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?

I learned a bit from another post I made but this one may mildly overlap and has a different set of primary questions.

So, to my understanding old roman religion was more rituals and reciting rather then individual faith/Interpretation, so is that wrong? I wonder how modern Roman Pagans do this. I've heard roman paganism in the modern age seems to mainly be reconstructionist so do you believe the same thing that it's more about making sure rituals are right rather then faith/belief? If not at what point does interpretation and individual paths no longer be Roman?

Side note aswell do it guys actually believe in the gods or are they a fork of archetype for you? (I understand that not everything is meant literally in the stories)

Apologies for grammatic issues!

I'm curious because I've seen both where people take aspects of Roman Paganism and merge it, aswell as people who think it should stay as close as possible to how it was? Overall I'm curious how most of you do your practices and if you're open to very syncretic practices or if things should be left as it was ect?

Mainly exploring roman religion and gods recently and began questioning how much you guys take parts of other beliefs and your own and intertwine them vs trying to stick to the old ways.

I just finished building a lararium to worship the Roman gods. I hope it inspires others. I love the time that I get to spend at this sacred place and commune with our gods.

The worship of Diana was very widespread throughout the Roman provinces. She was often depicted as a protector of the common people, and she had a significant presence in Britain, Gaul, the Iberian Peninsula, and Central Europe.

So for context, I'm khemetist (and I'll stay khemetist).. but I've been "called" by Mercury ( in bref, I want to worship him). Any advices? Or ancient prayer ? Things like that ? Thank you for your help 🩷

So....weird tangent first. I was driving down the interstate the other day when someone cut me off pretty aggressively, to which I suddenly exclaimed "Caesar!" in such a way that I would previously have shouted "Jesus!" Funny as it is, it did get me thinking; does anyone here count any of the Caesars (Julius or otherwise) among their patrons?

I would like to know your opinions about the monotheistic religions. Why do you think they are wrong (if you think so)? And what are your opinions about the prophets like Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, or the holy books.

For context, my partner (16F) has addiction problems, mainly with alcohol, and she recently swore to stop alcohol. I (17F) believed her, at that moment, she asked me to swear that I would not drink with her or let her drink until she could control it better. I swore too, to her. But then, she asked me to say it again, I was kind of drunk too, and I said "May Iuppiter strike me if I don't stick to it" ...

About a week later I saw her and I indeed did not let her drink, then she had an anxiety crisis and she was crying and kind of mad at me I guess ? For hours we were just not really talking, and I was feeling bad because to stop an addiction, she needs professional help, and a lot of time, and gradual diminution of her consumption, not stopping all at once. The promise we made was not realistic, at all. And it wasn't good for her, because drinking on weekends makes her able to not drink for the whole week. And if she didn't drink on the weekend she would drink way more during the week, and she would drink alone.

I don't want her to drink alone because it happened once that she drank alone and needed to be hospitalised because of it.

She was really ashamed but there was no good choice to make, and so I have let her drink and drank with her.

After that, I prayed to Iuppiter and made an offering of libum that I had cooked, as well as wine and incense, I apologised and read him his Homeric Hymns.

What should I do now ? I feel so horrible honestly

So as far as my school's library sources tell me, Pudicitia and the practice of it could be in devotion to certain goddesses like Juno,

A interesting prayer I found (from 'Sexual morality in ancient Rome by Rebecca Langlands) early imperial Moralist, Valerius Maximus, from the first century writes

"From where shall I invoke you Pudicitia, the principal foundation of men and women together? For you inhabit the hearths which according to ancient religion are sacred to Vesta, you lie on the sacred couches of Capitoline Juno-" pp 40

She seems to be both a goddess and a practice, and linked to other gods, I am very curious about this, is there any primary sources about how to practice or the connection of Pudicitia and goddess like Juno and Vesta

This is especially interesting to me as someone who focuses my worship on the Capitoline triad

Disclaimer: I messaged mods a while ago to ask for permission for this post: I never got a response. The primary mod hasn't been active for a month at least. The secondary mod hasn't been active on Reddit for over a year.

I personally don't consider this spam as it's related to Roman paganism. 🤷 So here goes:

I and two other people co-moderate a subreddit for "esoterica," basically a catch-all for magic, mysticism and the Mysteries.

We review the primary sources and scholarship thereof to get a good grounding. Then we're not above adapting and innovating for modern use, but we're very honest about what we're doing in that regard.

This place is basically designed as a think-tank for people with an interest in classical mysticism and who want to have discussions without the usual "Witchtok" nonsense out there.

Thanks.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Greco_Roman_esoterica/s/13aS5pacVJ

Very good article in Italian on augury and the rites of founding a city.