Reconstructionist Roman religion

Revivals of ancient Roman polytheism have taken different forms today. People are trying to bring back the old ways of worshipping the gods and following the customs of ancient Rome. This is sometimes called the worship of the Roman gods, Roman religion, the Roman way to the gods, Roman-Italic religion, or gentle Roman religion.

Many groups have formed to support these ideas, but they are not all connected to each other. These groups work to learn about and practice the beliefs and traditions that people in ancient Rome followed.

This modern interest in Roman religion helps people understand more about history and how different cultures worshipped their gods long ago. It also lets people today experience some of these old traditions in a new way.

History

Post-classical period

Christianity began to spread in the area known as Mani during the 11th century, with old Greek temples turned into churches. Over time, most people in Mani started to follow Christianity, though it took more than 200 years for this change to happen fully. The Maniots, living in mountainous areas, were among the last in Greece to leave their old ways.

Harran was another place where older beliefs stayed strong for a long time. Even after being taken over by new rulers, Harran kept many of its traditions and became an important center for learning and culture.

Renaissance to Risorgimento

Interest in bringing back ancient Roman religious practices grew during the Renaissance. Some people, like Giuliano Kremmerz, tried to keep old rituals alive through groups they started. Others, such as Julius Pomponius Laetus, secretly celebrated Roman festivals even when it was not allowed.

After big changes in France, some people tried to bring back old Roman and Greek ways of worship. In Italy, as the country was uniting, some writers and archaeologists began talking about restoring Roman religious traditions.

Modern era

In more recent times, groups have tried to rebuild temples and get official recognition for Roman religion. Public events celebrating old Roman festivals, like the Natale di Roma, have become popular again. These events include parades, historical reenactments, and conferences.

The idea of practicing Roman religion today has spread beyond Italy, with groups forming in many parts of the world. One of the biggest international groups is Nova Roma, started in 1998.