Septimontium

Septimontium (from the Latin septem "seven" and mons " mountain, hill " ) was a native of the early days of the Roman Republic the feast day of the inhabitants of the city hills of Rome. He was celebrated on December 11. Regarding the exact date there is no complete agreement. Alternatively, a date was adopted in September or the end of December.

It is clear that the name is derived from seven hills to the old Roman city, but to what it was exactly, remains unclear. It was probably not the famous Seven Hills of Rome Varro ( Aventine, Capitoline, Caelian, Palatine, Viminal, Quirinal and the Esquiline ).

After Festus, who relied on Marcus Antistius Labeo, were eponymous: palatium, Velia, Fagutal, Subura, Germalus, Caelius, and Oppius Cespius. Apparently, there are eight "Mountains". The above mentioned Subura, which is hardly to be regarded as hill is therefore not counted. Palatium and Germalus were crests of the Palatine, Oppius, Cespius and Fagutal parts of the Esquiline. Therefore, according to Festus umzogene of the pageant area formed only a part of the future urban area, namely Palatine, Velia, the Esquiline and Caelian.

According to Plutarch, the origin of the festival was the memory of the inclusion of the seventh hill in the city. On the day of Septimontium pack animals were allowed according to him rest from work. The holiday was not a general and public holiday of the Roman people, but applied only to the inhabitants of the hill ( montani ) and therefore did not appear in the state of fasting.

According to Varro Septimontium was the original name of Rome, but this is now rejected as subsequent construction of ancient scholar.