Pietas (Classical Latin: [ˈpiɛt̪aːs̠]), translated variously as "duty", "religiosity"[1] or "religious behavior",[2] "loyalty",[3] "devotion", or "filial piety" (English "piety" derives from the Latin), was one of the chief virtues among the ancient Romans. It was the distinguishing virtue of the founding hero Aeneas, who is often given the adjectival epithet pius ("religious") throughout Virgil's epic Aeneid. The sacred nature of pietas was embodied by the divine personification Pietas, a goddess often pictured on Roman coins. The Greek equivalent is eusebeia (εὐσέβεια).[4]
Pietas, as a virtue of the emperor Antoninus Pius, represented by a woman offering a sacrifice on the reverse of this sestertius
Cicero defined pietas as the virtue "which admonishes us to do our duty to our country or our parents or other blood relations."[5] The man who possessed pietas "performed all his duties towards the deity and his fellow human beings fully and in every respect," as the 19th-century classical scholar Georg Wissowa described it.[6] Cicero suggests people should have awareness of their own honor and must always attempt to raise the honor of others with dignified praise. Furthermore, praise, admiration, and honored actions must be beyond all one's own desires, and actions and words must be chosen with respect to friends, colleagues, family, or blood relations. Cicero describes youth in the pursuit of honour: “How they yearn for praise! What labours will they not undertake to stand fast among their peers! How will they remember those who have shown them kindness and how eager to repay it!”.
Pietas erga parentes ("pietas toward one's parents") was one of the most important aspects of demonstrating virtue. Pius as a cognomen originated as way to mark a person as especially "pious" in this sense: announcing one's personal pietas through official nomenclature seems to have been an innovation of the late Republic, when Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius claimed it for his efforts to have his father, Numidicus, recalled from exile.[7]Pietas extended also toward "parents" in the sense of "ancestors," and was one of the basic principles of Roman tradition, as expressed by the care of the dead.[8]
Pietas as a virtue resided within a person, in contrast to a virtue or gift such as Victoria, which was given by the gods. Pietas, however, allowed a person to recognize the divine source of benefits conferred.[9]
The first recorded use of pietas in English occurs in Anselm Bayly's The Alliance of Music, Poetry, and Oratory, published in 1789.[10]
A Roman with the virtue of pietas did not leave his religious duties at the door of the temple, but carried them with him everywhere, following the will of the gods in his business transactions and everyday life.[11]
Pietas held importance in international relations and diplomacy, where the credibility of a commander was dependent on his cessation of all self-gain and to commit to the cause, without action of treachery. "Due to this reliance on credibility, the reputation of individual commanders and the Roman state itself held a practical role in negotiations and discussions." The commanders belief in fides must be one of credibility by continuity of action, consistency in dealing with neighbours will be applied to the current parties. Ensure respect in existing contracts, means the pledges and oaths will be held, Rome will continue to do what is right and thus continue diplomatic strategies. Ending conflict was slim if perfidy was the norm of commander in the negotiation.[11]
Iconography
Denarius of Herennius, depicting Pietas and an act of pietas.
Pietas was represented on coin by cult objects, but also as a woman conducting a sacrifice by means of fire at an altar.[12] In the imagery of sacrifice, libation was the fundamental act that came to symbolize pietas.[13]
Pietas is first represented on Roman coins on denarii issued by Marcus Herennius in 108 or 107 BC.[14] Pietas appears on the obverse as a divine personification, in bust form; the quality of pietas is represented by a son carrying his father on his back; the symbolism of which would be echoed in Virgil's Aeneid, with Aeneas carrying his father Anchises out of the burning Troy.[15] Pietas is among the virtues that appear frequently on Imperial coins, including those issued under Hadrian.[16]
One of the symbols of pietas was the stork, described by Petronius as pietaticultrix, "cultivator of pietas." The stork represented filial piety in particular, as the Romans believed that it demonstrated family loyalty by returning to the same nest every year, and that it took care of its parents in old age. As such, a stork appears next to Pietas on a coin issued by Metellus Pius (on whose cognomen see above).[17]
Pietas was the divine presence in everyday life that cautioned humans not to intrude on the realm of the gods.[18] Violations of pietas required a piaculum, expiatory rites.[19]
According to a miraculous legend (miraculum),[21] a poor woman who was starving in prison was saved when her daughter gave her breast milk (compare Roman Charity). Caught in the act, the daughter was not punished, but recognized for her pietas. Mother and daughter were set free, and given public support for the rest of their lives. The site was regarded as sacred to the goddess Pietas (consecratus deae) because she had chosen to manifest her presence there.[22] The story exemplified pietas erga parentes, the proper devotion one ought to show to one's parents.[23]
Imperial women portrayed as Pietas
Pietas was often depicted as goddess on the reverse of Roman Imperial coins, with women of the imperial family on the obverse,[24] as an appropriate virtue to be attributed to them. Women of the Imperial family might be portrayed in art in the goddess's guise.
Roman Charity, about Valerius Maximus' account, much depicted in early modern European painting, of a Roman woman who exemplified pietas by breastfeeding her incarcerated father to save him from enforced starvation.
^Jonathan Williams, "Religion and Roman Coins," in A Companion to Roman Religion (Blackwell, 2007), p. 156.
^Nicole Belayche, "Religious Actors in Daily Life: Practices and Related Beliefs," in A Companion to Roman Religion, p. 279.
^Frank Bernstein, "Complex Rituals: Games and Processions in Republican Rome," in A Companion to Roman Religion, p. 227.
^J. Rufus Fears, "The Cult of Virtues and Roman Imperial Ideology," Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II.17.2 (1981), pp. 864–865.
^Cicero, De inventione 2.22.66 (pietatem, quae erga patriam aut parentes aut alios sanguine coniunctos officium conservare moneat), as quoted by Hendrik Wagenvoort, Pietas: Selected Studies in Roman Religion (Brill, 1980), p. 7.
^J. Rufus Fears, "The Theology of Victory at Rome: Approaches and Problem," Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II.17.2 (1981), p. 813.
^Pliny, Natural History 10.63; Anna Clark, Divine Qualities: Cult and Community in Republican Rome (Oxford University Press, 2007), pp. 154–155; Catherine Connors, Petronius the Poet (Cambridge University Press, 1998), p. 59.
^As expressed by Cicero, De Legibus 2.22; Belayche, "Religious Actors in Daily Life," p. 286.
^Belayche, "Religious Actors in Daily Life," p. 286.
^Livy 40.34.4; Fears, "The Theology of Victory at Rome," pp. 741–742, and "The Cult of Virtues," p. 835.
^Roman Coins Issued During the Reign of Emperor Hadrian, Dig4Coins.com.
External links
Media related to Pietas at Wikimedia Commons
April 10, 2023
pietas, christian, image, pietà, classical, latin, ˈpiɛt, aːs, translated, variously, duty, religiosity, religious, behavior, loyalty, devotion, filial, piety, english, piety, derives, from, latin, chief, virtues, among, ancient, romans, distinguishing, virtue. For the Christian image see Pieta Pietas Classical Latin ˈpiɛt aːs translated variously as duty religiosity 1 or religious behavior 2 loyalty 3 devotion or filial piety English piety derives from the Latin was one of the chief virtues among the ancient Romans It was the distinguishing virtue of the founding hero Aeneas who is often given the adjectival epithet pius religious throughout Virgil s epic Aeneid The sacred nature of pietas was embodied by the divine personification Pietas a goddess often pictured on Roman coins The Greek equivalent is eusebeia eὐsebeia 4 Pietas as a virtue of the emperor Antoninus Pius represented by a woman offering a sacrifice on the reverse of this sestertius Cicero defined pietas as the virtue which admonishes us to do our duty to our country or our parents or other blood relations 5 The man who possessed pietas performed all his duties towards the deity and his fellow human beings fully and in every respect as the 19th century classical scholar Georg Wissowa described it 6 Cicero suggests people should have awareness of their own honor and must always attempt to raise the honor of others with dignified praise Furthermore praise admiration and honored actions must be beyond all one s own desires and actions and words must be chosen with respect to friends colleagues family or blood relations Cicero describes youth in the pursuit of honour How they yearn for praise What labours will they not undertake to stand fast among their peers How will they remember those who have shown them kindness and how eager to repay it Contents 1 As virtue 2 Iconography 3 As goddess 3 1 Imperial women portrayed as Pietas 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksAs virtue EditMain article Religion in ancient Rome Pietas erga parentes pietas toward one s parents was one of the most important aspects of demonstrating virtue Pius as a cognomen originated as way to mark a person as especially pious in this sense announcing one s personal pietas through official nomenclature seems to have been an innovation of the late Republic when Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius claimed it for his efforts to have his father Numidicus recalled from exile 7 Pietas extended also toward parents in the sense of ancestors and was one of the basic principles of Roman tradition as expressed by the care of the dead 8 Pietas as a virtue resided within a person in contrast to a virtue or gift such as Victoria which was given by the gods Pietas however allowed a person to recognize the divine source of benefits conferred 9 The first recorded use of pietas in English occurs in Anselm Bayly s The Alliance of Music Poetry and Oratory published in 1789 10 A Roman with the virtue of pietas did not leave his religious duties at the door of the temple but carried them with him everywhere following the will of the gods in his business transactions and everyday life 11 Pietas held importance in international relations and diplomacy where the credibility of a commander was dependent on his cessation of all self gain and to commit to the cause without action of treachery Due to this reliance on credibility the reputation of individual commanders and the Roman state itself held a practical role in negotiations and discussions The commanders belief in fides must be one of credibility by continuity of action consistency in dealing with neighbours will be applied to the current parties Ensure respect in existing contracts means the pledges and oaths will be held Rome will continue to do what is right and thus continue diplomatic strategies Ending conflict was slim if perfidy was the norm of commander in the negotiation 11 Iconography Edit Denarius of Herennius depicting Pietas and an act of pietas Pietas was represented on coin by cult objects but also as a woman conducting a sacrifice by means of fire at an altar 12 In the imagery of sacrifice libation was the fundamental act that came to symbolize pietas 13 Pietas is first represented on Roman coins on denarii issued by Marcus Herennius in 108 or 107 BC 14 Pietas appears on the obverse as a divine personification in bust form the quality of pietas is represented by a son carrying his father on his back the symbolism of which would be echoed in Virgil s Aeneid with Aeneas carrying his father Anchises out of the burning Troy 15 Pietas is among the virtues that appear frequently on Imperial coins including those issued under Hadrian 16 One of the symbols of pietas was the stork described by Petronius as pietaticultrix cultivator of pietas The stork represented filial piety in particular as the Romans believed that it demonstrated family loyalty by returning to the same nest every year and that it took care of its parents in old age As such a stork appears next to Pietas on a coin issued by Metellus Pius on whose cognomen see above 17 As goddess Edit Flavia Maximiana Theodora on the obverse on the reverse Pietas holding infant to her breast Pietas was the divine presence in everyday life that cautioned humans not to intrude on the realm of the gods 18 Violations of pietas required a piaculum expiatory rites 19 A temple to Pietas was vowed votum by Manius Acilius Glabrio at the Battle of Thermopylae in 191 BC 20 According to a miraculous legend miraculum 21 a poor woman who was starving in prison was saved when her daughter gave her breast milk compare Roman Charity Caught in the act the daughter was not punished but recognized for her pietas Mother and daughter were set free and given public support for the rest of their lives The site was regarded as sacred to the goddess Pietas consecratus deae because she had chosen to manifest her presence there 22 The story exemplified pietas erga parentes the proper devotion one ought to show to one s parents 23 Imperial women portrayed as Pietas Edit Pietas was often depicted as goddess on the reverse of Roman Imperial coins with women of the imperial family on the obverse 24 as an appropriate virtue to be attributed to them Women of the Imperial family might be portrayed in art in the goddess s guise Livia as Pietas Salonia MatidiaSee also EditDignitas Roman concept Eusebeia for the Greek concept most similar to Latin pietas Gravitas Mos maiorum Puricitia Modesty Pietism Roman Charity about Valerius Maximus account much depicted in early modern European painting of a Roman woman who exemplified pietas by breastfeeding her incarcerated father to save him from enforced starvation Virtus virtue References Edit Jonathan Williams Religion and Roman Coins in A Companion to Roman Religion Blackwell 2007 p 156 Nicole Belayche Religious Actors in Daily Life Practices and Related Beliefs in A Companion to Roman Religion p 279 Frank Bernstein Complex Rituals Games and Processions in Republican Rome in A Companion to Roman Religion p 227 J Rufus Fears The Cult of Virtues and Roman Imperial Ideology Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt II 17 2 1981 pp 864 865 Cicero De inventione 2 22 66 pietatem quae erga patriam aut parentes aut alios sanguine coniunctos officium conservare moneat as quoted by Hendrik Wagenvoort Pietas Selected Studies in Roman Religion Brill 1980 p 7 As quoted by Wagenvort Pietas p 7 Fears The Cult of Virtues p 880 Stefan Heid The Romanness of Roman Christianity in A Companion to Roman Religion p 408 Fears The Cult of Virtues p 878 pietas Oxford English Dictionary Online Web 28 Jan 2010 a b Pfingsten Max Roman Virtues and Stoicism PDF Asheville NC Asheville School Archived from the original PDF on 15 May 2019 Retrieved 15 May 2019 Belayche Religious Actors in Daily Life p 286 John Scheid Sacrifices for Gods and Ancestors in A Companion to Roman Religion p 265 Fears The Cult of Virtues p 880 Fears The Cult of Virtues p 880 J Rufus Fears The Theology of Victory at Rome Approaches and Problem Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt II 17 2 1981 p 813 Pliny Natural History 10 63 Anna Clark Divine Qualities Cult and Community in Republican Rome Oxford University Press 2007 pp 154 155 Catherine Connors Petronius the Poet Cambridge University Press 1998 p 59 As expressed by Cicero De Legibus 2 22 Belayche Religious Actors in Daily Life p 286 Belayche Religious Actors in Daily Life p 286 Livy 40 34 4 Fears The Theology of Victory at Rome pp 741 742 and The Cult of Virtues p 835 Pliny the Elder Natural History 7 121 Valerius Maximus 5 4 7 as cited by Fears The Theology of Victory p 742 note 10 Fears The Theology of Victory p 742 The Cult of Virtues p 880 Fears The Cult of Virtues p 880 Roman Coins Issued During the Reign of Emperor Hadrian Dig4Coins com External links Edit Media related to Pietas at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pietas amp oldid 1142391202, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
