This article will answer your questions about the ancient Roman religious beliefs. Learn about the 'lares' or gods that Romans worshipped, their rituals, and their sacrifices for victory in battle. This will help you understand why the 'lares' were so influential in early Roman History.
Romans revered 'lares.
Romans worshiped "lares," a god governing the weather, in various ways. They could be single divinities or paired divinities. The gods were often associated with the same person and place. 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 on sculptures, statues, or murals.
They worshiped the sun
Sun worship became the Roman Empire's dominant official religion. Numerous Roman gods were able to harness the sun's energy, making the sun the highest-ranking being in the pantheon. Even Christ and Mithra possessed solar qualities. Constantine I, Roman emperor and the first to embrace the sun worship, was a strong supporter. Constantius II was his son and he legitimized this sun cult when he changed the date of Jesus' birth to December 25.
They sacrificed their animals
Animal sacrifice was a practice that helped shape political and socio-economic hierarchies and civic compromise. It helped to communicate implicit beliefs about God. Romans saw animals as part of the world, and believed they had the ability to harm or help humans. Through animal sacrifice, these beliefs were elevated to a level almost as high as God.
They performed rituals to bring victory in battle
Romans used rituals to win battles. Some of these rituals were public and some were private. The sacrifices they offered were often made to the gods, to heroes, or to the dead. These sacrifices may be private or public and take different forms. These sacrifices could include food sacrifices and burnt offerings to Gods. The Romans also offered blood as a sacrifice.
They made 'augures,' which were used to predict the future.
Romans were adept at divination using 'augures.' They considered the behavior and parts of animals as well as those of man-made objects. This practice was taken seriously because the gods were believed had a hand in predicting future events.
They believed in the emperor worship
Romans believed emperor worship. In fact, many rituals and prescriptions were established to honour the emperor in the ancient world. This devotion extended far beyond politics.