The Vitulatio was an annual thanksgiving celebrated in ancient Rome on July 8, the day after the Nonae Caprotinae and following the Poplifugia on July 5. The Poplifugia is a lesser-known festival that was of obscure origin even for the Romans themselves; Macrobius says that it marked a Roman retreat from the Etruscans at Fidenae during the Gallic invasion, and that the Vitulatio commemorated their comeback victory. It was a dies religiosus, a day of religious prohibition when people were to refrain from undertaking any activity other than attending to basic necessities. [1]
By the late Republic, the Vitulatio, like the other festivals held July 5–8, seems to have been eclipsed by the popularity of the Ludi Apollinares, games ( ludi) held in honor of Apollo July 6–13. [2]
The eponymous goddess Vitula embodied joy, or perhaps life (vita). According to Vergil, [3] she received first fruits offerings.
The verb vitulari meant to chant or recite a formula with a joyful intonation and rhythm. [4] Macrobius says vitulari is the equivalent of Greek paianizein (παιανίζειν), "to sing a paean," a song expressing triumph or thanksgiving. [5] He offers, however, an antiquarian range of etymologies, including one from victoria, "victory." One modern explanation relates the word Vitulatio to vitulus, " heifer," the animal that served as a ritual scapegoat at Iguvium, as described by the Iguvine Tablets. [6]
The Vitulatio was an annual thanksgiving celebrated in ancient Rome on July 8, the day after the Nonae Caprotinae and following the Poplifugia on July 5. The Poplifugia is a lesser-known festival that was of obscure origin even for the Romans themselves; Macrobius says that it marked a Roman retreat from the Etruscans at Fidenae during the Gallic invasion, and that the Vitulatio commemorated their comeback victory. It was a dies religiosus, a day of religious prohibition when people were to refrain from undertaking any activity other than attending to basic necessities. [1]
By the late Republic, the Vitulatio, like the other festivals held July 5–8, seems to have been eclipsed by the popularity of the Ludi Apollinares, games ( ludi) held in honor of Apollo July 6–13. [2]
The eponymous goddess Vitula embodied joy, or perhaps life (vita). According to Vergil, [3] she received first fruits offerings.
The verb vitulari meant to chant or recite a formula with a joyful intonation and rhythm. [4] Macrobius says vitulari is the equivalent of Greek paianizein (παιανίζειν), "to sing a paean," a song expressing triumph or thanksgiving. [5] He offers, however, an antiquarian range of etymologies, including one from victoria, "victory." One modern explanation relates the word Vitulatio to vitulus, " heifer," the animal that served as a ritual scapegoat at Iguvium, as described by the Iguvine Tablets. [6]