11
Festival of the Capitoline Triad
11
HOC MENSE ROMAE AUG-OCT
BEHEADING THE WINNER ?
Rome ’ s " Equus October " Ritual
In addition to festivals for Jupiter and Juno , a very famous sacrifice was also made to Mars to celebrate the end of the agricultural and military season . After October , both farmers and soldiers would pause their jobs as winter settled in . This celebration and sacrifice occured in the Campus Martius .
After two chariot races , the winning horse would be sacrificed ( via spearing and decapitation ). The head would be displayed in a Roman neighborhood , and the tail would be used to place blood on one of Rome ’ s sacred hearths .
Fortunately for the horses , this is the only record of any kind of horse sacrifice in Rome . In addition to commermating the end of the agricultural and military seasons , this sacrifice also represented initiation and rebirth .
AUG
OTHER EVENTS :
17
Portunalia
Portunuus was the god of doors and harbors . As a result , this celebration involved keys !
SEP
13
OCT
4
Festival of the Capitoline Triad
This feast honored the Capitoline Triad , AKA Jupiter , Juno , and Minerva !
Fast Day for Ceres
Rather than feast , as per usual with Roman holidays , on this day , Romans fasted in honor of Ceres .