What Was Pax Deorum And How Important Was It?

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Pax Deorum ("peace of the gods") signified the central goal of the Roman state religion.

The Pax Deorum provided divine protection to the Roman Empire, which needed this kind of security as much as material protection from the army's side. Thus, politics and religion cooperated.

Tellus Relief, Ara Pacis. Photo by kind permission of Dr. Janice Siegel

Also, all the citizens of Rome had to participate in the process. People had to offer worship and cult to the gods to secure a mutually beneficial and satisfactory peace between Rome and its deities.

The gods, on the other hand, safeguarded Rome's public welfare.

In religious practice, the harmony or agreement between the divine and humans was the Pax Deorum, and it was only given in return for correct spiritual practice. Religious practice was critical because it secured the Pax Deorum and prevented divine retribution, which could strike Rome at any time.

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