Nemesis, the Roman State, and the Games (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World)

Although Nemesis was already revered in Archaic Greece, the main evidence for worship comes from the Roman Principate. During this period two important facets of the cult were the association of the goddess with the state, and her presence in agonistic contexts. "Nemesis, the Roman State and the Games" explores these aspects, discerning a possible connection between them. The author begins by discussing the origin and background of the goddess. He then clarifies the ways in which the goddess was enlisted into the service of the Roman emperor and state. Finally, he explains the presence of the goddess almost exclusively at the Roman "Munus" and "Venatio" as derived from the function of such games to express the proper order of society. "Nemesis" represents a significant re-evaluation of the place of Nemesis in the Roman World. The book also provides an invaluable corpus of epigraphic, literary, and iconographic evidence for the goddess. Ch. 1. Nemesis Prior To The Roman Imperial Period. The Origins And Meaning Of Nemesis. Pre-roman Cults Of Nemesis -- Ch. 2. Nemesis And The Roman State. Nemesis And The Emperor. Nemesis And Imperial Structures. Nemesis And The Griffin. Nemesis Trampling On A Prostrate Figure. Nemesis Augusta. Nemesis And The City -- Ch. 3. Nemesis And The Games. Chronology Of The Association. Types Of Games. Character Of The Cult Remains. Nemesis Iconography And Epithets. Worshippers Of Nemesis. Types Of Worship. Analysis -- Appendix One: Catalogue Of The Literary Evidence -- Appendix Two: Catalogue Of The Epigraphic Evidence -- Appendix Three: Nemesis And The Griffin: A Corpus Of The Evidence -- Appendix Four: Nemesis And The Scales, Wheel And Measuring Stick. Appendix Five: Examples Of The Smyrna Nemesis Type -- Epigraphic Index. By Michael B. Hornum Includes Catalogues Of Literary And Epigraphical Evidence. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [345]-354) And Indexes. Introduction 1 Nemesis Prior to the Roman Imperial Period 2 Nemesis and the Roman State 3 Nemesis and the Games Conclusions Appendix 1: Catalogue of the Literary Evidence Appendix 2: Catalogue of the Epigraphic Evidence Appendix 3: Nemesis and the Griffin: A Corpus of the Evidence Appendix 4: Nemesis and the Scales, Wheel and Measuring Stick Appendix 5: Examples of the "Smyrna" Nemesis Type Plates I-XXVIII This re-evaluation of the place of Nemesis in the Roman World shows that the goddess was associated less with the lower classes than with the emperor and state. It also reveals her as particularly connected with the munus and venatio as the result of a function peculiar to these games.