How was the temple laid out?
A = This is where the entrance to the courtyard is positioned and bears a dedicatory plaque from 62AD after it was rebuilt due to the earthquake.
B = The entrance to the temple which sits on a raised platform
C = There are remains of a raised plinth along the back wall which would have supported statues, most likely of Isis.
D = Is where the first altar is positioned
E = This is where the second altar has been placed.
F = This is where another mini temple is, it has steps leading downwards to a river that supposedly held the sacred water of the Nile, it was a place where purification rites were held an was known as the Purgatorium.
G = This letter represents a large room which was found mostly in tact which included a black mosaic floor and fourth style artwork.
H = This is another room where cult instruments were kept.
I = These are the living areas of the priests of the Temple of Isis which included bedrooms, kitchen, living area and dining room.[1]
B = The entrance to the temple which sits on a raised platform
C = There are remains of a raised plinth along the back wall which would have supported statues, most likely of Isis.
D = Is where the first altar is positioned
E = This is where the second altar has been placed.
F = This is where another mini temple is, it has steps leading downwards to a river that supposedly held the sacred water of the Nile, it was a place where purification rites were held an was known as the Purgatorium.
G = This letter represents a large room which was found mostly in tact which included a black mosaic floor and fourth style artwork.
H = This is another room where cult instruments were kept.
I = These are the living areas of the priests of the Temple of Isis which included bedrooms, kitchen, living area and dining room.[1]
What sort of rituals were practiced?
I mentioned in the Roman Art page that the Romans had come to admire the Egyptian culture; well they admired them so much so that they built a temple dedicated to one of their gods, Isis. The images above show this temple, known as the Temple of Isis, although they still practiced their usual Roman religion there.
Sacrificial rituals were quite important because they believed that as long as the gods were satisfied with what the Roman citizens offered to them, then all would be peaceful and prosperous. If it was an animal they were sacrificing, then the sex of the animal had to match that of the gods' gender that they were worshipping to. Both public and private sacrifices were made daily for all sorts of gods and people would advertise this because they were proud to have given something up to them.
They also had a ritual to produce rain after a long drought; they had a sacred rain stone (Lapis Manalis) to which they would pour water over while a procession of people would offer something to the sky god Jupiter.[2]
Sacrificial rituals were quite important because they believed that as long as the gods were satisfied with what the Roman citizens offered to them, then all would be peaceful and prosperous. If it was an animal they were sacrificing, then the sex of the animal had to match that of the gods' gender that they were worshipping to. Both public and private sacrifices were made daily for all sorts of gods and people would advertise this because they were proud to have given something up to them.
They also had a ritual to produce rain after a long drought; they had a sacred rain stone (Lapis Manalis) to which they would pour water over while a procession of people would offer something to the sky god Jupiter.[2]
What does this evidence tell us about Ancient Roman Life? How is it significant?
They obviously had a lot of faith and fear in their gods because of the things they practiced and believed in without any solid proof that it would work or even how. It is significant because the Temple of Isis cannot be found anywhere else in the world and it is interesting because it was a temple that represented two completely different religious beliefs at the same time. The temple was left abandoned in 79AD so unlike some other temples that remain today, this temple gives us a snapshot of how things were laid out and what was kept inside and used for rituals.
REFERENCES
[1] https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/public-buildings/temple-of-isis
[2] http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-gods/ancient-roman-religion-ceremonies.htm
[1] https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/public-buildings/temple-of-isis
[2] http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-gods/ancient-roman-religion-ceremonies.htm