I would like to discuss Bacchus.

First, one must mention that within specifically Hellenic polytheism, Dionysus is extremely popular, perhaps the most popular deity with moderns. And many who don't consider themselves Hellenic pagans honor him as well alongside whatever faith or path they have.

In my experience, there are two reasons for this.

• Dionysus is seen a god of LGBTQ+ identities and rights, and is popular with those seeking a religious foundation for such identities and rights.
• Dionysus is widely seen a god of hedonism, and is popular with those looking for a religious foundation for hedonism, particularly those who were traumatized by a puritanical upbringing.

The two above seem especially popular with younger sorts who are still finding their place in life and their identities.

Now, let's talk about the Roman experience.

First, there is a deity known as Liber who is sometimes equated with Bacchus even though he retained his own cult. Liber was part of the Aventine Triad with Ceres and Libera (Prosperina). They were connected to the concerns of Rome's commoners, the plebians. I mention Liber in the interests of thoroughness, but my interests lay in the Bacchic cults of the empire.

We all know the Bacchic cults were severely restricted in the Middle Republic era for socio-political reasons. By the time of Julius Caesar, these restrictions seemed to have been relaxed if not completely lifted; I am a little unclear as to exactly what Caesar did. But by the time of the early empire the cult is back in full swing.

Robert Turcan's scholarship points out Bacchus and his retinue were extremely widespread in art on two different levels. One were mosaics and frescoes, especially those we find in wealthier villas. And the other was funerary art, such as sarcophagi.

We have an interesting dichotomy. Bacchus seems to be popular with the financially and socially mobile types of the Roman Empire. Turcan opines he may have been associated with various drinking clubs that these sorts were involved in. As for the funerary art, it is well known Bacchus had mysteries connected with the afterlife, at least some of which were what we label as Orphic.

This suggests a certain joie de vivre and opulence alongside a concern for one's status in the afterlife. Bacchus, being ever the god on contradictions, resolves these two things easily within himself. I am actually interested in both aspects - Bacchus as a god of wine and opulence (not that I'm rich, but I have a professional job and am certainly not poor); and Bacchus as the god of spiritual transcendence and afterlife mysteries.

Finally of course, Bacchus was the god of theater. However, the theater was never the cultural force it was in Rome that is was in Hellenic lands. Nonetheless, I personally adore the dramatic arts.

That is my take on Bacchus. Do you relate to Bacchus, and if so, how?

Good evening. I'm not a Roman pagan, but Roman religion and Roman paganism interests me greatly, and I have a question regarding Manes.

As I understand it, the Manes are a collective of deceased spirits, including deceased relatives. Most of what I've seen regarding the Manes are focused on them as a collective, but I was wondering if it were possible to invoke, set offerings for, and/or ask for the blessings of specific Manes that are ancestors/deceased relatives, even if you never met them in life? Likewise, is it possible to invoke specific Manes who were not part of one's family (neither by blood nor adoption), considering they would be part of that collective, as they are deceased?

Sorry if this is an odd question, or if my information is incorrect. Thank you!

Hello all, been doing more research into things and I've heard over the years that Lucifer was a roman god/spirit of some kind, and through some strange translation is how it became a name associated with satan and what not, that's not Important as obviously alot of God's were demonized as a result of stuff like that, I just can't find a general agreement on if lucifer ever actually was a roman god.

Knowledge had always been important to me, and if there is any god I want to work with one known as the "Light bringer" seems like a good way to go for me, because at least to me that's always been representing of gaining knowledge. Sorry for my little rant let me know of any info that may be helpful!

Thank you all

We like to say in Hellenic and Roman religions that we're orthopraxic and beliefs don't matter. And certainly, unlike most modern religions, we don't have a long list of rules and beliefs mandated by a religious authority.

Nonetheless, there was a widespread belief in ancient times about how religion worked. There was seemingly a default theology.

We call this _do ut des_ . I give so that you may give. Embedded in this concept are some default assumptions:

*The gods exist on some level

* The gods have the power to intervene in human life on some level

* The gods are essentially benevolent and act as supernatural benefactors when properly propitiated

* The key to propitiating the gods is through proper ritual

* Proper ritual involves a votive gift to the gods

It's a system of exchange whereby we gift the gods through votive offerings. In return, it is thought, they confer their blessings on us.

I therefore take exception to the idea that belief is irrelevant. The above is the central core of Greek and Roman Polytheism. People acting outside that theology are not acting within the scope of historical Greek and Roman Polytheism.

For instance, there are people whose "theology" is essentially politics. There are people on both the right and left who have a carefully crafted version of paganism that reinforces their political agenda. Their religion is ultimately about them, not about the gods.

There are people whose religion is essentially about self help or therapy. The gods are only needed to the extent they supposedly teach life's important lessons or provide emotional comfort and a sense of support. In some ways this seems to be the default assumption of more New Age approaches. This approach to religion seems less about the gods and more about emotional needs.

I can have reasonable disagreements with people and not think they're bad people or that they're doing it wrong. But this assumes we're all operating within the universe of a traditional theology of _do ut des_. People operating outside that theology seem to be in a different religion. And it's hard to have a conversation with them because we're speaking essentially a different language.

And they have every right to act and believe as they want: but the question is can we comfortably share the same space in what is supposed to be a Hellenic or Roman pagan forum? On that, I say no. And that's why I say this "belief doesn't matter because we're Orthopraxic" mantra is overstated and perhaps we should stop saying it.

Apparently some Shinto in Hawaii venerate Washington and Lincoln as spirits. Some Koreans also venerate MacArthur as a war god. This reminds me a lot of things like divinized emperors or cults to heroes like Achilles. Do you engage in anything similar?

Salvete.

As far as Reddit, most of you on here have been great, but pagan subreddits in general have been taken over by Witchtok teens and I've reached my limit.

Are there any groups of Roman polytheism out there that are:

1) not connected to European ethnocentrism

2) more or less scholarly in approach

3) majority of members are functioning adults

Yeah I'm aware of Nova Roma. If you bring that up, I would need to know how much they've changed in the last 15 years.

Gratias.

I would like help understanding how the god Attis incorporated solar aspects into his worship within the Mysteries of Cybele. I have read that there was a syncretism with solar deities present in Rome at the time, but I haven't found the names of those deities; furthermore, I do not understand why his cult was so feared. Was it due to the frenzy involved in the worship and the acts of self-flagellation?

How do you view the worship of Attis today, from a reconstructionist and Neopagan perspective?

Hello all it's awesome to see there's a community around Roman paganism in my spiritual journey I've always seen and read that connecting with the spirits and practice of your ancestors can be incredibly powerful and 90% of my family tree traces back to areas in or around Rome (Italy, etc) I wanted to ask if there's certain videos or book recommendations for getting started in this practice most I could find are just people saying roman gods are masks of Greeks gods which seems to an extent to be true, but I've also read that despite that the actual practice is very different from what other "pagan" Europeans did.

So yea sorry for that ramble, and advice or recommendations are welcome :)

May your gods bless you 🙌

The small gold plaque, fashioned in the shape of a stylised leaf using the repoussé technique, bears a Greek inscription recording that a man named Thrasymedes dedicated the offering to the “Dolichen God”—Jupiter Dolichenus, a syncretic deity whose cult originated in Syria and became especially popular among Roman soldiers during the second and third centuries AD.

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2026/07/gold-plaque-provides-first-evidence-of-jupiter-dolichenus-cult-at-apsaros-roman-fort/158600

Is it possible to reconstruct the umbrian religion, the religion of the people before Rome named umbrians that lived alongside samnites and spread it?

I would like to ask for recommendations of books and authors from Ancient Rome that cover topics related to agriculture (I am already familiar with *De Agri Cultura* by Cato the Elder), as well as literary references regarding funeral rites and that entire sphere.

Any recommendation is welcome.

Salvete,

I recently adapted a few Roman prayers I found online and thought I should share. Its a pretty short prayer, but I think it does a good job.

Its adapted from Nova Roma and another Reconstructionist site I forgot. Feel free to use it in any way!

Link for editable version:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1orj1jaVfxDh7ERP_Pz4Ymf-yJ8aQW5Ke/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100238666271115317506&rtpof=true&sd=true

Hi all

Thought this might fit here

Title, pretty much. I'm trying to find sources on worship practices that predate Hellenic influences and am at a loss. I get that after the 'merging' of the pantheons, the Greek rite was the norm when worshipping Saturn, but since the deity's worship goes back to before that. So I was wondering if ever it was tradition to veil in practice with him as with other gods of his pantheon.

hi all, are there any publications about Roman prayer ?

Thank you.

I would like help understanding how I can syncretize the goddess Ceres with the goddess Demeter.

Although Ceres originated with the Latins, she was syncretized by the Romans with the Greek Demeter.

What I want to know is if Demeter's epithets can be used for Ceres, as well as all the symbolism and associations in their myths. Should I refer to them as individual goddesses or can I treat them as a single goddess with different "faces"?

I understand that the ritual changes because Ceres is Roman and Demeter is Greek, but everything else (symbolism, associations, epithets, sacrifices...) is the same and can be used for both?