Pietas Comunità Gentile, commonly referred to as Pietas, is a religious organization that represents the followers of the

Traditional Roman Religion Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the people of Rome as well as those who were brought under its rule. The Romans thought of themselves as highly religious, ...

. The community was founded in 2020 by the Associazione Tradizionale Pietas (ATP). Since the 2000s, the ATP has been undertaking projects to reconstruct various temples across

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

and began the legal process to obtain official recognition from the state, drawing inspiration from similar organizations in other European countries such as the associations Thyrsus and

YSEE The Supreme Council of Ethnic Hellenes (, ), commonly referred to by its acronym YSEE, is a non-profit Hellenic organisation established in Greece in 1997. Its primary goal is the protection and restoration of the Hellenism (religion), Hellenic eth ...

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. As part of the ATP, the Comunità Gentile contributed to the revival of classical worship since 2009, building temples and places of worship throughout Italy. Every year, the association organizes public celebrations, such as the

Natale di Roma Natale di Roma () is an annual festival held in Rome on April 21 to celebrate the legendary founding of the city.Plutarch, ''Parallel Lives - Life of Romulus''12.2(from LacusCurtius) According to legend, Romulus is said to have founded the city ...

, as well as private religious gatherings. Since 2010, under the ATP, the Comunità Gentile has been registered with ECER. On June 30, 2023, Pietas participated in the ECER meeting, where delegations from 17 nations drafted and signed the Riga Declaration, aimed at urging governments to recognize European ethnic religions. Additionally, since the beginning of the new millennium, some groups have resumed performing public rituals, such as the one on the day of the

. In 2024, Pietas, along with the Hellenic groups Thyrsus and

, became part of the Mediterraneum association to defend and promote the ethnic religions of the Mediterranean Basin. Pietas Comunità Gentile actively contributes to the contemporary continuity of ancient mystery cults through initiatives such as the Dionisiache, held in the cloister of the former Convent of the Reformed Fathers in

Pulsano Pulsano ( Brindisino: or ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Taranto in the Apulia region of southeast Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It ...

, in collaboration with local institutions and the Pulsano Archaeological Museum. The event, dedicated to

Artemis In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Artemis (; ) is the goddess of the hunting, hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, transitions, nature, vegetation, childbirth, Kourotrophos, care of children, and chastity. In later tim ...

and

Dionysus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ...

, offered a symbolic and ritual reinterpretation of

Roman religion Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the people of Rome as well as those who were brought under its rule. The Romans thought of themselves as highly religious, ...

, featuring elements inspired by initiatory practices—such as shamanic drumming, sacred chants, and nocturnal rites under the moon. As a national and international organization, Pietas has also constructed two active temples in the Ionian region dedicated to

Apollo Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...

and

Minerva Minerva (; ; ) is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. She is also a goddess of warfare, though with a focus on strategic warfare, rather than the violence of gods such as Mars. Be ...

, promoting a concrete revival of cultus deorum and its esoteric archetypes.

References

External links

* Traditionalist School Culture of Italy Magical organizations Modern paganism in Italy Western esotericism {{Roman religion

See also

References

Further reading

External links