Lectisterium

Lectisternium for Tyche on coin z. Currently Emperor Antoninus Pius

The Lectisternium (from Latin lectus "bed", "pillow" and starry "spread out") was a solemn meal of the gods in ancient Rome . The images of the gods or their respective attributes were placed on magnificent cushions that were draped with precious blankets and symbolically served with dishes placed next to them.

Since this form of god worship was originally practiced in Greece - there it was called theoxenia and was aimed primarily at wandering or distant gods such as the Dioscuri , Asklepios or Apollo - its introduction in Rome marks the increasing influence of Greek cults.

The first attested lectisterium took place in 399 BC. On the basis of an oracle of the Sibylline books that had been consulted about a raging plague in Rome. Apollo and Latona , Hercules and Diana as well as Mercurius and Neptunus took part in the meal of the gods , whose portraits were displayed in pairs on three couches in front of the dining tables.

The Lectisternium seems to have been a form of sacrifice that was thought to be particularly appropriate in times of crisis. Thus, immediately after the defeat on Lake Trasimeno, a lecturerium is attested. During the Second Punic War, Lectisternia took place on the Capitolium , the Temple of Juno Regina and the Temple of Saturnus . In the private sphere, the Lectisternium was mainly used at funerals.

The holding of a lectisternium ( lectisternium habere ) is also described as pulvinar suscipere or cenae ad pulvinaria . Both expressions refer to the precious cushions used for them, which are called pulvinar .

literature

• Anne Viola Siebert : Lectisternium. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 6, Metzler, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-476-01476-2 , Sp. 1217.
• Georg Wissowa : Lectisternium. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XII, 1, Stuttgart 1924, Col. 1108-1115.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Karl Kerényi , Magda Kerényi: Ancient religion. Works in individual editions, vol. 2. Stuttgart 1995, p. 100
2. ^ Dionysius from Halicarnassus Antiquitates Romanae 12.9. Livy Ab urbe condita 5,13,6
3. ↑ Livy Ab urbe condita 22,10,9
4. ↑ Macrobius Convivia primi diei Saturnaliorum 1,6,13
5. ↑ Livy Ab urbe condita 22,1,18
6. ↑ Livy Ab urbe condita 22: 1, 19
7. ↑ Livy Ab urbe condita 5,52,6
8. ↑ Pliny Naturalis historia 32.20