Demeter wasn't a religion, it was a Greek Goddess that focused on harvest of the Earth. There were cults dedicated to Demeter they focused on making sacrifices to Demeter in exchange for good growth and harvest of much needed crops.
Because if was so large, the Roman empire had innumerable pagan cults or "religions". However dealing with Rome itself, there were, in addition to small local cults, three main cults that could be considered religions in that they had set rites and rituals and days of celebration. These were the cults of Mithra, Cybele, and Isis.
Yes, the ancient Romans had very many rituals. Like most ancient peoples they were what we call today, superstitious. They had rituals for starting and ending war, honoring the gods, for ensuring a good harvest, for healing, etc, etc, etc. These rites had to be performed perfectly so as not to insult the gods.
The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.The Romans were tolerant of almost all religions or cults. The only ones that they acted against were the ones which preached treason, such as Christianity, (at least some of the time) and those cults which they considered dangerous to public morals such as the cult of Bacchus.
Usually by city-cults and their priests.
Mystery cults were religious organizations in ancient Greece and Rome that offered secret rituals and teachings to select members. These cults focused on personal salvation and promising an afterlife in contrast to the state-sponsored religions of the time. Examples include the Eleusinian Mysteries and the Cult of Isis.
Demeter was the great Olympian Greek goddess of agriculture; she had charge of both the harvest and theforemost of the Mystery Cults which promised its intiates the path to a blessed afterlife.
Almost all of the Greek people worshipped the gods and goddesses, but there was no universal belief system throughout Greece. There were many different cults that held specific beliefs.
Lily Ross Taylor has written: 'The divinity of the Roman emperor' -- subject(s): Cult, Emperor worship, Cults, Rome 'Roman Voting Assemblies' 'The Divinity Of the Roman Emperor (Philological Monographs)' 'The cults of Ostia' -- subject(s): Accessible book, Cults, Cultus, Greek, Cultus, Roman, Gods, Greek, Gods, Roman, Greek Cultus, Greek Gods, Religion, Roman Cultus, Roman Gods 'Local cults in Etruria' -- subject(s): Religion, Cults, Antiquities, History
Minor Greek gods and goddesses had no major followers or cults during the period the Greek god and goddesses were recounted to "classic" mythology.
Both ancient Greece and Rome had the same gods and goddesses, only with different names. Example, the ancient Greek god of the seas was Poseidon, while in ancient Rome, his name was Neptune. Also, ancient Greeks and Romans lived near water for food and water resources and trading routes. Lastly, ancient Greeks and Romans had very powerful armies, which helped them conquer many other civilizations.
Rome did not borrow any ideas for its polytheistic religion. It was polytheistic right from the start. All ancient religions, apart from Judaism, were polytheistic. Rome adopted five Greek divinities and later linked its deities to the Greek ones. She also adopted some Etruscan and Italic deities. However, this was not a borrowing of ideas for their religion. It was the incorporation of foreign divinities and cults in the pantheon of Roman deities and the array of cults.
Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks and some modern cults.
Demeter wasn't a religion, it was a Greek Goddess that focused on harvest of the Earth. There were cults dedicated to Demeter they focused on making sacrifices to Demeter in exchange for good growth and harvest of much needed crops.
Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.Rome tolerated the eastern mystery cults because they posed no threat to the empire. The Romans were very tolerant of othes' religious beliefs and only banned or persecuted them if they were decadent or treasonous. Christianity was considered both.
Many religions practice or practiced polytheism, including the ancient Greek religion (which is still practiced today), the ancient Roman religion (mostly based on the Greek religion), and many indigenous religions.
It depends on the actual Mystery religion. The Dionysian Mysteries offered liberation for those who were margionalized in Ancient Greek society (eg: womwn, slaves, outsiders..). They used trance inducing techniques to remove their inhibitions and social constraints to try to enter a natural state. [This is a basic summary of it by the way] When worshiping Demeter (the godess of Agriculture, grain, bread, etc), it was basically a way the ancient Greeks would explain the seasons changing (Summer = dry, crops stop growins, risk of drought - explained as when Demeter was paniced and searching for her daughter, Persephone. Spring = Demeter is happy as she is with her daughter again). Those worshipping her also believed that they would be rewarded by her in the afterlife.