Equirria
Encyclopedia
The Equirria were holy days with religious and military significance at either end of the new year celebrations for Mars. The Roman state placed great emphasis on celebrating the god of war - to support the army, and to boost public morale. Priests performed rites purifying the army. Celebrants held horse races on the Campus Martius
(field of Mars), and drove a scapegoat
out of the city of Rome, expelling the old and bringing in the new.
Equus October was a festival on 15 October (idus
), in which the right hand horse of the winning pair of a race was sacrificed to Mars. The tail was rushed to the regia
to have its blood drip on the hearth there. There was a traditional fight over its head between the inhabitants of the Subura who wanted it for the Turris Mamilia
, and those of the Via Sacra
who wanted it for the regia
.
The Equus October has been considered as one of the rites of the closing of the military season and as related to the successful campaigning which secured harvests. It has a close parallel in the Vedic
rite of the Asvamedha as wellas in other IE people rites.
Campus Martius
The Campus Martius , was a publicly owned area of ancient Rome about in extent. In the Middle Ages, it was the most populous area of Rome...
(field of Mars), and drove a scapegoat
Scapegoat
Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any party for unmerited negative treatment or blame. Scapegoating may be conducted by individuals against individuals , individuals against groups , groups against individuals , and groups against groups Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any...
out of the city of Rome, expelling the old and bringing in the new.
Equus October was a festival on 15 October (idus
Ides
Ides may refer to:* Ides , a day in the Roman calendar that marked the approximate middle of the month* Specifically, Ides of March* Ides, a being in Germanic paganism* Saint Ides, an Irish saint...
), in which the right hand horse of the winning pair of a race was sacrificed to Mars. The tail was rushed to the regia
Regia
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...
to have its blood drip on the hearth there. There was a traditional fight over its head between the inhabitants of the Subura who wanted it for the Turris Mamilia
Turris Mamilia
The Turris Mamilia was a landmark in ancient Rome. It was located in the Subura, a densely populated, notoriously lively quarter of the city. The existence of the tower is attested by an inscription, and it is mentioned by Festus....
, and those of the Via Sacra
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....
who wanted it for the regia
Regia
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...
.
The Equus October has been considered as one of the rites of the closing of the military season and as related to the successful campaigning which secured harvests. It has a close parallel in the Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
rite of the Asvamedha as wellas in other IE people rites.