Tellus: The Roman Goddess of Earth
Tellus, often referred to as Tellus Mater, is the Italian goddess representing mother earth. She was particularly called upon during earthquakes, which is significant given that her temple in Rome was established in 268 B.C. following a devastating earthquake during wartime. In Roman culture, she was associated with solemn oaths and regarded as a common resting place for all living beings, closely linked with the Manes and Jupiter, the sky god.
In a manner similar to the Greek goddess Demeter, Tellus was revered not just as a deity of agriculture but also as a goddess of marriage. Her worship was particularly notable during festivals celebrating fertility, especially alongside Ceres.
Key Festivals in Honor of Tellus
Among the principal festivals held in her honor was the Feriae Sementivae—a seedtime celebration that took place in January to mark the end of winter’s seed planting season. During this period, antiquated rites involved community gatherings over two consecutive market days.
Notably, the Paganalia was also celebrated during this season. In these rural festivities, a pregnant sow was offered as a sacrifice to both Tellus and Ceres. Another important event was the Fordicidia, celebrated on April 15, dedicated explicitly to Tellus, during which pregnant cows were sacrificed to ensure a bountiful harvest for the year.
The Role of the Vestal Virgins
The Vestal Virgins were crucial to Roman religious practices involving Tellus and other deities. These priestesses, initially formed from a cohort of four, later expanded to six, were chosen from qualified girls of respectable households. Their duty spanned thirty years, involving a dedicated commitment to maintaining the sacred fire and conducting various religious rites, including those honoring Tellus.
The Vestals enjoyed unique privileges, including a revered status in society and protection from violence. They participated in significant rituals and were tasked with preserving purity in both their actions and surroundings, which included partaking in sacrifices to ensure the welfare of the Roman state.
The Secular Games
The Saeculares Ludi, or Secular Games, emerged from ancient rites conducted by the Valerian family in honor of the underworld deities. These celebrations originally took place every century as a form of expiation for the new generation. Their first recorded instance occurred in 249 B.C., with instructions from the Sibylline oracles to commemorate these events periodically.
Apart from their Etruscan roots, the games held lasting significance throughout Roman history, with various emperors engaging in the festivities to renew public worship and celebrate Rome’s longevity.
The Nature and Types of Sacrifices
In ancient Rome, sacrifices represented the cornerstone of religious engagements. They were discernable into blood offerings and bloodless offerings, with each serving unique purposes. Common blood offerings included cattle and goats, while bloodless offerings often comprised grains, cakes, and libations.
Animal sacrifices were meticulously prescribed by various deities, with Roman tradition adhering to rules dictating the acceptable age, sex, and appearance of the sacrificial victims. Records indicate that bulls and especially white, unblemished livestock were favored for numerous gods.
Victims met strict regulations concerning purity prior to sacrificial events, ensuring that both the offerer and the offerings conformed to established prescriptions. Various rituals involved collective prayer, the invoking of deities, and specific sacrificial customs to garner favor from the divine.
Conclusion
The reverence towards Tellus and associated festivals underscores the significance of agricultural deities in Roman religious life. The rituals connected with her cult and the role of rituals, such as sacrifices, exemplify the intertwining relationship between nature and divinity in ancient Roman society.
