Ludi Saeculares, Rome's Centennial Games

These Annual Roman celebrations were concerned essentially with the chthonian (non-Olympian) divinities Dis (Dis Pater) and Prosperpina, but on the first day the games, in the Tarentum, sacrifices were offered also to Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Minerva, Venus, Apollo, Mercury, Ceres, Vulcan, Mars, Diana, Vesta, Hercules, Latona and the Parcae.

Today, offerings were made to Apollo and Diana on the Palatine Hill of Rome. First on the Palatine and then on the Capitoline Hill, 27 boys and as many girls sang Horace’s hymn, the 'Carmen Saeculare', which was commissioned by Augustus Caesar for the games. They sang other hymns and paeans in Greek and Latin, to ensure the safety of the cities under Rome; other ceremonies besides were performed.

Categories: ancient-rome, festival, calendar-customs, mythology, religion