Synopses & Reviews
"To understand the success of the Romans you must understand their piety." - Dionysius of Halicarnassus
For over a thousand years, Roman religion satisfied the spiritual needs of a wide range of people throughout the Empire because it offered an intelligent and dignified interpretation of how the world functions. It was a firm yet tolerant religion whose adherents committed very few crimes in its name and who were healthily free of neuroses. In this short, perceptive study of Roman religious life between 80 BC and AD 69, Professor Ogilvie shows how intimately involved were the Roman gods with human activities. Drawing widely on original material, he tells us how the Romans prayed, what happened at a sacrifice, what sort of gods they believed in, and how seriously they took their religion - a religion in which actions, not dogma, were paramount.
About the Author
Robert Ogilvie was Professor of Humanities at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland until his early death in 1981.