Augustus’ “New” Festival: The Centrality of Married Women’s Rituals at the Ludi Saeculares of 17 BCE

AbstractThe article explores how Augustus and the priesthood of theXVviri sacris faciundisorganized and performed the rituals for celebrating a new era (ludi saeculares) under the rule of the gods Apollo and Diana. In the Republic, it had been a woman’s personal decision whether or not to take part in women’s festivals. However, theXVviricommanded that 110 married women (matronae) perform rituals (supplications and sacrifices) on the Capitoline. This article argues for the novelty of such a custom, in that it was a new form of top-down appeal tomatronaeto honor the gods in public festivals. The article also argues for the centrality of rituals of thematronaein the festival. At theludi saeculares, the cooperation between men (theXVviri) andmatronaewas ritually staged and seen as indispensable for ensuring the continuity of Rome.