Fornacalia
Encyclopedia
The Fornacalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the goddess Fornax
in order that the grain might be properly baked¹. The festival is said to have been instituted by Numa Pompilius
². The time for its celebration was proclaimed every year by the curio maximus
, who announced in tablets, which were placed in the forum
, the different part which each curia
had to take in the celebration of the festival. Those persons who did not know to what curia they belonged, performed the sacred rites on the Quirinalia, which fell on the last day of the Fornacalia. The Fornacalia continued to be celebrated in the time of Lactantius
³.
Fornax (mythology)
In Roman mythology, Fornax was the goddess of hearth and baking. Her festival, the Fornacalia, was celebrated on February 17, and announced by curio maximus.-External links:**...
in order that the grain might be properly baked¹. The festival is said to have been instituted by Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius was the legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus. What tales are descended to us about him come from Valerius Antias, an author from the early part of the 1st century BC known through limited mentions of later authors , Dionysius of Halicarnassus circa 60BC-...
². The time for its celebration was proclaimed every year by the curio maximus
Curio maximus
The curio maximus was an obscure priesthood in ancient Rome that had oversight of the curiae, groups of citizens loosely affiliated within what was originally a tribe. Each curia was led by a curio, who was admitted only after the age of 50 and held his office for life...
, who announced in tablets, which were placed in the forum
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum...
, the different part which each curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
had to take in the celebration of the festival. Those persons who did not know to what curia they belonged, performed the sacred rites on the Quirinalia, which fell on the last day of the Fornacalia. The Fornacalia continued to be celebrated in the time of Lactantius
Lactantius
Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius was an early Christian author who became an advisor to the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine I, guiding his religious policy as it developed, and tutor to his son.-Biography:...
³.