A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

FESTUM and FESTA,

Holy-days. The Romans kept many Feasts, as it appears by their Calendar. We shall speak of them according to their Alphabetick Order. They were very careful of observing Feasts, and during that time they did forbear to work.

Tibellus tells us, that the Romans abstain from working, upon the days of Expiations and Lustrations of the Fields.

Quisquis adest, faveat, fruges lustramus & agros,...... Omnia sint operata Deo, non audeat ulla Lanificam pensis imposuisse manum.

These words express the true end of cea∣sing from work, to employ themselves to the service of the Gods and Religious Du∣ties.

'Tis not certain, if Pl••••ghmen rested from all kind of work, during the Holy-days. Vir∣gil relates many exercises, and other small things, that Men were allowed to do in Ho∣ly-days,

Quippe etiam festis quaedam exercere diebus, Fas & jura sinunt: Rivos deducere nulla Relligio vetuit; segeti praetendere sepem, Insidias avibus moliri, incendere vepres, Balantumque gregem fluvio mersare salubri: Saepè oleo tardi costas agitator aselli, Vilibus aut onerat' pomis: Georg. lib. 1. v. 270.

as to make Drains to drain the water, in∣close a Field with Hedges, laying snares for Birds, set Thorns on fire, wash a Flock in the River, and load an Ass with Fruits.

These works were not disagreeable to the celebrating of the Holy-days. And yet work∣ing was not left to the liberty or humours of Men's fancy, but were regulated by the Laws and Ordinances of the Pontiffs, who ruled matters of Religion.

They were so exact in keeping Holy-days, that the following day was accounted a day of bad Omen to undertake any thing. Where∣fore the Romans and the Greeks have consecra∣ted the next day after the Holy-days, to the Genij or the dead.

And they were so careful of ceasing from work, that the keeping of their Holy-days was an imitation of the rest of the Sabbath, commanded by the Law of God. For the Greeks and the Romans kept some Holy-days during eight days together, in imitation of the Hebrews, and had also their eight and nine days of Devotion. For Polybius tells us, that to thank the Gods for a Victory obtain'd at Sea, the Romans ordered to forbear from all kind of work for nine days together.