Chapter XX. The Roman Religion: the Priesthoods,

the Vestal Virgins

345. Religious Symbols Everywhere in Rome 407

346. Epicureanism and Agnosticism among the Upper Classes 407

347. Stoicism: Revival of Religion under the Empire 408

348. Foreign Cults Intruded upon the “Religion of Numa” 410

349. Superstitious Piety of the City Plebeians 411

350. Roman Religion Originally Developed by Italian Farmers 411

351. Native Italian Gods: Janus, Saturn, Flora. The Lares and Penates 413

352. Personified Virtues as Gods: Cold and Legalistic Character of the Roman Religion 414

353. Priestly Offices: Little Sacrosanct about Them 416

354. The Pontifices 417

355. The Augurs 418

356. The Flamens 420

357. The _Salii_ (“Holy Leapers”) 421

358. The _Fetiales_ (“Sacred Heralds”): Ceremony of Declaring War 422

359. The Arval Brethren (_Fratres Arvales_) 423

360. Rustic Ceremonies; Soothsaying, Astrologers, and Witches 424

361. A Private Sacrifice 425

362. Ceremony at the Temple 426

363. A Formal Prayer: the Actual Sacrifice 428

364. The Vestal Virgins: Their Sanctity and Importance 429

365. The Temple of Vesta and the House of the Vestals 431

366. Appointment of Vestals 432

367. Duties of the Vestals: the Maxima 433

368. Punishments of Erring Vestals 434

369. Remarkable Honors Granted the Vestals 435