Roman Religion's Role in Empire: Tolerance, Persecution, and the Rise of Christianity
According to The Collector, Roman religion acted as both a cohesive and disruptive element throughout five centuries of imperial governance. The polytheistic belief system incorporated foreign gods such as Mithras and Isis, promoting expansion through its inclusive nature. A key aspect was Pax Deorum, which ensured prosperity through appropriate rituals. Emperors, particularly Augustus, leveraged religion to validate their power, founding the imperial cult with temples in Rome and elsewhere. Between 70 and 82 emperors reigned, each possessing distinct religious perspectives. Significant figures included Elagabalus, Nero, Domitian, and Diocletian, who notably persecuted Christians. Claudius expelled Jews, and Jerusalem fell in AD 70. The Edict of Milan in AD 313 marked a pivotal change for Christianity under Constantine, while Theodosius I later established it as the state religion.
Key facts
- Roman religion's flexibility and tolerance of foreign gods, including Mithras and Isis, supported imperial expansion.
- Pax Deorum held that correct rituals and sacrifices ensured divine favor, prosperity, and military success.
- Augustus introduced the imperial cult; the Senate deified him after his death.
- Roughly 70 to 82 legitimate emperors ruled over five centuries, each with differing religious policies.
- Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome and executed many; Domitian targeted Jews and Christians; Diocletian persecuted Christians in the 3rd century.
- Titus destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70, and Claudius may have expelled Jews from Rome.
- The Senate banned the cult of Bacchus in 186 BC.
- Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in AD 313 with Licinius, and the Council of Nicaea convened in AD 325; Theodosius I made Nicene Christianity the state religion.
Entities
Artists
- Augustus
- Marcus Aurelius
- Elagabalus
- Nero
- Domitian
- Diocletian
- Constantine
- Licinius
- Theodosius I
- Julian the Apostate
- Claudius
- Titus
- Giovanni Paolo Panini
Institutions
- The Collector
- Roman Senate
- Musei Capitolini
- British Museum
- MFA, Boston
- The MET, New York
- Wikimedia Commons
- World History Encyclopedia
- History Hit
- JSTOR
- University of California Press
- Catholic University of America Press
- OpenStax
- Retrospect Journal
- Fiveable
- Chariot Journal
- Rhodes Sites
- Facts and Details
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Pompeii
- Egypt
- Syria
- Pergamon
- Ankara
- Turkey
- Jerusalem
- Caelian Hill
- Palatine Hill
- Milvian Bridge
- Nicaea
- Boston
- New York