You have come to the right spot if you are interested in learning more about ancient Rome's religious beliefs. Learn about the 'lares' or gods that Romans worshipped, their rituals, and their sacrifices for victory in battle. You will then be able to understand their influence on early Roman history.
Romans venerated 'lares.
Romans worshiped 'lares', a god of weather, in many different ways. Single or paired divinities were associated with the gods. The gods were often believed to protect their family and home from the destructive effects of southern winds or to keep the sickly season at bay. These gods were often depicted as sculptures or statues.
They worshiped the sun
Sun worship became the Roman Empire's dominant official religion. Many Roman gods were solar-powered, and the sun was seen as the ultimate being in the pantheon. Even Christ and Mithra had solar qualities. Constantine I, Roman emperor and the first to embrace the sun worship, was a strong supporter. Constantius II, Constantine's son, was a strong proponent of the sun cult. He changed Jesus' birth date to December 25, changing it from January 25.
They sacrificed animals
Animal sacrifice was a practice that helped create political and socio-economic hierarchies as well as civic compromise. It also communicated implicit beliefs about the divinity. Romans believed that animals were part of the universe and could help or harm people. This belief was made almost divine through the sacrifice of animals.
They performed rituals to bring victory in battle
The Romans were known to perform rituals in order to win battles. Some of these rituals were public and some were private. They offered sacrifices to the gods, heroes and the dead. These sacrifices can be made in public or private settings and may take many forms. They could be food sacrifices or burnt offerings to the gods. Romans offered blood to the gods as a sacrifice.
They did 'augures' to predict what the future would look like.
Romans practiced 'augures.' This was divination by looking at omens found in nature. They considered the behavior and parts of animals as well as those of man-made objects. This was considered a serious practice, since the gods were believed have the ability to predict the future.
They believed in emperor worship
Romans believed in Emperor worship. They had many rituals, prescriptions, and ceremonies to honour him. This devotion extended well beyond politics.