Freethought & Rationalism Archive

mountainman · 01-19-2011, 11:53 PM

According to this encyclopaedia the feriale Duranum (timetable of festivals) was a list of military religious festivals, which were observed by every unit in the Roman army, and included the festivals of Cultus Signorum, Rosaliae Signorum and Natalis Signorum, all of which honoured the standards. It was found at Dura Europos. Papyri.info lists the following:

Quote:

Title The Feriale Duranum
Publications P.Dura 54
ChLA VI 309
Rom.Mil.Rec. 117
CPL 324

Translations
Levick, Government (1985), Nr. 209;
Campbell, Roman Army (1994), 207;
Beard - North - Price, Religions of Rome (1998), S. 71-74, Nr. 3.5;
Lee, Pagans and Christians (2001), S. 17-19 (Kol. 1-2)

Provenance Dura - Europos
Material Papyrus
Date 225 - 235

Title Edict, Roman CE 225-235 or 225-227
Summary Feriale Duranum;
regulations for observance of feriae publicae and rites of gods, cult of the divi and emperors, and military occasions

The Feriale Duranum (or via: amazon.co.uk). Edited with a commentary by Robert O. Fink, Allan S. Hoey and Walter F. Snyder is currently out of stock. A google search provides bits and pieces of discussion, many in google books, but I dont seem to be able to find an english translation of this list.

From what I have read about this list it did not contain any of the "Oriental gods" and was more like a straight Roman cast, even celebrating on 24th May the birthday of Germanicus. The following from this blogsite.

Quote:

have always found it interesting that an army unit stationed in Dura Europos on the Euphrates in the third century AD was still celebrating Caesar’s birthday with the sacrifice of an ox.

A calendar, known as the feriale duranum, lists the festivals celebrated each year. (A few people think the document is civil rather than military, but I can’t say I am convinced by this). Most of the emperors who were deified are mentioned. One of the more surprising inclusions is the birthday of Germanicus (24th May), the father of the Emperor Caligula, and a man who died young and was never emperor himself. This may just be a reflection of his popularity, although if so, it is striking that this lasted for two centuries. Alternatively, it may reflect a military association with his campaigns. If this is the case, then the tradition must originally have come from another unit – perhaps a legion – since the cohort on Dura was formed long after Germanicus’ death.

And no, it doesn't mention any celebrations for you know who.

mountainman · 01-20-2011, 04:02 AM

The SOURCES:Calendars (timetables of festivals) in general

1. P.Dura 54 (title of this thread)
2. Fresco state calender discovered under Santa Maria Maggiore
3. Chronography of 354

It appears that there are two earlier Roman calenders before 354.
The Dura one dated 3rd century, and the Fresco dated early 4th century.

1. P.Dura 54

From novaroma.org

Quote:

A calendar found at Dura Europos which records the religious observances of the Cohors XX Palmyrenorum. Unfortunately the celebrations for October, November and December are unreadable.

"The character of this text as a feriale, that is, a list of festivals, is self-evident; and…the use of the Latin language and capital script proves its official nature, its presence in the archives of the cohors XX Palmyrenorum shows that it was intended for the army, the absence of any festivals of a strictly local nature is evidence that it was the standard feriale for all the armies of the empire, and the exclusion of all non-Roman gods and festivals is proof that this was the traditional calendar of observances which in its main outlines was as old as the time of Augustus."[1]

[1] Welles, C.B., Fink, R.O., and Gilliam, J.F. The Excavations at Dura Europos, Final Report V, Part I: The Parchments and Papyri. New Haven, Yale University Press (1959), p. 4, Cited in "Feriale Duranum: En romersk festkalender fra Dura Europos|, af Jan Brix [1] (PDF)

2. Fresco state calender discovered under Santa Maria Maggiore

A Reconsideration of the Date of the Esquiline Calendar and of Its Political Festivals

Inabelle Levin
American Journal of Archaeology
Vol. 86, No. 3 (Jul., 1982),

Quote:

Abstract

The fresco calendar discovered under S. Maria Maggiore contains rare references to imperial festivals celebrated during the second half of the year which have not survived in the only other extant third century calendar, the Feriale Duranum. Art historical analysis of the labors-of-the-months panels accompanying these calendar texts has indicated that the entire cycle was painted in the second quarter of the third century A. C., rather than in the fourth century as F. Magi proposes. Re-examination of the political festivals in this fragmentary calendar supports a pre-fourth century date. Therefore, we must reassess the attribution of festivals which this calendar shares with the Calendar of 354.

The anniversary of a triumph over the Sarmatians celebrated on December 1 in our calendar and the Calendar of 354 can now be identified with Marcus Aurelius' and Commodus' triumph in A. D. 176; yet this dating need not preclude the festival's customary attribution to Constantine.

Given fourth century attitudes toward the Antonines, the history of Roman-Sarmatian relations and the recurrent practice of establishing new imperial festivals on older politically significant anniversaries, we may conclude that Constantine deliberately chose to celebrate his own triumph over the Sarmatians on this historic day.

3. Chronography of 354

Roger's Website - Parts 1 to 16. This article is also informative. On Roman Time: The Codex-Calendar of 354 and the Rhythms of Urban Life in Late Antiquity By Michele Renee Salzman, University of California Press.

mountainman · 01-24-2011, 02:03 PM

26. The Feriale Duranum (Reign of Severus Alexander) Translated from the Greek

Column I

The Kalends of January:...
3 days before the Nones of January: because vows are discharged and announced, and for the safety of our lord Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus and for the everlasting empire of the Roman people, to Jupiter Optimus Maximus a male ox, to Juno a female ox, to Minerva a female ox, to Jupiter Victor a male ox,... to Father Mars a bull, to Mars Victor a bull, to Victory a female ox ...
7 days before the Ides of January: because honourable discharge is granted to those who have served out their time along, with the right of privileges; also because salaries are paid out to the soldiers, to Jupiter Optimus Maximus a male ox, to Juno a female ox, to Minerva a female ox, to Safety a female ox, to Father Mars a bull ...
6 days before the Ides of January: for the birthday of the divine empress ..., to the divine ... public prayer.
... days before the Ides of January: for the birthday of Lucius Seius Caesar, father-in-law of the Augustus, a male ox to the genius of Lucius Seius Caesar, father in-law of the Augustus.
9 days before the Kalends of February: for the birthday of the divine Hadrian, to the divine Hadrian a male ox.
5 days before the Kalends of February: for the Arabian and Adiabenine and most great Parthian victories of the divine Severus and for the start of the reign of the divine Trajan, to Parthian Victory a female ox, to the divine Trajan a male ox.
1 day before the Nones of February: for the start of the reign of the divine Antoninus Magnus ..., to the divine Antoninus Magnus a male ox.
The Kalends of March: for the rites of the birthday of Father Mars Victor, a bull to Father Mars Victor.
1 day before the Nones of March: for the start of the reign of the divine Marcus Antoninus and of the divine Lucius Verus, to the divine Marcus a male ox, to the divine Lucius a male ox.
3 days before the Ides of March: because emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was acclaimed emperor, to Jupiter a male ox, to Juno a female ox, to Minerva a female ox,... to Mars a male ox; and because emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus was first acclaimed emperor by the soldiers public prayer.
1 day before the Ides of March: because Alexander, our Augustus, was acclaimed Augustus, pater patriae and pontifex maximus, public prayer; to the genius of our lord Alexander Augustus a bull.

Column II

14 days before the Kalends of April: for the day of the festival of the Quinquatria, public prayer; through to 10 days before the Kalends, the same public prayers.
1 day before the Nones of April: for the birthday of the divine Antoninus Magnus, to the divine Antoninus a male ox.
5 days before the Ides of April: for the start of the reign of the divine Pius Severus, to the divine Pius Severus a male ox.
3 days before the Ides of April: for the birthday of the divine Pius Severus, to the divine Pius Severus a male ox.
11 days before the Kalends of May: for the birthday of the eternal city of Rome, to the eternal city of Rome a female ox.
6 days before the Kalends of May: for the birthday of the divine Marcus Antoninus, to the divine Marcus Antoninus a male ox.
The Nones of May: for the birthday of the divine Julia Maesa, to the divine Julia Maesa public prayer.
6 days before the Ides of May: for the Rose festival of the standards, public prayer.
4 days before the Ides of May: for the games of Mars, to Father Mars the Avenger a bull.
12 days before the Kalends of June: because the divine Pius Severus was acclaimed emperor by ..., ... to the divine Pius Severus.
9 days before the Kalends of June: for the birthday of Germanicus Caesar, public prayer to the memory of Germanicus Caesar.
1 day before the Kalends of June: for the Rose festival of the standards, public prayer.
4 days before the Ides of June: for the festival of Vesta, to Mother Vesta public prayer.
5 days before the Kalends of July: because our lord Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was acclaimed Caesar and donned the toga of manhood, to the genius of Alexander Augustus a bull.
The Kalends of July: because Alexander, our Augustus, was first elected consul, public prayer.
4 days before the Nones of July: for the birthday of the divine Matidia, to the divine Matidia public prayer.
6 days before the Ides of July: for the start of the reign of the divine Antoninus Pius, to the divine Antoninus Pius a male ox.
4 days before the Ides of July: for the birthday of the divine Julius, to the divine Julius a male ox.
10 days before the Kalends of August: for the day of the festival of Neptune, immolatory public prayer.
The Kalends of August: for the birthday of the divine Claudius and the divine Pertinax, to the divine Claudius a male ox, to the divine Pertinax a male ox. The Nones of August: for the games of Safety, to Safety a female ox. ... before the Kalends of September: for the birthday of Mamaea Augusta, mother of our Augustus, to the Juno of Mamaea Augusta ... ...for...
... before the Kalends of September: for the birthday of the divine Marciana, to the divine Marciana public prayer.

Column III

1 day before the Kalends of September: for the birthday of the divine Commodus, to the divine Commodus a male ox. 7 days before the Ides of September ...
14 days before the Kalends of October: for the birthday of the divine Trajan and for the start of the reign of the divine Nerva, to the divine Trajan a male ox, to the divine Nerva a male ox.
13 days before the Kalends of October: for the birthday of the divine Antoninus Pius, to the divine Antoninus Pius a male ox.
... before the Kalends of October: for the birthday of the divine Faustina, to the divine Faustina public prayer.
9 days before the Kalends of October: for the birthday of the divine Augustus, to the divine Augustus a male ox.
[...]
[...]
[...] of November [...] [...]
[...]
[...] the Kalends [...1

Column IV

16 days before the Kalends of January ..., ... public prayer; through to 10 days before the Kalends the same ...

Acknowledgements

Researched data from this this post - thanks very much Roger.

01-24-2011, 02:03 PM	#3
mountainman Contributor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Falls Creek, Oz. Posts: 11,192	The Feriale Duranum (Reign of Severus Alexander) Translated from the Greek 26. The Feriale Duranum (Reign of Severus Alexander) Translated from the Greek Column I The Kalends of January:... 3 days before the Nones of January: because vows are discharged and announced, and for the safety of our lord Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus and for the everlasting empire of the Roman people, to Jupiter Optimus Maximus a male ox, to Juno a female ox, to Minerva a female ox, to Jupiter Victor a male ox,... to Father Mars a bull, to Mars Victor a bull, to Victory a female ox ... 7 days before the Ides of January: because honourable discharge is granted to those who have served out their time along, with the right of privileges; also because salaries are paid out to the soldiers, to Jupiter Optimus Maximus a male ox, to Juno a female ox, to Minerva a female ox, to Safety a female ox, to Father Mars a bull ... 6 days before the Ides of January: for the birthday of the divine empress ..., to the divine ... public prayer. ... days before the Ides of January: for the birthday of Lucius Seius Caesar, father-in-law of the Augustus, a male ox to the genius of Lucius Seius Caesar, father in-law of the Augustus. 9 days before the Kalends of February: for the birthday of the divine Hadrian, to the divine Hadrian a male ox. 5 days before the Kalends of February: for the Arabian and Adiabenine and most great Parthian victories of the divine Severus and for the start of the reign of the divine Trajan, to Parthian Victory a female ox, to the divine Trajan a male ox. 1 day before the Nones of February: for the start of the reign of the divine Antoninus Magnus ..., to the divine Antoninus Magnus a male ox. The Kalends of March: for the rites of the birthday of Father Mars Victor, a bull to Father Mars Victor. 1 day before the Nones of March: for the start of the reign of the divine Marcus Antoninus and of the divine Lucius Verus, to the divine Marcus a male ox, to the divine Lucius a male ox. 3 days before the Ides of March: because emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was acclaimed emperor, to Jupiter a male ox, to Juno a female ox, to Minerva a female ox,... to Mars a male ox; and because emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus was first acclaimed emperor by the soldiers public prayer. 1 day before the Ides of March: because Alexander, our Augustus, was acclaimed Augustus, pater patriae and pontifex maximus, public prayer; to the genius of our lord Alexander Augustus a bull. Column II 14 days before the Kalends of April: for the day of the festival of the Quinquatria, public prayer; through to 10 days before the Kalends, the same public prayers. 1 day before the Nones of April: for the birthday of the divine Antoninus Magnus, to the divine Antoninus a male ox. 5 days before the Ides of April: for the start of the reign of the divine Pius Severus, to the divine Pius Severus a male ox. 3 days before the Ides of April: for the birthday of the divine Pius Severus, to the divine Pius Severus a male ox. 11 days before the Kalends of May: for the birthday of the eternal city of Rome, to the eternal city of Rome a female ox. 6 days before the Kalends of May: for the birthday of the divine Marcus Antoninus, to the divine Marcus Antoninus a male ox. The Nones of May: for the birthday of the divine Julia Maesa, to the divine Julia Maesa public prayer. 6 days before the Ides of May: for the Rose festival of the standards, public prayer. 4 days before the Ides of May: for the games of Mars, to Father Mars the Avenger a bull. 12 days before the Kalends of June: because the divine Pius Severus was acclaimed emperor by ..., ... to the divine Pius Severus. 9 days before the Kalends of June: for the birthday of Germanicus Caesar, public prayer to the memory of Germanicus Caesar. 1 day before the Kalends of June: for the Rose festival of the standards, public prayer. 4 days before the Ides of June: for the festival of Vesta, to Mother Vesta public prayer. 5 days before the Kalends of July: because our lord Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was acclaimed Caesar and donned the toga of manhood, to the genius of Alexander Augustus a bull. The Kalends of July: because Alexander, our Augustus, was first elected consul, public prayer. 4 days before the Nones of July: for the birthday of the divine Matidia, to the divine Matidia public prayer. 6 days before the Ides of July: for the start of the reign of the divine Antoninus Pius, to the divine Antoninus Pius a male ox. 4 days before the Ides of July: for the birthday of the divine Julius, to the divine Julius a male ox. 10 days before the Kalends of August: for the day of the festival of Neptune, immolatory public prayer. The Kalends of August: for the birthday of the divine Claudius and the divine Pertinax, to the divine Claudius a male ox, to the divine Pertinax a male ox. The Nones of August: for the games of Safety, to Safety a female ox. ... before the Kalends of September: for the birthday of Mamaea Augusta, mother of our Augustus, to the Juno of Mamaea Augusta ... ...for... ... before the Kalends of September: for the birthday of the divine Marciana, to the divine Marciana public prayer. Column III 1 day before the Kalends of September: for the birthday of the divine Commodus, to the divine Commodus a male ox. 7 days before the Ides of September ... 14 days before the Kalends of October: for the birthday of the divine Trajan and for the start of the reign of the divine Nerva, to the divine Trajan a male ox, to the divine Nerva a male ox. 13 days before the Kalends of October: for the birthday of the divine Antoninus Pius, to the divine Antoninus Pius a male ox. ... before the Kalends of October: for the birthday of the divine Faustina, to the divine Faustina public prayer. 9 days before the Kalends of October: for the birthday of the divine Augustus, to the divine Augustus a male ox. [...] [...] [...] of November [...] [...] [...] [...] the Kalends [...1 Column IV 16 days before the Kalends of January ..., ... public prayer; through to 10 days before the Kalends the same ... Acknowledgements Researched data from this this post - thanks very much Roger.

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