The Caprotinia, or feasts of
Juno Caprotina, were ancient
Roman festivals which were celebrated on July 7, in favor of the female slaves. During this solemnity, they ran about, beating themselves with their fists and with rods. None but women assisted in the sacrifices offered at this feast.
Plutarch
Plutarch (; , ''Ploútarchos'', ; – 120s) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo (Delphi), Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for his ''Parallel Lives'', ...
's ''Life of
Numa'' and ''Life of
Camillus'' offer two possible origins for this feast, or the famous ''Nonae Caprotinae'' or ''
Poplifugium''. Firstly—and, in Plutarch's opinion, most likely—it commemorates the mysterious disappearance of
Romulus
Romulus (, ) was the legendary founder and first king of Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus and his contemporaries. Although many of th ...
during a violent thunderstorm that interrupted an assembly in the ''
Palus Caprae'' ("Goats' Marsh"). Secondly, it commemorates a Roman victory by
Camillus over the
Latins; according to a minor tradition, a Roman serving maid or slave dressed as a noblewoman and surrendered herself to the Latins as hostage; that night, she climbed a wild
fig-tree (''caprificus'', literally "goat-fig") and gave the Romans a torchlight signal to attack.
References
Further reference
* Drossart, Paul. « Nonae Caprotinae » : La fausse capture des Aurores. In: Revue de l'histoire des religions, tome 185, n°2, 1974. pp. 129–139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3406/rhr.1974.10134 ; www.persee.fr/doc/rhr_0035-1423_1974_num_185_2_10134
Ancient Roman festivals
July observances
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