Introduction
The practice of religion in Ancient Rome had a vast range of influences. Religion was a way of connecting to the gods, believed to be more powerful than humans. It was also a way of tapping into their various powers to solve everyday problems. But what was the most popular religion in Ancient Rome?
The Main Religions of Ancient Rome
Before exploring the most popular religion in Ancient Rome, let’s take a look at some of the main religions and belief systems that existed in the Roman Empire at the time. According to the historian Pliny, ancient Rome practiced what was referred to as “ancient religion”. This included the worship of a variety of gods, each with their own associated rituals. In addition to this, the Roman Empire also adopted aspects of the Greek religion by accepting the Olympian gods into the pantheon.
Other religions practiced during Ancient Rome includes the cult of Mithras, an initiate mystery religion that adopted aspects of various existing belief systems and flourished during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Similarly, Christianity was growing and becoming increasingly popular, however, it was not officially recognised until 313 AD.
Worship of the Emperor
The Romans had a deep devotion to their Emperor and his predecessors. Emperor worship was a form of ancestor worship, where the Emperor’s ancestors were believed to be the gods and goddesses of the Roman pantheon. This, then, became the central part of the Roman religion and the most popular from 5th century BCE to the 4th century CE.
Indeed, the Emperor served as a bridge between earth and gods, and the Roman Senate declared the first Emperor, Augustus, a divus(Latin for divine figure). The Emperor and his predecessors featured in some of the greatest public festivals, including the Compitalia, the Saturnalia and the Ludi Seculares, where they were seen as the centrepiece of the festivities.
Response of the Roman Army
The Roman army was largely responsible for a variety of beliefs and practices which reached far outside of Rome. Roman soldiers served as a conduit by which new beliefs and practices found their way back to the city. For example, in the 1st century BCE, a cult of worshipping Mithra made its way to Rome via Persian culture, which was brought back by the Roman army after a successful campaign against Parthia.
The same went for Christianity: It was the Roman army – particularly its soldiers who were converts to the faith – that ensured its spread and success.
Religion as State Apparatus
Religion often served as a political instrument for the Roman government. For example, when faced with uprisings in certain parts of the empire, the Roman government often resorted to religious discrimination as a tool of control. The most dramatic example of this was the utter suppression of the Druids in Gaul, which was done in order to ensure the loyalty of the Gauls to the Roman state.
The state also sometimes made use of organised religions. This was the case with the first three Emperors, who actively promoted their own cults of divinity. During the reign of Augustus, for example, the god Apollo was associated with the emperor by honouring him with festivals and specialised priesthoods.
A Less Than Popular Religion
Despite the popularity of the worship of the Emperor in Ancient Rome, there were some religions that were considered to be less popular. These include the cult of Bacchus, the mystery religion of Isis, and the cult of Cybele.
The cult of Bacchus was a mystery religion that emphasised the indulgence in various forms of opulence, pleasure and revelry. This was to such an extent that a combination of disapproval and fear eventually led to it being outlawed in 186BCE.
The cult of Isis is another example of a religion that was looked down upon. It was part of the ancient Egyptian religion, and while some exported aspects of it reached Rome as early as the 1st century BCE, it remained largely foreign and met with disapproval by the Roman state.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is safe to say that the most popular religion in Ancient Rome was worship of the Emperor and veneration of the Roman pantheon. This popularity was enhanced by the role that religion played in state ideology, as well as its importance in public festivals and rituals. Moreover, the spread of this religion was furthered by the Roman army, who brought back beliefs from places as far away as Parthia and Gaul, and ensured its success by spreading Christianity. Conversely, certain religions like the cult of Bacchus, the cult of Isis, and the cult of Cybele, were seen as less popular and were eventually outlawed in the Roman Empire.
