Dies sanguinis
Encyclopedia
Dies Sanguinis was a festival held in Ancient Rome on the 24th March, called Bellona's Day, when the Roman votaries of the war-goddess Bellona
cut themselves and drank the sacrificial blood to propitiate the deity.
The priests of the goddess Cybele
(the galli
) flogged themselves until they bled and sprinkled their blood upon the image and the altars in the sanctuary, while others are said to have imitated Attis
by castrating themselves. Such painful and dramatic acts allowed the worshipers to identify with the pain and death of Attis, to whom were dedicated a cycle of festivities, which were celebrated from 15th to 28th March.
These festivities celebrated the death of the god. Among these, there were the "Sanguem" and the "Hilaria
". The Hilaria on March 25th brought renewed joy and hope. There was feasting in honor of the Great Mother and good cheer.
The spring festival came to a close with a much-needed day of rest (March 26) and a final day (March 27) on which the holy image of the Great Mother was bathed in the Almo River.
Bellona (goddess)
Bellona was an Ancient Roman goddess of war, similar to the Ancient Greek Enyo. Bellona's attribute is a sword and she is depicted wearing a helmet and armed with a spear and a torch....
cut themselves and drank the sacrificial blood to propitiate the deity.
The priests of the goddess Cybele
Cybele
Cybele , was a Phrygian form of the Earth Mother or Great Mother. As with Greek Gaia , her Minoan equivalent Rhea and some aspects of Demeter, Cybele embodies the fertile Earth...
(the galli
Galli
A Gallus was a eunuch priest of the Phrygian goddess Cybele, whose worship was incorporated into the state religious practices of ancient Rome.-About the Galli:...
) flogged themselves until they bled and sprinkled their blood upon the image and the altars in the sanctuary, while others are said to have imitated Attis
Attis
Attis was the consort of Cybele in Phrygian and Greek mythology. His priests were eunuchs, as explained by origin myths pertaining to Attis and castration...
by castrating themselves. Such painful and dramatic acts allowed the worshipers to identify with the pain and death of Attis, to whom were dedicated a cycle of festivities, which were celebrated from 15th to 28th March.
These festivities celebrated the death of the god. Among these, there were the "Sanguem" and the "Hilaria
Hilaria
For the saint of this name, see Saints Chrysanthus and Daria.In Ancient Roman religious tradition, the hilaria were festivals celebrated on the vernal equinox to honor Cybele....
". The Hilaria on March 25th brought renewed joy and hope. There was feasting in honor of the Great Mother and good cheer.
The spring festival came to a close with a much-needed day of rest (March 26) and a final day (March 27) on which the holy image of the Great Mother was bathed in the Almo River.