Ludi Triumphales
roman empire th century ludi triumphales triumphal game game ludi held annually september – commemorate victory constantine licinius chalcedon description game survived significant historical transformation roman religious state institution christian emperor era inaugurated conversion constantine fortyeight circus race ludi circenses recorded september also celebrated birthday dy natalis emperor trajan first day ludi triumphales—chosen constantine elevation nephew caesar—coincided roman calendar conclusion ludi romani roman game votive game jupiter optimus maximus jupiter best greatest roman game oldest game instituted roman dating bc took half month running september – julian calendar typically last day victory game would mark date actual victory case chalcedon september fiveday program game would placed opening day ludi triumphales september ides religiously fraught day constantine presumably wished avoid ides september occurred middle roman game major banquet jupiter held since rome archaic period earliest period roman history naildriving ritual temple jupiter marked passing political year consul time taking office ides byzantine antiquarian johannes lydus noted one three roman new year priestly year began january national march political cycle september also beginning imperial roman tax year naildriving ceremony occurred anniversary dy natalis temple sacred space templum devoted minerva right side shrine aedes jupiter ludi triumphales one nine imperial military victory recorded calendar filocalus ad eight connected constantinian dynasty since celebration victory game usually confined dynasty triumphales began unusually high number circus race opening day september victory day