The Religion of Ancient Rome

In this concise yet thorough survey, the author guides listeners through the hidden world of Rome’s earliest faith, before the flood of Greek and Eastern ideas reshaped it. By treating the surviving calendars, inscriptions, and occasional literary fragments as clues, he shows how the native cults can be distinguished from later accretions. The approach likens archaeology of the Forum to archaeology of belief, urging us to peel back layers of tradition to glimpse the original spirit that Romans themselves called the “Religion of Numa.”

The narrative then turns to the internal development of that primitive faith, tracing its progression from early magical practices to organized ritual. Examples such as the aquaelicium—a rain‑making procession that embodies sympathetic magic—illustrate how the Romans attempted to command nature before formal priesthoods took hold. Throughout, the author highlights the uniquely Roman character of these rites, showing both their common roots with other early societies and the distinctive features that would later define Roman religious identity.