Archaic Roman Religion, Volume 2
Edition: New Ed edition
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: November 20, 1996
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 328
ISBN-13: 9780801854811
Subjects: Ancient Roman religion; European history: BCE to c 500 CE; Rome; History & Surveys - Ancient & Classical; Literature - Classics / Criticism; Religion; Ancient Rome; Ancient - General; Antiquities & Archaeology; History / Ancient / General; Etruscans
First sentence: The elevation of abstractions, desirable qualities, or powerful forces, uirtutes and utilitates (Cic. Leg. 2.28), to the rank of divinities was a game of language and thought in which all the ancient Indo-European societies indulged.
Description: By exhaustive study of texts, inscriptions, and archaeology of Roman sacred places, Dumezil traces the formation of archaic Roman religion from Indo-European sources through the development of the rites and beliefs of the Roman republic. He describes a religion that was not only influenced by the other religions with which it came into contact, but influenced them as well, in mutual efforts to distinguish one nation from another. Even so, certain continuities were sustained in order to achieve a religion that crossed generations and ways of life. The worship of certain gods became the special concerns of certain parts of society, all of which needed attention to assure Rome's success in war, civil administration, and the production of food and goods.