By mid-March, Spring had definitely come to central Italy. The weather was getting warmer and the first green shoots were emerging from the soil. It was also a date of important astrological significance. As the poet Ovid states, “When the… Read More ›
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March 15 – The Ides of March
La Morte di Cesare (“The Death of Caesar”), painted by Vincenzo Camuccini (1805). Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Rome, Italy. Beware the Ides of March! Or should you? Well, for Julius Caesar, he certainly had reason to be wary of the… Read More ›
March 1 – The Month of Mars
Ancient Roman re-enactors marching at Xanten, Germany. Photograph by Judith Meyer (June 23, 2012). CC0 Creative Commons. March is the month dedicated to the ancient Roman war god Mars. By now, the weather is warming up, the snows have melted,… Read More ›
February 17 – The Fornicalia
February 17 was the ancient Roman festival called the Fornicalia. NO, get your mind out of the gutter, it’s got nothing to do with what you’re thinking of! The word comes from the Latin word fornax, meaning “oven”; the English… Read More ›
February 15 – The Lupercalia
Do you fancy yourself a wolf when it comes to the ladies? Well, today’s your chance to show your stuff! February 15 is the day of the Lupercalia, which was the major fertility festival in the ancient Roman calendar. The… Read More ›
DINOSAURS AND BARBARIANS 