POPULAR CULTS
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POPULAR CULTS |
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The popular cults were very ancient, they existed before the domestic cults and they were typical of the plebeians; these cults were basically agrarian cults dedicated to the agrarian gods. So, Ceres was celebrated along the history of Rome and in her honour the Romans celebrated games –ludi-. |
Bust of Ceres-Demeter from Ariccia, dated at the end of the IV century or first half of the III century b. C. Museo alle Terme, Rome; photo from GABUCCI, Ada: Roma, Barcelona, 2006 |
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Pales, a shepherd deity, was honoured too; she was one of the most ancient deities in Rome and she protected the Palatine hill; the day of the foundation of Rome, 21th April, she was celebrated with the Palilia, a festivity with a popular banquet and bonfires. |
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Also the Lares of the crossings, the Lares Compitales, were so celebrated by the plebeians and slaves that the king Servius Tullius established the Compitalia festivities for the entertainment of the humble people at the beginning of January. |
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SOURCES: - HACQUARD, Georges: Guía de la Roma Antigua, Madrid, 2003 |
