The Ancient Roman Afterlife

A comprehensive study of the manes , their worship, and their place in Roman conceptions of their society. In ancient Rome, it was believed some humans were transformed into special, empowered beings after death. These deified dead, known as the  manes , watched over and protected their surviving family members, possibly even extending those relatives’ lives. But unlike the Greek hero-cult, the worship of dead emperors, or the Christian saints, the  manes  were incredibly inclusiv