The processions of joyful people were moving all over the city to feasts and parties, and people meeting were greeted with a shout: Io Saturnalia! Many Romans used these facilities and spent whole nights playing. The streets of Rome were well-lit during the holidays candlesticks and torches were placed (they were usually dark and dangerous at night). It should be remembered that a slave owner after Saturnalia could punish him for behavior, if he would overdo it with jokes. What is certain, however, is that, rather on the time of Saturnalia, both parties simply talked to each other freely, avoiding unpleasantness. It is worth adding that the slaves also had the right to say what they like about their masters, without worrying about repercussions. ![]() Naturally, the food still had to be prepared by a slave. It seems, however, that the more likely scenario is that the slaves just ate dinner with their master at one table, and the food was not served, and the owner himself had to bring them to the table. The most important rite of the day was that masters and slaves turned into one day roles – the owners served slaves. Often there were dwarfs or women in the arena, and the fights did not have a rather bloody course, which proved that Saturnalia had a cheerful character. After the feast there were gladiator fights that saw all the social strata together. Behind the statue was a whole crowd of amused Romans who was going to take part in a big banquet on the forum. Next, the priests made a sacrifice from the pig in front of the temple, and the senators entered the building, took out a wooden statue of Saturn and carried it on the forum, where it was placed on a special Roman sofa, which was usually rested in the households. There are also messages that the statue was hollow and filled with olive oil. At the time of Saturnalia the bonds were loosened to symbolize the god’s liberation and beginning of the holiday. Before the entrance to the temple was a statue of Saturn, who had his feet tied around with woolen bonds. At the beginning of Saturnalia, in front of the Temple of Saturn on the Capitol Hill, a crowd of Romans gathered. The time was filled with official and home ceremonies in honor of the gods, lavish banquets, family feasts, giving away gifts.ĭecember 17 commemorated foundation of the temple of Saturn in Rome, the equivalent of the Greek Kronos. In addition, everyone wore special leather hats ( pileus), which every day were worn by freedmen to show that they were free people. ![]() Thus, everyone: slaves, freedmen and citizens were dressed the same, which proved equality for the duration of the festival. On the first day of Saturnalia, the running of all economic activity was suspended was free from work, public duties, and citizens resigned from their everyday attire to ordinary tunics. Saturnalia lasted only a day in the early period, but then was celebrated for seven days. It was a day of reconciliation and equality. ![]() This was celebrated in honor of the god of agriculture, wealth, freedom – Saturn and lasted from 17 to 23 December. Saturnalia was the annual oldest and most popular Roman festival. At the time, the running of all economic activity was suspended, and the slaves celebrated with free people. Rome’s contacts with Africa and Far EastĪve, Caesar! Io, Saturnalia!, Lawrence Alma-Tadema.
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