Suovetaurilia

The suovetaurilia (Latin, plural, even Solitaurilia ) were a particular form of animal sacrifice in the Roman religion.

This and a bull ( taurus) were three sacrificial animals, a boar (sus, "pig" ), a ram ( ovis " sheep " ) passed around people or a place or to be preserved from harm or atonement. It was an apotropaic act. The animals were then killed and as normal when ancient animal sacrifices eaten. We distinguished between the suovetaurilia lactentia or suovetaurilia minora where the pups were sacrificed ( piglet, lamb, and veal ) and the suovetaurilia maiora in which the adult animals were sacrificed.

When Cato the Elder can be found a description of the sequence of the ceremony.

The suovetaurilia took place at the Lustrum, cleaning ( loss ratio) of an army, the grove of Arvalbrüder or a field and at the Spolia opima and the triumphal procession.