PARILIA

Nox abiit, oriturque Aurora.  Parilia poscor:
non poscor frustra, si favet alma Pales.

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The Parilia, or Palilia,  was a festival held in Ancient Rome on what is today April 21st.  The day was marked NF or nefastus publicus, a day on which the public observed major festivals.  The purpose of the festival was twofold.  Originally, it was a pastoral festival to purify both sheep and shepherd.  Later, the festival was recognized as the birthday of Rome, the day on which Romulus killed Remus and founded the city in 753 BCE.  The Parilia is outstanding among Roman festivals as it incorporates both the rural and urban celebrations of Roman religion, and also incorporates elements from other festivals.

The Parilia is one of the most discussed festivals in Ovid's Fasti, as he professes to have participated in the festival himself.  I would like to explore Parilia by investigating the possible origins of the festival, the myths associated with it, and the ceremonies performed during the Parilia.