Pietas

[ pahy-i-tas ]

/ ˈpaɪ ɪˌtæs /

the ancient Roman personification of familial affection, patriotism, and piety.

Definition for pietas (2 of 2)

Pietà

[ pee-ey-tah, pyey-tah, pee-ey-tuh, pyey- ]

/ ˌpi eɪˈtɑ, pyeɪˈtɑ, piˈeɪ tə, ˈpyeɪ- /

a representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of the dead Christ, usually shown held on her lap.

1635–45; < Italian: literally, pity < Latin pietās piety; cf. pity

Blending with this notion of 'pietas,' we find the Platonic repudiation of sensuous and material life.

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Vol. VI (of 8) |William Wordsworth
This pietas Tewkesburiensis still survives, as flowers are annually laid upon the site of the grave.

Bell's Cathedrals: The Abbey Church of Tewkesbury |H. J. L. J. Mass
See the following extract from the colloquy of Erasmus, Pietas puerilis, edition Argent.

The Oxford Reformers |Frederic Seebohm
Pietas is Virgil's word for religion, as it had been Cicero's in his more exalted moments.

The Religious Experience of the Roman People |W. Warde Fowler

Pietas has the religious note which the other words lack, loving dutifulness to gods and home and country.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 8 |Various

pietà

/ (pɪɛˈtɑː) /

a sculpture, painting, or drawing of the dead Christ, supported by the Virgin Mary

Italian: pity, from Latin pietās piety

Pietà

[ (pyay-tah; pee-ay-tah) ]

A painting, drawing, or sculpture of Mary, the mother of Jesus, holding the dead body of Jesus. The word means “pity” in Italian.

The most famous of four Pietàs by Michelangelo is a sculpture at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.