Classical Sunset. © Jason R. Abdale (August 20, 2021) The ancient Romans had several days in their calendar dedicated to honoring the dead. Among these was a period that lasted from February 13 to 21 which was known as the… Read More ›
ancient
February 13 – Rest in Peace: The Parentalia Festival of the Dead
Gone But Not Forgotten, painted by John Willian Waterhouse (1873). The Parentalia was a private remembrance day for the family’s deceased. The festival, for lack of a better word, lasted from February 13 to 21. During these days, all of… Read More ›
Get your Roman history book for the holidays!
Do you or someone that you know love ancient history, Roman history, or military history? Then you should buy a copy of The Great Illyrian Revolt and Four Days in September: The Battle of Teutoburg. These two histories are just… Read More ›
October 11 – The Meditrinalia: The Mid-Autumn Wine Tasting
The days are starting to get a bit cooler, with chilly mornings and soft crisp breezes throughout the day. The leaves are changing color and dropping to the ground, and animals are busily stockpiling food for their long Winter dormancy…. Read More ›
August 3 – “Woe to the Vanquished”
On August 3, 390 BC, the unthinkable happened – the city of Rome fell to the barbarians. But first, some background information… After a ten year long civil war, the Roman Republic was officially created in 499 BC. Ever since… Read More ›
June 1 – The Month of Marriage and the Carnal Kalends of Carna
June is the month of Juno, the goddess of women, marriage, and women’s health. Most weddings in ancient Rome took place in June to honor Juno. Even today, there is a tradition of “June weddings”. The poet Ovid states that… Read More ›
May 14 – The Sacrifice of the Argei
This is a follow-up post to another article that I had posted on March 16. I suggest that you read that one before you read this article. To read the article dated to March 16, click here. Ancient writers such… Read More ›
April 4 – The Feast of Cybele
Statue of the goddess Cybele, made approximately in 50 AD. Getty Museum. Public domain image.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Unknown_-Statue_of_a_Seated_Cybele_with_the_Portrait_Head_of_her_Priestess-_57.AA.19.jpg. April 4 marked the beginning of a multi-day festival in ancient Rome dedicated to Cybele, the mother of the gods; Cybele is the Roman version… Read More ›
April 1 – The Feast of Venus, Changer of Hearts
“Spring”, painted by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1894)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alma_Tadema_Spring.jpg April is the month of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and April 1 was one of several days in the Roman calendar dedicated to her. April is also the month of Apru, the… Read More ›
March 31 – The Feast of the Moon
March 31 was the day held in honor of Luna, the divine personification of the Moon. As Ovid says, “The Moon rules the months: this month’s span ends with the worship of the Moon on the Aventine Hill” (Ovid, Fasti,… Read More ›
DINOSAURS AND BARBARIANS 
