This Day in Ancient History: kalendas octobres

kalendas octobres

rites in honour of Fides on the Capitoline — these involved a procession of the flamines in a “two horse hooded carriage” to the shrine. The flamines had to bind themselves up as far as their fingers as a symbolic gesture that fides (good faith) had to be kept.

rites associated with Juno Sororia at the tigillum — although a number of false etymologies associated this ritual of passing under a beam (the tigillum) with the tale of Horatius murdering his sister, it is more likely originally some sort of ‘coming of age’ ritual for Roman girls

331 B.C. — Battle of Gaugamela (one suggested date)

208 A.D. (?) — birth of the future emperor Severus Alexander

This Day in Ancient History: ante diem iii kalendas octobres

ante diem iii kalendas octobres

106 B.C. — birth of Gnaeus Pompeius

61 B.C. — Pompey celebrates his third triumph in recognition of his victories in the third Mithridatic War

48 B.C. — Pompeius Magnus, in the wake of his defeat at Pharsalus, is murdered as he steps ashore in Egypt (another possible date)

290 A.D. — martyrdom of Rhipsime, Gaiana, and companions