1
Pax deorum with further literature), usually a ceremony of
purification (lustratio) or an expiatory rite
MICHAEL JOHNSON
(piaculum; Wissowa 1912: 390–4; Tromp
1921; Scheid 1981: 148–51) performed by the
Pax deorum (“peace of the gods”) denotes magistrates and public priests, and sometimes
the central goal of Roman state religion: also the people (Livy 24.10.13–11.1).
a mutually beneficial state of peace between In their constant concern to maintain the
Rome and its deities, with the gods pax deorum, the Romans often offered an
safeguarding Rome’s public welfare (salus expiatory sacrifice even before the ira deorum
publica; cf. Cic. Rab. perd. 5) and the Romans appeared, either to forestall the gods’ anger at
providing the gods their desired worship and a possibly unnoticed mistake or to nullify the
cult. The maintenance of the pax deorum was consequences of an unavoidable transgression
the preserve of the magistrates and public (Tromp 1921: 90–114).
priests, who ensured that all public religious
actions were performed in accordance with the SEE ALSO: Expiatory rites, Greece and Rome;
exacting specifications of Roman religion Haruspices; Pontifex, pontifices; Portents;
(Wissowa 1912: 392; Scheid 1981: 121; Purification, Roman; Quindecimviri sacris
Linderski 1993: 56). Errors in the performance faciundis.
of ritual (Livy 6.1.12) or contraventions of
religious law (Livy 2.36.6) broke the pax
deorum by rousing the anger of the gods (ira REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS
deorum), who communicated their displeasure Linderski, J. (1993) “Roman religion in Livy.”
through Roman military defeat (Rosenstein In W. Schuller, ed., Livius. Aspekte seines
1990), plague (Livy 3.6.5), pestilence (Livy Werkes: 53–70. Konstanz. Reprinted with
5.14.3–4), or (more frequently) any number addenda in J. Linderski (1995) Roman
of unusual occurrences (Livy 24.10.6-11.1; questions: selected papers: 608–625, 679.
see OMENS, GREECE AND ROME; PRODIGIES, GREECE Stuttgart.
AND ROME). Rosenstein, N. (1990) Imperatores victi: military
The restoration of the pax deorum was defeat and aristocratic competition in the Middle
a detailed procedure, in which the main task and Late Republic: 54–91. Berkeley.
Scheid, J. (1981) “Le délit religieux dans la Rome
of identifying the error(s) committed, the
tardo-républicaine.” In Le délit religieux dans
deities angered, and the action(s) needed to la cité antique (table ronde, Rome, 6–7 avril 1978):
regain the divine goodwill fell to the pontifices, 117–71. Rome.
quindecimviri sacris faciundis, or haruspices. Tromp, S. P. C. (1921) De Romanorum piaculis.
These reported their findings to the Senate, Leiden.
which decreed the performance of the Wissowa, G. (1912) Religion und Kultus der
recommended action (Linderski 1993: 57–8, Römer, 2nd ed.: 389–94. Munich.
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, First Edition. Edited by Roger S. Bagnall, Kai Brodersen, Craige B. Champion, Andrew Erskine,
and Sabine R. Huebner, print pages 5116–5117.
© 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Published 2013 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
DOI: 10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah17327
