mgr Paweł Paryna

ORCID: 0009-0001-1345-1631

The topic of my dissertation is: „Impietas. Manifestations of Impiety in Republican Rome”

The subject of my dissertation is the phenomenon of impietas (impiety) during the Roman Republic period. Previous research on the phenomenon of impietas indicates the existence of various and multi-level categories. Its most common manifestations include, among others: ritual neglect, violations of sacred places or ceremonies, sacrilege, or actions contrary to auspices. Impious deeds are thus associated with the violation of the established social order by deviating from the practices and laws concerning the sphere of communication between Rome and the gods, as established by Roman tradition. In the understanding of the ancients, such actions could lead to a disruption of their relationship with the gods or even divine punishment. The favor of the gods was considered by the Romans a necessary element for the functioning and development of the state, so in response to the potential divine wrath or indifference caused by impious acts, expiatory measures were taken, such as offerings and propitiatory rituals. It appears that restoring the state of affairs prior to the impious act was particularly crucial, which involved repeating failed rituals or restoring desecrated places. Furthermore, it is notably intriguing to inquire about the fate that awaited the perpetrators of impious acts. The sources provide information about the penalization of certain cases and some attempts to impose personal consequences on impious individuals. However, it appears that the Romans were particularly interested in expiation itself and in restoring the relationship between the gods and the entire Roman community.

In the subject literature, some of the most iconic examples of impious acts include, among others, the case of Publius Claudius Pulcher (consul in 249 BC), who, as a fleet commander during the First Punic War, ignored the divinations involving pecking chickens and threw them overboard. This action was believed to be a harbinger of disaster, leading to both his downfall and legal proceedings initiated by his fellow citizens. Another example is Publius Clodius Pulcher (died 52 BC), who, in 62 BC, infiltrated the Bona Dea cult's rituals disguised as a woman, despite the fact that these rites were exclusively reserved for women. This intrusion disrupted the entire ritual. Additionally, we can associate certain religious transgressions with the accusations made against the Vestal Virgins for the loss of their chastity, which could be punishable by death.  

Impiety did not possess a strict definition in antiquity; it was primarily expressed in sources through adjectives describing specific actions or individuals as impius, scelus, or nefas. Therefore, it is necessary to engage in the work of defining impietas and identifying its constitutive features. It's also important to keep in mind the interpretative aspect of source authors through which we analyze events from the past and attempt to describe phenomena like impious acts.