Lectisternium

The lectisternium (from the Latin lectus " bed ", " pillow " and sternere " spread " ) was a solemn banquet of the gods in ancient Rome. The images of the gods, or their respective attributes splendid cushions that were draped with precious blankets were laid and hosted symbolically with next of meals.

Since this form of worship was originally practiced in Greece - there she was theoxenia and was directed primarily to the migratory or distant gods as the Dioscuri, Asklepios or Apollo - marked their introduction into Rome of the growing influence of Greek cults.

The first testified lectisternium was 399 BC due to a oracle of the Sibylline books instead, which had been questioned because of a raging plague in Rome. Participants of the meal were gods Apollo and Latona, Diana and Hercules, as well as Mercurius and Neptunus, whose portraits were issued in pairs on three chairs in front of the dining tables.

The lectisternium seems to have been a sacrificial mold that was considered particularly appropriate in times of crisis. Thus, immediately after the defeat at Lake Trasimeno is a lectisternium witnessed. During the Second Punic War Lectisternia took place on the Capitol, the temple of Juno Regina and the Temple of Saturn. In the private sector there was the lectisternium mainly at funerals.

The holding of a Lectisterniums ( lectisternium habere ) is circumscribed with pulvinar suscipere or Cenae ad Pulvinaria. Both expressions refer to this related precious cushion, called the pulvinar.