Beliefs
Sacred People
Priests were chosen directly from the highest classes in society. This was done to ensure the proper practice of the religion. Priests could only serve for a certain amount of time: For more information, go to: http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-gods/roman-priests.htm
The two types of priest were:
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The Pontificates who administered and controlled the state religion.
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The Augurs who interpreted dreams, omens and oracles
The Vestal Virgins were the priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. They cultivated the sacred fire inside the temple of Vesta and would never let it go out. They were crucial to the continuation of the religion as they provided religious security.
For more information on the Vestal Virgins, go to http://www.ancient.eu/Vestal_Virgin/
Sacred Signs and Symbols
Fasces
Fasces, a plural tantum, from the Latin word fascis, symbolizes summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through unity" The traditional Roman fasces consisted of a bundle of white birch rods, tied together with a red leather ribbon into a cylinder, and often including a bronze axe (or sometimes two) amongst the rods, with the blade(s) on the side, projecting from the bundle. It was used as a symbol of the Roman Republic in many circumstances, including being carried in processions, much the way a flag might be carried today. It is a symbol of the power of the church.
The elements:
The elements of fire, wind, water and earth would all be celebrated as Gods because they believed that they created all life. All things were a combination of all four elements. All natural objects such as stones were worshipped. They believed the Gods inhabited all natural objects. Certain Gods were more prominent in some than others, such as Poseidon in water.
Roman Gods
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Jupiter: The mighty king of the gods. Roman God of the Sky, thunderstorms, lightning, weather and air. Also god of law, order, justice, governance and strength. Most important god of the Romans and usually had the highest divine authority over other gods.
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Neptune: One of the brothers of Jupiter, one of the prime gods and ruler of the seas. The patron of sailors and the protector of ships.
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Juno: Queen of the Gods and wife of Jupiter. Goddess of Marriage and Women. Protector and Counsellor of Rome.
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Mars: God of War, Spring and Justice. Patron of the Roman Legions and divine father of Romulus and Remus.
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Venus: Goddess of Love and consort of Mars. Divine mother of Aeneas, ancestor of the Romans.
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Bellona: Goddess of War, Conquest and Peace.
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Minerva: Goddess of Wisdom, Divine Counsel, Useful Arts and Crafts. Unlike her Greek counterpart, Athena, she wasn't a war goddess.
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Janus: God of Beginnings, Endings, Transition, Doorways and Keys.
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Vesta: Goddess of the Home and the Hearth. Patron of Rome.he ancient
Another Roman belief was that when one died, they were met by Mercury, the messenger god and son of Jupiter and taken to the river Styx, that flowed nine times around the underworld. There they paid the ferryman, Charon, a fee to cross the river where they were met and judged by Minos, Aenaeus, and Rhadamanthus. However, the ancient Romans did not believe in eternal damnation.
Therefore, after one was judged he or she was sent either to the Fields of Elysium, if they were a warrior or other type of hero, or to the Plain of Asphodel, if they were an ordinary citizen. However, if one was judged to have committed a crime against society, one would have been sent to Tartarus to be tortured by the Furies until such time as one's debt to society was deemed to have been paid in full. At that time, one was released. All three areas of the underworld were ruled over by Pluto, brother of Jupiter.