Religion in LivyReligion in Livy

Jared CopelandJared Copeland

Monday, November 1, 2010Monday, November 1, 2010

Religion in LivyReligion in Livy Livy regularly Livy regularly

incorporates incorporates elements of Roman elements of Roman religion into his religion into his narrative. These narrative. These include:include:– PrayersPrayers– AuguryAugury– ProdigiesProdigies– Ritual Ritual and and sacrificesacrifice– CosmologyCosmology (fate, (fate,

fortune, relationship of fortune, relationship of gods to men)gods to men)

The genius of Augustus. (Museo Pio-Clementino)

PrayersPrayers Ab Vrbe Condita Ab Vrbe Condita

features 77 petitionary features 77 petitionary prayers;prayers; by comparison, by comparison, Caesar has 1, and Sallust Caesar has 1, and Sallust has none. (Hickson 1993: has none. (Hickson 1993: 19-20)19-20)

In Livy, prayers can occur In Livy, prayers can occur in direct quotation, or in in direct quotation, or in indirect statement.indirect statement.

Prayers add religious Prayers add religious solemnity to the narrative.solemnity to the narrative.

Livy’s prayers often Livy’s prayers often feature special religious feature special religious language, alluding to ritual language, alluding to ritual formulae.formulae.

Marcus Aurelius and family makea sacrifice. (Capitoline Museum)

PrayersPrayersLivy 1.16.3: First prayer ever addressed to RomulusLivy 1.16.3: First prayer ever addressed to Romulus

Deinde a paucis initio facto, deum deo natum, Deinde a paucis initio facto, deum deo natum, regem parentemque urbis Romanae salvere regem parentemque urbis Romanae salvere universi Romulum iubent; pacem precibus universi Romulum iubent; pacem precibus exposcunt, uti volens propitius suam semper exposcunt, uti volens propitius suam semper sospitet progeniem.sospitet progeniem.

““Then, with the beginning having been made by a Then, with the beginning having been made by a few, they all hail Romulus, a god born from a god, few, they all hail Romulus, a god born from a god, as the king and parent of the Roman city; they as the king and parent of the Roman city; they seek peace with prayers, that he might always seek peace with prayers, that he might always willingly and favorably keep their offspring safe.”willingly and favorably keep their offspring safe.”

PrayersPrayersLivy 1.16.3: First prayer ever addressed to RomulusLivy 1.16.3: First prayer ever addressed to Romulus

Deinde a paucis initio facto, deum deo natum, Deinde a paucis initio facto, deum deo natum, regem regem parentemparentemque urbis Romanae que urbis Romanae salveresalvere universi Romulum iubent; pacem precibus universi Romulum iubent; pacem precibus exposcunt, uti volens propitius suam semper exposcunt, uti volens propitius suam semper sospitet progeniem.sospitet progeniem.

Romans appear to have prayed to their deceased Romans appear to have prayed to their deceased parents using the formula parents using the formula salve/salvete salve/salvete parens/parentes.parens/parentes. (see Ogilvie 1965 ad loc.) (see Ogilvie 1965 ad loc.)

PrayersPrayersLivy 1.16.3: First prayer ever addressed to RomulusLivy 1.16.3: First prayer ever addressed to Romulus

Deinde a paucis initio facto, deum deo natum, Deinde a paucis initio facto, deum deo natum, regem parentemque urbis Romanae salvere regem parentemque urbis Romanae salvere universi Romulum iubent; pacem precibus universi Romulum iubent; pacem precibus exposcunt, uti exposcunt, uti volens propitiusvolens propitius suam semper suam semper sospitet progeniem.sospitet progeniem.

The phrase The phrase volens propitius volens propitius was quite common in was quite common in Roman ritual prayers, and it also occurs 5 times Roman ritual prayers, and it also occurs 5 times in Livy.in Livy.

PrayersPrayers

quod bonum faustum felixque sitquod bonum faustum felixque sit

Livy uses this formula 8 times.Livy uses this formula 8 times.– e.g., when the e.g., when the interrex interrex address the address the

people prior to the appointment of Numa people prior to the appointment of Numa (1.17.10)(1.17.10)

Romans prayed using this phrase Romans prayed using this phrase when beginning any major when beginning any major undertaking.undertaking.

PrayersPrayers

CIL CIL 6.32323: Prayer of Augustus during the 6.32323: Prayer of Augustus during the Ludi Saeculares Ludi Saeculares of of 17 BCE. 17 BCE. (National Museum of Rome)(National Museum of Rome)

PrayersPrayers

CIL CIL 12.4333: Dedication of 12.4333: Dedication of an altar to the an altar to the numen numen of of Augustus, from Augustus, from Narbonne, southern Narbonne, southern France, 11 CE.France, 11 CE.

AuguryAugury

Romans ascertained Romans ascertained the disposition of the the disposition of the gods by observing the gods by observing the sky for birds, sky for birds, lightning, etc.lightning, etc.

The ritual was The ritual was commonly practiced commonly practiced at the beginning of an at the beginning of an undertaking.undertaking.

Statue of a chief Vestal in Rome.Taken from G. Ferrero, The Women of the Caesars.

AuguryAuguryLivy 1.55.3-4: Should we exaugurate, or not?Livy 1.55.3-4: Should we exaugurate, or not?

Inter principia condendi huius operis movisse numen ad indicandam Inter principia condendi huius operis movisse numen ad indicandam tanti imperii molem traditur deos; nam cum omnium sacellorum tanti imperii molem traditur deos; nam cum omnium sacellorum exaugurationesexaugurationes admitterent aves, in Termini fano non addixere; admitterent aves, in Termini fano non addixere; idque omen idque omen auguriumauguriumque ita acceptum est non motam Termini que ita acceptum est non motam Termini sedem unumque eum deorum non evocatum sacratis sibi finibus sedem unumque eum deorum non evocatum sacratis sibi finibus firma stabiliaque cuncta portendere.firma stabiliaque cuncta portendere.

““It is related that, during the beginnings of establishing this work, It is related that, during the beginnings of establishing this work, the gods moved their divine will toward disclosing the greatness the gods moved their divine will toward disclosing the greatness of so great an empire; for although the birds allowed for the of so great an empire; for although the birds allowed for the exaugurations of all the shrines, they did not do so in the case of exaugurations of all the shrines, they did not do so in the case of the temple of Terminus; and this omen and augury was the temple of Terminus; and this omen and augury was interpreted thus: that not moving the seat of Terminus, and his interpreted thus: that not moving the seat of Terminus, and his being the only one of the gods not called out from the borders being the only one of the gods not called out from the borders sacred to him, promised that all things would be firm and stable.”sacred to him, promised that all things would be firm and stable.”

AuguryAugury

Other uses of augury we have seen:Other uses of augury we have seen:– Romulus and Remus, of course (1.7.1-3)Romulus and Remus, of course (1.7.1-3)– Inauguration of Numa (1.18.6-10)Inauguration of Numa (1.18.6-10)

ProdigiesProdigies

Events which were observed as Events which were observed as indicating some sort of divine indicating some sort of divine communication, usually a warningcommunication, usually a warning

Had to be expiated (if bad)Had to be expiated (if bad) In contrast to the taking of auspices, In contrast to the taking of auspices,

prodigies were not sought outprodigies were not sought out Recorded in the annals of the Recorded in the annals of the

pontificespontifices

ProdigiesProdigiesLivy 1.55.5-6: Forecasting the greatness of RomeLivy 1.55.5-6: Forecasting the greatness of Rome

Hoc perpetuitatis auspicio accepto, secutum aliud magnitudinem Hoc perpetuitatis auspicio accepto, secutum aliud magnitudinem imperii portendens imperii portendens prodigiumprodigium est: est: caput humanum integra caput humanum integra faciefacie aperientibus fundamenta templi dicitur apparuisse. Quae aperientibus fundamenta templi dicitur apparuisse. Quae visa species haud per ambages arcem eam imperii caputque visa species haud per ambages arcem eam imperii caputque rerum fore portendebat; idque ita cecinere vates quique in urbe rerum fore portendebat; idque ita cecinere vates quique in urbe erant quosque ad eam rem consultandam ex Etruria acciverant.erant quosque ad eam rem consultandam ex Etruria acciverant.

““After these auspices of perpetuity were received, another After these auspices of perpetuity were received, another prodigy followed, portending the greatness of the empire: a prodigy followed, portending the greatness of the empire: a human head, with an incorrupt face, is said to have appeared human head, with an incorrupt face, is said to have appeared to those opening up the foundations of the temple. And this to those opening up the foundations of the temple. And this apparition scarcely in an ambiguous manner portended that it apparition scarcely in an ambiguous manner portended that it would be the citadel of the empire and the head of matters; would be the citadel of the empire and the head of matters; thus prophets confirmed this fact, both those who were in the thus prophets confirmed this fact, both those who were in the city, and those whom they summoned out of Etruria for city, and those whom they summoned out of Etruria for interpreting this matter.”interpreting this matter.”

Outlook of Outlook of Ab Vrbe Condita Ab Vrbe Condita toward Religion: Skeptical or toward Religion: Skeptical or

Supportive?Supportive? Livy’s skepticism is apparent, esp. Livy’s skepticism is apparent, esp.

when he provides alternate when he provides alternate “unorthodox” interpretations“unorthodox” interpretations

The practice of Roman religion also The practice of Roman religion also appears to be important to him, appears to be important to him, since he makes a conscious effort to since he makes a conscious effort to include so much of itinclude so much of it

Outlook of Outlook of Ab Vrbe Condita Ab Vrbe Condita toward Religion: Skeptical or toward Religion: Skeptical or

Supportive?Supportive? Some scholars believe Some scholars believe

that Livy is primarily a that Livy is primarily a skeptic (e.g. Kajanto skeptic (e.g. Kajanto 1957, Green 2009)1957, Green 2009)

Others believe Livy Others believe Livy deliberately mixes deliberately mixes skepticism with skepticism with apparent promotion of apparent promotion of traditional religious traditional religious practice (Liebeschuetz practice (Liebeschuetz 1967, Levene 1993)1967, Levene 1993)

Nice poker face

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Why does Livy include so many more Why does Livy include so many more references to religion than other references to religion than other historians?historians?

How does Livy’s incorporation of How does Livy’s incorporation of religion help him achieve the goals religion help him achieve the goals he sets out in the preface?he sets out in the preface?

Why does Livy mix skepticism with Why does Livy mix skepticism with apparent support for traditional apparent support for traditional religious practice?religious practice?

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