Which concept denotes Roman duty to the gods, family, and state?

• A. Nostos
• B. Arete
• C. Kleos
• D. Pietas

Answer: (D)

Pietas is the Roman sense of duty to the gods, to family, and to the state. It binds religious observance, filial respect, and loyalty to Rome into one overarching virtue, so a person acts with devotion to the divine, cares for kin, and prioritizes the welfare of the community above personal interests. In literature, the ideal is dramatized by Aeneas, who remains faithful to the gods’ commands, tends to his father and the ancestral line, and pursues the founding of Rome even when it costs him personally. This combination— honoring the gods, caring for family, and serving the state—is what pietas uniquely embodies. By contrast, homecoming (nostos) concerns returning home, the Greek concept of Arete denotes a general excellence or virtue, and Kleos refers to glory earned through heroic deeds; none of these precisely captures the integrated duty highlighted by pietas.