Agonalia
Encyclopedia
In Ancient Roman religious tradition, Agonalia, or Agonia, was a festival celebrated several times a year, in honor of various divinities, such as Janus
and Agonius
, whom the Romans used to invoke upon their undertaking any business of importance. The word is derived either from Agonia, "a victim," or from Agonium, "a festival."
Its institution, like that of other religious rites and ceremonies, was attributed to Numa Pompilius
. Ancient calendars indicate that it was celebrated on the three following days: January 9, May 21, and December 11; to which we should probably add March 17, the day on which the Liberalia
was celebrated, since this festival is also called Agonia or Agonium Martiale.
, we shall not have much difficulty in understanding the significance of this festival. The ram was the usual victim presented to the guardian gods of the state, and the rex sacrificulus and the regia could be employed only for such ceremonies as were connected with the highest gods and affected the weal of the whole state. Regarding the sacrifice in this light, we see a reason for its being offered several times in the year.
. None of these, however, are at all satisfactory; and we would therefore suggest another. It is well known that the Quirinal hill was originally called Agonus, and the Colline gate
, Agonensis. What is then more likely than that this sacrifice should have been originally offered on this hill, and should thus have received the name of Agonalia? It is expressly stated that the sacrifice was offered in the regia, or the domus regis, which in the historical times was situated at the top of the sacra via
, near the arch of Titus
; but in the earliest times, the regia is stated by an ancient writer to have been upon the Quirinal, and this statement seems to render our supposition almost certain.
The Circus Agonensis, as it is called, is supposed by many modern writers to have occupied the place of the present Piazza Navona
, and to have been built by the emperor Alexander Severus
on the spot where the victims were sacrificed at the Agonalia. However, modern authors have brought forward good reasons for questioning whether this was a circus at all, and has shown that there is no authority for giving it the name of Circus Agonensis.
Janus
-General:*Janus , the two-faced Roman god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings, and endings*Janus , a moon of Saturn*Janus Patera, a shallow volcanic crater on Io, a moon of Jupiter...
and Agonius
Agonius
Agonius or Enagonius was an epithet of several gods in Greek mythology . Aeschylus and Sophocles use it of Apollo and Zeus, and apparently in the sense of helpers in struggles and contests, or possibly as the protectors of soldiers...
, whom the Romans used to invoke upon their undertaking any business of importance. The word is derived either from Agonia, "a victim," or from Agonium, "a festival."
Its institution, like that of other religious rites and ceremonies, was attributed to Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius was the legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus. What tales are descended to us about him come from Valerius Antias, an author from the early part of the 1st century BC known through limited mentions of later authors , Dionysius of Halicarnassus circa 60BC-...
. Ancient calendars indicate that it was celebrated on the three following days: January 9, May 21, and December 11; to which we should probably add March 17, the day on which the Liberalia
Liberalia
The Liberalia is the festival of Liber Pater and his consort Libera. The Romans celebrated Liberalia with sacrifices, processions, ribald and gauche songs, and masks which were hung on trees....
was celebrated, since this festival is also called Agonia or Agonium Martiale.
Purpose
The object of this festival was a disputed point among the ancients themselves; but as Hartung has observed , when it is recollected that the victim which was offered was a ram, that the person who offered it was the rex sacrificulus, and that the place where it was offered was the regiaRegia
The Regia was a structure in Ancient Rome, located in the Roman Forum. It was originally the residence of the kings of Rome or at least their main headquarters, and later the office of the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of Roman religion. It occupied a triangular patch of terrain between the...
, we shall not have much difficulty in understanding the significance of this festival. The ram was the usual victim presented to the guardian gods of the state, and the rex sacrificulus and the regia could be employed only for such ceremonies as were connected with the highest gods and affected the weal of the whole state. Regarding the sacrifice in this light, we see a reason for its being offered several times in the year.
Etymology
The etymology of the name was also a subject of much dispute among the ancients; and the various etymologies that were proposed are given at length by OvidOvid
Publius Ovidius Naso , known as Ovid in the English-speaking world, was a Roman poet who is best known as the author of the three major collections of erotic poetry: Heroides, Amores, and Ars Amatoria...
. None of these, however, are at all satisfactory; and we would therefore suggest another. It is well known that the Quirinal hill was originally called Agonus, and the Colline gate
Porta Collina
The Colline Gate was a landmark in ancient Rome, supposed to have been built by Servius Tullius, semi-legendary king of Rome 578–535 BC. The gate stood at the north end of the Servian Wall, and past it were two important streets, the Via Salaria and Via Nomentana. Within this area the Alta Semita...
, Agonensis. What is then more likely than that this sacrifice should have been originally offered on this hill, and should thus have received the name of Agonalia? It is expressly stated that the sacrifice was offered in the regia, or the domus regis, which in the historical times was situated at the top of the sacra via
Via Sacra
The Via Sacra was the main street of ancient Rome, leading from the top of the Capitoline Hill, through some of the most important religious sites of the Forum , to the Colosseum....
, near the arch of Titus
Arch of Titus
The Arch of Titus is a 1st-century honorific arch located on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. It was constructed in c.82 AD by the Roman Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus' victories, including the Siege of...
; but in the earliest times, the regia is stated by an ancient writer to have been upon the Quirinal, and this statement seems to render our supposition almost certain.
The Circus Agonensis, as it is called, is supposed by many modern writers to have occupied the place of the present Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is a city square in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans came there to watch the agones , and hence it was known as 'Circus Agonalis'...
, and to have been built by the emperor Alexander Severus
Alexander Severus
Severus Alexander was Roman Emperor from 222 to 235. Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty. He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus upon the latter's assassination in 222, and was ultimately assassinated himself, marking the epoch event for the Crisis of the Third Century — nearly fifty...
on the spot where the victims were sacrificed at the Agonalia. However, modern authors have brought forward good reasons for questioning whether this was a circus at all, and has shown that there is no authority for giving it the name of Circus Agonensis.