had to perform rituals in order to win the war.
Romans practiced rituals to win wars. Some of these rituals could be public or private. They offered sacrifices to the gods, heroes and the dead. These sacrifices could take place in private or public settings, and can come in many forms. They could be food sacrifices or burnt offerings to the gods. The Romans also offered blood as a sacrifice.
They did 'augures' to predict what the future would look like.
Romans believed in 'augures', or divination through looking at signs of the times. They looked at animals' behavior, as well the parts of plants. This practice was taken seriously as the gods were thought to have an influence on the future.
They believed in emperor worship
The Romans believed that emperor worship was a part of the ancient world. Many rituals and prescriptions were created to honor the emperor. This devotion went beyond politics.