Nemoralia
nemoralia also known festival torch hecatean ides threeday festival originally celebrated ancient roman ides august august – honor goddess diana although nemoralia originally celebrated sanctuary diana lake nemi soon became widely celebrated catholic church may adapted nemoralia feast assumption festival diana held yearly shrine lake nemi near ariccia ides august date coincides traditional founding date celebrated aricia origin festival probably predate spread diana worship rome rd century bce may extend th century bce earlier record st century bce describe worshiper traveling sanctuary carrying torch garland diana festival eventually became widely celebrated throughout italy including temple diana aventine hill rome unusual given provincial nature diana cult st century ce poet statius wrote festival season scorching region heaven take land keen dogstar sirius often struck hyperion sun burn gasping field day trivia arician grove convenient fugitive king grows smoky lake guilty knowledge hippolytus glitter reflection multitude torch diana garland deserving hunting dog polish arrowhead allows wild animal go safety virtuous hearth italy celebrates hecatean ides statius silv statius celebrated triple nature goddess invoking heavenly dogstar sirius earthly grove underworld hecatean imagery also suggested garlanding dog polishing spear hunting allowed festival hunting dog particularly important symbol celebration symbolize diana guardianship care garlanded join celebration rather hunt hunting take place represents protection diana extended statius also emphasizes importance refuge worship diana whose sanctuary offered refuge freed escaped slave myth hippolytus orestes refuge murder pollution madness death st century historian cmc green noted bearing torch procession shrine flee thanatosladen world take refuge eternal world sacred cool shady nurturing st century bce roman poet ovid described celebration arrician valley lake surrounded shady forest held sacred religion olden time long fence hang many piece woven thread many tablet placed grateful gift goddess often woman whose prayer diana answered wreath flower crowning head walk rome carrying burning torch stream flow gurgling rocky bed day worshiper formed procession torch candle around water lake nemi name nemi latin nemus mean sacred wood sacred grove also known diana mirror hundred join together lake wearing wreath flower according plutarch part ritual procession around lake washing hair dressing flower day rest woman slave hound also honored dressed blossom traveler north south bank lake carried small boat lit lantern similar lamp used vestal virgin found image goddess nemi one st century ce poet propertius attend festival observed periphery indicated word beloved ah would walk leisure hour cannot meet today see hurrying excitement burning torch grove nemi bear light honour goddess diana request offering diana may include small baked clay bread statuette body part need healing small clay image mother child tiny sculpture stag dance song fruit apple addition offering garlic made goddess dark moon hecate festival hunting killing beast forbidden nemoralia threeday festival nemoralia corresponds catholic feast day hippolytus rome supposed rd century ce martyr share name hippolytus mythological figure heavily associated diana august feast assumption mary august scholar cm green james frazer others noted parallel feast day speculated early catholic church may adapted date symbolism nemoralia possible originally celebrated nemoralia celebrated descent diana underworld search hippolytus virbius followed ascent queen heaven full moon third day similar celebration recognized ancient world involving demeter isi diana often identified