Assignment 7: entertainment & leisure time

Marcus wakes on the morning of the 25^th of April with a wide smile. Today is the day of the Robigalia. Though Marcus enjoyed the seven-day long festivities of flame-tailed foxes running around during the Cerealia, he is partial to the Robigalia because there will be ludi corsuribus. There will even be two classes! The major class is for the senior racers who will use a quadriga with four horses, unlike the two-horsed bigae that the junior racers use.  Though he is ashamed to admit how barbaric his taste is, Marcus’s favorite part about chariot-racing is when the chariots reach the meta and create chaos, resulting in several naufragiae. Though this love of destruction and violence pleases Marcus, he has to settle on betting on the aurigae, the professional slave-racers, since he could never race himself. But he thinks his wife is silly with her professed fears of his safety in these day-dreams; after all, she would probably kill him before an upturned chariot could.

In the mid-morning, Marcus, Julia, and baby Titus make their way to the Ager Romanus to join the other revelers. It is a short walk down Palatine Hill to the location of the Circus Maximus so the trio is still fresh and full of energy when they join the hustle and bustle of the spectators lining the road which the parade will take. They find good seating near the entrance of the Circus Maximus just as the parade begins.  As the pompa circensis makes its way through the valley, Titus gurgles happily at every group, no matter if they are the charioteers, musicians, costumed dancers, or images of the gods. Titus doesn’t have preferences; he is only a baby and this is his first Robigalia.

The flamen Quirinalis begins to speak. He and his fellow priests, all dressed in white, had performed their ritual duties earlier in the morning, sacrificing the entrails of a dog in order to keep away diseases from the grain crops. This is the most important practical aspect of the Robigalia for farmers, since the Robigalia marks the time when the grain crops are most vulnerable. Without the sacrifice to Robigus, the god could swoop down and infect all the crops, leaving Rome without any grain. In order to protect the grain, sacrifices must be offered to Robigus.

Marcus can’t wait. The Robigalia is only just getting started.

Sapir Ohayon, Character Analysis

Sapir Ohayon

Classics 80 B

Hahn

Due: February 3^rd, 2012

Assignment 4

Introduction of Characters

Marcus Julius Antonius: This character is easily described as a bold middle-aged man and easy on the eyes. Marcus Julius had many concerns in his life, mostly with his family, local politics and other recent events. He cared deeply about his wife, Antonia, and their son, Lucius, and even expressed empathy and friendship with their household slave, Flavius. Clearly of prestige, Marcus Julius' father had worked in the government and had built up the family name with honor and pride. Living a comfortable life, Marcus Julius could be seen casually walking down the Capitoline Hill towards the Roman Forum for a day out shopping or attending public meetings. Marcus Julius often wore the common male tunic, however, his was special in a way because it had two thin purple stripes running down each side. This was significant of his place in the equestrian class, and the tunic was known as tunica angusticlavia, and he even wore special shoes symbolizing his higher status.

Antonia Publilia Antonius: This character is the wife of Marcus Julius Antonius, and holds many responsibilities in the household. Not only is she in charge of making sure the children are safe and taken care of, but she also cleans the house and makes sure to go shopping and get groceries for cooking use. Antonia is also of the equestrian class because of her grandfather, who was the paterfamilia of her family. She is often seen wearing a long tunic, long enough to cover her ankles as to just let her shoes peek out from underneath. This tunic was called a stola, as she was a married woman, and sometimes wore a cloak with a buckle fastening it on the right shoulder when it was colder weather. Her house shoes were typically sandals with open toes. She appeared to be a very elegant and put-together woman.

A visit to the bath

The fee was only a quadran. In the apodyterium Julia paid the attendant an as to help her disrobe and another two asses to look after her belongings. As the attendant watched, it was not in the slightest bit shameful for her to undress. First she undid all the pins in her hair and in her robes. They were many and had to be done carefully, one at a time. Then all the collars, bracelets, anklets, and trinkets were removed with a similar care. Next was the stola wrapping around her. Then off came the strophium girdling her torso revealing a pearly-skinned belly and two nascent mounds of flesh jutting from the chest. Julia paused a moment. She was used to dressing so superfluously in layers, being all-bare but for the garment around her hips gave her the feeling of a sort of emptiness about her. Her bare skin so accustomed under the protection of clothes conflicted with the strangeness of the air. At last when her body finished equilibrating, she removed her last, remaining bastion of modesty, the subligaculum around her hips concluding the ritual. With the amount she had to remove and the care with which she did so this whole process of undressing took half an hour.

She advanced into the adjacent room. She could feel sweat induced by the heat of the hypocaust and within minutes her whole body was saturated with moisture. Inside she was not alone for the therma attracted the variety of Rome's. In this time of day the palestra flanking the bathrooms are filled with people engaging in all sorts of sport. A woman lay on her back with her friend either shining or fondling her body with olive oil. And there was another woman sitting across her couch had with a face of an ambiguous contortion, in the activity so described. She was reclined on her back, supporting herself with her arms. Her slave, who was fully clothed, on her knees and her face buried between her matron's legs, which were spread forming an angle.

As Julia headed into the to take a dip into the pool, she caught a reflection of herself in the calm water, which captured the image faithfully. She could see herself uncensured, unmarred by human vestments. Immaculate, pearly-yellow skin formed the whole of her natural design except for two concentrate regions of hairs, one on top of her head luscious and golden, the other formulate in the region between her legs. It was an absolutely singular spectacle. She was not more pious than the next person but she took a few seconds in gracious prayer, "The gods truly have done a wonder". In all her nakedness, stripped of the various jewels and pins ornamenting her vestments, the layers augmenting her figure, the diadem normally crowning her head, and the brilliance of the colors tinting her cloths, she might be completely unrecognized by anyone that knew her. And except by the extraordinary beauty that remarked her in this state, she was not distinguishable from a slave.

In the bathroom was a diverse makeup. Most of them were young like Julia and so innocuous to behold in their natural states. A few of them were shapeless beings offensive to the common eye. Some were disproportionately composed. Those who had wide hips, and those with small hips. Those with misshapen, pendulous breasts, those who had no breasts at all. Some were old and shriveled. There were children younger than Julia, hairless and sexless in appearance. Such formed the composure of the regulars going casually about their businesses in the public space that Julia was about to garnish with her presence.

The temperate waters of the tepidarium welcomed the first dip of the newly nude. Julia found it so soothing, all her muscles let loose at once. The artificial climate inside complemented the tepid water. She took her time floating around in the pool never wanting to emerge.

Source

1. Carcopino, Jérôme, Henry T. Rowell, and E.O. Lorimer. Daily Life in Ancient Rome: The People and the City at the Height of the Empire. London: G. Routledge & sons, ltd, 1941. Print

assignment 6

Lucia had been worried for days. Her parents could not understand what was bothering her since she was not that open about her personal life. She had reached a point where she wanted to marry her. However, she feared that her parents would deny her the chance to be happy. Her father had been speaking of her marriage but she had never known the man he wanted her to marry. Crispus was a good young man whom she had already began to fall in love with recently. Her greatest fear was that her parents could disapprove of him due to his financial background. They were poor and lived in a tenement house, one of the poorly built houses in the city for the poor to live in. how could he be able to provide for their family? She sometimes wondered, and she was very convinced that her father would also ask about it. The benefits of marriage were enjoyment of property, citizenship and children. The latter two would be possible but what about property? Lucia then realized that time was moving first and in their world, marriage was not all about love but wealth and family relations. She needed to do something; if she ran away what kind of life would she live? If she stayed, whom would her father choose for her? Tears rolled down her cheeks at realizing how confused she was regarding her own life. Why would not her parents be different and let her chose the man of her dreams and even if they would be poor at least they would be have love and happiness. She could imagine that reaction she would be given by her father once Crispus went to meet her parents. It was devastating, and she wanted so badly to die.

Daily Life in Ancient Rome

Daily Life in Ancient Rome

As Aurelia lay awake in bed while her husband slept peacefully, all she could think about was the exciting upcoming events that were about to take place in Rome. Her husband had been gone tending to political matters for such a long time now, she forgot what it was like to stroll around the city aimlessly with his company.

It was summertime now, the date was August 21^st to be exact. The festival of Consus was currently taking place. Aurelia and Appius awoke to breakfast waiting for them at the table. Everyone was in a lighter mood, Appius had a break from Senate meetings, Aurelia had a break from watching over their home and the slaves, and the slaves understood this as an easy rest of the day. Aurelia looked forward to heading to the city center with her husband.

Rome was a vibrant city, even for the poor. Aurelia and Appius ventured off to watch the spectacles, something they haven’t done together in such a long time. Today there were gladiatorial games going on at the arena, something they both enjoyed watching. These sacrifices that were taking place, joined humans with their gods, and proved Roman superiority over defeated enemies. There was a lot of pride and energy at these games. This was a busy area, as it was free for all citizens to enjoy. However, Appius and Aurelia never sat with the general public, they had their own isolated seats and was tended on by slaves along with the other elites of the community.

Although they enjoyed being out in public together, Aurelia and Appius agreed it was time to head home. When they arrived, they went straight to the Atrium of their home where Aurelia lit oil lamps and called on the slaves to prepare dinner for them and two other couples.  They slaves arranged a table of wine and grapes as they both awaited for their guests to arrive. This was a perfect way to end their day of leisure and relaxation.            

Assignment #6: Daily Activity Episode

             Outside in Rome the air was cool and the sun bright. Pius approached the bathhouse and immediately felt the warmth radiating out from the building. The walls were hot. As he was told, he arrived at the bathhouse at the daily lull in activity, when the bathhouses empty out for a few hours and they seem desolate in comparison to the usual liveliness of voices.  A few old men marched out into the street from the bathhouse, glistening and damp, with their servants trailing behind them. Pius passed into the main entrance hall and descended into the atrium. Light faded away, only seeping through skylights and illuminating mosaic scenes high up on the walls. The atrium was nearly empty. He began putting on his sandals.

            After undressing, he began searching for “Lupa”. That was all he was told he should be searching for. No other hints were given. This Lupa was supposed to know exactly when the bets are taken for the upcoming triumph races, how they are handled, and where they are stored. Pius slowly walked into the first doorway, through the steam and the darkness.

            The floor was warm enough to heat his feet through the leather sandals. One man was slowly, silently pacing back and forth at the edge of the room, near the only small sliver of light. Cave-like, the room echoed Pius’s careful footsteps as he approached the man, assuming it was his contact. From the floor a low crackling noise whispered through the tiles; it was the furnace system evenly heating the room to a sweltering temperature. In the corners, steam flowed up the walls and swirled in the domed ceiling. The man stopped his walk, and lifted his head towards Pius. Sweat and moisture dripped from his nose and chin. They stared at each other, one waiting for the other to speak.

“Master. I’ve gotten your clothes.”, a servant broke the silence.

The man marched off past Pius and exited the steam room. It wasn’t him.

Spurius walked quickly through narrow streets, trying as much as possible to stay in the shade. The heat was unbearable for February, and the sun was high in the sky. What a better place to meet on such a day than at the balnea. He passed numerous slaves on their way to the forum boarium, and pitied them for having to work throughout the hot day with not even the possibility of a bath.

            It really was unfair, he thought to himself, then chuckled as he realized how soft he had become in the last few weeks. He was beginning to see Gaulia in the faces of every female slave he passed in the streets. He sidestepped several small children who were screaming and chasing each other through the alley, and wondered if any were the children of slaves, unaware that they were consigned to a life of bondage. His anger at the injustice of it strengthened his resolve, and he turned the last corner and ducked into the atrium of the bath house.

            This balnea was in the middle of one of the poorer areas of the city, and therefore saw less business than the more popular houses. The balneator was snoring loudly on his bench, obviously attempting to battle the heat with an afternoon nap. Spurius quietly placed his quadran in the cup next to the man and then slipped into the changing room. The less people who witnessed him here, the safer he was.

            He quickly undressed and handed his clothes to a waiting slave. “I’ve got the coins counted, mind you,” he said to the boy as he walked away with all of Spurius’s possessions. Spurius walked into the frigidarium and was relieved to see it was empty except for the two men he was meeting. The Snake and the Fox, as they were known to the criminal underworld of Rome, were two brothers in their early thirties who had made a name for themselves by smuggling anything and everything into and out of the city. “Good to see you Spurius,” said the Fox. “What business do you have for us today?”

            Spurius lowered himself into the refreshingly cool water of the bath and let out a sigh, then turned to face the two men. “I need get a single slave and myself out of the city by this time next week,” he said in a controlled voice.

            The Snake looked inquiringly at him. “Grown a heart, have you? By Jupiter, I did not expect old Spurius to take to freeing slaves.”

            Spurius bit back a retort. He needed to keep on their good side; what he was asking was a high crime for which they would all be punished if caught.

            “We can arrange for you to be out of the city in three nights from now,” said the Fox. “But I’m afraid it’s going to cost you quite a sum.”

Day in Roman Life

            Servius’s mind buzzed with contemplation as he awoke the next morning.  He had not had the best night’s sleep, as Adelia had filled his consciousness with ideas he had never dreamed of before.  The thought of deserting his kind masters for his own freedom had never crossed Servius, yet Adelia’s beauty and indomitable spirit had spurred a fire inside his heart.  The idea of freedom; freedom shared with Adelia, saturated his soul with a longing quite foreign to the slave.  As he arose from his sleeping quarters and dawned his tunic, Servius walked outside to meet his master family who had just arisen.  It was an E day, signaling a market day for the Lucceius family’s section of Rome.   Although most of his master family made the trip to the Forum Boarium for supplies during this day, he felt compelled to leave earlier, as he knew Adelia visited the market in the morning.  After consulting his family, telling them that he could pick out some of the freshest foods if he left promptly, Servius made his way down the Palatine hill.

           The Forum Boarium was not as busy as what Servius usually witnessed on market days, as he arrived earlier than normal.  After collecting fresh bread, fish, and fruit, he spotted Adelia, looking radiant as ever.  She was mulling over fresh vegetables, carefully selecting olives, one by one.  Making his way over to her, Servius cleared his throat slightly, gaining the attention of the beauty.  A quick glance was all he received, however, puzzling him.  As Servius stood their momentarily, wondering what had taken place between then and the glorious night that they had just experienced, he quickly understood.  Portia, the recently appointed wife of Brutus the Younger, appeared from behind an adjacent fruit stand.  Approaching Adelia, she informed her of a fish stand that she must visit at once.  Turning around with attempted nonchalance, Servius gingerly walked away, knowing he had almost ruined everything.  With a bountiful collection of sustenance for his family, Servius made his way back home.

          Servius completed a comparatively light load of chores that was assigned to him, as was typical in the Lucceius family on market days.  His main endeavor was to help prepare the dinner, served in the late afternoon.  After the Lucceius family gave thanks to the gods, wine was poured and fish, dried fruit, and vegetables were served.  Watching his masters lounging on their dining sofas, enjoying the fresh dishes that him and his fellow slaves carefully prepared, Servius longed to join them just once.   Without realizing, Servius found himself picturing him and Adelia on their own sofa, feeding each other grapes.  Snapping out of his daze, Servius realized that his mind had begun to follow his heart.  As he collected scraps from the floor following the feast, the call for freedom beckoned from within him.  He knew he could not fight it much longer.

Daily Life

It was the month of February in Rome and a fairly normal day.  The wind was slightly blowing through the Palestine Hill and there was sun shining across the city.  Gaiua and her father Publius Gaius Vespillo and the rest of her family were down at the cemetery visiting their deceased family members.  It was a custom in the month of February, which was dedicated to remembering the dead, to visit the cemetery every G day, or commonly thought of as the seventh day of the week.  Today was special though, it was Gaiua’s birthday and she didn’t want to spend it all day at the cemetery.  Gaiua had been extremely busy lately trying to keep up with her studies and also spending time with Senator Lucius Tulius Scaevola.  Publius knew that his daughter wasn’t in love with Lucius but being the pertnafamilia, Publius was dedicated to make his daughter marry him and have the best life she could.  Publius was not aware of Gaiua’s love toward his head slave Maximus though and if he were to find out it would be the end of them both.  Gauia had asked her father if after visiting their deceased family members at the cemetery if she could skip the scheduled feasts that they normally have to honor their family to head to the Forum and the market to shop.  Although Publius adored his beautiful, fair and intelligent daughter he was highly upset she would even ask to disobey their family custom and he became angry.  He yelled at his favorite daughter and told her that she was selfish for not wanting to honor her family and told her the most hurtful thing he could to her. Publius told Gaiua that he was disappointed in her behavior lately and wanted her to get out of his face.  Gaiua immediately began to cry and started to walk home.  Ashamed of letting down her worthy father she decided she would go gather the grain and wheat for dinner, although it was a slave’s job.  It was customary to offer wheat and grain at every dinner to the gods for appreciation but because it was the month of February and they were celebrating the honorable feast of the deceased they gather great amounts of it.  Gaiua’s mood was suddenly uplifted when she seen her one and only true love Maximus working in the fields.  She suddenly felt her heart beat a million times a second and her tears went away and her frown became the most brightening and uplifting smile anyone could ever imagine.  When Maximus seen his most desirable love Gaiua, he smiled and looked left and right to make sure no one was in sight and ran up to her and swooped her off her feet and told her Happy Birthday and kissed her softly on her forehead and then gently on her soft tender lips.  Gaiua had forgotten all about the drama and her wish to visit the Forum and the market and her birthday was fulfilled right in that moment.

Daily Inconveniences

Eli, the young slave from Palatine Hill, experiences society’s close ties between church and state. His master goes on trial for adultery with the wife of a praetor. Although he did not murder or physically harm anyone, this act is seen as a major conduct violation because of Roman society’s adherence to public religion. Eli understands the importance of not toying with the Gods, because pax deorum (good relations with the Gods and State) is crucial to survival in Roman society. The Pontiffs are summoned to determine whether his master’s actions constitute incest.

As this is going on, Julia, the Senator’s daughter, is attending an inauguration for a cousin who is becoming an Augur. She is dressed in her finest stola, as the ceremony takes place at the Templum, and is performed by a fellow Augur. With the inauguration about to begin, there is an issue with the weather. Gray skies, humid air, and the sounds of thunder in the distance indicate lightning. The Augur who is performing the ceremony decides that it would not be wise to continue because of fear that the Gods are unhappy.

As Julia exits the Templum, she encounters Eli, who has just left the Senate meeting. He had to testify on behalf of his master, and is now on his way to market. Julia explains the cancellation of the inauguration and Eli tells her about the trial. They discuss how religion is so prominent in their political landscape, and that the existence of Gods is the only reason that his master is on trial and her cousin cannot be inaugurated today. They walk east down Via Sacra and then decide to turn around to go down to the harbor, despite the worsening weather conditions. They also decide that walking down such a pubic thruway is not the wisest idea, given the fact that Julia is wearing a lovely, clean stola, which indicates that she is a member of the equestrian or senatorial class. Meanwhile, Eli has a dirty cloth wrapped around his waist and is without shoes, which shows that he is a slave. Not wanting to garner stares from the populace in the Forum, they sneak toward the harbor by going behind the buildings.

Daily Life - Melanie Arce

Magnilla was just a typical patrician woman living in Ancient Rome. Everyday for Magnilla was the same routine, but she was content with her simple and comfortable life. Magnilla lived atop of Palatine Hill with her senatorial husband and four children in a lovely, well-decorated villa. Her husband’s position in Rome allowed for many slaves to help Magnilla with the household chores and caring for the children. Each morning she directed the slave women in preparing breakfast for the family. (A family favorite was pancakes!) Additionally, she would lead the prayer to the household god, which dwelled in the kitchen of their home. After breakfast, Magnilla typically ventured down to the Forum with her husband while the children stayed at home to do their schooling. All the children learned reading and writing while only the girls learned sewing and cooking and only the boys learned math and science. On the occasion of a festival or religious ceremony, the children too would go to the Forum to take part in the community celebration. But the day-to-day visitors of the Forum, were adults, there to preform business and transactions. Magnilla and her husband went to the Forum everyday. Magnilla’s husband listened to the great orators that spoke and often had something to orate himself as well. He was well known for his testifying in the public courts. Magnilla was not one to involve herself in her husband’s politics but rather enjoyed the luxuries of shopping for things such as clothes, sandals, hairpieces, jewelry, etc.

Once they had both finished their business they would meet at the bathhouse to wash before going to temple to make an offering to the gods. In the late afternoon, Magnilla and her husband would return home to have supper with their children. Dinner took place in the atrium, at a large round table with wooden stools. The meal generally consisted of meat purchased by the river that day and vegetables fresh from the family farm. On occasion, after dinner, the family would go to the theatre at night to watch a show but if it was a tiring day, it was typical for the children to be put to bed at sundown while Magnilla and her husband enjoyed a glass a wine before also getting some rest for the next day of business. 

Assignment #6 Daily life

Jeremy Herman

2/24/12

Assignement 6

                It was the morning of February the 15th in Rome and the city was full of energy, the festival of Lupercalia was being held today, which meant it would be a busy day for Triarius.  The day started off like any other, Triarius and his wife Adela wake up and go to wake their children Bartholomaeus and Cassandra, and tell them to prepare for the big day ahead.  By the time the children were up and out of bed, breakfast was sitting on the table for them, and after an offering of food to the goddess Vesta and saying grace, the family dug into the meal.  Everyone at the table was in a good mood; today there was to be great feasts, celebrations, wine drinking and lovemaking.  It was an off day for everyone, the children were happy they did not have to attend school, the parents happy that they did not have to work, even the slaves were happy as their work would be very minimal.

                After breakfast the family began to prepare for the day.  Triarius and his son Bartholomaeus wore their toga praetextas to represent their position of importance in the roman hierarchy, Adela and Cassandra wore their stola, tunic, and palla.  The family was now ready to leave their home on palatine hill and walk down to the roman forum where a large part of the festivities were to be held.  Each member of the family was excited for different reasons.  Triarius was looking forward to feasting as well as being able to chat with his fellow senators and magistrates, Adela for the food and prayer, and the children for the chariot races and the food.  Not too long after they left the house they made it to the forum and were immersed into the vibe of the festival.  Wine was free flowing and people were generally merry; Rome was happy to finally have a day off for celebration and relaxation.  Bartholomaeus, already drunk after the first half and hour and 4 glasses of wine had been bugging Triarius about wanting to see the chariot races, so he obliged and rounded up Cassandra as well, but could not find his wife.  He found this to be peculiar, but upon further nagging from his children went off to Circus Maximus where the race would be held, figuring his wife would be fine.

 On his way down out to the races, out of the corner of his eye he thought he spotted a man with a toga praetexta talking to, with his hand on her waste, a woman who looked like his wife, but when Triarius turned around the two figures had been lost in the crowd, so he continued on to the races.

Episode Daily Life

Desimus wakes every morning to his wife watching over slaves cooking in the kitchen. He sits at the table mapping out his daily routine, figuring out the political matters that are currently being discussed in the Senate. Sometimes he makes trip down Palatine Hill to go take part in political discussions concerning the state. However, today he stays home to oversee work on the farm. As a wealthy landowner he has to be careful that all of his slaves are being loyal to their master and do not try to run away. 

There have been many problems on the farm lately and Decimus thinks that his well-educated head slave Thames could be trying to betray him and is potentially planning an escape. Thames overlooks the basic managing aspects of the land, which gives him power and control over other slaves. He has been having slaves make unusual errands to the market at the Forum Boarium and Decimus wonders if they are collecting items for him to take with him on his journey to freedom. Thames has always been a loyal and submissive slave but with his new position of power he may have taken his new authority a little too far. 

Decimus plans to intervene and have a formal meeting with Thames to discuss his recent actions and negligence of the farm. He summons Thames to his meeting room and brings up the recent actions that seemed out of the norm for his typical management responsibilities. Thames suggests that he has a surprise for Decimus and has been planning to give him a present for his recent promotion to head slave. Decimus is relieved and happy to know that Thames is a loyal slave and continues on with his day. 

Duncan Long

Assignment #6 Daily Life

            Felix had been hiding out down by the Tiber awaiting his passage to Egypt. Escaping the night before, he kept to himself with an effort to avoid contact with other people. Hopefully he wouldn’t bump into any of Claudius’ friends. His ship was to set sail in two days, but before his departure was Lupercalia. Despite his eagerness to leave the city of Rome, Felix felt obligated to attend the festival. Every February for as long as he can remember he has attended. The festival was a symbol for belonging to the community. Felix was desperate to leave the city, but he must enjoy the festival and its wild drunkenness one last time.

            The brisk morning sun had risen and the sacrifice was about to start the festivities for the holiday. The streets of Rome would be filled with drunken Romans today. Lupercalia was Felix’s favorite holiday because it was the one festival for which he knew the true meaning. Most members of the plebian class and all slaves did not have a full understanding of the festivals. However, Claudius, being a member of the upper class, had explained to Felix years before the festival held a theme of sexuality and fertility.  This was the one festival Felix understood. Most of them seemed complex and confusing, but not the Lupercalia.

            The first sacrifice had been performed and Felix was on his second jug of wine. Aristocrats chased women accused of adultery through the streets near the forum. Watching the beatings was part of the festival. Felix had even witnessed women of the equestrian class being beaten. Roaming the streets in a drunken stumble was Felix on his fourth jug. Lupercalia was a relief of his stresses as was for most Romans. It was a day of no work, feasting, and of course drinking.