Roman Goddess Worship

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Roman Goddess Worship
Vesta, Isis, and Fortuna
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Women in Roman Religion
Pre-christianity, there were two types of roman
religion. State supported indigenous cults, and
imported cults, adopted by Roman culture. A
womans place within these religious structures
varied. In general however, the cult system
offered opportunities for women that they were
often denied in the greater society. Sexual
expression, creative development, and freedom
from the constricts of society were some of the
benefits a cult offered. It is easy to see the
appeal of the cult for women, especially the
appeal of the goddess cult. Roman women used
religion to define themselves. Goddess worship
shaped womens idea of themselves, and how they
were seen in society.
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Vesta, Isis, and Fortuna
These three goddesses all had large cult
followings. Some exclusively female, others
welcoming to both sexes. Theyre significance to
Roman history can be seen in what they help us to
understand about womens role in society.
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Vesta
Vesta
-Goddess of the hearth, she was a native Roman
deity whose cult can be traced back to the 7th
century BC. -Interpreted to be a translation of
the Greek Hestia, a public celebration was held
in her honor, annually, on June 7th. -Because
she represented the hearth, and was therefore
perceived to be formless, she is rarely depicted
visually
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The Temple of Vesta

• Vesta was the goddess of the hearth and its
  eternal flame. In ones home, the hearths flame
  signified the balance of family and community.
• In the temple of Vesta a sacred fire was kept
  continually burning. The eternal flame symbolized
  the eternal life of the Rome State.

• Vesta was worshipped in nearly every Roman
  household. Every hearth was considered to be her
  shrine. She was believed to control the emotional
  stability of the family.
• The sacred fire in her temple wa s never to be
  extinguished. This would show, that Rome was not
  destined for eternal rule.

The Temple
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-The vestal virgins were a group of six
priestesses who served the goddess Vesta. -Each
girl was chosen from Romes most distinguished
families between the ages of 3-10 -Theyre duty
was maintaining the sacred fire inside the Temple
of Vesta. -Each priestess served for thirty
years -For these thirty years, she was to remain,
(yep, you guessed it), a virgin. -The development
of the vestal virgins rituals and practices is
in large part attributed Numa Pompilius.
The Vestal Virgins


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The Value and Privilege of Virginity

• -The virgin is one third of the the three part
  life cycle of the Roman woman. The virgin, the
  mother, and the crone.
• In Roman society because she had not yet given
  her body to a anyone, she belonged to no one. To
  the Romans, this meant she belonged to everyone.
  In other words, she belonged to the city of Rome.
• -Virginity also signified that a woman was
  extremely fertile, because to the Romans,
  chastity was thought to create stored up
  fertility.
• -The punishment for a vestal who broke her vow of
  purity, was to be buried alive. It was thought
  that if she was innocent, Vesta would come to her
  rescue.
• The vestals virginity was believed to dictate
  the well-being of the Roman State. Therefore
  when a crisis occurred, the vestals were often
  put under scrutiny about their chastity.

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Fortuna
-A gold statue of Fortuna was traditionally kept
in the sleeping quarters of the Roman
Emperor. -Her statue was also kept in the
homes of people known in their community for
having very good, or very bad luck.
-Also a native to Rome, Fortuna was the goddess
of fate,chance, fortune, luck, and was thought
to be the protector of womens lives and sexual
satisfaction. -Her symbols were the sphere, the
wheel, and the cornucopia.
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The Cults of Fortuna
-There were two prominent cults of Fortuna. The
Fortuna Virginalis or Virgo cult, and the
Fortuna Primigenia cult. -Fortuna Virginalis was
the protector, and patroness, of young girls
coming of age. Adolescent girls dedicated to
this goddess the little togas they had worn in
girlhood. After this dedication, a girl donned a
stola, the dress by which a respectable matron
was distinguished from a toga-clad
prostitute.(Pomeroy, pg206)
-Fortuna Primigenia was the patron and protector
of mothers, and childbirth. Her cult was open to
both sexes, however only after marriage.
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Isis
-Originally an Egyptian deity, called Aset, she
was adopted into Roman culture around 86 BCE and
redefined as the popular roman deity, Isis. She
is the mother goddess. The protector of children,
childbirth, and fertility. - Associated with the
moon, she is the goddess of ten thousand names.
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The Cult of Isis
-During the Hellenistic period in Rome, she
developed a large following of worshippers who
created the mystery cult of Isis. -Mystery
cults, or religions are defined by being centered
around one deity. A deity who appeals to, or has
the potential to fill the needs of its
followers. This created a communities of people
who often shared a common goal, or dream. -The
mystery cult of Isis was extremely popular,
however it was not a state sanctioned cult. -Her
cult was abandoned as the rise of christianity
began in Rome.
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Temple of Isis
In pompeii
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Bibliography
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