Traditional Roman Values

There are some ethical values which not only public and private life, but also the Traditional Roman Religion constantly refers to. Surely the most important is Pietas, a very complex concept which regulates the relations between Mankind and Divine. I'll discuss this concept separately. I think that it is important to cite other values whose description may become useful also for the understanding of the concept of Pietas.

The first one is the idea of Fides. It describes the reciprocal ethical and religious obligation between mankind and the Divine and among humans. Fides can be expressed thorugh loyalty, fidelity, honesty in acts and words, in public and private life, in reciprocal trust and security.

Then it must be cited Constantia or the absolute coherence and firmness in values and decisions. It emerges in the everyday life through firmness and constance in behaviours.

Finally there is Gravitas. It is a quiet and secure force about the awareness of the personal moral value. It emerges in dignity and composure of behaviours, acts and words.

These three values are embedded into the idea of Virtus. Volgarity, excess and lack of control do not belong to Roman Tradition. If you do not hold Virtus and the values connected to it, it is not possible to immagine any approach to Pieats: Pietas will become just a series of empty rites withou any value.