Wednesday, 29 April 2020

The Great Festivals of Ancient Rome




15 February
Lupercalia
The city was purged of evil when two goats and one dog were sacrificed at the Cave of Lupa. Whips were made from the skins of the sacrificed animals and given to two young men who had the blood poured over them. The men then ran through the streets whipping any women they could reach.

17 March
Liberalia
Boys who had become 14 in the previous year were declared to be adult men. After a feast at home the boys joined a procession that marched around the city calling at 27 sacred shrines and temples.

7 June
Ludi Piscatori
A festival in honour of the god of the River Tiber. Fish caught from the river were burned on the altar of the Temple of Vulcan. Everyone in Rome had the day off work.

6-13 July
Ludi Apollonares
A week-long festival to honour the god Apollo. The theatres put on special shows while horse and chariot races took place in the Circus Maximus.

23 July
Neptunalia
A festival in honour of the god Neptune that involved horse racing. Also a day on which elections were held.

28 August
Sol Luna
A festival honouring the sun and moon with chariot races and other events in the Circus Maximus.


5-19 September
Ludi Romani
The games honouring the god Jupiter. A great procession through the streets was followed by chariot racing, horse racing, athletic contests, theatre shows, gladiator fights and feasting.

15 October
October Horse
This festival honoured the god Mars. It began with a procession to the Campus Martius, a field north of the city where the army traditionally practised. Chariot races took place and the lead horse of the winning team was killed using the sacred spear of Mars. The severed head of the horse was then nailed to the walls of Rome.

17 December
Saturnalia
This festival began with a procession to the Temple of Saturn, followed by sacrifices. This was followed by people giving each other gifts and by feasts and parties held in private houses. Traditionally slaves had the day off work and gambling was allowed within the walls of the city.

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