CLA204H1 Lecture : CLA204 16th class
Document Summary
Anthropomorphic gods, lustful, favour favourites, take active role in shaping human world. Artemis getting angry at agamemnon for killing stag. Roman understanding of the divine was much less specific. In rome there is a numen that protects crops against disease, a numen that help farmer plant/harvest, a numen of the sky. Their spirits not in human form not like athena who we know is goddess of wisdom etc. disembodies nature spirits. Cuz they don"t have personalities you don"t bribe, offend or spark desire in them instead simplified relationship. Point of numen is to say either yes or no. Either granted or not, want to please numen make sacrifices. Iliad were you make prayer to zeus and he wants to grant it but fate intervenes. Greek influences into italy and growing roman society. Whatever the greek god does is simulated into already existent numen so zeus-sky, import greek idea of zeus to explain ideas of sky.
