ante dies IV Nonae Iunoniae (2 June)

Dies Ater

The day after every kalends, nonae, and ides is known as a "Black Day" when no new project is to be begun. It all started when a couple consules disregarded the auspices and decided to fight the Gauls on the Allio River. Marriage and business contracts could not be made on such days, and no magistrate in his right mind would do anything publicly on dies ater. Festival on even numbered days are a rarity to begin with, but none on a dies ater. However if a festival or ludi began earlier then it was continued through such "black days," as in the case with the Ludi Saeculares.


Ludi Saeculares

Lines 119-22: Four days before the Nones of June (2 June), on the Capitoline Hill, [the emperor Caesar Augustus] sacrificed a cow to Juno Regina burnt whole for her, [and in the same place] Marcus Agrippa sacrificed [a second], and spoke a prayer as follows: "Juno Regina, as it is prescribed for you in those books ? [and for this reason may every good fortune attend the Roman people, the Quirites] ? let sacrifice be made to you with a fine cow. I beg and pray." [The rest as above.]

Lines 123-32: Then [?Marcus Agrippa] dictated to the one hundred and ten married women, mistresses of households, who had been commanded [to assemble on the Capitoline Hill], the formula of prayer as follows: "Juno Regina, if there is any better fortune [that may attend the Roman people, the Quirites, we one hundred and ten mistresses of households of the Roman people, the Quirites], married women on bended knee, [pray] that you [bring it about, we beg and beseech that you increase the power] and majesty of the Roman people, the Quirites [in war and peace; and that the Latins may always be obedient; and that you may grant] eternal [safety], victory [and health to the Roman people, the Quirites; and that you may protect the Roman people, the Quirites, and the legions of the Roman people], the Quirites; and [that you may keep safe and make greater] the state [of the Roman people, the Quirites; and that you may be favourable and propitious to the Roman people], the Quirites, to the quindecimviri sacris faciundis, to us, [to our houses, to our households. These are the things that we one hundred and ten mistresses of households of the Roman people, the Quirites], married women on bended knee, [pray, beg, and beseech.]" At the sacred vessel were Marcus Agrippa

Lines 134-8: Then by night, next to the Tiber, [the emperor] Caesar Augustus [sacrificed a pregnant sow, as a whole burnt offering, to Terra Mater, and spoke the following prayer: "Terra Mater, as it is prescribed for you in those books ?and for this reason may every good fortune attend the Roman people, the Quirites ? let sacrifice be made] to you with a pregnant sow of your own, [as a whole burnt offering.] I beg and pray.]" The rest [as above.]

The matrons held a sellsternia on this [day in the same manner as on the previous day.]