Augustus and the Secular Games: A New Age for Rome

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Secular Games (Ludi Saeculares) celebrated by Augustus in 17 BCE. They discuss the Etruscan concept of saecula, the Sibylline Oracle's prophecy that inspired the revival, and the meticulous preparations including the distribution of purifying materials (suffimenta) to the people. Lucas explains the three-day ceremony with sacrifices to the underworld gods Dis and Proserpina at the Tarentum, and then to the Olympian gods Jupiter, Juno, and Apollo on the Palatine and Capitoline. The episode highlights the Carmen Saeculare, a hymn commissioned from Horace and performed by 27 boys and 27 girls at the Temple of Apollo Palatinus. They also touch upon the political messaging of Augustus as the restorer of traditional religion and the hope for a new golden age, as well as the later celebrations under Claudius and Septimius Severus. The dialogue clarifies misconceptions about the games and their significance in Augustan propaganda. #Augustus #SecularGames #LudiSaeculares #AncientRome #Horace #CarmenSaeculare #SibyllineOracle #ApolloPalatinus #DisPater #Proserpina #Saeculum #AugustanReligion #RomanFestivals #Tarentum #Suffimenta #RomanHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo