Floralia

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This article is about the Roman festival. For the video game location, see
Floralia (Kirby)
.
Floralia
theatrical performances, circus events
Observancessacrifice to Flora; ceremonial release of hares and goats; scattering of legumes; colorful garments worn
Date28 April – 3 May[2]
Related tothe goddess Flora

The Floralia was a

festival in ancient Roman religious practice in honor of the goddess Flora, held on 27 April during the Republican era, or 28 April in the Julian calendar. The festival included Ludi Florae, the "Games of Flora", which lasted for six days under the empire.[3]

The festival had a licentious, pleasure-seeking atmosphere. In contrast to many festivals which had a

plebeian in nature.[4]

Flora

Main article: Flora (mythology)

Flora is one of the most ancient goddesses of Roman religion and was one of fifteen deities to have her own state-supported high priest, the

Varro counted Flora among the Sabine deities.[7]

Temples of Flora

The

plebeians of Rome. Games were instituted for the founding day of the temple (28 April), and were held only occasionally until continued crop damage led to their annual celebration beginning in 173.[8]

Flora Rustica ("Rural Flora") had another temple on the Quirinal Hill, the Temple of Flora Rustica, which may have been the location of the altar erected by Tatius.[9]

Games

Fasti Praenestini
 showing a note on the Ludi Florae

The games (

tightrope-walking elephant.[13]

Participation of prostitutes

Prostitutes participated in the Floralia as well as the wine festival (Vinalia) on 23 April. According to the satirist Juvenal,[14] prostitutes danced naked and fought in mock gladiator combat.[15] Many prostitutes in ancient Rome were slaves, and even free women who worked as prostitutes lost their legal and social standing as citizens, but their inclusion at religious festivals indicates that they were not completely cast out from society.[16]

Observances

lupins
, also symbols of fertility.

In contrast to the Cerealia, when white garments were worn, multi-colored clothing was customary.[17] There may have been nocturnal observances, since sources mention measures taken to light the way after the theatrical performances.

A rite called the Florifertum is described by one source

Juno Lucina on 1 March,[22] a date also celebrated as the dies natalis ("birthday") of Mars[23] in whose conception
Flora played a role.

See also

References

  1. T.P. Wiseman
    , The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004), pp. 1–11.
  2. ^ Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998), p. 69.
  3. H.H. Scullard
    , Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981), p. 110.
  4. ^ William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908), p. 92.
  5. ^ Fowler, Roman Festivals, p. 92; Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, p. 110.
  6. ^ Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, p. 110.
  7. ^ Fowler, Roman Festivals, p. 92.
  8. ^ Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, p. 110.
  9. ^ Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, p. 110.
  10. ^ Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, p. 110.
  11. ^ Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, pp. 110–111.
  12. ^ Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, p. 110.
  13. ^ Suetonius, Life of Galba 6.1; Thomas E.J. Wiedemann, Emperors and Gladiators p. 63.
  14. ^ Juvenal, 6.249f.
  15. ^ Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, p. 110.
  16. ^ Thomas A.J. McGinn, Prostitution, Sexuality and the Law in Ancient Rome (Oxford University Press, 1998), p. 24.
  17. ^ Ovid, Fasti 5.355ff.
  18. ^ Festus, 81 in the edition of Lindsay.
  19. ^ P.Wissowa, Religion und Kultus der Römer, 1912, München ; H.Le Bonniec, Le culte de Cérès à Rome des origines à la fin de la République, 1958, Paris; Kurt Latte, Römische Religionsgeschichte , 1960, Leipzig; P.Pouthier, Ops et la conception divine de l'abondance dans la religion romaine jusqu'à la mort d'Auguste, BEFAR 242, 1981, Rome.
  20. ^ Kurt Latte, Römische Religionsgeschichte , 1960, Leipzig.
  21. ^ Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, p. 249.
  22. ^ Ovid, Fasti 3.251-258: "Bear flowers to the Goddess; this Goddess rejoices in flowering plants" (ferte Deae (=Juno Lucina) flores; gaudet florentibus herbis haec Dea).
  23. ^ F-H.Massa-Pairault, Lasa Vecu, Lasa Vecuvia, Dialoghi di Archeologia, 3,6, 1988.

External links

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