In this special episode—presented for the first time in Italian with (alas, literal and not always accurate) English subtitles—Dr Angela Puca is joined by Emanuele Viotti, founder of Ad Maiora Vertite, for a discussion on the religion of ancient Rome.
Emanuele Viotti is a respected educator and independent scholar in the field of Roman traditional religion. Since founding Ad Maiora Vertite in 2012, he has authored and curated numerous publications—often in collaboration with academics—on Roman religiosity. Viotti lectures on Roman religion at the Centro Nazionale di Studi Classici GrecoLatinoVivo, where his courses are recognised by Italy’s Ministry of Education. He has presented at academic conferences, contributes to the rediscovery of Italian heritage through historically themed guided tours, and was awarded the Rimini–Europa in the World international culture prize in 2023 for his work on Roman tradition and historical outreach.
Topics explored include:
– The distinction between orthopraxy and orthodoxy in Roman religiosity
– The numinous and the function of sacra privata vs. sacra publica
– Ritual precision, priesthoods, and everyday cultic practice
– The transmission of religious knowledge in domestic and civic spaces
– Local religious variation across the Roman world
– Misconceptions surrounding figures like Diana and “Lucifer”
– The challenges and potentials of reconstructing Roman religion today
This episode also critically examines how Roman religion functioned as a pragmatic, ritual-based system without imposed theological dogma, contrasting sharply with post-Nicene Christianity. Emanuele Viotti offers rare insights into original Latin sources, epigraphic evidence, and the ritual economy of the Roman world, while discussing how Roman traditionalism is interpreted and lived in contemporary contexts.
CONNECT & SUPPORT
MY COURSES https://drangelapuca.com/courses
WEBSITE & NEWSLETTER https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletter
BOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE https://drangelapuca.com/services
BECOME MY PATRON! https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca
SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapuca
ONE-OFF DONATIONS https://paypal.me/angelasymposium
JOIN MEMBERSHIPS https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/join
MY PODCAST https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86
MY MERCH https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/
Bibliography provided by Emanuele
About Roman Religion:
– G. Dumezil, La religion romaine archaïque, avec un’appendice sur la religion des Étrusques. Parigi, Payot, 1964
– J. Sheid, Quand faire, c’est croire. Les rites sacrificiels des Romains, Editions Aubier, coll. «Historique», Parigi, 2005
– J. Rupke, Pantheon: A New History of Roman Religion, Princeton University Press, 2018
– D. Sabbatucci, La religione di Roma antica: dal calendario festivo all’ordine cosmico, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 1988
– L. Ferro, M. Monteleone, Miti Romani: il racconto, Einaudi, 2010
– M. Bettini, Dèi e uomini nella città. Antropologia, religione e cultura nella Roma antica, Roma, Carocci, 2015
E. Viotti, La Via Romana agli Dèi: la storia, i miti, le fondamenta e i riti della religione romana oggi, Armenia, 2022
About Moon goddeses:
– Lucius Annaeus Cornutus, Theologiae Graecae compendium, 34
– N. Serafini, La dea Diana nell’Ars Amatoria: Ovidio e la tradizione greca, in EVPHROSYNE, 41, 2013, 131-146
– N. Serafini, Antichi dèi, oggi: la Ecate dei neo-pagani, Minerva 27 (2014), 203-225
– (JUST FOR RECONSTRUCTION, NOT VALID ANYMORE FOR THE ANALYSIS) J. Frazer, The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion, 1915
MY SET-UP ️
– Canon 90D camera https://amzn.to/3yQclh0
– Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 https://amzn.to/3JjU1BS
– Teleprompter ️ https://amzn.to/3linWCB
– Shure SM7B Microphone ️ https://amzn.to/3Jm5IYK
– Microphone stand https://amzn.to/3FueJOn
– Lights https://amzn.to/3Zdk8k1
– DJI Wireless microphones https://amzn.to/3NWAVVQ
00:00:00 – Introduction to Emanuele Viotti & Ad Maiora Vertite.
00:06:02 – Orthopraxy vs. Orthodoxy in Roman Religion.
00:12:03 – Fluid Deities: Robigus and Lucina.
00:17:47 – Ritual Structures Across Time.
00:24:11 – Afterlife Beliefs in Ancient Rome.
00:30:08 – Regional Adaptations of Roman Cults.
00:36:29 – Family vs. State Religion.
00:41:17 – Numen and the Animist Debate.
00:48:00 – From Symbols to Statues: Representing Gods.
00:54:13 – A “Contractual” Relationship with the Divine.
00:59:56 – Reconstructing Roman Religion Today.
01:06:15 – Warrior Goddesses: Juno, Sospita and Curitis.
01:12:10 – Diana and Lucifer: Historical vs. Modern Views.
01:18:35 – The Triple Diana: From Cornutus to Wicca.
01:24:00 – Rome’s Surreal Religious Humour.
️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ️
Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!
Published on June 22, 2025
