This Day in Ancient History

pridie idus maias

  • rites in honour of Mars Invictus
  • procession of the Argei (images of humans made from bullrushes) in anticipation of them being tossed in the Tiber tomorrow

This Day in Ancient History

ante diem iv idus maias

This Day in Ancient History

ante diem v idus maias

Lemuria (day 2) — a private and public appeasement of the dead; the Roman paterfamilias would rise at midnight to conduct a ritual involving beans and bronze

rites in honour of Mania — a Roman divinity who was considered the goddess of the dead; she was also the mother of the Lares

14 A.D. — Augustus’ last official census comes to an end

330 — Constantine renames Byzantium and makes it his capital

1988 — death of E.T. Salmon (Samnium and the Samnites)