A scene from the movie The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). For many people including myself, it is utterly impossible to imagine a world without Rome. The fabled “Eternal City of the Seven Hills” dominated the ancient world for… Read More ›

April
April 28 – The Floralia: The Ancient Roman Flower Festival
Get ready for some ancient Roman flower power, dude! April 28 was date of the Floralia, a festival dedicated to the goddess Flora, the ancient Roman goddess of flowers and fertility. Flora was associated with Spring, the season of new… Read More ›
April 23 – The Vinalia Priora: The Ancient Roman Spring Wine Festival
I feel the coming of the flowery Spring,Wakening tree and vine;A bowl capacious quickly bringAnd mix the honeyed wine.Weave for my throat a garland of fresh dill,And crown my head with flowers,And o’er my breast sweet perfumes spillIn aromatic showers…. 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 ›