• Romans allowed the lands that they
conquered to freely practice religion
– However, must show loyalty to Roman gods
and the Emperor
• Roman Religion
– Mixture of fragmented rituals, taboos,
superstitions, and traditions which were
collected from varying cultures over centuries
– Gods: Greeks, Etruscans, Latins (polythesists)
– Blend of public (state cult) and private (ritual
and prayer)
Greek God
Roman God
Zeus
Jupiter
Hera
Juno
Hades
Pluto
Poseidon
Neptune
Aphrodite
Venus
Apollo
Apollo
Athena
Minerva
Demeter
Cerces
Hephaestus
Vulcan
Hestia
Vesta
Persephone
Proserpina
Eros
Cupid
Dionysus
Bacchus
Ares
Mars
Kronos
Saturn
• Priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth
– The shrine of Vesta and its maintenance was
regarded as fundamental to the continuance
and security of Rome
– Sacred fire NEVER allowed to go out!
• College of Vestals = 18 girls/women
• Senior-most 6 termed Vestals; full
priestesses
– Did not marry, vow of chastity
– Selected between age of 6-10
– Sworn to 30 year term (student, servant,
teacher)
• The high priest; most important position in the
ancient Roman religion
• He had both political and religious authority
• Republic – separate office (last 3: Caesar,
Lepidus, Augustus)
• Empire – held by the Emperors
• Duty: to maintain the pax deorum or "peace of
the gods“
– consecration of all temples, regulate calendar,
administrate law relating to burials, oversaw
marriages of patricians, regulated public morals
• The word "pontifex"
later became a term
used for Christian
bishops, including the
Bishop of Rome, and the
title of "Pontifex
Maximus" was applied
within the Roman
Catholic Church to the
Pope as its chief bishop
You can just
call me
popey!
63 B.C. – Romans conquered Judea
Jews believed a Messiah or savior, would bring
justice and freedom back
• Judea = modern day Israel and the home of
the Jews
• Conquered during the reign of the First
Triumvirate in 63 BCE (Pompey)
• Rome kept strict control over Judea because
of uprisings
– Zealots sought to incite the people to rebel
against Roman Empire and expel it from the
holy land through violence
• Mary and Joseph, on their
way to being counted in a
census (under Roman law),
gave birth to Jesus in
Bethlehem
• Jesus of Nazareth
– Jesus was born in Bethlehem
sometime around 6 to 4 B.C.
– He was raised in Nazareth in the
province of Galilee.
– He is a carpenter until about the
age 30 when he begins preaching.
• Jesus and his teachings were
not accepted by the Jewish
and Roman officials
– Taught that there was one
true God
– Responsibility to love others
as you love yourself
– Jesus ignores wealth and
status; his message appeals
to the poor.
• Jewish Rule:
– King Herod was backed
by Roman rule
– Known for being
ruthless and living a
decadent lifestyle
• Roman Rule:
– Pontius Pilate was the
prefect of Judea during
the reign of Tiberius
– Most famous as the
judge at Jesus’s trial
• Romans feared revolt
• Pontius Pilate threatened
by Roman government:
– Get control of the people in
Judea!
• Many thought Jesus was
gaining more power than
the emperor and inciting
rebellion
• Approximately 30 A.D.
crucified, which was the
common form of execution
during the Empire
• Jesus comes to be called “Christos,”
the Greek word for “savior.” The
word Christian and Christianity is
derived from that word.
• Apostles believe Jesus resurrected
from the dead and ascended into
heaven.
• After Jesus died, disciples told
stories of his life and teachings
– 40-70 years after Jesus’s death
• Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
• The Gospels
• Saul – a persecutor of early Christians
– Has a vision that Jesus speaks to him converts
and changes name to Paul
– Traveled the Mediterranean spreading the
message of Jesus
– Wrote many epistles, or letter, to Christian
groups in distant cities which comprise a
significant portion of the New Testament
– Beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero
• By 100 A.D. Christianity spread
throughout the Roman Empire
– Those who did not believe were called
Pagans, which means “country dweller”
• Now describes somebody who is not
Christian, Jewish, or Muslim
• Organized religion starts
• Borrowed Jewish practices
– Read from the Old Testament or one of Paul’s
readings
– Set aside Sunday to gather as that was the day
Jesus was resurrected
– Practiced baptism, which was a welcoming into
the church
– Shared bread and wine as a symbolic
representation of the Last Supper
• Called the Eucharist
Spread of Christianity
• Romans viewed religion as social activity
that promoted unity and loyalty to the state
– Romans viewed Christianity as a form of
superstition that was bad for society
– “Love thy brother” (???)
– Early Christians were very secretive and
mistrusted
• Roman officials began to view Christians as
enemies of the empire…why?
– Did not worship Roman Gods, lack of respect for
Emperor, would not join army
• Ι
• Iota
• Iesous
Jesus
Χ
Θ
Chi
Theta
Christos Theou
Christ God's
Υ
Upsilon
Yios
Son
Σ
Sigma
Soter
Saviour
• 64 A.D. Nero burns Rome
and blames Christians
– Rome burned while Nero
sang…
– Fire burned for 9 days
– Ordered the arrest of all
Christians
• Some imprisoned (Paul)
• Some crucified
• Soaked in oil and burned alive
• Early Christian were sent to the Colosseum
to fight lions and Centurions
• Persecution continued off and on for 250
years
• Emperor after emperor tried to stamp out
Christianity
– Domitian, Marcus Arelius, Valerian, Diocletian
• Many Christians deemed martyrs, or a
person who died for a cause
• Nero (c. 64-68). Traditional martyrdoms of Peter and Paul.
• Domitian (r. 81-96).
• Trajan (112-117). Christianity is outlawed but Christians are not sought
out.
• Marcus Aurelius (r. 161-180). Martyrdom of Polycarp.
• Septimus Severus (202-210). Martyrdom of Perpetua.
• Decius (250-251). Christians are actively sought out for not offering public
sacrifices to the Emperor and Roman Gods. Could buy certificates (libelli)
instead of sacrificing. Martyrdoms of bishops of Rome, Jerusalem and
Antioch.
• Valerian (257-59). Martyrdoms of Cyprian of Carthage and Sixtus II of
Rome.
• Maximinus the Thracian (235-38).
Aurelian (r. 270–275).
• Diocletian and Galerius (303-324).
• Tetrarchy: power is
divided among four
individuals
1. Emperor Diocletian
2. Emperor Maximian
(Western Regions)
•
•
Galerius (Caesar)
Constantius (Caesar)
Ascends to Emperor
• Constantius dies…Constantine
his son becomes Emperor of
the West
• BUT, Maxentius (Maximian’s
son) was declared Emperor of
the West by the Senate &
Praetorian Guard
• Result: BATTLE between the
two at the Milvian Bridge
• 312 Constantine wins an overwhelming victory near
the at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge
– Has a dream that he is to convert to Christianity and
begins strongly encouraging spread of Christianity
• After victory:
– Constantine gained full control over the Western Roman
Empire
– Licinius gained control over the Easter Roman Empire
• Both Agree:
– No more persecution of Christians and all property
taken was returned to Christians
• Formed by superimposing the first two
letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word
"ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" (Christ) in such a way to produce
a monogram
• Licinius continued persecuting Christians in the east
• 324 A.D. Constantine won several victories over
Licinius
– Constantine believed the Christian God was working through
him
• Constantine develops that Christian faith
– Holds a meeting at Nicaea – kept church together and
establishes church doctrine
– Built church in Jerusalem – where Jesus was crucified, buried,
and rose from the dead (Church of the Holy Sepulcher)
– Built many churches – St. Peter’s in Rome (BIG shift from the
catacombs and secret churches…)
• Christianity begins to spread and dominate,
but adopts some aspects of Roman
paganism:
• 330 A.D Constantine moved the Roman
capital to Byzantium (Turkey)
– Constantine’s homeland
– Filled it with riches
– Named it New Rome
• Became known as Constantinople
– The city of Constantine