The bond between Rome and its gods

The bond between the gods and the place was one of crucial importance in ancient religions. The Romansvery often reflected upon this matter, especially when the very existence of the city was jeopardized. That happened, for example, after the plundering of the city by the Gauls, when Marcus Furius Camillus,in order to avoid the migration to Veii, reminded his fellow-citizens of the ties between Rome’s site and its gods. In this sense, two elements mentioned by the dictator are particularly representative: the Capitol and the so-called pignora imperii. Another reading key of the bond between Rome and its gods is the tradition concerning the city’s secret patron deity. According to some authors, the Romans hid its identity to avoid the risk of enabling their enemies to evoke it. Moreover, this tradition tells us much about the historical backgrounds within which the Romans discussed this topic, and about someparticular features of Roman religious thought. Further information will be provided about that figure,beginning with the genii locorum category: the genius was the deity more tightly bound to the place,from which it received its characterization. Finally the figure of the Dea Roma will be considered.