Feriale Duranum (PDura 54) : Feriale Duranum (PDura 54)

judaism_and_rome 2026-05-30T09:55:42+02:00 1 923 Papyrus https://heurist.huma-num.fr/heurist/?recID=923&db=judaism_and_rome Feriale Duranum (PDura 54) : Feriale Duranum (PDura 54) 2022-08-19 17:14:46 2023-07-09 21:09:27 public Feriale Duranum (PDura 54) Small papyrus roll from Dura Europos, Syria. 0222 0222 0227 0227 6013 Latin 4400 1828 1817 1806 1794 1783 1772 1761 1750 3554 1754 1742 Amongst a series of papyrus scrolls that were recovered from a room (W13) of the Temple of Artemis Azzanathkona in <a href="https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/893990">Dura Europos</a> (Syria) was one small scroll today known as the Feriale Duranum. Dating to the reign of Alexander Severus, the scroll contains the only surviving example of a feriale – a list of dates during which specific rituals and festivals were celebrated, that was drawn up for the Roman military, and which appears to have been valid for all units throughout the empire (Fishwick, “Dated Inscriptions and the Feriale Duranum,” p. 349). The feriale contains a list of festivals and anniversaries that should be observed – including the proper way to observe them, either through sacrifice or prayers – by the Roman army. Having been found in what is assumed to be the archive room of the cohors XX Palmyrenorum – a unit of soldiers made up of native Palmyrenes who had been stationed at Dura from 208 CE onwards – the Feriale Duranum is crucial evidence for the religious activity of the army, which is shown to have been exactly the same as that celebrated in Rome, indicating the unifying nature of “the adoption by foreign troops of the official religious practice of the Roman army” (Dirven, Palmyrenes of Dura Europos, p. 184-185).This copy of the feriale was written in Latin, in neat capitals, but was certainly an ‘active’ document judging by the wear suffered by the papyrus roll; its original shape has been distorted by frequent rolling and unrolling, and it has been patched in two places, indicating that it was used with more regularity than a simple archive ‘copy’ (Beard, North and Price, Religions of Rome, I, p. 324). It has been suggested that this copy was in fact a Severan redaction of an Augustan regulation of religious practice, due to the traditional character of the festivals and the fact that several of them date back to the Republican period; as Duncan Fishwick noted, “the feriale was not compiled with Dura in mind, for it bears no particular relation to local conditions” (Fishwick, “Dated Inscriptions and the Feriale Duranum,” p. 350). No gods specific to Dura are mentioned in the list of celebrations, nor are there any references to religious practices specific to soldiers from Palmyra. The text of the scroll is ordered chronologically, beginning on the 1st January, with the festivals listed grouped into categories according to their type. One category is formed of traditional Roman and Italian celebrations, such as the Vestalia (in honour of Vesta, on the 9th June), the Natalis Martis (the birthday of Mars, on the 1st March) and the birthday of the city of Rome (Natalis Urbis Romae, on the 21st April). These festivals were so traditional that they excluded even well-established foreign cults, such as the Magna Mater (Pollard, Soldiers, Cities and Civilians, p. 143). As Ramsay MacMullen noted: “the gods actually honored are just what one would have expected in a Roman-citizen setting two or three hundred years earlier” (Paganism in the Roman Empire, p. 110). The rituals offered were the same as those practiced in Rome, with animal sacrifices – such as a bull for Mars – and supplicationes, or offerings of wine and incense. The origin of the feriale appears, then, to have been an Augustan innovation which sought to standardise the operations of the military camps across the empire whilst also regulating and reviving traditional Roman religion; as an ideological device this kind of calendar – which emphasised also the imperial household and the members of the imperial family – was well-suited to Augustus’s purposes, creating a means by which loyalty could be assured across the various and differing camps of Rome’s empire, and amongst those upon whom he depended to protect it (see Gilliam, “The Roman Military Feriale,” p. 183-196 for discussion of the Augustan origins). Duncan Fishwick has ably shown, through the evidence of inscriptions set up by military communities in honour of gods or cults, whose dates correspond with those given in the Dura feriale; although no evidence for the ‘original’ perhaps implemented by Augustus has survived, the number of inscribed texts that coincide with the feriale collectively “present[s] a composite pattern of actions taken by troops in different parts of the world on the occasion of important imperial and other anniversaries” (Fishwick, “Dated Inscriptions and the Feriale Duranum,” p. 353 and p. 354-360 for the epigraphic evidence).Another category of festival is characterised by offerings to the imperial cult, the birthdays of deified members of the imperial family and the dies imperii of others, which had evolved from the Augustan precedent to include more recently deceased members of the imperial family (Pollard, Soldiers, Cities and Civilians, p. 143). The calendar begins on the 3rd January, in fact, with a sacrifice for the emperor, “to Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus and for the eternity of the empire of the Roman people” (Marci Aureli Severi Alexandri Augusti et ob aeternitatem / imperii populi Romani), and a sacrifice of a bull is instructed for the genius of the emperor, with oxen ordered for the celebrations of the divi (Beard, North and Price, Religions of Rome I, p. 325). Just as the traditional cult celebrations of the first category, the dates listed for celebration of the members of the imperial household are exactly the same as those listed in the inscribed record of the Arval Brothers in Rome, in a further indication that the calendar of the Palmyrene soldiers at Dura was perfectly in sync with that of the imperial capital (ibid). A third category appeared to be more targeted at the soldiers themselves; on the 31st May a supplicatio should be offered for the rosalie signorum, a festival associated with the military standards, which is also attested in an inscription and relief carving from the camp at Corbridge, in the province of Britannia, again underlining the apparent standardisation of religious practice (Fishwick,“Dated Inscriptions and the Feriale Duranum,” p. 351-352).However, some scholars have cautioned against interpreting the Feriale Duranum as evidence for the regulation of private religion; although it certainly appears to have formed the basis of an official, or institutional series of offerings, the evidence from Dura as a whole attests to the wide range of religious devotions that were experienced by private citizens in the town, and which included dedications made by individual military personnel. A wall-painting in the so-called Temple of Bel depicts an individual, who is labelled as Iulius Terentius, tribune of the cohors XX Palmyenorum, offering incense to three figures wearing military costume. These figures have been variously interpreted as statues of three co-ruling emperors, perhaps Pupienus, Balbinus and Gordian III, or as three Palmyrene gods (see <a href="https://heurist.huma-num.fr/judaism_and_rome/tpl/public-record/38" target="_blank">Fresco of Julius Terentius Performing a Sacrifice</a>), with the latter interpretation suggesting some kind of “solidarity between soldiers and civilians” (Pollard, Soldiers, Cities and Civilians, p. 144). The cults of Mithras and Jupiter Dolichenus are also well attested amongst the military in private dedications and graffiti in Dura, suggesting that the soldiers of the cohort participated equally in their own religious traditions (see Pollard, Soldiers, Cities and Civilians, p. 144-149).Whatever its origin, the Feriale Duranum is excellent evidence for how religious practice could be utilised to unite the various military communities of the Empire and to connect them symbolically to the empire that they were engaged to serve and defend; while the private dedications to local cults and deities demonstrate the “private solidarity” of the soldiers, the Feriale Duranum is suggestive of what Nigel Pollard has termed as a “corporate solidarity,” which could be employed to link the Roman troops in a canonical programme across the empire, regardless of their individual and private religious preferences (Soldiers, Cities and Civilians, p. 146). Dura Europos Roman army Palmyra Syria sacrifice vow Feast festival Roman gods Roman religion Augustus eternity of Rome eternity of the Roman empire Roman people New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Library D.P. 2 Feriale Duranum (PDura 54) 3rd CE 40 38 P.Dura 54 ChLA VI 309 Rom.Mil.Rec. 117 CPL 324 <div style="text-align: justify;">The text is reproduced from <a href="http://papyri.info/ddbdp/rom.mil.rec;1;117">papyri.info</a>; the text is in the public domain.</div> <div> </div> <div>Column 1:</div> <div> </div> <div> <table style="width: 614px;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tbody><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Kal(endis) Ianuaris - ca.42 -] this is line 0 ? </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [iii Nonas Ianuarias quod solvantur ac nuncupentur v]ọṭạ et ob salute </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [domini nostri M(arci) Aureli Severi Alexandri Aug(usti) et ob aetern]ịtạtẹm </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [impe]ri(*) p̣(opuli) [R(omani) Iovi O(ptimo) M(aximo) b(ovem) m(arem), Iunoni Reginae </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> b(ovem) f(eminam), Minervae b(ovem) f(eminam), Iovi Victori] b(ovem) m(arem), </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 5 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Vict]ọriae b(ovem) [f(eminam) -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [vii Idus] Ianu[arias quod detur emeritis honesta missio cum usu privi]legio- </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [rum] ṿẹl numẹ[re]n[t]ụṛ [militibus stipendia I(ovi) O(ptimo) M(aximo), b(ovem) m(arem), </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> Iunoni b(ovem) f(eminam), Minervae] b(ovem) f(eminam), </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Salu]ṭi b(ovem) f(eminam), Marti Pạṭṛị ṭ[aurum -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 10 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> ṿ[i Idus I]anuarias ob natạ[lem Divae ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ Divae ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ supp]ḷicaṭịọ </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ ̣ ̣ Idus I]ạnuarias ob nạṭalẹ[m Luci ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ Caesaris - ca.14 -] Luci ⟦ ̣s ̣[ ̣ ̣ ̣] Aụg⟧ </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ c 3 C]aesaris </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> vii[ii Kal(endas)] Febraṛias ob ṇatạ[lem Divi Hadriani Divo Hadriano b(ovem) m(arem)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> v Ḳ[a]ḷ(endas) [Feb]rarias ob v[i]c̣ṭorị[as - ca.20 - Parthica]ṃ Maxi- </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 15 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> ṃ[a]ṃ Divi Seṿẹ[ri e]t oḅ [imperium Divi Traiani, Victoriae Part]ḥic̣[a]ẹ </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> b(ovem) [f(eminam), D]ivo Traian[o b(ovem) m(arem)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> Prid(ie) Ṇ[onas F]ebraria[s o]b i[mperium Divi Antonini Magni supplicat]ịo, Ḍivo </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> Aṇṭọnino M[agno] b(ovem) ṃ(arem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> Kal(endis) Ṃ[a]rṭis ob c̣[e]r[imo]niạ[s natalicias Martis Patris Victoris Marti] P̣ạtri </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 20 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> Vicṭoṛị tạụ[rum] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> P̣ṛịḍ(ie) Nọn[is Ma]ṛ[tis ob] im[perium Divi Marci Antonini et Divi Luci Veri D]ịvo Mar- </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> co b(ovem) [m(arem), Divo Lucio] b(ovem) m(arem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> iii I[d]us Ṃ[artias quod] Imp(erator) [Caesar M(arcus) Aurelius Severus Alexander im]peratọṛ </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> ap[pellat]ụ[s sit Io]ṿị b(ovem) ṃ(arem), [Iunoni b(ovem) f(eminam), Minervae b(ovem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> f(eminam), - ca.16 - Ma]ṛṭi b(ovem) m(arem); [quod] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 25 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [a mi]litib[us imp(eratoris)] Ạug(usti) [Marci Aureli Severi Alexandri Alexande]r </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> Aug(ustus) ṇ[oster (?) -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [primo] ịmp̣[erator] ạpel[latus](*)[ sit supplicatio -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Pridie Idu]ṣ [Martias q]uod Ạ[lexander Augustus no]ṣ[ter Augustus et Pater] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Patriae et Pontife]x̣ Max̣[imus appellatus s]ịṭ supp̣[licat]io; [Genio do-] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [mini nostri Alex]and[ri Augusti taurum -ca.?- ] </td> </tr></tbody></table></div> <div> </div> <div>Column 2:</div> <div> <table style="width: 614px;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tbody><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> xiiii Kaḷ(endas) Ạpriles ob diem Quinq̣[u]ạ[trio]ṛ[um] suppḷ[ic]atio in x Ka[l(endas) e]ạsdem supp̣ḷịc̣[ationes] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> Pridie Ṇonas Apriles ob natalẹ[m] Ḍị[v]i A[n]toniṇi Ṃạgni D[i]ṿo Aṇ[t]ọṇ[in]ọ b(ovem) m(arem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> v Idus Apriles ob imperium Di[v]ị P̣ii Severi D[i]vo P̣[i]ọ [S]ẹver[o] ḅ(ovem) ṃ(arem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> iii Iḍụs Ạp̣ṛ[il]es ob natalem Divi Pịị Sevẹ[r]ị Ḍ[ivo Pio] Ṣ[evero] b(ovem) [m(arem)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 5 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> x̣[i K]al(endas) Maịạṣ ob natalem Urbis [R]omaẹ [A]ẹṭẹ[rnae U(rbi) R(omae) A(eternae) b(ovem) f(eminam)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> ṿ[i K]al(endas) Maias ob natalem Divi Marcị Ạṇṭoṇ[ini Divo Marco An]tọ[nino b(ovem) m(arem)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> No[nas] Maias ob natalem Divae Ịulịạe Ṃạ[esae Divae Maes]ạẹ [supplicatio] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> vi ̣[ -ca.?- Id]us Maias ob Rosalias Sigṇ[o]ṛum ṣuppl[icatio] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> iiii Ịḍus Maias ob Circenses Mạ[rtiales] Marti Pạ[tri Ult]ori ṭạ[u]ṛuṃ </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 10 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> x̣iiḲ̣aḷ(endas) [I]unias quod Di<v>us Severus imperator ạ[ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ a]p̣p̣[ell]ạ[tu]ṣ ṣ[it -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> Ḍivo Pị[o] Sever[o] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> ṿiịịi Kal(endas) Iunias ob natalem Germanic Caẹ[sa]ris sup̣[pli]cat[i]o [me]ṃọri[ae Ge]ṛm[anici] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> C̣[a]esaris </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> P̣ṛ[i]ḍ[ie] Kal(endas) Iunias oḅ Rosalias Signorum suppḷ[i]cạtio </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 15 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [v] Ịḍ[us I]unias ob Vẹstalia Veste Matrị supplicạt[i]ọ </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [vi Kal(endas)] Ịuḷias quod dominus nosṭ[e]ṛ [M]arcus Aurẹ[l]ius Severus Al[e]x̣ạ[nder Cae]ṣạṛ ạp̣p̣ẹ[l-] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [lat]ụs sịṭ et toga virili amic̣[tus] Geṇio Aḷexanḍṛi Au[g]usti taur[u]m </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Kal(endis) Iuli]ịṣ [qu]ọd Alexandẹr Aug(ustus) n(oster) p̣[r]imo co(n)ṣ(ul) desig[n]atus sit supplịc̣aṭ[io] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ -ca.?- N]ọn(as) [I]ụlias oḅ [n]ạtalem Divaẹ Ṃaṭidiae Diva[e] Mati[di]ae supplị[cat]i[o] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 20 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [vi Idus Iulia]s ob imp̣ẹrium Divi Antonini P̣ii Diṿ[o] Anṭọnino b(ovem) m(arem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [iiii Idus Iul]ịạṣ ọb natalem Divi Iuli Dịvo Iulio b(ovem) m(arem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [x Kal(endas) Augus]ṭas ob diem Neptunaliorum supplicatio, [i]mṃ[o]latio </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Kal(endis) Augustis ob n]atalem Divi Clauḍị ẹt Divi Perṭ[in]acis [Di]ṿọ Cl[audi]ọ b(ovem) m(arem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Divo Pertinaci] b(ovem) m(arem) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 25 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Nonis Augustis] ọ[b Circenses Sa]ḷuṭares Sạlut[i b(ovem)] f(eminam) </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ ̣ ̣ Kal(endas) Septemb]ṛe[s ob na]taḷ[em M]ạmaeạ[e Aug(ustae) matr]ịṣ Aug(usti) n(ostri), I[uno]n[i Ma]ṃạ[e]ạe Ạug(ustae) [b(ovem) f(eminam)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [- ca.12 -] ̣uọ[ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣]ạoḅ ̣[ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] ̣iam ̣ ̣[ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] ̣[ ̣] ̣ ̣a ̣ ̣ ̣[ -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ ̣ ̣ Kal(endas) Septembr]es ọ[b nata]lẹ[m Div]ạe Maṛ[cianae Divae Marci]ạṇ[ae supplicatio] </td> </tr></tbody></table></div> <div> </div> <div>Column 3:</div> <div> <table style="width: 614px;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tbody><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [pr]id(ie) [Kal(endas) Septembres ob nat]ạleṃ [Divi Commodi divo] Coṃ[modo b(ovem) m(arem)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ ̣ ̣] Idụ[s Septembres ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] ̣ ̣[- ca.21 -] ̣[ -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [1 line missing] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [xiiii Kal(endas) Octo]ḅṛ[es] ọ[b natalem Divi Traiani et ob imperium Divi Nervae Divo] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 5 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [Traiano b(ovem) m(arem), Divo Nervae b(ovem) m(arem)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [xiii Kal(endas) Octobre]s o[b natalem Divi An]t[onini Pii Divo Antonino b(ovem) m(arem)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ ̣ ̣ Kal(endas)] Ocṭ[obres o]ḅ ṇaṭ[alem Di]vae F̣[austina]ẹ Dịṿ[ae Fau]sti[nae suppl]ịcat[io] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [viiii] Ḳaḷ(endas) [Octobres o]b n[atalem] Dị[vi Augusti] Dị[vo Aug]uṣ[to b(ovem) m(arem)] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [2 lines missing] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 11 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [- ca.13 -] ̣[- ca.17 -] ̣ ̣[ ̣] ̣[- ca.15 -] ̣ ̣[ ̣] ̣ ̣[ -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ No]ṿẹ[m]bṛ[e]s [- ca.14 -]ịṭ[ ̣]nuṣ ̣[- ca.13 -] ̣ḅ [ ̣ ̣] ̣[ ̣]ẹ[ -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [- ca.15 -]ị[- ca.11 -] ̣[ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣]ṇ[ -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [7 lines missing] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 21 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ -ca.?- ] ̣[ -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ -ca.?- ] ̣[- ca.19 -] ̣[ -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [1 line missing] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 24 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [ -ca.?- K]aḷ[ -ca.?- ] </td> </tr></tbody></table></div> <div> </div> <div>Column 4:</div> <div> <table style="width: 614px;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tbody><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [6 lines missing] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> 7 </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [xvi K]ạ[l(endas) Ianuar]ịạ[s -ca.?- ]ạṭạ[ -ca.?- sup]plị[c]atị[o -ca.?- ] </td> </tr><tr><td width="28" valign="top"> </td> <td width="586" valign="top"> [i]n x [Kal(endas) eas]ḍeṃ </td> </tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Translation taken from Fink, Robert O., Roman Military Records on Papyrus (Cleveland: Published for the American Philological Association by the Press of Case Western Reserve University, 1971), p. 428-429. Reproduced by kind permission of the Society of Classical Studies (formerly the American Philological Association).</div> <div> </div> <div>The dates of the imperial birthdays and accessions have been given in diamond brackets (< >), following the example set by Beard, North and Price, Religions of Rome II, p. 71-74</div> <div> </div> <div>Column 1:</div> <div> </div> <div> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tbody><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <1 Jan.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> Kal. Jan. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> […] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <3 Jan.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> III Nones Jan. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> Since vows are fulfilled and undertaken both for the welfare of our Lord Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus and for the eternity of the empire of the Roman people, [to Jupiter Optimus Maximus an ox, to Juno Regina a cow, to Minerva a cow, to Jupiter Victor] and ox, [to Juno Sospes? a cow,…to Mars Pater a bull, to Mars Victor] a bull, to Victoria a cow […] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <7 Jan.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> VII Ides Jan. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> [because honourable discharge with the enjoyment of <customary>] privileges [it is given to men who have served their time] or <because> salary is paid [to the soldiers, to Jupiter Optimus Maximus an ox, to Juno a cow, to Minerva] a cow, to Salus a cow, to Mars Pater a bull […] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <8 Jan.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> VI Ides Jan. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of the diva […], to the diva […] a supplicatio. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <? Jan.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> ? Ides Jan. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of Lucius […] Caesar <c. A.D. 190>, […] of Lucius […] Caesar. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <24 Jan.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> VIIII Kal. Feb. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday [of divus Hadrian <A.D. 76>, to divus Hadrian and ox.] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <28 Jan.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> V Kal. Feb. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the […and] very great Parthian victory of divus Severus <A.D. 198> and for [the accession of divus Trajan <A.D. 98>, to Victoria] Parthica a cow, to divus Trajan [an ox.] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> < 4 Feb.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> Day before Nones Feb. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the accession [of divus Antoninus Magnus <sc. Caracalla>] <A.D. 198> a supplicatio, to divus Antoninus Magnus an ox. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <1 Mar.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> Kal. Mar. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the [birthday] ceremonies [of Mars Pater Victor, to Mars] Pater Victor a bull </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <7 Mar.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> Day before Nones Mar. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the accession [of divus Marcus Antoninus and divus Lucius Verus] <A.D. 161>, to divus Marcus an ox, [to divus] an ox. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <13 Mar.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> III Ides Mar. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> [Because] the Emperor [Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander] was saluted imperator <A.D. 222>, to Jupiter an ox, [to Juno a cow, to Minerva a cow…] to Mars an ox; because Alexander our Augustus was saluted imperator [for the first time] by the soldiers [of the Emperor Augustus Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander <A.D. 222>, a supplicatio…] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <14 Mar.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> Day before Ides Mar </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> Because Alexander [our Augustus] was named [Augustus and Father of the Country and] pontifex maximus <A.D. 222>, a supplicatio, [to the Genius of our Lord] Alexander [Augustus a bull…] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> Column 2: </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <19 Mar.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> XIIII Kal. Apr. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the day of the Quinquatria, a supplicatio, until 10 days before the Kalends of April. <23 Mar.>, supplicationes. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <4 Apr.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> Day before Nones Apr.> </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of divus Antoninus Magnus <A.D. 188>, to divus Antoninus an ox. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <9 Apr.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> V Ides Apr. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the accession of divus Pius Severus <A.D. 193>, to divus Pater Severus an ox. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <11 Apr.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> III Ides Apr. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of divus Pius Severus <c. A.D. 145>, to divus [Pius] Severus an ox. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <21 Apr.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> XI Kal. May </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of the Eternal City of Rome, [to the Eternal City of Rome a cow]. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <26 Apr.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> VI Kal. May </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of the divus Marcus Antoninus <A.D. 121>, to [divus Marcus] Antoninus [an ox]. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <7 May> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> Nones May </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of the diva Julia Maesa <c. A.D. 180?>, to [diva] Maesa [a supplicatio] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <? May> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> VI. Ides May </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the rose festival of the standards, a supplicatio </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <12 May> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> IIII Ides May </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the circus games in honour of Mars, to Mars Pater Ultor a bull. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <21 May> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> XII Kal. June </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> Because divus Severus was saluted imperator by […] <A.D. 193>, to divus Pius Severus […] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <24 May> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> VIIII Kal. June </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of Germanicus Caesar <15 B.C.>, a supplicatio to the memory of Germanicus Caesar </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <31 May> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> Day before Kal. June </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the Rose festival of the standards, a supplicatio. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[9] Jun.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [V] Ides June </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the Vestalia, to Vesta Mater a supplicatio </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[26] Jun.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [VI Kal.] July </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> Because our Lord Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was named Caesar and clothed in the toga virilis <A.D. 221>, to the genius of Alexander Augustus, a bull. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[1] Jul.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [Kal.] July </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> Because Alexander our Augustus was designated consul for the first time <A.D. 221>, a supplicatio. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <? Jul.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> ? Nones July </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of diva Matidia <c. A.D. 68>, to diva Matidia a supplicatio. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[10] Jul.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [VI Ides July] </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the accession of divus Antoninus Pius <A.D. 138>, to divus Antoninus an ox. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[12] Jul.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [IIII Ides July] </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of divus Julius <100 B.C.>, to divus Julius and ox. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[23] Jul.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [X. Kal.] Aug. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the day of the Neptunalia, a supplicatio <and> an immolatio. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[1 Aug.]> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [Kal. Aug. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For] the birthday of divus Claudius <10 B.C.> and divus Pertinax <A.D. 126>, to divus Claudius and ox; [to divus Pertinax] an ox. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[5 Aug.]> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [Nones Aug.] </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For [the circus games] in honour of Salus, to Salus {a cow] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[? Aug.]> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [? Kal. Sept. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For] the birthday of Mamaea [Augusta] mother of our Augustus < c. A.D. 200?>, to the Juno of Mamaea Augusta [a cow.] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[…]> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> […] </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> […] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[? Aug.]> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [? Kal.] Sept. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of diva Marciana <c. A.D. 48>, [to diva] Marciana [a supplicatio] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> Column 3: </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[31] Aug.]> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [Day before] Kal. Sept. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> [For] the birthday [of divus Commodus <A.D. 161>, to divus] Commodus [an ox.] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[7?] Sep.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [VII?] Ides Sept. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> […] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[...]> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> […] </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> […] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[18] Sep> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [XIIII Kal.] Oct. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For [the birthday of divus Trajan <A.D. 53?> and the accession of divus Nerva <A.D. 96>, to divus Trajan an ox, to divus Nerva an ox.] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[19 Sep.]> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [XIII Kal. Oct.] </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For [the birthday of divus] Antoninus [Pius <A.D. 86>, to divus Antoninus an ox.] </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <? Sep.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [? Kal.] Oct. </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of diva Faustina <c. A.D. 100 or 125>, to diva Faustina a supplicatio. </td> </tr><tr><td width="85" valign="top"> <[23] Sep.> </td> <td width="132" valign="top"> [VIIII] Kal. [Oct.] </td> <td width="384" valign="top"> For the birthday of divus [Augustus] <63 B.C.>, to divus Augustus [an ox.] </td> </tr></tbody></table></div> Yes Papyrus containing the only surviving example of a feriale – a list of dates during which specific rituals and festivals were celebrated, that was drawn up for the Roman military. kalend nonus supplicatio votum salus Severus Alexander Iuno Mars Iuppiter bos miles Minerva divus natalis imperium Caroline Barron Roman edict; regulations for observance of feriae publicae and rites of gods, cult of the divi and emperors, and military occasions. Yes Yes Fresco of Julius Terentius Performing a Sacrifice, Dura Europos 1