Ludi Romani

The Ludi Romani (Latin: Roman games), also Ludi Magni (Latin for big games ) called, were one of the oldest festivals of the Roman cult nature. They were celebrated annually from September 4 to 19 in honor of the god Jupiter.

History

Age and origin of the ludi romani are not clearly understood. Theodor Mommsen's judgment, after which they 366 BC as the oldest annual festival replaced the previous votive festivals, is not tenable according to recent findings.

According to Livy, the first only one-day festivals of Tarquinius Priscus were donated during his conquest of Apiolae. Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Cicero, however, predate the introduction already two-day games on the victory over the Latins at Regillus lacus 496 BC After the first Secessio plebis 494 BC a third day was added. First, however, the games were held infrequently, such as in connection with a triumph. Only in the course of the 4th century, the ludi romani established as an annual games.

Organized probably initially by the kings, the responsibility for the games at the start of the Roman Republic to the consuls and since 367/6 BC was transferred to the newly established Office of the curule aedile, while possibly even older ludi plebeii plebeian of the aediles were aligned. For them there was a fixed amount from the Aerar at hand, which they could supplement its own funds. Since the focus of the games represented a recommendation on the voting behavior of the Roman citizens who invested so aedile in their cursus honorum. 182 BC, the Senate passed a decree that limited spending on the games after Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus had such elaborate games organized so that allies and provinces were burdened excessively.

For the last time mentioned the ludi romani are in the Chronograph of 354

Duration and sequence

The games began with a Pompa Circensis the Capitoline temple of Jupiter to the Circus Maximus.

Jörg Rüpke assumes that the ludi romani originally on the Ides of September, the 13th September, the day of the consecration of the Temple of Jupiter, took place. The duration of the ludi romani expanded during the following centuries. It lasted before the introduction of theater games 364 BC four days, there were 191 BC ten. At the time of Caesar's death, there were fifteen days, from September 5 to 19. After Caesar's assassination, he was supplemented in honor of the 4th of September.

The - then four days - Circus Games BC were extended by ludi scaenici (theater games) since 364. Curule aedile Marcus The first Popillius Laenas to have them donated as a means of atonement on the occasion of a plague. This was initially believed to be inherited from the neighboring peoples impromptu games ( atellane ). According to tradition, was BC for the first time listed in 240 at the ludi Romani of Livius Andronicus into a Latin translated drama. Since this is the earliest evidence for literature in Latin, this year being the transition of Rome from the preliterate in the literary time.

In imperial times found after nine days of drama on 13 September, the Epulum Jovis, a feast of all senators, held on 14 and the equorum probatio. The actual ludi Circensis with chariot races lasted from 15 to 19 September.