User:JoshTheRoman/Romans 3

Romans (Latin: Rōmānum) are an ethnic group native to and citizens of the Roman Republic. They are largely based around the, specifically below the and  rivers on the peninsula. Romans near-unanimously follow Roman Paganism as a religion, and the religion plays a large part in daily life. Romans speak Latin, the only surviving language and the parent of many languages in the region.

A small Roman diaspora exists throughout and in minor enclaves all throughout the world. During Rome's near three thousand-year history, its people have contributed greatly to the fields of philosophy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, medicine, engineering, linguistics, the social sciences, law, literature, the visual arts, music, and film. It could even be argued that the Romans have founded many of these very fields of study, science, and art.

Religion
Nearly all Romans follow Jovism, a denomination of Paganism, as the polytheistic of Rome. While modern adherents use the religion to define themselves as a people, early Romans adopted the religious practices of peoples brought under and integrated into Roman rule, such as the or. Romans think of themselves as pious people, constantly praying to the gods in times of both need and abundance. The earliest of of Rome's religious institutions could be traced to its founders, particularly, the second , who negotiated directly with the gods. This was the foundation of the mos maiorum, "the way of the ancestors" or simply "tradition", viewed as central to Roman identity. Eventually, the religion of the Romans underwent extensive reformation in the 3rd century based on the life and teachings of Apollonius, who lived two centuries prior.

During his life, Apollonius denounced decadence and greed, healed the sick, gave to the needy, spoke as a law-giver, was condemned by Roman authorities, and was seen as the savior of the world, given to the world by the gods. When he died, his apostles wrote the Biblia, which codified the teachings of Apollonius, along with the earlier stories of the Roman religion before Apollonius' birth. The scripture preached kindness, charity, mercy; then denounced greed, decadence, and envy. These ideas were alien during the time, but quickly became popular among the needy and lower classes of the region, and by the 7th century, it was the religion and philosophy of the people.

Appearance
Located at a crossroads between three continents, the physical appearance of Romans, although similiar, can vary widely across regions. They are quite short for, with men rarely standing much above six feet. Although short, Roman men are rarely stout and have a rather athletic shape. Women, on the other hand, women also tend to be small, but voluptuous.

Skin tones among Romans can range from the pale-white, European-looking Etruscans, to the olive, nearly light brown -looking Sicilians. Most fall in between the two, having a tanned, but white complexion. Among the population, hair color tends to be brunette, although black and blond hair is can be seen occasionally as well. Roman eye color also tends to be brown, with small traces of grey or amber eyes in the northernmost regions. Romans tend to have somewhat round jawlines, especially prominent in women. Their noses are narrow and lips are slightly larger compared to other Europeans.

Naming
Roman names are quite unique, distinguishing the Romans from other people. Roman names consist of a combination three personal and family names. Conventionally referred to as the tria nomina. In order, the first name of a Roman is their given name (praenomen). Most of the time, only family and close friends may call a Roman by their given name. The second name of a Roman is their clan name (nomen). Romans are called this name by acquaintances or colleagues. The third name of a Roman is their family name (cognomen). This name is only used during formalities. Few Romans have nicknames (agnomen), which are gained through personal achievements or distinct physical characteristics.

Language
Romans speak Latin, the only surviving language belonging to the Italic language family, and the parent of several languages, such as Spanish, Italian, and Illyrian. The Romans are the source and inventors of the, which is in use by over half of the world's nations. Due to Rome's economic prominence, Latin is used by many as a , or a way to communicate for when people do not share a common language.

Since the sixth century, literacy was used as a way to distinguish proper Romans from vulgar, foreign barbarians who claimed to be Roman. Because of this, literacy rates among Romans have been historically very high. In the modern day, the adult literacy rate exceeds 99% and an illiterate Romans are virtually non-existent.

Literature
Roman literature begins over two millennia ago, when the traditionally Greek play, the , was brought west and introduced to Roman audiences for the first time. However, the first golden age of Roman literature would not come until a few centuries later, with authors such as, , , and. These men wrote of poems, long narratives, orations, parables, and recorded history. In the following centuries, the only writers were mostly poets and historians, such as or. However, Emperor wrote  in the 160's and 170's, where he discussed his  philosophy. Unfortunately, Roman literature underwent a gradual decline until re-emerging over a millennium later.

Art
Like Roman literature, Roman art began over two thousand years ago and subsequently grew with language and literature. However, the names of the archaic artists remain unknown, since they were not recorded, as the subject as the artwork was deemed much more important. During this era, sculptures, wall paintings, and mosaics were the most common forms of work. Important people, politicians, or rulers frequently commissioned a bust or sculpture to be done in their image. As with literature, Roman art underwent a decline following the fall of the Roman Empire.