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The vocabulary of ancient Roman religion was highly specialized. Its study affords important information about the religion, traditions and beliefs of the ancient Romans. This legacy is conspicuous in European cultural history in its influence on later juridical and religious vocabulary in Europe, particularly of the Christian Church. [1]
Votive paintings in the ambulatory of the Chapel of Grace, in Altötting, Bavaria, Germany Mexican votive painting of 1911; the man survived an attack by a bull. Part of a female face with inlaid eyes, Ancient Greek Votive offering, 4th century BC, probably by Praxias, set in a niche of a pillar in the sanctuary of Asclepios in Athens, Acropolis Museum, Athens Bronze animal statuettes from ...
Cultus was expected to matter to the gods as a demonstration of respect, honor, and reverence; it was an aspect of the contractual nature of Roman religion (see do ut des). [3] Augustine of Hippo echoes Cicero's formulation when he declares, "religion is nothing other than the cultus of God." [4]
In ancient Roman religion, the libation was a religious act in the form of a liquid offering, most often unmixed wine and perfumed oil. [26] The Roman god Liber Pater ("Father Liber "), later identified with the Greek Dionysus or Bacchus , was the divinity of libamina , "libations," and liba , sacrificial cakes drizzled with honey.
The devotio was the most extreme offering a Roman general could make, promising to offer his own life in battle along with the enemy as an offering to the underworld gods. Livy offers a detailed account of the devotio carried out by Decius Mus ; family tradition maintained that his son and grandson , all bearing the same name, also devoted ...
As the result of this verbal action, a votum is also that which fulfills a vow, that is, the thing promised, such as offerings, a statue, or even a temple building. The votum is thus an aspect of the contractual nature of Roman religion, a bargaining expressed by do ut des , "I give that you might give."
Votives are gifts to gods by worshippers. In this instance they are given to gods in gratitude for the fulfillment of the vow to the god for divine favor. Unlike anatomical votives which are made to resemble a body part, the swaddled baby votive is assumed to represent the child's body in its entirety. [1]
In ancient Roman religion, the devotio was an extreme form of votum in which a Roman general vowed to sacrifice his own life in battle along with the enemy to chthonic gods in exchange for a victory. The most extended description of the ritual is given by the Augustan historian Livy , regarding the self-sacrifice of Decius Mus . [ 1 ]