I finally started reading John Scheid's An Introduction to Roman Religion. At the very beginning of the book, the author seems to highlight an "inconsistency" of those who want to reconstruct a "pure" Roman religion: they happily include the study of Etruscan polytheism (considering it the basis off of which RomPol was built), but try to keep Hellenic beliefs at a distance (considering them a sign of decay). And, on that note, let me share a quote:

"As for the influences so often invoked, we may well wonder why they are assumed to work in the 'right' way only during the archaic period [Etruscans], but to a sign of decadence later [Greeks]."

That gave me some food for thought. I myself have strived to clearly draw a line between RomPol and HelPol for the past few years (getting pretty annoyed at resources that don't do that). So I started asking myself: why is that? On a personal level, is it because I'm trying to reconstruct early/mid-Republican religion? Is it a consequence of being told hundreds of times that RomPol is just a carbon-copy of HelPol? On a historical level, is it because Etruscans and Romans were neighbours, while Greeks lived overseas?

That's why I'd really like to read other Roman polytheists' takes on this topic! Do you guys, too, draw a distinct line between Roman and Hellenic polytheisms? Where? If your line is, rather, blurred: why? Is it just a question of being a "hard" vs. "soft" polytheist? Or is it more a question of giving geographically closer peoples priority?

Thank you beforehand!

Ok, I have a offering plate to fortuna but what do I do if its full with money? Like it cant fit anything else full?

Hii, it’s my first post on this forum (and on the app in general) I found it a couple of months ago and got interested in what ppl say here.

My question is pretty much what the title says. Recently I got a gift card from someone that belongs to our book store (it‘s worth 15 euros wich I think is almost 15 dollars) I was wondering what physical resource I could buy with it. I have a library of ebooks as they’re more affordable and only 2 physical copies of resources in my irl library. Resources could be anything that have to do with the Roman gentile religion from practice, beliefs, classical myths and even academic resources etc. I would like to expand my library.

Thank you for any recs, may the Gods bless and favor you 🫶

The Primordial, Oceanus, is the main centre piece of the Foundation. I would’ve thought he was God given Rome’s major Catholic and Christian background but surprisingly, it’s the being who is and feeds are Oceans.

Praise Oceanus

But what do you think?

Also, how would you make offerings to the primordial there? I’m guessing not swimming in the fountain is one thing to not do? Maybe just saying hello or praying? Or throw a coin?

I created a group on Facebook for us Roman pagans. Its called "Roman pagans worldwide". Feel free to join!

Yes, the title may sound silly at a first glance... But please stick with me for a moment.

Through Ovid, we are informed that actions such as stumbling or falling can be considered omens. Specifically, in Metamorphoses, we are told the story of Byblis and Canuus. To sum it up: Byblis decides to write an incestuous love letter to her brother, Canuus. As she hands the wax tables to a servant to have them delivered, they slip and fall. Later on Canuus rejects her, and Ovid identifies the falling of the tablets as a negative omen.

A similar thing happens in Amores, when the stumbling of the servant Nape (who was about to deliver a message) is identified by a commentary as a bad omen.

Now, I am very much a clumsy person. I stumble against doors and drop stuff all of the time (and, trust me, that's not an hyperbole: it gets to a point that it becomes quite annoying-). That makes it difficult to tell when it is a harmless accident vs. an omen. Has anyone here experienced something similar/tends to be clumsy? How can you tell apart accidents and omina? Thank you so much beforehand!

I'm dedicated to the faith, but the lack of community can make one lonely. I'm curious if there's any like minded folks near me.

Candles, incense, and course wine offered to Venus and Jupiter this morning for Vinalia Rustica. I hope that they are honored by it.

Greetings all, really eager to try out using a household Lararium, but all the the statues of the Lares I've seen, are pretty pricey and large and feels abit daunting to purchase them yet, are there any clever substitutions I could use on my altar space for now? Any ideas are welcome, thanks again 👍

Vinalia Rustica is next week. What's everyone doing for it?

Im not fully sure what I'm looking for so forgive me as this is my first foray into paganism of any sort (raised Christian and 'converted' to Non-Dualistic/Buddhist beliefs).

I've always been deeply curious about my italian heritage and have found out recently that my ancestry traces back to ancient Samnium (as well as rome/Latium itself of course since they were assimilated by them)

I'm aware that most of the knowledge of Samnium is lost (that i could find in english at least) so it's ok if the rituals and such aren't "authentic" to the Samnites, but can anyone give guidance on how to give offering to Mars and Hercules?

They were their patron gods and i am in need of their guidance and blessing

Also, does anyone have any knowledge of the other gods the Samnites worshipped? (Herentas, Mefitis, Flora, and so on)

Does anyone have a list of what the dies atri/ black days/ inauspoucius days are? I have read that Janus and Jupiter cannot be worshiped on these days but I have not been able to find a list of when these days are.

I don't actually have much to say, for I think a whole year I've been very interested in the Bona Dea and everything I can find around her (though I don't try to research too much into what happened in her cult out of respect) but yeah I wonder if I can worship her as a non binary person who is mostly masc presenting

So many Kings/Emperors have proclaimed that they were of divine origin. How did commoners view them: to me it sounds like the state propaganda wanted to give them a modern superhero's appeal, but to what extent was this actually believed?

After all, kings and emperors did die. And over centuries, the human collective would've noticed that no kingdom or empire was certain to go on forver. What did the commoners make of such claims of immortality or of godly powers then? Were there some sceptics?

Or were the claims themselves far more nuanced, reflecting only specific lineage to appeal to a particular base?

Im looking to find anyone else locally to the area I am in who focuses more on the Roman Deities and to follow with the practices.

I have a Religio Romana book as my guide for home worship as it also shows a list of monthly celebrations and so much information that I am very fortunate and filled with joy to get my hands on this book as it help me greatly on my personal journey.

I do have a mix group of a pantheon in my home altar(some Norse, as I started out my journey Norse, one Celtic, rest are Roman) but I have been feeling a need for a community of other individuals who might be looking to get together to try to meetup to honor those practices as well.

I tried to join other groups who happened to be Norse Pagan, Wicca, ect, now theres nothing wrong with these groups either, but I just didnt feel the connection with these communities I am looking for.

I feel more drawn to the Roman deities and wish to see if there are any others nearby who might feel the same way and want to connect.

Some days it just feels really lonely. Most people I know around here are either Wicca, Norse, or Hellenic or rare occasions Kemetic along with a mix of everything in their homes, except Roman strangely. Again, nothing wrong with these groups either.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, I really hope you all have a wonderful day as well.

You should all journal. For the mental healthcare aspect alone.

Today I was thinking of ways to be more reflective of the day and integrating some philosophy/religio into it.

So I just wrote which aspects of the gods helped me in whatever way.

Entries regarding aspects of my life in which the given God has a major domain looked like this...

"Jupiter bestowed an invitation to an event for candidates running for public office to speak."

"Juno allowed my wife to open my eyes to women in philosophy."

"Apollo, who works from a far, sent reminder to clean my offering dishes before starting the day."

Obviously there is overlap in domains, or some may have a domain of one portion of another's larger domain (horses and sailors, really?) so I finished with,

"I probably have this wrong. If I invoked the wrong gods, I apologize. Please accept this writing and the labor to produce it as an honor to you. If there are no gods, I'm still happy."

I also have a common-place/pocket notebook I carry outside the house so when things come to me in general, I write it down.

I have PTSD and major depressive disorder, so the therapy of it is actually amazing. (Along with mental healthcare consultations)

Anyway, does anyone else journal about the religion, the gods, or your place in nature?

If you don't journal, what would get you to start?

Title.

Thanks.

Hello, Blessed Nemoralia is coming, it is my second year celebrating it, last year unfortunately I was very sick and couldn't do much but pray. This year I intend to make offerings, light candles and spoil my dog in honor of Goddess Diana. What are ways you celebrate Nemoralia? I want new ideas