The Odd, but Awesome, Story of Julius Caesar’s Popular
Hooligan of the People
On a fateful night in 62 BCE,
women of the highest caliber in Rome met together for an evening of festivities.
No men were invited to this house party, for this was no ordinary party, and
the location was definitely not the average mundane home.
No, this was the festival of
the Bona Dea, the Good Goddess, now only remembered as Fauna. The goddess had
powers in the field of fertility and fruitfulness, and was well-honored by the
Romans. The celebration took place in the palace of the highest priest of Rome,
the pontifex maximus, and was hosted by his mother, Aurelia, and the Vestal
Virgins, a sisterhood of full-time priestesses of the hearth goddess, Vesta.
The pontifex maximus’ wife, Pompeia, was also in attendance. This festival,
however, was more than a sacred ceremony. It was also a time for the women of
Rome to relax and enjoy each other’s company away from their bothersome husbands
and fathers.
(Illustration of Pompeia, published by Guillaume Rouille (1518?-1589)
("Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum") [Public domain], via Creative
Commons)
