Natalis templi

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In the Roman religion, the natalis templi (“temple birthday”) was the day on which a newly built or restored sanctuary was consecrated (consecrated, from consecratio “sanctification”), ie became the property of the deity. As a result of this transfer of ownership, the sanctuary (land, building) was withdrawn from normal availability, so that, for example, it could no longer be sold easily. If the temple was the main shrine of the deity, the temple birthday was also the birthday of the deity. In the case of a city deity, it coincided with the city's birthday ( natalis urbis ) , the (often legendary) founding date.

A distinction must be made between the day of consecration and the day of the foundation, on which z. B. the vow to build a temple was taken. The day of the foundation was sometimes remembered and celebrated separately.

The celebration of the temple birthday could have a specific meaning for certain groups, so the natalis templi of the sanctuary of Minerva on the Aventine on March 19th became the festival of the craftsmen (artificum dies) . The consecration of a shrine could also give rise to political propaganda events. B. in the case of the Ara Pacis donated by Augustus and in general with numerous Augustan temple foundations and restorations.

The Christian equivalent of the pagan rites of the natalis templi can be found in the church consecration or its annual celebration, the church consecration . The corresponding Roman festivals have to be imagined (at least in part) as being similar to the latter.

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