THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF RELIGIOUS IDENTIFICATION OF THE ANCIENT ROMANS

Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d . This article is intended to be a comprehensive study of the peculiarities of religious identification of Romans in the context of social stratification and social differentiation. It is an attempt to reconstruct the ancient Roman way of life and its impact on religious life, how it changed depending on the social group, and the characteristic features of attitudes towards religion inherent in each of them. The article also shows the role of other factors that shaped the variability of the perception of religion in Roman society, in particular, political, economic and cultural factors.

M e t h o d s . The article examines different approaches to the coverage of this issue by leading researchers of Roman religion in the fields of religious studies, history and cultural studies, as the answers to the questions lie at the intersection of these disciplines.

R e s u l t s . The study of the religious identification of representatives of equal layers of the population of Ancient Rome demonstrates a complex and versatile interdependence between the belief system and the social hierarchy, components that were deeply rooted in the social fabric of Rome. It also shows how people interacted with religion depending on their social class: from supporting temples and elite participation in state cults to worshiping deities popular among the lower classes. By highlighting the multifaceted nature of religious identification in the context of social stratification, this study contributes to a much deeper understanding of the social and cultural life of ancient Rome. Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of social differentiation in Rome, their influence on the formation of norms of private life and everyday life, as well as the relationship between the individual and the collective in the context of the religious life of the Romans. Moreover, the influence of social status on religious preferences is indicated: which gods were patronised by wealthy and poor groups, and how this circle of deities changed depending on social changes. The author identifies a range of characteristics that embody the general attitude of the Romans to religion and determine the peculiarities of their religious identification.

C o n c l u s i o n s . The study conducted highlights the religious identification of the Romans within the context of social stratification and differentiation, demonstrating the multilayered relationship between religious beliefs and social hierarchy. Roman society was consolidated around the idea of collective state welfare, with religion, which was intricately intertwined with other socially significant institutions, serving as both an ideological source and a social regulator. The influence of social status on religious preferences reflects how deeply religious beliefs were embedded in the daily lives of Romans and how these beliefs shaped both individual and collective identity.