4. ostia summer 2012: religion
DESCRIPTION
A description of various religions manifested at Ostia through buildings and artefactsTRANSCRIPT
Religions in OstiaDying in Ostia
Roman Religion
• Pragmatic
• Ritualistic
• Not exclusive
• Open to incorporating new gods
Religions of Ostia
• State or public religions
• Private religions
• Eastern Religions
• Biblical Religions
State religions
• Capitoline trio
• Cult of the Emperor
• Traditional religions:
– Vulcan
– Hercules
– Dioscuri
Capitoleum
Capitoleum: Part of the cornice. Photograph: Jan Theo Bakker. Altar with the frieze of
weapons.
Capitoleum
Forum and Temple of Roma and Augustus
Roma Victrix
OctavianDeification – Son of the divine [Julius] ~38 BCE
Religious Role of the EmperorAugustus Caesar Maxentius as Pontifex Maximus
Imperial Cult-mosaic - Barracks of the VigilesPhoto – Robert Ehrlich
Religions of Ostia
• State or public religions
• Private religions
– Limits on proselytizing
• Eastern Religions
• Biblical Religions
Fortuna
Private fortune
Business fortune
Imperial fortune
Public fortune
Religions of Ostia
• State or public religions
• Private religions - Eastern Religions– Great Mother/Magna Mater/Cybele-Attis
– Isis
– Mithras
• Biblical Religions
Great Mother - Magnus Mater
• Arrival in Rome
• Parades of two collegia
– cannophori (reed-bearers the river Gallos)
– dendrophori (tree-bearers - pine-tree that was sacred to Attis)
• Self-castration of priests
• Bull sacrifice
Campus Magna Mater
Galli
Sarcophagus: C. Junius Euhodus and his wife MetiliaActe, priestess of the Magna Mater
Alcestis Says Farewell Alcestis Restored by Hercules
Isis Pelagia
• Protectress of shipping
• Possible temple on Isola Sacra
• Paired with Serapis
Mysteries of Mithras
• Named for an Iranian god
• Iranian roots doubtful
• Popular among military
• Small, hierarchal organization
• 16 mithraea in Ostia
Mithraism - Iconography
• Mithras slaying the bull
• Identification of Mithras and Sol
• Birth of Mithras in a cave
– Shape of the place of worship - mithraeum
• Grades in the ‘cult’– progression in the cosmic order
– Represented by planets
• Cautes and Cautepates - torchbearers
Mitreo delle Terme del MitraCast of Restored Sculpture of Mithras slaying the Bull
Photograph: Bill Storage.
Mithras Killing the BullRestored sculpture
Mitreo delle Sette Porte
Photograph: Bill Storage
Kronos/SaturnFagan Mithraeum
Mitreo di Felicissimus
Mitreo di FelicissimusPhoto: Robert Ehrlich
Religions of Ostia
• State religions
• Private religions
• Eastern Religions
• Biblical Religions
Synagogue in the Fourth Century
Dedication of Torah Shrine
Fourth Century
Entry
Main Hall
Torah ShrineMenorah
Shofar Etrog, Lulav
Torah Shrine
Kitchen
Christianity and Mithraism
Wherefore also the evil demons in mimicry have handed down that the same thing should be done in the Mysteries of Mithras. For that bread and a cup of water are in these mysteries set before the initiate with certain speeches you either know or can learn.
Justin Martyr
Christian symbols
• Dove, a fish, a ship, a lyre, anchor
• Good shepherd, Orpheus, Helios (Sol)
• Monograms
Christian OratorySt. Cyricus sarcophagus: Orpheus as the Good Shepherd
Photograph: Laura Maish-Bill Storage.
Good Shepherd Oil Lamp
Churches and Martyrs
• Sanctae Aureae: original church 5th century; dedicated to 3rd century martyr
• Sant’Ercolano: Earliest construction 5th
century; dedicated to 3rd century martyrs at Portus
• Christian oratory: 6-7th century; dedicated to 3rd century martyr, Cyricaus
• Sant’Ippolyta, Isola Sacra: 366-384; dedicated to 3rd century martyred bishop
Christian Oratory at Baths of Mithras
Basilica, Portus
ConstantinianBasilica
Constantinian Basilica
Profile w. atrium
Comparison
St. Peters Constantinian basilica(Lateran)
Ostia
119 x 64 m 100 x 54 m 45 x 21 m
Transept
Two aisles
No transept
Two aisles
No transept
One aisle
Martyr’s shrine Principal church Principal church
Outside walls Just inside walls Just inside walls
Pianabella
Pianabella
Pianabella
Funerary enclosures – FormaePhotograph: Milton Torres
Sarcophagus
Sant’Aurea
Aurea (in Greek: Chryse, "golden girl"). Photographs: Jan Theo Bakker.
Epitaph
St. Monica
• 332 Born, probably, at Thagaste in North Africa of Berber stock
• Married Patricius, a dissolute pagan; Patriciusconverted on his deathbed
• 386 Augustine, her son, is converted in Milan by Ambrose
• 387 Dies at Ostia on her way back to Africa.
• Buried at Ostia, body removed to Rome in 1430.
Epitaph of Monica –reproduction
Here the most virtuous mother of a young man set her remains, a second light to your merits, Augustine. As a priest, protecting the heavenly laws of peace, you taught [or, you teach] the people entrusted to you with your character. A glory greater than the praise of your accomplishments crowns you both — virtutum mater, more fortunate because of her offspring.
From a medieval msscf Boin, D. R. Late Antique Ostia and a Campaign for Pious Tourism: Epitaphs for Bishop Cyriacusand Monica, Mother of Augustine Journal of Roman Studies 100 (2010), pp. 195–209
Death in Ostia
Yale Open Courses
Lecture 16 Roman Architecture
Death and Burial [01:10:24 -01:15:55]
Leaving OstiaOrpheus and Eurydice
Porta Laurentina, Tomb 33, Decimus Folius Mela (early 1st C)
Leaving OstiaNecropolis outside Porta Romana
Honoring the DeadPorta Laurentina
Unidentified tomb (Vatican Museum)