DEUTSCH | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL | FRANÇAIS | ITALIANO | LATINO | PORTUGUÊS
| Main calendar page Browse by month: Januarius |
IANUARIUS (sacred to Ianus)Key:
|
Kalendis Ianuaris (January 1):
Today a Pontifex Minor calls the people to the Curia Calabra. The Pontifex
Minor and the Rex Sacrorum offer a sacrifice to Iuno where Ianus is also
invoked. Then, the Pontifex Minor invokes
Iuno Covella on the fifth day of the month:
"Die Quinti te kalo Iuno Covella"
The Regina Sacrorum also sacrifices to Iuno at the Regia. [back to calendar]
This is the New Year day. Ianus, who is bifrons (with two
faces looking at opposing directions) looks back at the past year and looks
ahead at the arriving new year. When Ovidius asks Ianus why the year does not
start in Spring (as it did in remote times), Ianus answers that "midwinter
is the beginning of the new Sun and the end of the old one. Phoebus and the year
take their start from the same point" (Ovidius, Fasti, I.149 seq.). This
day is a day of vows and gifts, when one should only say words of good augury.
After a procession through the city to the Capitol, each Consul inaugurates his magistracy sacrificing to Iuppiter,
Iuno, Minerva and Salus pro salute rei publicae et senatus (for the
health of the Republic and the Senate) white heifers nourished on the Faliscan
plains which have never known the yoke, for these heifers had been promised one
year before by the previous Consules during the regular public vows (Vota
Publica). These regular vows
are then renewed for this year (during the Empire
the regular vows were made on January 3) with the promise of a new sacrifice to Iuppiter,
Iuno, Minerva and Salus pro salute rei publicae et senatus on the next
January 1. The people throws coins during the
vows to bring good luck.
The Rex Sacrorum sacrifices to Ianus. [back to calendar]
Kalendis Ianuaris (January 1): Aniversary (dies natalis) of the dedication of the temple of Vediovis in the island of the Tiber. Vediovis is a sort of chtonic Iuppiter whose porpiciation is important to start well the new year (Aulus Gellus, Attic Nights, 5.12.9). [back to calendar]
Kalendis Ianuaris (January 1): Aniversary (dies natalis) of the dedication of the temple of Aesculapius in the island of the Tiber. Aesculapius is a God of health whose propitiation is important to start well the new year. [back to calendar]
Nonis Ianuaris (January 5): The Rex Sacrorum publishes an edict announcing the fixed feats of the month (feriae statae sollemnes). [back to calendar]
Nonis Ianuaris (January 5): Aniversary (dies natalis) of the shrine of Vica Pota on the Velia, near the family house of the Valerii in early times. Vica Pota is an old Roman goddess, whose name is thought to be derived from vincere (to conquer) and potiri (to get possession of); she is therefore identified with Victoria, who later overshadowed the older deity. [back to calendar]
a.d. III Idus Ianuarias (January 11): Festival of Iuturna, Goddess of fountains and prophetic waters. Arnobius says that she is the spouse of Fontus (Arnobius, "Adversus Nationes", 3.29). Today, those charged with the adduction of waters celebrate the aniversary of her temple, at the place where the Aqua Virgo (Virgin Water) aqueduct stands at the Campus Martius (the Aqua Virgo was built by Agrippa in 19 BC). [back to calendar]
The Idus of every month are sacred to Iuppiter. An white ewe is sacrificed to Iuppiter by the Flamen Dialis. [back to calendar]
a.d. VI Kalendas Februarias (January 27): Aniversary (dies natalis) of the dedication of the temple of Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri) at the Forum, which took place in 484 BCE. This temple was vowed after they have helped to secure Rome's victory over the army of the expelled King Tarquinius Superbus at Lake Regillus. The twins were seen watering their horses , still covered in sweat, by a man to whom they announced that the Romans had won the battle before even the Romans at the scene were convinced that they had won. [back to calendar]
MOVEABLE FEASTS (FERIAE CONCEPTIVAE)
The Compitalia or celebration of the Lares Compitales (Lares of the
crossroads) is an agricultural festival that takes place at the crossroads
between the farms of the countryside sorrounding Rome. It takes place on a
single day fixed by the Praetor Urbanus, between December 17 (Saturnalia) and
January 5th (more usually on January 3rd, 4th or 5th). The shrines of the Lares
Compitales are erected at crossroads ('compita'), where the paths of three or
four farms. The shrines are open in all 4 directions to allow the passage of the
Lares of each farm. A broken plowshare is hung up at the shrine (to signify the
end of the agricultural year?), as well as a wooden doll for every free person
of the household and a woolen ball for every slave. At the edge of each
property, an altar is set up for sacrifice, which is followed by a period of
feasting.
Emperor Octavius Augustus changed the character of the festival. After dividing
Rome in 265 'vici' (districts), he ordered the erection of shrines in all
crossroads between them, associating the Lares Compitales to the Genius Augusti
(this is the origin of the Lares Augusti). The celebration took place in all the
three days. The magistri vicorum (chiefs of district) presided the ceremony,
organising the games and sport competitions. In this way, the private
agricultural celebration of the Compitalia was turned into a public urban
festival. [back to calendar]
Festival of Sowing celebrated in the end of Ianuarius. The festival is announced by the Curio Maximus. Cakes are offered on the hearths of the households. Tellus and Ceres are propitiated by the sacrifice of a pregnant sow in addition to traditional wheat cakes. People pray to them for the protection of the seeds against the birds, the ants, cold , rust, bad weather and ryegrass.