Ludi Apollinares

Definition: The Ludi Apollinares were Roman games that were held from the 6-13 of July. In 212, during the Punic Wars, oracles prescribed games held in honor of Apollo. Four years after the original games were held, a plague struck Rome, and to help get rid of it, the Romans made the Ludi Apollinares permanent, fixing the date at 13 July. They gradually expanded the Ludi Apollinares to eight days. Roman games meant theatrical productions and/or arena entertainment. Two days of the Ludi Apollinares were for circus games (which did not include gladiatorial games during the period of the Republic) and the other days for theatrical productions. The Praetor Urbanus was in charge of the Ludi Apollinares. In addition to games, there were sacrifices in honor of Apollo and other deities. In Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, H.H. Scullard specifies that the sacrifices were a gilded horned ox for Apollo, a gided horned cow for Latona, and gilded-horned she-goats for Diana.