Augury elected officials of senatorial class with a religious and political function bird signs The interpretations were

viewed with skeptism Consultation of sibil: women possessing the gift of prophesy, famous sibyl found at Cumae (near naples) the sibyl books were a collection of oracular responses which

Extispiculm: look at body parts

Early Roman religion was a form animism in spirits or powers called numina Numina wasnt personified, had no temples pr statues in their honour Roman religion changed when they had contact with other people: Ethuscans, greeks, puresians, Egyptians etc. Etruscnas first made teples Greeks introduced godds and rituals these were in turn identified with Roman gods and combined The pontifix maximus was the chief priest who controlled the state religion; this position was usually held by the emporer Emperor worshiped as gods associated with goddess Roma, intended to encourage Roman rule, usually deified after death (exept Claudius Nero Caligula etc. )

Vesta: Roman goddess/spirit of the hearth, Begin around the fire of ancient Roman huts (round in shape) which lead toher temple being round Worship directed by 6 vestal virgins (each served for 30 years 10 training 10 sercing 10 training others) Girl has to be from a suitable family between ages 6-10, physically perfect, of good character, have both parents living Sacred fire on the alter of her temple symbolized the continuity of the life of the state. Private family courtship was lead by the pater families Lar familarrus was the protecting spirit of the household (Represented inimperial period as a ball in a belted tunic, penates were spirits of the storage cupboard Genius was the protected spirit of the father/husband (represented as a bearded serpant)

Juno was the protecting spirit of the mother/wife (represented as a serpant) Devout Romans prayed each morning but most prayed between cena ana secunda mensa in the evening Offerings were mad to the house hold gods as well as promises ve for favors in return from the god Do ut des- I give so that you may give

Elusian Mysteries Cult devoted to Demeter at Eleusis (NW of ATHENS) where Demeter was reunited with Persephone. Demeter and Persephone taught the mysteries (symbolic of their parting and teuniting- spring and rebirth To towns, people of Eulsis who re-enacted the celebration Celebration lasted 9 days in early autumn (harvest) September Initiats would wash themselves and animals for sacrifice Pigs were sacrificed and a lively procession began along the sacred way for 14 minutes to Eleusis stopping at shrines and temples Arrived at Eleusis after dark Celebrants spent the night at the well where Demeter met the four daughter of meterera Dancing by torchlight to oboe type instrument and cymbols Dancers would brake away to look for Persephone At dawn participants ended their fast with a breakfast of Harley, water, wheat and seasemme cakes promagrant, lumps of salt and young fig tree shoots Crowd gathered at telestarion roofed fall supported by columns. Divided into too group Mystai initiation into the cult deffered until the following year Epotia gives a pass word and allowed to enter Record of men trying to enter wout password put to death Little to no information was ever written about the events, which occurred inside due to oaths taken by the initiates

The ancient Greeks believed in the necessaty of understanding the soul and coming to terms with death by abooshing ones fear of it. This is a worthy state to achieve, such person who did so comprised an intellectual elie: self confident unencumbered by trivial concerns, truly free. The rites of Eluesis included this happy tradition. Reffered to Eluesis by Aeschylus (born at Eulesis in 525 BCE ) Cicero, Aristotle and jung)