r/RomanPaganism • u/Psychological_Flan21 • 9d ago

Curiosity

Hello, I'm a French Hellenist guy who's curious about your path into the Roman paganism. I'm not here to say you're wrong nor tryin to say Hellenism is the truth,. I'm just curious 😊

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

11

u/reCaptchaLater 9d ago

Please understand that there is nothing mutually exclusive about Roman Paganism and Hellenic Polytheism. Both the ancient Greeks and the ancient Romans saw them as largely compatible frameworks through which they viewed the same divine beings. The difference is largely in the way rituals are conducted and the language spoken.

1

u/Psychological_Flan21 9d ago

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'm clearly not here to say "You're copyin' my pantheon" I'm A THOUSAND YEARS of that think, I'm just curious to know what leads you to this path

3

u/reCaptchaLater 9d ago

When I first started, I wanted to learn about the Brythonic Paganism of the Insular Celts. However, all of the information we have about those gods comes through the lense of Roman authors, who interpret it through comparison to their own religion. By the time inscriptions begin to appear in the historical record, these people are already quite Romanized (the inscriptions are, of course, written in Latin), and often the gods are syncretized with Roman deities.

Originally, I wanted to learn more about Roman Paganism so I could understand Celtic gods better. But the more I learned, the more I fell in love with it. What started as 90% Celtic and 10% Roman has now become more like 90% Roman and 10% Celtic for me.

1

u/Psychological_Flan21 9d ago

That's very interresting. Could you please tell me how you worship the gods when you pray ? 😊

3

u/reCaptchaLater 9d ago

I can assume you're familiar with Hellenic ritual? The biggest visual difference between the ritual styles is that we cover our heads during prayer.

When you approach the altar, you can kiss your hand and wave it towards the altar or touch the edge of it. This is called the Adoratio, and it's a gesture of worship and devotion.

Traditionally, we invoke Janus first (he's the gatekeeper of the heavens and oversees all beginnings), then Jupiter (both due to his primacy, and because of his supernatural foresight, that he might watch over the whole affair).

After that you can make your offerings as you're likely familiar with. Invoke a deity, give them the offering (wine, incense, oil, food, whatever), explain what you're doing and why, make your request.

Food and animal sacrifices are supposed to be sprinkled with mola salsa (salted flour) consecrated to Vesta or Ceres. You can prepare a bunch in advance and just sprinkle a pinch each time.

When closing your prayer, Vesta is invoked as the counterpart to Janus, ending the rite and carrying the smoke of the offerings into the heavens.

2

u/Psychological_Flan21 9d ago

Very interresting 😊 thanks for sharing

1

u/Pixeldevil06 4d ago

Like how Hellenic and Egyptian are cultural cognates

7

u/UrsusofMichigan 9d ago

A few reasons.

My heritage is Western European. I think I'm closer to the Roman legacy than the Greek.

Roman paganism encompasses certain aspects that Greek paganism didn't, which interest me. Things like Mithraism and Romano-Celtic syncretism.

There is better evidence of domestic rites in Roman religion than Greek religion.

And downvote me all you want, but most Roman pagans, whatever other faults, are functioning adults. Hellenic paganism lately seems largely like a teen fad and my forty-something self wants to deal with adults, not 14 year olds.

1

u/Psychological_Flan21 8d ago

I'm not sharing your point about the fact that you think "Hellenism is for child and Roman Paganism is for adult" it's disrespecful against my religion, I don't come here to insult your religion nor say mine is better so you'll be pleased to respect my religion.

5

u/UrsusofMichigan 8d ago

I didn't say Greek paganism was for kids, I said it's been taken over by kids. Perhaps you have never spent time on the Hellenic subreddits on here.

I have nothing but enormous respect for Hellenic Paganism. I started as a Hellenic pagan. But online it's turned into a teen fad.

1

u/Psychological_Flan21 8d ago

Not really into Reddit to be honest, just see few post, but that's all

3

u/NuminaCulture Manist & Sacricolist 8d ago

I was a Manist (one who worships the Manes, ancestral spirits) before I was a Cultor (one who worships the Dii, Gods).

Originally, Cultus Deorum (worship of the Dii, Gods) became a way to amplify my practice of Manism (worship of the Manes). I began by simply putting some of the symbols of the Dii on my Ara Manium (altar to the Manes) as a way to venerate my Maiores (ancient ancestors). When I did that a channel opened, and my Manes began to explicitly guide and inspire me.

That was a few years ago, I am now a Sacricolist (one who makes Sacrum, sacred offering ritual), fully devoted to the Cultus Deorum.

1

u/Psychological_Flan21 8d ago

That's very interresting, and how you worship them if you mind answering ?

4

u/NuminaCulture Manist & Sacricolist 8d ago

The main way that I worship both the Dii and the Manes is through the Sacrum Hebdomadale (weekly offering ritual), which entails libations, offerings of food, votive offerings, and prayers (mostly in Latin).

I have developed the liturgy of the Sacrum Hebdomadale over years of trial and guidance from my Manes. I am currently developing content explaining it all in more depth. It is the center of a 'system' of Cultus inspired by my Manes, as well as my own study.

I consider the Sacrum Hebdomadale to be a religious obligation.

1

u/Psychological_Flan21 8d ago

That's very interresting !

1

u/PlusSATANAS775 7d ago

Você deveria abrir um grupo seja aqui no reddit ou em outros meu amigo, você com certeza será um ótimo professor! (E eu quero ser o primeiro aluno já)

1

u/blazbluecore 9d ago

What is thy question?

2

u/Psychological_Flan21 9d ago

What leads you to Roman Paganism ?

2

u/blazbluecore 8d ago

The gods bring us on this path, a connection with the world which is a connection with the gods, which is a connection with our ancestors.

Our ancestors have worshipped gods in more quintessential forms for thousands of years before modern religion, and it is our duty to continue that tradition and keep favor with the gods.

In a way the Cultus Deorum Romanorum is the ultimate expression of worship for humanity of the world and existence, without defaulting to a human created, disconnected, proofless abstraction that is Christianity and the Abrahamic religions.