AncientRome.StudyPast.com

t. Nicholas Day is December 6. St. Nicholas is a legendary figure connected with Christmas gift-givers like Santa Klaus. He is thought to have lived in the 4th century, and to have been born in Lycia in Asia Minor. He was probably bishop in the Lycian city of Myra. Nicholas is thought to have been wealthy and to have given his gold away to help others. There is a story that he provided bags of gold as dowries for three daughters of a poor man to keep them from having to become prostitutes.

Read more at St. Nicholas

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Extispicium

Derived from the word for entrails (exta) and the verb to look at (specto), extispicium is the art of interpreting the entrails of sacrifical animals. The interpretation involved determining the will of the gods. Etruscan soothsays in Rome, called Haruspices, interpreted the color, markings, and shape of liver and gallbladder at most public sacrifices held within or outside Rome.

The Etruscans were said to have been taught the art of haruspiy from a grandson of Jupiter named Tages.

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Scenes from Paradise: Jewish Roman Mosaics from Tunisia

The Brooklyn Museum has a collection of beautiful mosaics from an ancient Jewish-Roman synagogue in Tunisia.

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Floralia

The Ludi Florales were Roman games held in late April or early May in honor of a fertility goddess, Flora. The events included games and theatrical productions, and licentiousness.

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Ludi Megalenses

The Ludi Megalenses were held in April in honor of Cybele the goddess imported from Phrygia whose cult involved ritual castration of her priests in a reenactment of a great myth.

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Janus - Two-Faced Roman God

The month of January is named for the Roman god Janus, who was a doorway god. In Rome the temple to the twin-faced Janus showed whether Rome was at war or peace because when the temple door was open, Rome was at war, and when it was closed, Rome was at peace.

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Flamen - Flamines - Roman Priests known as Flamines
The flamines, which is the plural of flamen, were under the control of the pontifex maximus. They were distinguished by articles of clothing and a laurel wreath. They were distinguished from the sacerdos priest by being devoted to a single god.

The flamines were appointed for life, but could (be compelled to) resign.

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Fetials

One of the kings of ancient Rome started the priestly guild of fetials, probably in imitation of a similar group among the neighboring Italic tribes. The Fetials had legal/military functions in addition to their priestly ones. Read a brief description of the Fetials.

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Pontifex Maximus

Originally the Pontifex may have been in charge of the wooden bridge across the Tiber, but it was also a priestly position. The Pontifex Maximus was the top priest, and today's Pope is referred to by the same title, as Pontiff.

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Vestal Virgins - Obligations and rewards of 30 years service as a Vestal Virgin

The Vestal Virgins were venerated priestesses of Vesta (the Roman goddess of the hearth fire) and guardians of the luck of Rome who could intervene on behalf of those in trouble. Originally, there were two, then four (in Plutarch's time), and then six Vestal Virgins.

Take a Vestal Virgins Quiz.

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