Author: thatcher@uoregon.edu

Foreign Judaism in Ancient Rome

thatcher@uoregon.edu

It seems that the Romans were mostly supportive of Judaism until around the first century. Just like other foreign cults, such as the ones from Egypt or Greece, Romans allowed this religion to practice due to its ancient origins. Emperor Claudius even says, “Do not dishonor any of the traditional practices connected with the worship of their God” (Warrior, 14.8). This shows how Romans were protective in their early relationship with Rome because of the Jews ancient roots. The Jews views clashed with much of Roman worship but they were allowed to be different in most cases. Many times in Warrior Judaism is associated with Egyptian religion as well showing where Judaism was placed in the pantheon of foreign cults and religions. Rives even says that Judaism was perceived as “divine” in some ways due to its understanding of truth (193). The Jews were allowed many rights during the Roman Empire but I think the thing that changed that was the coming of Jesus. Jesus changed religion and created a tension.

This tension was not only with Romans but with Judaism as well. As the strength of Christianity grew so did Roman elites fear of all other foreign religions. Tiberius was one of the first emperors to start discriminating against the Jews eventually leading to a tax just for being Jewish (Warrior, 14.19). Tacitus reveals a lot in his excerpt from Warrior about the feeling towards foreign religions in the Roman Empire. Tacitus shows both his knowledge and ignorance of Judaism. He cites Moses and The Sabbath but questions where they come from and why Jews are so “weird and abominable”. He argues that Jews only do these things, such as circumcision, to be different than other peoples. Tacitus makes two connections to Judaism and Egyptian religion both in their sacrificing and burial rituals. While writing about Moses’ laws he says, “In theses everything that we regard as sacred is held to be profane. On the other hand they permit things that for us are taboo” (Warrior, 14.21).

Magic, Cult, and Oracles in Ancient Rome

thatcher@uoregon.edu

The Sibylline texts were very important to the aristocracy of Rome. They leaned on these texts for all sorts of different advice. The people who read the texts were initiated and lived in the temple of Jupiter during their tenure, which is for life. These texts helped the Romans decide what to do in time of uncertainty in the empire. One particular instance was that weird hybrid animals and hermaphrodites were being born so they consulted the oracles. The oracles responded by telling them to give a sacrifice to Juno Queen to Zeus (Warrior, 7.18). Another instance is when there was a plague to oracles to Rome to bring a Greek god and they installed a temple to him. The writings say that the “pestilence subsided with amazing speed” so apparently this worked (Warrior 8.10).

Magic seemed to play a role in the majority of everyday peoples lives because of the many writings and inscriptions with magical attributes. It seemed all types of various incantations, potions, and spells were used by everyday people trying to change their lives. Sometimes being so specific as to curse specific body parts and even finical success on another person (Warrior, 12.12). Cato also describes magic to heal a dislocation that is fairly simple and could be done by anyone theoretically (Warrior, 12.6). The only explanation I have to the widespread interest in magical religion is that they had to have believed that these things really did affect their day to day lives. An interesting magic instance that happened was described by Pliny the Elder who describes someone magically transporting his whole farm into the courthouse (Warrior, 12.4). This is interesting because it seems to have no greater significance other than this act of magic happened.

The Cult of Mithras was an exclusively male only cult that possibly has its roots in the ancient near east. The cult was a sanctuary for all those initiated where they could move from place to place and be invited in because they were apart of the secret cult. The only primary text we have is from a Christian writer and it has to do with the initiation rituals. Being blindfolded in a cave and giving yourself over to Mithras is about all we get from the texts (Warrior, 9.13-16). It is interesting that they describe themselves as being “male brides to Venus” so they are describing the relationship as one close to marriage (Warrior, 9.15). Members also have a hierarchy and can rank up understanding maybe more and more about the cosmos as it seems their titles were that of luminaries.

The Cult of Isis

thatcher@uoregon.edu

The cult of Isis has a large complex history spanning thousands of years continuing at least until the early 1st century and maybe after. Isis gained support due to the large trading network created by Alexander and the Roman Empire allowing for Egyptian merchants to spread their beliefs. Isis was a powerful deity and certainty had the resume to back it up. Interestingly though because the gods she is most commonly associated with are not very similar. It seems as if as Isis spread changing names throughout the ancient world her cults and beliefs we’re divided up into many different names like Demeter, Gaia, Hera, or any number. Leading up to the Common Era Isis cults claimed her to be a mother like goddess where she would be the “daughter of Kronos” and “mother of Horus” who is associated with Apollo (Isis Aretalogy). This shows how integratable, flexible, and malleable the Greek religion was and how many of these cultures had very similar religious beliefs. Because not only was Isis worshipped so was many other Asia Minor deities such as Hadad, Ba’al, and even Judaism had places of worship in some places.

Isis is interesting because the two examples of praise for Isis are a little different because one is for a specific reason and the other seems to be a more broad statement as if to say in front of an assembly. The hymn there is a straight forward to provide a sailor or merchant safe passage over waters. It is interesting though because in the praising not only is Isis associated with Greek deities but also Syrian, Lycian, and Assyrian ones. I think that aspect speaks most to the similarity and reaching influence of Greek and Roman identity. The aretalogy is a different story because it is integrated by Greek and Egyptian mythos but speaks to the resume of Isis. One thing that comes through is the powerful identity associated with her and her ever-reaching kingdom even being called the “mightiest” of gods in the hymn. Isis can influence many different things and she is normally given praise in the name of other deities it seems and being called “many named” in the hymn is reasoning to believe this. Isis can be in charge of justice, the moon, sun, underworld, the cosmos, and many more. I’m not sure what it means but it would seem that Isis’ influence must have been very powerful in cultic circles if they truly thought of her as mother of Apollo and things like that.

I can see how Isis was a powerful rival with Jesus just because both have much to offer but it is almost a polytheistic attempt of matching monotheism. Isis could provide all the things Jesus could theoretically but she represented a polytheistic worldview. Jesus really changed the religious system of the Asia Minor and Mediterranean into monotheism creating a negative view of polytheistic rituals. Isis provided a way for polytheism to still preform cultic rituals.

The Role of Cult, Myth, and Art in Ancient Greek Religion

thatcher@uoregon.edu

Cult, myth, and art were religious tools used in Sunium to worship the god Poseidon. Ritualistic aspects of worship are prominent and can be seen by some of the standards set in Greek religion. Being “polluted” ritually is an example of the cult, ritualistic aspects of Greek religion (Mikalson, 8). If one had been in the house of someone giving birth they could not go inside the temenos . Little things like that show how Greeks were very ritualistic in the way they lived and worshiped. While ritual provides a vague rule system in which to worship the gods, myth and literature were the stories about the gods. Myths usually were very regional things for the most part with specific groups of people believing in the gods in a wide range of capacities. While myths are mostly thought of as poetic literature they could be any type of divine belief associated with reality. The gods of the Greeks did not have a set “code for human behavior” which allowed for many interpretations and diverse belief among the ancient Greek people. I would argue that ritual is more prominent just because there are more consistencies and less diverse beliefs when it comes to them. An example being that all altars faced east or that altar to gods in the sky had to be outside. Myths on the other hand are up for interpretation and had a more diverse range of beliefs associated with it.

The way art enhances cult worship is due to the wonderful nature of art and the meaning behind its creation. Just like the reading when there were statues built after the war with the Persians serving the purpose of thanking the gods but also reminding the people of them and their power. If everyone thanks the gods for a win in battle then future generations will follow in their belief. Art was a way for the gods presence to be felt in the reality of every day life. When most people had huts to live in, it becomes a big deal that there is a giant bronze statue of a god just down the road. Art allows for the gods to be more prominent and real so that their influence can always be felt.

So far I would say the “religiosity” of the Greeks is somewhat flawed but worked in the times that they lived in. Greeks couldn’t come up with one set of particular rules in which everyone believed because the systems to distribute those rules were not around then. Living in antiquity the Greeks focused more on daily life and what to do not to anger the gods. This comes from a completely different direction of normal religious life in which there is a “loving” God. Gods to the Greeks just needed the honor and respect of the people so that they did not have to punish them like they did Odysseus. This is partly why ritual and cult practices are so prominent because there is no set of religious beliefs with the belief system based around not offending the gods. This allows for the outward practice of faith and “religion” more so than the inner practice most people are familiar with today.