Augustus and the Ludi Saeculares: Rome's Secular Games

In 17 BCE, Augustus staged the Ludi Saeculares, the Secular Games — a lavish, multi-day religious festival that marked the end of one saeculum (the longest human lifespan) and the beginning of another. But this was no mere tradition; it was a masterstroke of Augustan propaganda. This episode explores how the princeps used ancient Sibylline prophecies, nocturnal sacrifices to the underworld gods, and unprecedented public spectacles — including chariot races, theatrical performances, and a hymn composed by Horace — to declare that a new golden age had dawned under his rule. We examine the fragmentary Sibylline oracle that authorized the Games, the role of the quindecimviri sacris faciundis in interpreting it, the controversial reinterpretation of the saeculum itself, and the lasting impact of the event on Roman imperial ideology. Lucas and Luna also discuss the famous Carmen Saeculare, performed by a choir of 27 boys and 27 girls, and what the Games reveal about Augustus's blending of religion, politics, and popular entertainment. #LudiSaeculares #SecularGames #Augustus #CarmenSaeculare #Horace #SibyllineOracles #quindecimviri #CampusMartius #Tarentum #DisPater #Proserpina #Apollo #Diana #RomanReligion #AugustanPropaganda #PaxRomana #RomanHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo