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Religion in Great Levantia: Difference between revisions
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===History=== | ===History=== | ||
The origin myth of [[Great Levantia]] - the [[Journey of the Fifty]] - discusses a demigod hero named "Levas" who leads forty nine other demigods out of [[Istroya]], to [[Urlazio]], and eventually into [[Levantia]]. At the end of the story, Levas is spoken to by the Istroyan pantheon and is given the [[Levantia|entire land]] and disappears. Some traditions include him ascending into the heavens, while others include him "melting" into the soil itself. Though having ascended to godhood himself, he continues to rule the entire land from a "divine estate" in [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], which he founded. This origin myth is considered the religious foundation of the Cult of the State God. Early practitioners of the Levas Cult, which is estimated to have started sometime in the mid 500s BC, believed Levas to be a supernatural and eternal King who ruled as King of all of the eastern [[Adonerum|Adonerii]], who founded [[Great Levantia]]. In this early version, the god Levas ruled merely as King rather than being supernaturally identified with the state itself. With the further development of the mythology of Levantia, the Levantine cult began to ascribe the natural fortunes and misfortunes of early Great Levantia to Levas himself, identifying him not only as ruler of the state but also ruler of the fortunes of the state itself. By the mid 300s BC, the first evidence of the state being identified with Levas himself is found within the historical record. It is thought that ''Levantia Magna'' - as Levas was now worshipped - incorporated elements of the traditional [[Adonerum|Adonerii]] god, {{wp|Terminus (god)|Terminus}} during this time period. By the first and second centuries BC, the correlation of ''Levantia Magna'' the god with [[Great Levantia]] the state was fully complete. Religious thought shifted to the god being outside the world to fully within the world, with all of the people in Great Levantia living under his protection. Consequently, ritualism and contractual agreement became paramount in worship of the State God as it was only he who could deliver victory in battle for [[Great Levantia]] and only he who could grant good harvest. | The origin myth of [[Great Levantia]] - the [[Latin Heroic Age#Journey of the Fifty|Journey of the Fifty]] - discusses a demigod hero named "Levas" who leads forty nine other demigods out of [[Istroya]], to [[Urlazio]], and eventually into [[Levantia]]. At the end of the story, Levas is spoken to by the Istroyan pantheon and is given the [[Levantia|entire land]] and disappears. Some traditions include him ascending into the heavens, while others include him "melting" into the soil itself. Though having ascended to godhood himself, he continues to rule the entire land from a "divine estate" in [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], which he founded. This origin myth is considered the religious foundation of the Cult of the State God. Early practitioners of the Levas Cult, which is estimated to have started sometime in the mid 500s BC, believed Levas to be a supernatural and eternal King who ruled as King of all of the eastern [[Adonerum|Adonerii]], who founded [[Great Levantia]]. In this early version, the god Levas ruled merely as King rather than being supernaturally identified with the state itself. With the further development of the mythology of Levantia, the Levantine cult began to ascribe the natural fortunes and misfortunes of early Great Levantia to Levas himself, identifying him not only as ruler of the state but also ruler of the fortunes of the state itself. By the mid 300s BC, the first evidence of the state being identified with Levas himself is found within the historical record. It is thought that ''Levantia Magna'' - as Levas was now worshipped - incorporated elements of the traditional [[Adonerum|Adonerii]] god, {{wp|Terminus (god)|Terminus}} during this time period. By the first and second centuries BC, the correlation of ''Levantia Magna'' the god with [[Great Levantia]] the state was fully complete. Religious thought shifted to the god being outside the world to fully within the world, with all of the people in Great Levantia living under his protection. Consequently, ritualism and contractual agreement became paramount in worship of the State God as it was only he who could deliver victory in battle for [[Great Levantia]] and only he who could grant good harvest. | ||
The Cult reached its height in terms of adherents and development in the first century, then entered a sharp decline by the middle of the 2nd century. The arrival of {{wp|Christianity}}, combined with growing social pressures and dissatisfaction with the idea of living under an arbitrary godstate began to detract from cult adherence. | The Cult reached its height in terms of adherents and development in the first century, then entered a sharp decline by the middle of the 2nd century. The arrival of {{wp|Christianity}}, combined with growing social pressures and dissatisfaction with the idea of living under an arbitrary godstate began to detract from cult adherence. | ||