Religion and the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire is credited with many things due partially to their ability to share, spread, and adapt culture. Rome was successful because it both conquered and shared the fruits of conquest with the conquered. Religion was one part of the culture that demonstrated the tolerance of Romans. For example, at the time of Jesus' birth, paganism could be divided into three spheres: the official state religion, the traditional cults of the hearth and countryside, and the new mystery religions from the East. Even though the official religion in the Roman Empire began as Pagan, it ended as Christianity when Emperor Theodosius declared it as the official religion in A.D. 380. The following examines two works of fiction that deal with religion during the Roman Empire.

The Golden Ass, by Apuleius, is a story of Lucius who talks his lover, the servant of a witch, into stealing him a potion that will temporarily turn him into an owl. Unfortunately it is the wrong potion and he is turned into a jack ass. The antidote for this dilemma is to simply eat roses, but he is dragged off by robbers before he can eat any. After a full year, and many trials and tribulations, he is finally saved by the Egyptian goddess Isis and immediately starts down the path to become initiated into the deepest mysteries of her religion. The interesting part of this story is the description of the initiation ceremony:

"Then