The celebration of the ludi saeculares in 204 AD was probably the most important single religious (and political) occasion that took place during the reign of Septimius Severus. The festival highlighted the power of the emperor in two ways: through tradition and innovation. In the Severan ludi, traditionalism can be found to some extent in the actual program, which quite closely follows the Augustan example; all the major components are left in place. However, the most powerful way to connect the Severan games to tradition was the erection of the inscription on the Campus Martius, alongside other records of the ludi saeculares. This act indicated that the Severan games had become a link in a chain of hundreds of years, started by Augustus himself.
Many themes of the Severan ludi followed the tradition of previous imperial Secular Games. This consisted of the completion of purification rites on behalf of the community, conducted by women during the night time, and sacrifices to the most deities central for the Roman commonwealth in the day-time rituals, and closely followed the Augustan examples. The chorus of children during the last day of the ludi symbolized continuity and the beginning of a new, youthful Golden Age for the empire, as was probably also the case in the previous ludi.
The celebration of the ludi saeculares in 204 AD was probably the most important single religious (and political) occasion that took place during the reign of Septimius Severus. The festival highlighted the power of the emperor in two ways: through tradition and innovation. In the Severan ludi, traditionalism can be found to some extent in the actual program, which quite closely follows the Augustan example; all the major components are left in place. However, the most powerful way to connect the Severan games to tradition was the erection of the inscription on the Campus Martius, alongside other records of the ludi saeculares. This act indicated that the Severan games had become a link in a chain of hundreds of years, started by Augustus himself.
Many themes of the Severan ludi followed the tradition of previous imperial Secular Games. This consisted of the completion of purification rites on behalf of the community, conducted by women during the night time, and sacrifices to the most deities central for the Roman commonwealth in the day-time rituals, and closely followed the Augustan examples. The chorus of children during the last day of the ludi symbolized continuity and the beginning of a new, youthful Golden Age for the empire, as was probably also the case in the previous ludi.
