Basilica of Jupiter

The temple to Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Jupiter the Best and Greatest, was central to public religion in the city of Rome. Sacrifices were made there on many state occasions, and magistrates drew at least part of their authority from Jupiter. The god was an embodiment of much that was Roman, but he also was worshipped during the time of the Roman kings. This made Romans a little uneasy about his power during the Republican period, for they always had a suspicion of anything connected with kingship, even in something as Roman as their chief god. However, no Roman who wanted high office risked alienating or insulting Jupiter, at least in public. In a patriarchal society like Rome, where the power of the state was modelled on the power of a man as the head of household, it did not do at all to go against, or doubt portents from, the head of the divine household. If Jupiter threw a thunderbolt, all wise men paid attention!