The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic

The work offers a systematic tour of the Roman religious calendar during the Republic, arranging each festival in the order it appeared on the ancient Fasti. By following the year month by month, the author explains the rites, deities, and civic functions attached to celebrations such as the Parentalia, Lupercalia, and the October Horse, while also noting occasional private or semi‑public ceremonies. The commentary balances concise summaries with critical discussion of the differing opinions of leading scholars, and whenever possible presents the original passages that underpin each interpretation.

Designed as a reference for students and scholars of Roman history, literature, and the anthropology of religion, the book also includes useful notes on numismatic evidence that illuminate the visual side of these rituals. Though the material is dense, the author’s clear prose makes the complex web of myth, politics, and calendar accessible without requiring extensive prior knowledge of Greek sources. Readers will come away with a solid grounding in how the Roman state expressed its identity through yearly festivals.