Parentalia Flashcards
What is the feralia
A one-day festival which closes the Parentalia
Was the feralia a big event
Yes. None of the public rites survive, but it’s prominence on public calendars show it was a major event
What does Varro in ‘on the Latin language’ describe the feralia as?
“The festival of the dead”
What does Ovid describe about the feralia
A strange rite dedicated to tacita, the goddess of the dead, which was performed on the feralia by an old woman surrounded by young girls
What did the Romans regard their dead as?
Intermediaries between themselves and the gods (they petitioned for good fortune at grave sides)
What was the Romans attitude towards the dead and the deceased
When a person died, the rites and rituals surrounding the departed were to help them reach after life, and to keep them away from the land of the living as they believed that death polluted
Where were the dead buried in relation to the city
Outside the city walls, in their own cities of death
For how long was a family impure after a funeral?
Until they had ritually cleansed both themselves and their homes
What did the Parentalia serve as?
It was a time to honour and remember ancestors, and was a way to pacify the dead and keep them away from the living
When is the feralia
On the 21st of February
Why was the parentalia held?
The Romans held their dead in great respect and honoured ancestors which were never supposed to be forgotten.
What was it customary for living relatives to do?
Visit the graves of their deceased family members on their birthdays.
What did the Romans do twice a year?
They publicly honoured the dead (Lemuria in May and Parentalia in February).
How long was the parentalia?
8 days
Why were the festivities important?
They were a way to keep the memories of the dead alive.
When did the parentalia begin?
13th February
What was performed on the 13th February?
Virgo Vesta Parentat- the opening rituals of the dead performed by a vestal Virgin
Why did Ovid say temples were closed on the parentalia?
The days of the parentalia were tainted so temples were closed with “no incense for altars, no fires for hearths”
Where the rituals private?
Yes, they took place within each family
What was believed about the dead during the parentalia?
They were believed to rise and wander amongst the living, consuming the gifts which were left for them
What were the gifts?
Offerings left by the deceased families
What did Ovid say about the offerings?
They were left “lying on a shard in mid street”
What happened at the tombs of the deceased?
“Hearths were built”, “prayers and ritual words were said”, “sprinkled corn and a thrifty grain of salt” was left behind.
What does archeological evidence from Pompeii show?
Many tombs and necropolii had seating areas for visitors and this was in a garden. Some of the more elaborate ones had their own dining rooms and cooking facilities.
