CLST 2102 Exam 2 Questions and
Answers Graded A+
What was the aim of the Roman religion? - Correct answer-establish some kind of
control over the unpredictable
What was the focus of the Roman religion? - Correct answer-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? - Correct
answer-nothing is natural. gods are everywhere and responsible for everything;
belief in gods strong even if myths dismissed
Characterization about Roman religion - Correct answer-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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,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? - Correct answer-"peace of the gods" only given in return for correct
religious practice, and "i give that you may"
numen or numina - Correct answer-associated with objects, places, or processes,
posses personal will that can be influenced by prayers and offerings
genius and juno - Correct answer-family ancestors who lived in the underworld
(female version is juno)
Penates - Correct answer-group of nameless spirits, synonym for home
Lares - Correct answer-associated with both Penates and the spirits inhabiting
compitum (place where roads cross)
What was an "instauratio"? - Correct answer-redoing of a religious ceremony that
has somehow gone awry... to avoid ill-omened sounds and sights
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, Identify anthropomorphism and syncretism in the context of Roman religion -
Correct answer-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"? - Correct answer-a sacred district or era
defined and inaugurated by augurs
What functions did a temple (aedes) have in Roman religion? - Correct answer-
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? -
Correct answer-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? -
Correct answer-Public auspices limited to magistrates, with
consuls, praetors, censors having greater authority
than lower magistrates.
What were prodigies? - Correct answer-unnatural or dangerous signs
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Answers Graded A+
What was the aim of the Roman religion? - Correct answer-establish some kind of
control over the unpredictable
What was the focus of the Roman religion? - Correct answer-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? - Correct
answer-nothing is natural. gods are everywhere and responsible for everything;
belief in gods strong even if myths dismissed
Characterization about Roman religion - Correct answer-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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,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? - Correct answer-"peace of the gods" only given in return for correct
religious practice, and "i give that you may"
numen or numina - Correct answer-associated with objects, places, or processes,
posses personal will that can be influenced by prayers and offerings
genius and juno - Correct answer-family ancestors who lived in the underworld
(female version is juno)
Penates - Correct answer-group of nameless spirits, synonym for home
Lares - Correct answer-associated with both Penates and the spirits inhabiting
compitum (place where roads cross)
What was an "instauratio"? - Correct answer-redoing of a religious ceremony that
has somehow gone awry... to avoid ill-omened sounds and sights
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Identify anthropomorphism and syncretism in the context of Roman religion -
Correct answer-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"? - Correct answer-a sacred district or era
defined and inaugurated by augurs
What functions did a temple (aedes) have in Roman religion? - Correct answer-
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? -
Correct answer-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? -
Correct answer-Public auspices limited to magistrates, with
consuls, praetors, censors having greater authority
than lower magistrates.
What were prodigies? - Correct answer-unnatural or dangerous signs
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
