In 250 CE, the Roman Empire was under strain, burdened by the constant need to defend its expansive frontiers. The population was frustrated by the cost of goods and the cost of the legions sent to defend the borders. But Emperor Decius blamed the civic discontent on something else: the disfavor of the Roman gods. He believed the gods were particularly displeased by those who practiced the Christian faith, a new religion that, while illegal, had been tolerated by recent emperors.
With the millennial anniversary of Rome’s founding at hand, Decius launched a campaign to revitalize Roman patriotism and idealize the city’s past. The people were summoned forth for religious rituals, required to offer sacrifices to the gods of the empire, for which they would receive a libellus—a certificate of compliance. Through his campaign, Decius believed the glories of Rome would be remembered and the favor of the gods restored.
This year the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence from Great Britain. A bipartisan committee established a series of celebrations and concerts across the nation. In my own town, the public library is holding a series of lectures and book studies, including a retrospective about American enslavement of Africans and an evening of Native American storytelling. The series examines the whole scope of American history, not just the glorious or proud.
