Greco-Roman religion

Greco-Roman religion refers to the religious systems, cults, and theological ideas that characterized the cultures of the ancient Greco-Roman world. These traditions developed independently and became interleaved through cultural exchange, conquest, and philosophical synthesis, especially during the Hellenistic period and the height of the Roman Empire.

In both Greek and Roman contexts, religion was deeply embedded in public life, involving practices such as sacrifice, divination, and temple ritual. Gods and goddesses were venerated as powers active in the cosmos and the city, often associated with natural forces, civic virtues, and mythic narratives. The Greek pantheon and Roman pantheon overlapped significantly, with Roman deities often interpreted through the lens of interpretatio graeca—the identification of Roman gods with their Greek counterparts.

Beyond official state cults, Greco-Roman religion also included local cults, household worship, and the widespread participation in mystery religions such as the Eleusinian Mysteries, the cult of Isis, and Mithraism. Philosophers from Plato to Plotinus engaged with religious themes, elaborating metaphysical interpretations of divinity and introducing magical concepts such as theurgy—rituals designed to unite the soul with the divine.

See also

• Gallo-Roman religion
• Worship of heavenly bodies

References

• Beard, Mary; North, John; Price, Simon (1998). Religions of Rome: Volume 1, A History. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-316-13910-3.
• Shaw, G.; Milbank, J. (2014). Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus. Angelico Press. ISBN 978-1-62138-072-6.
• Versnel, H. S. (2011). Coping With the Gods: Wayward Readings in Greek Theology. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-20490-4.