In ancient Rome, who would be considered a Heathen?

In ancient Rome, a Heathen would be understood as a follower of a polytheistic religion. This term was often used to describe those who practiced the traditional pagan faiths of the Roman Empire, which involved the worship of multiple gods and goddesses. Such belief systems were prevalent before the rise of Christianity, which ultimately became the dominant faith in Rome.

The distinction between monotheism, as seen in religions like Judaism and later Christianity, and polytheism is significant. Monotheists worship a single deity, while polytheists honor multiple deities, which was typical of the Roman religious landscape. Therefore, referring to someone as a Heathen in this context aligns with their adherence to polytheistic practices.

By contrast, followers of monotheistic religions or devout practitioners of Christianity would not be categorized as Heathens in Roman society, as those groups were seen as outside the traditional pagan framework. Similarly, an intellectual advocating for reform may or may not align with the polytheistic practices and was not specifically labeled as a Heathen based on religious affiliation. Thus, the classification of a Heathen directly correlates with the polytheistic belief system prevalent at the time.