The same divine agencies who caused disease or harm also had the power to avert it, and so might be placated in advance. Divine consideration might be sought to avoid the inconvenient delays of a journey, or encounters with banditry, piracy and shipwreck, with due gratitude to be rendered on safe arrival or return. In times of great crisis, the Senate could decree collective public rites, in which Rome's citizens, including women and children, moved in procession from one temple to the next, supplicating the gods. COUNT 5
QSN1 What elements had the power of benefit or harm in Roman religion? ANS1 divine agencies QSN2 What was expected when the divine intervention benefited the patron? ANS2 gratitude QSN3 What kind of intervention could be sought to avoid disasters? ANS3 Divine QSN4 What act was decreed in times of crisis in Rome? ANS4 public rites QSN5 What was the point of public procession to the god's temples? ANS5 supplicating the gods