How space in a Roman military camp was used for religious purposes

What is it about?

This chapter analyses how different areas inside the Roman legionary fortress Novae (near modern Svishtov in northern Bulgaria) were used for religious purposes. Some spaces, such as the headquarters complex or the courtyard of the military hospital, included constructions and objects directly meant to be used during religious ceremonies. But most such spaces were multifunctional, which meant that their design had to be a compromise between various - often opposite - needs. An important question is the role of military commanders and administration in making decisions related to those problems.

Featured Image

Photo by Maria Dolores Vazquez on Unsplash

Photo by Maria Dolores Vazquez on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The chapter offers a new perspective on how space inside Roman military bases has been perceived and organised in relation to religion. While it was commonly assumed that the Roman army regulated even minute details of religious life inside the camps, the results from the case study of Novae show a different perspective. The use of space for religious purposes was not so much regulated by rules, but rather by ad hoc decisions by the commanders. Meanwhile, soldiers of lower ranks were looking for ways to express their religious needs. This created an interplay of bottom-up innovation and top-down official sanction, including even the personal interventions of provincial governors into who and how could perform religious communication inside the camp. The role of religious traditions seems to also have been of great importance, including traditions that could be particular to a specific place.

Perspectives