In many societies, ancient and modern, religion has performed a major role in their development, and the Roman Empire was no different. From the beginning Roman religion was polytheistic. From an initial array of gods and spirits, Rome added to this collection to include both Greek gods as well as a number of foreign cults. As the empire expanded, the Romans refrained from imposing their own religious beliefs upon those they conquered; however, this inclusion must not be misinterpreted as tolerance - this can be seen with their early reaction to the Jewish and Christian population. Eventually, all of their gods would be washed away, gradually replaced by Christianity, and in the eyes of some, this change brought about the decline of the western empire.
More about: Roman ReligionDefinition
Timeline
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c. 500 BCEBeginning of the Roman Saturnalia festival according to Livy (although there is evidence it was a much older tradition).
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295 BCEThe first temple to Venus is dedicated on Rome's Aventine Hill.
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292 BCEThe Romans adopt the Greek god of medicine Asclepius by stealing his sacred snake from Epidaurus and setting up a temple on the Tiber Island.
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c. 263 BCEA shrine is dedicated to Minerva on the Aventine in Rome.
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225 BCE - 150 BCEThe Temple of Hercules is built at Ostia.
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186 BCEThe Roman Senate bans the Cult of Bacchus.
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146 BCEFirst Roman all-marble building is constructed, the temple of Jupiter Stater in Rome.
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1 CE - 100 CEMithraism spreads in the Roman empire.
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c. 14 CEThe Temple of Rome and Augustus is built at Ostia.
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42 CE - 62 CEPaul the Apostle goes on missionary journeys across Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome.
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c. 50 CE - c. 60 CEEstablishment of various Christian communities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece, Egypt, and at least the city of Rome.
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64 CEUnofficial persecution of Christians in Rome.
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66 CE - 73 CEThe Jewish Revolt against Rome.
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c. 110 CEFirst documented martydom in the Colosseum of Rome, that of St. Ignatius of Antioch.
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c. 125 CEThe Pantheon is completed in Rome.
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284 CE - 305 CEReign of Roman Emperor Diocletian.
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306 CE - 337 CEReign of Roman Emperor Constantine I.
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313 CEThe Edict of Milan enacted by Constantine I.
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325 CERoman Emperor Constantine I calls the Council of Nicaea.
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608 CEThe Pantheon in Rome is converted into a Christian church.