Megalesia
Encyclopedia
The Megalesia, Megalensia, or Megalenses Ludi, was a festival (with games, ludi
) celebrated in Ancient Rome
in the month of April in honor of the great mother of the gods (Cybele
, μϵγάλη ϑϵός, from which the festival derived its name).
(204 BC
), and the day of its arrival was solemnized with a magnificent procession, lectisternia
, and games, and lots of people carried presents to the goddess on the Capitol
.
The habitual celebration of the Megalesia, however, did not begin till twelve years later (191 BC
), when the temple which had been vowed and ordered to be built in 203 BC, was completed and dedicated by Marcus Junius Brutus Although from another passage it seems that the Megalesia had already been celebrated in 193 BC
.
issued a decree in 161 BC
stipulating that no one should go beyond a certain extent of expenditure.
The games that were held at the Megalesia were purely scenic, and not circenses. They were at first held on the Palatine
in front of the temple of the goddess, but afterwards also in the theatres. The first ludi scenici
at Rome were, according to Valerius Antias
, introduced at the Megalesia—that is, either in 193
or 191 BC
. The day which was especially set apart for the performance of scenic plays was the third of the festival. Slaves were not allowed to be present at the games, and the magistrates appeared dressed in a purple toga and praetexta, hence the proverb, purpura Megalensis. The games were under the superintendence of the curule aediles
, and it is known that four of the extant plays of Terence
were performed at the Megalesia. Cicero probably contrasting the games of the Megalesia with the more rude and bloody games and exhibitions of the circus, calls them maxime casti, solemnes, religiosi.
Ludi
Ludi were public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people . Ludi were held in conjunction with, or sometimes as the major feature of, Roman religious festivals, and were also presented as part of the cult of state.The earliest ludi were horse races in the circus...
) celebrated in Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
in the month of April in honor of the great mother of the gods (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...
, μϵγάλη ϑϵός, from which the festival derived its name).
Origins
The statue of Cybele was brought to Rome from PessinusPessinus
Pessinus was a city in Anatolia, the Asian part of Turkey on the upper course of the river Sakarya River , from which the mythological King Midas is said to have ruled a greater Phrygian realm...
(204 BC
204 BC
Year 204 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Tuditanus...
), and the day of its arrival was solemnized with a magnificent procession, lectisternia
Lectisternium
In ancient Roman religion, the lectisternium was a propitiatory ceremony, consisting of a meal offered to gods and goddesses. The word derives from lectum sternere, "to spread a couch." The deities were represented by their busts or statues, or by portable figures of wood, with heads of bronze,...
, and games, and lots of people carried presents to the goddess on the Capitol
Capitoline Hill
The Capitoline Hill , between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the seven hills of Rome. It was the citadel of the earliest Romans. By the 16th century, Capitolinus had become Capitolino in Italian, with the alternative Campidoglio stemming from Capitolium. The English word capitol...
.
The habitual celebration of the Megalesia, however, did not begin till twelve years later (191 BC
191 BC
Year 191 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Nasica and Glabrio...
), when the temple which had been vowed and ordered to be built in 203 BC, was completed and dedicated by Marcus Junius Brutus Although from another passage it seems that the Megalesia had already been celebrated in 193 BC
193 BC
Year 193 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Merula and Thermus...
.
Festival
The festival lasted for six days, beginning on April 4. The mood of this festival, like that of the whole month in which it took place, was full of general rejoicings and feasting. It was usual for the wealthy Romans on this occasion to invite one another mutually to formal meals, and the extravagant habits and the good living during these festive days were probably carried to a very high level. For that reason, the senateRoman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
issued a decree in 161 BC
161 BC
Year 161 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Strabo...
stipulating that no one should go beyond a certain extent of expenditure.
The games that were held at the Megalesia were purely scenic, and not circenses. They were at first held on the Palatine
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
in front of the temple of the goddess, but afterwards also in the theatres. The first ludi scenici
Ludi Romani
The Ludi Romani were a religious festival in ancient Rome. They were held annually starting in 366 BC from September 12 to September 14, later extended to September 5 to September 19. In the last 1st century BC, an extra day was added in honor of the deified Julius Caesar on 4 September...
at Rome were, according to Valerius Antias
Valerius Antias
Valerius Antias was an ancient Roman annalist whom Livy mentions as a source. No complete works of his survive but from the sixty-five fragments said to be his in the works of other authors it has been deduced that he wrote a chronicle of ancient Rome in at least seventy-five books...
, introduced at the Megalesia—that is, either in 193
193 BC
Year 193 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Merula and Thermus...
or 191 BC
191 BC
Year 191 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Nasica and Glabrio...
. The day which was especially set apart for the performance of scenic plays was the third of the festival. Slaves were not allowed to be present at the games, and the magistrates appeared dressed in a purple toga and praetexta, hence the proverb, purpura Megalensis. The games were under the superintendence of the curule aediles
Aedile
Aedile was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enforce public order. There were two pairs of aediles. Two aediles were from the ranks of plebeians and the other...
, and it is known that four of the extant plays of Terence
Terence
Publius Terentius Afer , better known in English as Terence, was a playwright of the Roman Republic, of North African descent. His comedies were performed for the first time around 170–160 BC. Terentius Lucanus, a Roman senator, brought Terence to Rome as a slave, educated him and later on,...
were performed at the Megalesia. Cicero probably contrasting the games of the Megalesia with the more rude and bloody games and exhibitions of the circus, calls them maxime casti, solemnes, religiosi.