Hilaria
hilaria latin cheerful one term derived borrowed adjective ancient greek ἱλαρός cheerful merry ancient roman religious festival celebrated march equinox honor cybele term seems originally name given day season rejoicing hilaria therefore according maximus confessor either private public among former think day person married son born among latter day public rejoicing appointed new emperor day devoted general rejoicing public sacrifice one allowed show symptom grief sorrow roman also celebrated hilaria feria stativa march seventh day calends april honor cybele mother god probably distinguish hilaria mentioned augustan history call hilaria matris deûm day celebration first vernal equinox first day year longer night winter gloom died first day better season spent rejoicing manner celebration time republic unknown except valerius maximus mention game honour mother god respecting celebration time empire herodian writes among thing solemn procession statue goddess carried statue carried costly specimen plate work art belonging either wealthy roman emperor kind game amusement allowed day masquerade prominent among everyone might disguise imitate whomsoever liked even magistrate roman took feast originally greek called ἀνάβασις latin ascensus eve day spent tear lamentation calling κατάβασις latin dēscensus greek writer later borrowed latin name ἱλάρια appears photios constantinople bibliotheca codex life philosopher isidore alexandria sallustius writing th century ad described basic multiday structure festival related myth cybele attis first fallen heaven living nymph despondency abstain corn rich unclean food hostile soul come cutting tree fast though also cutting process generation feeding milk though born come rejoicing garland return god according calendar chronography ten day calends april arbor intrat entering tree according arnobius pagan book v involved cutting pine tree setting place honor inside temple cybele fleece wool would tied around tree trunk representing goddess wrapping dying attis cold branch would decked wreathes violet mother adorned early flower pine indicates bear witness sad mishap priest would ritually mourn dead attis beating chest wailing following according arnobius worshiper would fast particular abstain bread imitation time goddess abstained cere fruit vehement sorrow would enter state mourning wounding arm breast full festival tentatively reconstructed day festival literally translated follows march reed entered exact significance uncertain reed may refer river bank attis exposed child rescued cybele nineday period abstinence bread pomegranate quince pork fish probably wine began milk permitted drink march tree entered arbor intrat pine tree felled tree set temple cybele trunk wrapped wool branch decked wreathes violet march day mourning march day blood sanguis frenzied rite including scourging whipping castration ritual would take place day tree symbolically buried march day joy hilaria celebrating resurrection attis hilaria proper opposed mournful tone previous day march day rest march washing lavatio added marcus aurelius march possible ceremony vatican sanctuary appears calendar philocalus according calendar filocalus hilaria isi part isia festival taking place final day november herodian detail assassination plot maternus emperor commodus occur hilaria maternus planned disguise follower member praetorian guard proceed among true member guard close enough kill commodus however one maternuss follower revealed plot ahead time betraying according herodian men preferred legitimate emperor robber tyrant day hilaria beheaded follower punished public celebrated emperor safety commodus sacrificed cybele protecting harm article incorporates text publication public domain smith william ed – hilaria dictionary greek roman geography london john murray article incorporates text publication public domain chamber ephraim ed hilaria cyclopædia universal dictionary art science vol st ed james john knapton et al p mary beard john north simon price religion rome cambridge university press isbn pp – robin osborne study ancient greek roman society cambridge university press isbn p hilaria oxford english dictionary oxford university press nd ed