Vol. 47 (2021): XLVII - 2021
Articoli

Roman Festivals in Plutarch’s Life of Romulus

Published 2021-06-21

Keywords

  • Plutarch,
  • Life of Romulus,
  • Plutarch’s documents,
  • Roman calendrical festivals,
  • Roman Empire

Abstract

Roman calendrical festivals are one of the most important ‘documents’ in Plutarch’s attempt at reconstructing Romulus’ life and glorious deeds, which constitute the foundation of the Roman Empire. In this essay I aim to explain what historical meaning Plutarch attributes to such festivals  as the Parilia, the Consualia, the Poplifugia and the Nonae Capratinae, which the Roman tradition closely linked with Romulus.