Ludi Romani

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The Ludi Romani ( lat .: Roman games), also called Ludi Magni (lat .: great games), were one of the oldest festivals of Roman cults . They were celebrated annually from September 4th to 19th in honor of the god Jupiter .

history

The age and origin of the ludi romani have not been clearly established. Theodor Mommsen's judgment, after which it was 366 BC. Chr. Replaced the previous votive festivals as the oldest annual festival, is not tenable according to more recent findings.

According to Titus Livius , the initially only one-day festival was founded by Tarquinius Priscus on the occasion of his conquest of Apiolae . Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Cicero date the introduction of two-day games, on the other hand, to the victory over the Latins at Regillus lacus in 496 BC. After the first Secessio plebis 494 BC. A third day was added. At first, however, the games only took place irregularly, for example in connection with a triumph . Only in the course of the 4th century did the ludi romani establish themselves as annual games.

Initially organized by the kings , responsibility for the games went to the consuls with the beginning of the Roman Republic and from 367/6 BC. BC to the newly established office of the Curulic aediles , while the possibly even older ludi plebeii were directed by the plebeian aediles. For this they had a fixed amount available from the Arar , which they could supplement from their own resources. Since the organization of the games represented a recommendation for the voting behavior of the Roman citizens , the aediles invested in their cursus honorum . 182 BC After Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus had organized such elaborate games that allies and provinces had been excessively burdened , the Senate issued a decree limiting spending on the games .

Mentioned for the last time are ludi Romani in the Chronograph of 354 .

Duration and procedure

The games began with a pompa circensis from the Capitoline Temple of Jupiter to the Circus Maximus .

Jörg Rüpke assumes that the ludi romani originally took place on the Ides of September, September 13th, the day of the consecration of the Temple of Jupiter. The duration of the ludi romani increased in the following centuries. Did they last before the introduction of theatrical plays in 364 BC? Four days, it was 191 BC. Already ten. It was fifteen days at the time of Caesar's death, from September 5th to 19th. After Caesar's murder, September 4th was added in his honor.

The - then four-day - circus games have been held since 364 BC. Extended by ludi scaenici ( theater plays ). The first Curulian aedile, Marcus Popillius Laenas, is said to have donated it as a means of atonement for an epidemic. In the beginning it was probably about impromptu games ( Atellane ) taken over by the neighboring peoples . According to tradition, in 240 BC. At the ludi romani , a drama translated into Latin by Livius Andronicus was performed for the first time . Since this is the earliest evidence of literature in Latin, this year is considered to be the transition of Rome from pre-literary to literary times.

In imperial times , after nine days of theater performances, the Epulum Jovis , a meal for all senators, took place on September 13th and the Equorum probatio on the 14th . The actual ludi circensis with chariot races lasted from September 15th to 19th.

literature

  • Frank Bernstein : Ludi Publici. Investigations into the origin and development of the public games in Republican Rome (= Historia individual writings. Issue 119). Franz Steiner, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-515-07301-9 (also: Duisburg, University, dissertation, 1993/1994).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Magnos Ludos. In: Festus de uerborum significatu.
  2. ^ Wolfgang Kunkel : State order and state practice of the Roman Republic. Section 2: Wolfgang Kunkel, Roland Wittmann : The Magistratur (= Handbook of Classical Studies . Department 10: Legal History of Antiquity. Part 3, Vol. 2). Beck, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-406-33827-5 , p. 505.
  3. ^ Livy 1, 35, 9.
  4. ^ Dionysius of Halicarnassus VII. 71.
  5. ↑ Cicero de Divinatione I. 26, 55.
  6. ^ Livy 6:42, 12.
  7. ↑ Bernstein: Ludi Publici. 1998, p. 51
  8. ^ Wolfgang Kunkel: State order and state practice of the Roman Republic. Section 2: Wolfgang Kunkel, Roland Wittmann: The Magistratur (= Handbook of Classical Studies. Department 10: Legal History of Antiquity. Part 3, Vol. 2). Beck, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-406-33827-5 , p. 507 f.
  9. ^ Livy 40, 44, 10-12
  10. ↑ Jörg Rüpke : Time and Festival. A cultural history of the calendar. CH Beck, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-406-54218-2 , p. 20.
  11. ↑ Livy 26: 2; 39, 22, 1; Mommsen , Roman Research II. 54.
  12. ^ Cicero In Verrem I. 1. 0, 31.
  13. ↑ Cicero Philippicae II. 4. 3, 110; In Verrem II. 52, 130.
  14. ↑ Bernstein: Ludi Publici , p. 119
  15. ^ Livy 7: 2, 1–3
  16. ↑ Bernstein: Ludi Publici. 1998, p. 128.
  17. ↑ Livy 24:43, 7