- Armilustrium
Infobox Holiday
holiday_name = Armilustrium
type = Pagan
longtype = Pagan, Historical
caption =
observedby = Ancient Romans
date =October 19
celebrations =
observances =Ritual purification ofweapon s
relatedto = The Armilustrium was a festival in honor of Mars, the god of war, celebrated onOctober 19 . On this day theweapon s of the soldiers were ritually purified and stored for winter. The army would be assembled and reviewed in theCircus Maximus , garlanded withflower s and thetrumpet s (tubae) would be played as part of the purificationrite s. The Romans gathered with their arms and armour on theAventine Hill , and held aprocession withtorch es and sacrificial animals. The dancing priests of Mars known as theSalii may also have taken part in the ceremony.Armilustrium also refers to a large open space on the
Aventine Hill where the festival was held.External links
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Armilustrium.html Armilustrium (festival)] in Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Armilustrium.html Armilustrium (place)] in Platner's Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.