The Navigium Isidis or Isidis Navigium (trans. the vessel of Isis) [1] was an annual ancient Roman religious festival in honor of the goddess Isis, [2] held on March 5. [3] The festival outlived Christian persecution by Theodosius (391) and Arcadius' persecution against the Roman religion (395). [4]
In the Roman Empire, it was still celebrated in Italy at least until the year 416. [5] In Egypt, it was suppressed by Christian authorities in the 6th century. [5]
The Navigium Isidis celebrated Isis' influence over the sea and served as a prayer for the safety of seafarers and, eventually, of the Roman people and their leaders. [6] It consisted of an elaborate procession, including Isiac priests and devotees with a wide variety of costumes and sacred emblems, carrying a model ship from the local Isis temple to the sea [7] or to a nearby river. [8]
Modern carnival resembles the festival of the Navigium Isidis, [1] and some scholars argue that they share the same origin (via carrus navalis, meaning naval wagon, i.e. float – later becoming car-nival). [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] Many elements of Carnival were in turn appropriated in the Corpus Christi festival, most prominently in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). [14]
The Navigium Isidis or Isidis Navigium (trans. the vessel of Isis) [1] was an annual ancient Roman religious festival in honor of the goddess Isis, [2] held on March 5. [3] The festival outlived Christian persecution by Theodosius (391) and Arcadius' persecution against the Roman religion (395). [4]
In the Roman Empire, it was still celebrated in Italy at least until the year 416. [5] In Egypt, it was suppressed by Christian authorities in the 6th century. [5]
The Navigium Isidis celebrated Isis' influence over the sea and served as a prayer for the safety of seafarers and, eventually, of the Roman people and their leaders. [6] It consisted of an elaborate procession, including Isiac priests and devotees with a wide variety of costumes and sacred emblems, carrying a model ship from the local Isis temple to the sea [7] or to a nearby river. [8]
Modern carnival resembles the festival of the Navigium Isidis, [1] and some scholars argue that they share the same origin (via carrus navalis, meaning naval wagon, i.e. float – later becoming car-nival). [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] Many elements of Carnival were in turn appropriated in the Corpus Christi festival, most prominently in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). [14]