Juvenalia
classical antiquity juvenalia ludi juvenales gr ἱουβενάλια ὥσπερ τινὰ νεανισκεύματα scenic game instituted nero ad age commemoration shaving beard first time thus indicating passed youth manhood game celebrated circus private theatre erected pleasureground nemus consisted every kind theatrical performance greek roman play mimetic piece like juvenalia otherwise known ludi juvenales branch roman ludi otherwise known festival ludi display theatrical greatness well exhibition game contest usually held honor god ludi also held celebration individual high status well festival deceased case ludi juvena’ le implementation carried high official status festival held coming age passage adulthood imperator nero claudius divi claudii filius caesar augustus germanicus known simply nero juvenalia confused neronia also known quinquennalia series musical equestrian gymnastic event meant imitate greek festival also instituted nero distinguished person state old young male female expected take part emperor set example appearing person stage cassius dio mention distinguished roman matron upwards eighty year age danced game one offence given thrasea paetus acquitted credit festival cassius dio roman history lxi tacitus annales xiv xv xvi suetonius ner confounds festival quinquennalia instituted following year ad juvenalia continued celebrated subsequent emperor occasion name given game exhibited emperor january year longer consisted scenic representation chariot race combat wild beast cassius dio roman history lxvii sidonius apollinaris carm xxiii augustan history three gordians cf lipsius ad tac ann xiv aspect signifying coming adulthood shaving beard nero year ad age unlike many ludi juvenalia held circuslike manor instead displayed upon “pleasure mound” otherwise known nemus initial institution private ground nero eventually instituted public place celebration adulthood held first january every year public event held individual upper class appearance nero commemorate event passing occurrence juvenalia longer composed scenic event instead chariot race wild beast fighting mostly due aspiration nero growth admired aspired great chariot event participant evident later involvement endeavor also evident neronia instituted year later nero include event indicating following coming age nero plunged sport clearly desired due shift event clear see distinction juvenalia neronia ludi juvena’les quinquennalia become skewed however account tacitus apparent particular ludi conduct attendant exactly friendly people action considered indecent without acting way nero amused get nero bad side one simply act festive wild rest participant seen thrasea paetus additional controversy stirred nero juvenalia reign concept juvenalia stirred considerable amount argument modern age religion debate pagan christian others history due christian persecution nero ad general public view christian time one positive outlook nero accused christian setting fire rome public looking someone aim blame deflected nero onto christian sort persecution stayed paramount christianity paganism since era accusation began surface christian holiday christmas result inspiration nero juvenalia however due juvenalia festival limited centered around upper class slightly less known general population accuser fail see two unrelated subject especially fundamental level christmas focused upon birth deity whereas juvenalia focused upon “coming age” upper class roman male article incorporates text publication public domain smith william ed dictionary greek roman antiquity london john murray cite encyclopedia missing empty title help