The Religious World of the Roman Empire

Traditional Roman Religion

The Emperor Augustus as pontifex maximus

Altar to Mars and Venus

Emperor Diocletian and colleagues offering sacrifice to the gods

The Jewish Context

AD 70:  Romans destroy Jerusalem and the Temple

Judaism: A representation of the Temple (from the third-century synagogue at Dura-Europus)

Jerusalem: The Temple Mount Today

Roman Responses to Christianity

Anti-Christian Graffiti:  "Alexmenos is worshipping his God"