Pietas and Its Meaning
Pietas means a sense of duty or religiosity and is a creation by an acclaimed artist named Michelangelo. He created the concept in 1497 under the directives of a cardinal named Jean De Billherrez and it resided at the St Peters Basilica in Vatican City (Platner 390). It guided the Romans on how they were supposed to relate, the order of their society, and the on which individuals can hold on. For instance, pietas expected Romans to show devotion to the gods as well as maintain high ethics and morality. It also expected them to portray proper behavior in their country and within their families.
Virtues Upheld in Rome
Among the virtues upheld in Rome as depicted in the pietas, the first was Auctoritas. This term refers to the sense of social standing that Romans built and established through experience. The second virtue was Comitas. It referred to the ease of manner, friendliness, and openness. Another one was Clementia, which one can also refer to as mercy. The last one was Dignitas. It illustrated the appreciation of self-worth and self-dignity. The other values were tenacity, gravity, respectability, prudence, and wholesomeness among others.
Pietas in Roman Society
The poor families in Roman society, who were artisans, merchants, and laborers, each had to choose a patrician. The aristocrats served as priests, magistrates, lawyers, and judges. This system was supposed to represent the plebeians, mainly the poor, in matters of law and other issues including economic matters. Proper pietas focused on the concept of God, which it covered well in the scenes in Purgatorio and Paradiso (Platner 177). One was required to fulfill one's obligations to others without regard for personal feelings or cost. All the actions in which one engages under the guidance of pietas required completion, which further served to ensure the Romans' dedication to their individual roles in society.
Works Cited
Platner, Samuel Ball. A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
