October

[Horatius Piscinus]

OCTOBER

This is the month of the grape harvest, wine festivals and horse races. The month of October is dedicated to Mars. The October Horse was the winner of the races held in Jupiter?s honor at the Ides. The October Horse was sacrificed to Mars, its head severed and decorated with loaves of bread to thank Mars for protecting the harvest of September. A competition was then held between the people of Subura and the Via Sacra over the head as their trophy. As a result of their scrimmage, the head of the October Horse was hung either on the Mamilia tower beneath the Esquiline, or else on the Regia. The horse?s tail was severed and hung above the altar of the Regia.

1 KALENDS 29 Sept. N: Fides Publica c. 250-4, flamines Dialis, Martialis, and Quirinalis make sacrifices on the Capitolino; Juno Sororio (for girls entering puberty). Hortian purification rite of the Tigillo Sororio.; Ceres.

2 VI Non 30 Sept. F: The Senate restored to Cicero his villas on the Palatine, and at Tusculum and Formias, 57 BCE

3 V Non 1 Oct C: Bacchus; Setting of Auriga before dawn.

4 IV Non 2 Oct C: Ieiunium Cereris:.Fast of Ceres decreed in 191 BCE held in mourning for Proserpina?s passing, was held every five years (Livy 36.37.4) but became an annual event under Augustus.

5 III Non 3 Oct C: Mundus of Ceres opened (Fest. p. 126, 4), Venus Caelestis (Dea Syria). First taurobolia held in Rome, 134 CE.

6 Prid Non 4 Oct C: All things prosperous comes to those who follow the Gods, misfortune to those who scorn Them (Livy V 51.5)

7 F: NONAE 5 Oct: Jupiter Fulgurin 3rd cent; Juno Curitis in Campus; Thanksgiving to Vesta.
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8 VIII Idus 6 Octl F: Battle of Cibalae, 314 or 316 CE, Constantine defeat of Licinius.

9 VII Idus 7 Jul C: Genius Publicus on the Clivis Capitolinus; Fausta and Felicitatis at temple built 1 June 49; Venus Victrix on the Capitoline; Apollo on the Palatine.

10 VI Idus 8 Oct C: Juno Moneta at temple built 1 Jun 344 BCE. The Comissa in Pisces disappears.

11 V Idus 9 Oct C: MEDITRINALIA New wine offered to Jupiter, feast to celebrate health.
New and old wine I drink; from illnesses new and old may I be cured. [Varro De Lingua Latina 6.21]

12 IV Idus 10 Oct. C: Fortuna Redux goddess of happy return from successful and prosperous travel.
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13 III Idus 11 Oct NP: FORTINALIA festival of Fons held outside the Porta Fontinalis, 231 BCE. Thirteen wells decorated with wreaths, and springs with flowers (Varro L. L. 6.22). Fons is husband to Juturna, daughter of Volturnus (Arnob. 3.29)

14 Pridie Idus 12 Oct. EN: Penates on the Velia 3rd century BCE.

15 NP: IDIBUS Feriae Jovi, Ludi Capitolini celebrated with horse races on the Campus Martius

16 XVII Kal Nov 14 Oct EN: . When the skies are equally bright through their whole expanse? the ensuing autumn will be fine and cool (Pliny Nat. Hist. 18.80) Rise of the Suculae at evening.

17 XVI Kal Nov 15 Oct C: Grape Harvest festival at Lake Acerosa, Campania

18 XV Kal Nov 16 Oct C: Thanksgiving to Spes and Juventus.

19 XIV Kal Nov. 17 Oct NP: ARMILUSTRUM Dancing procession of the Salii as the ancillae are purified and stored. Military arms ritually purified and stored for winter. Sacrifices made at the sound of trumpets (Fest. p. 17, 28 ff) were offered to Mars on the Aventine at the tomb of Titus Tatius (Plut. Rom. 23.3)

20 XIII Kal Nov. 18 Oct C: [?] (wine0 the blood of life, they were accustomed to often sip (Fasti Praenestini)

21 XII Kal Nov 19 Oct C: From little things are things of great importance often dependent (Livy 27.9.1)

22 XI Kal Nov 20 Oct C: Whatever can be done with the help of an ass will cost the least (Cato)

23 X Kal Nov. 21 Oct. C: When the south wind blows, never fell wood or touch the vine (Pliny 18. 76)

24 IX Kal Nov. 22 Oct. C: If done well enough, it is done soon enough (Caesar Augustus).

25 VIII Kal Nov 23 Oct. C: Crispin and Crispinianus (Castor and Pollux) patrons of shoemakers.

26 VII Kal Nov 24 Oct C: In wine there is truth, in beer happiness, in mead inspiration.

27 VI Kal Nov 25 Oct C: New Moon: Manure should never be touched except when the Moon is on the wane and land must be manured more particularly while the Moon is new, or before its First Quarter (Pliny Nat. Hist. 18.75).

28 V Kal Nov. 26 Oct. C: Battle of Milvian Bridge, 312 CE, Constantine defeats Maxentius.

29 IV Kal Nov. 27 Oct. C: Isis inventio (28 Oct-Nov 1), the Passion of Isis in searching for the dismembered parts of Osiris.

30 III Kal Nov. 28 Oct. C: If, when a west wind prevails, the Moon does not make Her appearance before Her fourth day there will be a prevalence of stormy weather throughout the month (Pliny 18.79)

31 Prid Kal Nov 29 Oct. C: The bright Star (Alphecca) rises that shines in the Corona Borealis (Pliny 18.74 gives 8 Oct for its rise. Virgil called it Gnosia Stella Coronae