The Ancient Roman And Roman Religion - 2489 Words

In the ancient Roman world, religion played the most important role in everyday life, as well as in matters of the state. The Romans looked to the gods for political stability and for control of the unexplainable and natural phenomenon. The gods were believed to control all aspects of Roman life, and for that reason, a great deal of importance was placed in the appropriate worship of the gods. Women played an extremely influential role in ancient Roman religion. Not only did they participate in religious rituals, but some even held religious positions as Vestal Virgins. Ancient Roman religion was quite similar to ancient Greek religion. The Romans worshiped the Dii Consentes, the twelve main gods including Jupiter, Juno, Minerva,†¦show more content†¦The main pontiff was the pontifex maximus. He presided over the pontiffs and also the state of Rome as emperor. This relation between religion and politics is a key defining characteristic of Roman Religion. In the ancie nt Roman world, the division between religion and state was non-existent. Sacred law and public law overlapped one another, for religious matters were also political matters. For this reason, Roman marriage is unique in its legal, business matter like fashion. Marriage in the ancient Roman world was a legal union between and man and a women that resembled somewhat of a business transaction. The main purpose for marriage was to produce children who would eventually inherit the property of their father. As pater familias, the Roman family was under the absolute authority of the father. This power gave the Roman father complete control of the lives of his wife and children, as well as control over the familial religious faith. Marriage was necessary for the legitimacy of children, for citizenship was only granted to those who were conceived in wedlock between two Roman citizens. Children born outside of a legitimate marriage were not fully recognized under the law. In the cas e of the death of the father, the oldest son would gain control of the all family matters. Having children to inherit their parents’ property was crucial for maintaining the wealth of the Roman family. For