This Week: A trio of Roman Festivals

Posted by Robin Fowler Aug 13, 2006

August 13 - The Roman festival Vertumnalias occurred on this date. The festival was in honor of Vertumnus, the Roman god of the seasons, gardens, and fruit trees. The festival took place at his temple of the Aventine Hill, one of the 7 hills of Rome.

August 17 - The Roman festival Portunalia occurred on this date, in honor of Portunes, the Roman god of keys and doors. On this day, Romans solemnly threw keys into the fire for good luck.

August 18, 293 B.C. - The Romans constructed the oldest known temple to Venus, the goddess of love, on the Esquiline Hill, one of the 7 hills of Rome.

August 18 - The festival of Vinalia Rustica occurred on this date, in honor of Venus.

August 19, 43 B.C. - Octavian(soon to be known as Augustus) urges the Roman senate to name him Consul, the highest elected office of the Roman Republic.

August 19, 14 A.D. - The first Roman Emperor, Augustus, died on this date.