Today in Roman History

June 13-15 was the time of the Lesser Quinquatrus, which was a festival of fluteplayers. The story that Ovid tells in his Fasti is that this day was celebrated to honor Minerva inventor of the flute, but there's more. In early times flautists appeared at funerals and on many other occasions in great number. In time, they came into disfavor and went into exile to Tivoli. Many years later, they returned en masse to Rome. Permission was granted to them to play their flutes and accompany them with ribald songs for the duration of this annual festival.


The June festival is called the Lesser Quinquatrus. There was also a (Greater) Quinquatrus held 5 days after the Ides of March -- March 19. The Greater Quinquatrus was held in honor of Mars. According to Ovid, in the Fasti, the first day of the Greater Quinquatrus was Minerva's birthday and was honored by being bloodless. Gladiators compete during the remaining four games.