ROME - FESTIVALS Flashcards
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What were the origins of the Lupercalia?
15th February.
Debated origins - Plutarch relating it to the Archadian Lycaea, the feast of wolves; while Ovid relates it back to the Greek god Pan.
Seems to have emerged from a festival of purification and fertility in honour of the god Lupercus.
Lupus - wolf, thus associated with Romulus.
Originally celebrating Romulus the shepherd, as the city grew, it focused more on Romulus the founder.
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Who were the presiding officials of the Lupercalia?
The priests, called the Luperci, were chosen from the noble male population.
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What was the programme of the Lupercalia?
It began at the Lupercal - the cave at the bottom of the Palatine Hill that was believed to be the place where Romulus and Remus were suckled by the she-wolf.
The cave had an altar to Lupercus. The Luperci (priests) then divided into two teams - they sacrificed to the god, then took part in a running race around the foot of the Palatine Hill.
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What was the Lupercalia sacrifice?
On entering the cave, the naked Luperci sacrificed dogs and goats - animals noted for their virility (reproductive energies). (Naked because of the forthcoming footrace)
The animals had mola salsa sprinkled on their heads, and as their heads bowed their throats were slit.
A knife was dipped into the blood and then smeared on the foreheads of the participants; it was then wiped off with wool soaked in milk.
The Luperci then laughed.
A haruspex would check the entrails - if positive, the participants would eat the sacrificial meat and drink copious amounts of wine.
The animal carcasses were then skinned - the skins being used for covering parts of the body and for leather whips.
As they ran around the hill, they would whip spectators - usually women who stepped forward - with their leather straps (the skins taken from the animals) to help with their fertility:
Plutarch: “Many women of rank also purposely get in their way, and like children at school present their hands to be struck, believing that the pregrnant will thus be helped to an easy delivery, and the barren [childless] to pregnancy.”
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Outline the Saturnalia
- Saturn is the god of sowing and seeds, so the festival took place at the end of the winter sowing.
- It began at the winter Solstice (17th - 23rd December) and celebrated the coming of new light, rebirth, and the promise of a brighter future.
- Saturn ruled during the Golden Age, so his festival was also a hope that the Golden Age would return.
- All levels of society could join in.
- It was the longest festival (though shorted under Augustus temporarily), and elements were picked up in the Christmas celebration.
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What does this calendar page depict?
MENSIS DECEMBER - month of Dec.
Top left - a MASK, something to do with theatricals or the procession: not known.
A table with a dice tower used to roll the two dice (fortuna?
ARO UMINTA TIBI MENSIS CONCEDE DECEMBER: I grant the subjects of the month of December to you.
Top right: birds hanging from a hook - food for festival/party?
The man is holding a torch - night or evening procession.
Bottom right - two heart organs … organ meat?
Vertical description reads: Behold winter nourishes the seed thrown each year into the ploughed earth; all is wet with rain sent from Jupiter; Now let December call once more the golden festivale for Saturn. Now you, slave, are allowed to play with your master.
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Who were the officials of the Saturnalia?
- Priests of the Temple of Saturn provided the officials.
- Religious officials were elected for a year and hence elite Romans could have a chance of leading the Saturnalia.
- The state paid for this festival.
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What was the programme of the Saturnalia?
Few documents exist (maybe people were too drunk to write up their experiences…)
We only know that on the first day of the Saturnalia, all business was suspended - all of the city was free to partake.
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What was different about the Saturnalia sacrifice?
The priest’s head was uncovered - perhaps reflecting the Greek style and the relationship between Saturn and Cronus.
Otherwise, a pig was sacrificed at the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum.
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Where did the Saturnalia feasting take place for the citizens?
Throughout the streets of Rome.
Effigies of Saturn were placed at the top of the baqueting table.
The feasting lasted several days and was state funded.
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What were private Saturnalia like?
Full of warmth, giving, and joy - looking forward to the new year and wishing of prosperity to all. It was very much a family affair (and close friends).
As the festival promoted equality, slaves and masters were deemed equal for the period of the Saturnalia.
Masters would give up their togas in favour of party clothing. Men would wear a small felt cap, a pileus, as a symbol of their freedom.
Slaves would be fed first at the table, then the master and his family would eat afterwards.
There would be much gift giving and games were played.
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What symbolic act occured to the statue of Saturn in the Temple of Saturn?
All year, his feet were bound by woollen strips. For the Saturnalia, these were taken away symbolising the loosening of constraints and the freedom and abundance that the festivities offered.
