Lupercalia Flashcards
what was Lupercus the god of?
Fertility
what was Lupercalia about?
a festival origianally derived from the purification and fertility to honour the god Lupercus (‘Lupus means wolf in Latin) so the festival also honured Rome’s founder Romulus (AKA king of SHeperds)
why is there debate about the origins of the festival Lupercalia?
Plutarch links the festival to the festival with Archadian Lycaea, the feast of the wolves.
Ovid links it to the festival with the God Pan.
when did Lupercalia take place?
15th February
what officials were involved with Lupercalia?
the preists were claled Luperci and were chosed especially for the day from the noble male population
what happened at the beginning of the festival Lupercalia?
the priests gathered in the Lupercal(the cave in Palatine hill of Rome where Lupercalia took place)
IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ROMULUS AND REMUS WERE SUCKLED BY THE SHE-WOLF
the luperci then separated into 2 groups and underwnet a sacrifice in honour of the god
Afterwards the 2 teams took part in a race around the food of the Palatine hill
what did the sacrifice in Lupercalia involve?
on entering the cave the Luperci sacrificed dogs and goats as these animals were known for their virility ((in a man) the quality of having strength, energy, and a strong sex drive; manliness).
they had mola salsa and sprikled it onto their heads and then the animals bowed their heads and their thrats were slit.
once the animal was dead a knife was dipped in the bloos and it was dripped onto the forheads of participants which was then immediately wiped of with wool soaked in milk. Then the Luperci let out a laugh. then the haruspec woudl read the entrails, (if positive) and then they woudl feast
what was special about the sacrifice at Lupercalia?
once the animal was dead a knife was dipped in the bloos and it was dripped onto the forheads of participants which was then immediately wiped of with wool soaked in milk. Then the Luperci let out a laugh.
what was the animal skin in Lupercalia used for?
it was used to cover the body of people during the race (because the god is naked and so were his slaves - another wave of honoouring someone)
what did the race in Lupercalia involve?
it was the public part of the festival which took participants through the Roman Forum and around the foot of the Palatine.
the participants woudl whip spectators with their leather strips to grant great fertility to those who were struck (therefore many women would purposefully get in the way of the race)
how was Lupercalia connected to Romulus?
‘Lupus’ means wolf in Latin and Romulus was found in the Lupercal (where the sacrifice took place)
He was aka the King of Sheperds
how were the luperci chosed?
from the Nobel population e.g., Mark Anthony in 44BC - he used the occasion to stir up popular support
what were the aims of lupercalia?
to purify the city and promote fertility
whhere was the Lupercal
it was the cave in Palatine hill of Rome where Lupercalia took place.
Why were dogs and Goats sacrificed by the Luperci?
for their verility
why were animals skinned after tthe feast?
it was used to cover the body during the race (whipping)
who raced arouhnd the palatine and why were they naked?
the Luperci were imitating the god Lupercus. Fertility
wwho absolutely wasn’t allowed to participate in the lupercalia?
children
what is februa?
strips of goat hide used by the Luperci
how were luperci choese?
they were chosen from the noble male population
why might Lupercalia have been important to women?
it reassured them with issues concerning childbirth and pregnancy
