The Lupercalia-Rome

• First event

  The sacrifice
• Where was the Lupercalia believed to have originated from?

  Romulus and Remus suckling the she wolf
• Where did the sacrifice take place?

  the Lupercal-cave in the Palatine Hill believed to be the place where Romulus and Remus suckled the she wolf
• When was the Lupercalia?

  February 15th
• Who were the Luperci?

  Priests of the God Lupercus
• How many teams were the Luperci divided into?

  two
• What animals tended to get sacrificed?

  Dogs and goats
• Why were dogs and goats sacrificed?

  Known for their virility and fertility, so it suited a god of fertility
• What happened after the sacrifice?

  A knife was dipped in blood and dripped on the foreheads of the participants and then wiped off with wool soaked with milk. Participants then expected to laugh loudly
• What happened with the sacrificed animal?

  The entrails were read by the haruspex

  The skin was cut into strips
• What was the second event?

  The race
• What was the skin of the animal made into?

  Loin cloths for the Luperci

  Whips for the Luperci
• What did the Luperci do in the race?

  Ran around Palatine Hill through Roman Forum in loin cloths, whipping anybody in the way with the strips of skin
• Where did the Luperci run in the race?

  Around the Palatine Hill through the Roman Forum
• What did woman do while the Luperci were racing?

  Tried to get in the way of the runners to get whipped
• Why was getting whipped considered good luck to a woman?

  Believed to promote fertility
• Why was the Lupercalia important to the Romans?

  Celebrated their origins

  Gave two families involved prestige

  Believed to promote fertility

  Purified the city

  Honoured the Gods

  Fun
• What kind of people were the Luperci?

  Members of two rich families
• What would the modern day equivalent be to this festival?

  Valentines day