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Dies sanguinis

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Dies Sanguinis (Day of Blood) was a festival held in Ancient Rome on 24 March, called Bellona's Day, when the Roman votaries of the war-goddess Bellona cut themselves and drank the sacrificial blood to propitiate the deity. after the reign of archigallus the high priest of phyrighian this cult has been removed as all of them were forbidden from emasculqation and instead of their own the bull emasculation sacrifices are done.

The priests of the goddess Cybele (the galli) flogged themselves until they bled and sprinkled their blood upon the image and the altars in the sanctuary, while others are said to have imitated Attis by castrating themselves. Such painful and dramatic acts allowed the worshipers to identify with the pain and death of Attis, to whom were dedicated a cycle of festivities, which were celebrated from 15 to 28 March.

These festivities celebrated the death of the god. Among these, there were the "Sanguem" and the "Hilaria". The Hilaria on 25 March brought renewed joy and hope. There was feasting in honor of the Great Mother and good cheer.

The spring festival came to a close with a much-needed day of rest (March 26) and a final day (March 27) on which the holy image of the Great Mother was bathed in the Almo River.[1]

References

  1. ^ Meyer, Marvin W. (1999). The ancient mysteries: a sourcebook : sacred texts of the mystery religions of the ancient Mediterranean world. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-1692-9.