ancient Roman religion Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the Roman people, people of Rome as well as those who were brought under its rule. The Romans thought of themselves as high ...

, the Armilustrium was a

festival A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...

in honor of

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...

, the god of war, celebrated on October 19. H.H. Scullard, ''Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic'' (Cornell University Press, 1981), p. 195. On this day the

weapon A weapon, arm, or armament is any implement or device that is used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime (e.g., murder), law ...

s of the soldiers were ritually purified and stored for winter. The army would be assembled and reviewed in the

Circus Maximus The Circus Maximus (Latin for "largest circus"; Italian language, Italian: ''Circo Massimo'') is an ancient Roman chariot racing, chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. In the valley between the Aventine Hill, Avent ...

, garlanded with flowers. The trumpets (''tubae'') would be played as part of the purification rites. The Romans gathered with their arms and armour on the Aventine Hill, and held a procession with torches and sacrificial animals. The dancing priests of Mars known as the Salii may also have taken part in the ceremony. Festivals associated with Mars were mainly held in March,

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

'' Martius'', the month that was named after him, and in October, to begin and end the

military campaign A military campaign is large-scale long-duration significant military strategy plan incorporating a series of interrelated military operations or battles forming a distinct part of a larger conflict often called a war. The term derives from th ...

ing season. These festivals were the

Equirria The Equirria (also as ''Ecurria'', from ''equicurria'', "horse races") were two Roman festival, ancient Roman festivals of chariot racing, or perhaps horseback racing, held in honor of the god Mars (mythology), Mars, one 27 February and the other ...

, the sacral chariot races held on February 27 and March 14, and on October 15 with the sacrifice of the October Horse; the Agonium Martiale on March 17; the Quinquatrus, another ritual for purifying weapons before the

ing season, on March 19; and following the Armilustrium, the Tubilustrium, "Purification of the Trumpets," on October 23. Armilustrium also refers to a large open space on the Aventine Hill where the festival was held.

References

External links

Armilustrium (festival)
in Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities

in Platner's Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome October observances Processions in ancient Rome Festivals of Mars {{reli-festival-stub