Kult Nemezis w starożytnym Rzymie

Abstract

In ancient Rome Nemesis, primarily known as a goddess of revenge, was also worshiped as a deity of indignation and punishment. She directed the affairs of men, decided about human happiness and misery, and guarded the law. The cult of Nemesis can be traced back to the fifth century BC Greece, however, it was particularly vivid in Rome, especially at the time of the Empire, when it occupied a special place in Roman religion. Literary sources, as well as iconographic representations present Nemesis as a guardian of the law and order of the state. Nemesis in ancient Rome was primarily a patron of games held in amphitheaters. She became the main object of worship among gladiators and venatores. One of the most interesting representations is, however, an effigy of Nemesis trampling over a lying human body, which became an important element of imperial propaganda, especially during the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian.