Religion and politics in Sicily of the first century J.-C. The case of the Venus Erycine and the Cérès d'Henna ; Cultes et politique dans la Sicile du Ier siècle av. J.-C.Le cas de la Vénus Érycine et de la Cérès d'Henna

Abstract

There is a competition in Sicily between the sanctuary of Venus and that of Cérès in the last centuries BC: the religious aspects, as well as the literary descriptions of verrines and the diodorean work, have been studied well, but there is a lack of detailed and systematic historical analysis that explains this competition. The purpose of this article is therefore to review from a historical viewpoint the sources which tell us about the cults associated with the two sanctuaries subject to Roman domination and to determine the political and economic stakes they represent for the Sicilian and Romans. ; International audience During the last centuries B.C., we can find traces in Sicily of competition between the sanctuary ofVenus and that of Ceres: although the religious aspects, together with the literary descriptions of the Verrinesand the Diodorean work, were well studied, a comprehensive and systematic historical analysis explaining thiscompetition is lacking. This article therefore aims to re-examine from a historical point of view the sourcesthat inform us about worship related to the two sanctuaries under Roman rule, as well as to determine thepolitical and economic interests that they had for the Sicilians and the Romans. ; There is a competition in Sicily between the sanctuary of Venus and that of Cérès in the last centuries BC: the religious aspects, as well as the literary descriptions of verrines and the diodorean work, have been studied well, but there is a lack of detailed and systematic historical analysis that explains this competition. The purpose of this article is therefore to review from a historical viewpoint the sources which tell us about the cults associated with the two sanctuaries subject to Roman domination and to determine the political and economic stakes they represent for the Sicilian and Romans. ; On trouve trace en Sicile d'une compétition entre le sanctuaire de Vénus et celui de Cérès pendantles derniers siècles av. J.-C. : les aspects religieux, tout comme les descriptions ...