Topic for Paper 2

Directions:

Write on one of the following topics:
1. Assume you are studying abroad this spring semester in ancient Rome. Examine the impact Roman religion would have on your experience with regard to your class schedule and daily life during the whole month of March (note that this also includes spring break!). Make sure you give pertinent examples from Shelton's book and the web site on the Roman Calendar (click here to start)  [when citing the Roman calendar, give in parentheses RmCal and the date under which the information falls, e.g. (RmCal, Mar. 15); focus on the religious ceremonies/festivals at the Roman Calendar web site].

2. Evaluate a religious service you will attend between Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 from the point of view of a Roman, i.e. would it meet the Roman expectations with regard to 1-3 elements of cultus deorum (sacrifice, prayer, vow, and divination}? Make sure you give specific examples from the modern religious service and from Shelton's book (for the Roman).

3. Compare and contrast the modern "festival" of Valentine's Day with that of the Lupercalia. Implications?

 Note:
1 Primary sources are the passages that are by Roman sources (the things in quotes or indented in Kebric and the indented passages in Shelton) and are not commentary by Shelton or Kebric.

2. Citing: give the ancient author (if there is one) in the body of your paper and at the end of the sentence give the modern author and page number(s) in parentheses, e.g. Martial says "..." (Shelton, 70). or Aelius Aristides describes the various things one can get in Rome, thus " ..." (Kebric, 3). If there is not an ancient author indicate the type of source, e.g. one papyrus letter from a son to his mother says "..." (Kebric, 2-3). If you are unsure whether there is an author or not, Shelton has an appendix that lists the various sources.