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CLST 2102 Exam 2 Questions and Correct
Answers
What was the aim of the Roman religion? Ans: establish some
kind of control over the unpredictable
What was the focus of the Roman religion? Ans: was on the
present world... the goal of religious is to have success and
happiness NOW
What was the belief about the relationships of gods and the world?
Ans: nothing is natural. gods are everywhere and responsible for
everything; belief in gods strong even if myths dismissed
Characterization about Roman religion Ans: a mixture of official
rights and person relationships
gods range from great gods with bodies, personalities, myths, and
major functions
deities without the above with only personal will and a single
defined function
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, 2 | Page
personifications of abstractions or desired qualities: victory,
harmony, hope, honor, virtue
no hero cults but cults of the dead
How do the sayings "pax deorum" and "do ut des" summarize the
nature of Roman religion? Ans: "peace of the gods" only given in
return for correct religious practice, and "i give that you may"
numen or numina Ans: associated with objects, places, or
processes, posses personal will that can be influenced by prayers
and offerings
genius and juno Ans: family ancestors who lived in the
underworld (female version is juno)
Penates Ans: group of nameless spirits, synonym for home
Lares Ans: associated with both Penates and the spirits inhabiting
compitum (place where roads cross)
What was an "instauratio"? Ans: redoing of a religious ceremony
that has somehow gone awry... to avoid ill-omened sounds and
sights
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, 3 | Page
Identify anthropomorphism and syncretism in the context of
Roman religion Ans: gods take human form and personalities
roman gods become associated with similar greek gods and take
over their functions, personalities, and myths: some gain (Venus)
and some lose (Mars)
What specifically was a "templum"? Ans: a sacred district or era
defined and inaugurated by augurs
What functions did a temple (aedes) have in Roman religion? Ans:
auspices (prophet) conducted in a templum (scared district or
area)---> aedes was a physical structure in a templum; sacrifices
take place outside the temple
What is the best way to explain the ritual killing of people in
ancient Rome? Ans: the gods accepted the killing as a gesture of
honor; ritualized killing tended to be occasional and in reaction to
a crisis, crime, and or prodigy
What was sought in taking the auspices, and what sort of things
were consulted? Ans: Public auspices limited to magistrates, with
consuls, praetors, censors having greater authority
than lower magistrates.
© 2025 All rights reserved
CLST 2102 Exam 2 Questions and Correct
Answers
What was the aim of the Roman religion? Ans: establish some
kind of control over the unpredictable
What was the focus of the Roman religion? Ans: was on the
present world... the goal of religious is to have success and
happiness NOW
What was the belief about the relationships of gods and the world?
Ans: nothing is natural. gods are everywhere and responsible for
everything; belief in gods strong even if myths dismissed
Characterization about Roman religion Ans: a mixture of official
rights and person relationships
gods range from great gods with bodies, personalities, myths, and
major functions
deities without the above with only personal will and a single
defined function
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
personifications of abstractions or desired qualities: victory,
harmony, hope, honor, virtue
no hero cults but cults of the dead
How do the sayings "pax deorum" and "do ut des" summarize the
nature of Roman religion? Ans: "peace of the gods" only given in
return for correct religious practice, and "i give that you may"
numen or numina Ans: associated with objects, places, or
processes, posses personal will that can be influenced by prayers
and offerings
genius and juno Ans: family ancestors who lived in the
underworld (female version is juno)
Penates Ans: group of nameless spirits, synonym for home
Lares Ans: associated with both Penates and the spirits inhabiting
compitum (place where roads cross)
What was an "instauratio"? Ans: redoing of a religious ceremony
that has somehow gone awry... to avoid ill-omened sounds and
sights
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Identify anthropomorphism and syncretism in the context of
Roman religion Ans: gods take human form and personalities
roman gods become associated with similar greek gods and take
over their functions, personalities, and myths: some gain (Venus)
and some lose (Mars)
What specifically was a "templum"? Ans: a sacred district or era
defined and inaugurated by augurs
What functions did a temple (aedes) have in Roman religion? Ans:
auspices (prophet) conducted in a templum (scared district or
area)---> aedes was a physical structure in a templum; sacrifices
take place outside the temple
What is the best way to explain the ritual killing of people in
ancient Rome? Ans: the gods accepted the killing as a gesture of
honor; ritualized killing tended to be occasional and in reaction to
a crisis, crime, and or prodigy
What was sought in taking the auspices, and what sort of things
were consulted? Ans: Public auspices limited to magistrates, with
consuls, praetors, censors having greater authority
than lower magistrates.
© 2025 All rights reserved
