Aspetti della religione civile stoica

The article explores the role and functions of civil religion in ancient Stoicism, pointing out the constant interplay between preservation and innovation. Attention will be paid first to the Stoic definitions of εὐσέβεια and ὁσιότης, then to the distinction between the sage and the fool based on the notions of piety and citizenship. With a look at both the Hellenistic and Roman periods, different approaches to public worship, customs and traditions will be considered, focusing on the respective levels of balance between deference to the past and philosophical interpretation.