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.

MARTIUS;

March, the Third Month in Year, according to our Way of Reckoning. It was formerly the First amongst the Romans, and is still so in use in some Ecclesiastical Computa∣tions. Its no longer than since the Edict of Charles IX, in the Year 1564, that they have used in France to reckon the Year from the Beginning of January; for before it began with March: Astrologers make it also the first, because 'tis then that the Sun enters into Aries, by which they begin to reckon the Signs of the Zodiac. The Calends of this Month was anciently very remarkable, because of its being the first Day of the Year, whereon divers Ceremonies were per∣formed: They kindled a new Fire upon the Al∣tar of Vesta with the Sun-beams, by the Help of a Burning-glass, in the same Manner almost as they kindle it in the Popish Church on Easter-Eve: Hujus diei primâ ignem novum Vestae aris accendebant, ut incipiente anno, cura denuò ser∣vandi novati ignis inciperet. Macr. L. 1. C. 12. Saturn. They took away the old Lawrel-branches and Crowns, as well from the Door of the King of the Sacrifices, as from the Courts and Houses of the Flamines, and the Axes of the Consuls, and put new in the room of them; and this was called Mutatio laurearum. And this Macrobius also informs us, Tam in Regiâ, curiisque atque Flaminum domibus laureae veteres novis laureis mutabantur. Ovid tells us the same Thing, in Lib. 3. Fast.

Laurea Flaminibus quae toto perstitit anno Tollitur, & frondes sunt in honore novae: Adde quòd arranâ fieri novus ignis in aede Dicitur, & vires flamma refecta capit.

The Magistrates took Possession of their Places; which continued, says Ovid, till the Carthaginian War; for then they altered the Custom, and enter'd thereon the First of January: The Roman Ladies celebrated a particular Feast then, which was instituted by Romulus, and called Matronalia, of which by and by.

On the Calends of this Month of March began the Feast of Shields or Sacred Bucklers, Ancy∣liorum dies, which continued Three Days, where∣at the Salii carried small Bucklers: This Festi∣val ended with splendid Feasting and great Mer∣riments, which is the Reason of giving the Name of Coena Saliaris to sumptuous Entertain∣ments. See Ancylia.

On the 6th, which is the Day before the Nones, in Latin called Pridie Nonas, there were some Solemnities performed in Honour of Vesta. On the 7th, or Day of the Nones, called Nonis, was celebrated the Anniversary of the Dedicati∣on of the Temples consecrated on such a Day to Ve-Jupiter, in both the Woods of the Asylum; as also a Feast to Juno, called Junonalia. See Ju∣nonalia.

On the 13th there was an Horse-race near the Tiber, or upon Mount Caelius, when that River overflowed. On the 15th, or the Day of the Ides, came on the Feast of Anna Perenna, of which I have spoken in its proper place: This Day was called Parricidium, because Julius Caesar was then assassinated by Brutus, and the rest of the Conspirators. On the 16th was another Feast called Liberalia, for then it was that Chil∣dren took upon them the Virile Robe. On the same Day also they made Processions called Argei, or Argea in some Places, the which had been consecrated by Numa in Commemoration of some Grecian Princes that had been buried there. See Argei and Argea. On the 19th, or 14th of the Calends of April, began the great Festi∣val of Minerva, called Quinquatria, either because it fell out on the Fifth Day after the Ides of March, or because it lasted Five Days. See Quin∣quatria.

The 24th was marked with those Letters in the Calender, Q. R. C. F. Quando Rex Comi∣tiavit, Fas; it being as much as to say: 'Tis law∣ful for the Praetor to keep his Seat, as soon as the King of the Sacrifices has done his Business in the Assembly and is withdrawn. On the 25th was held the Feast called Hilaria, which was in∣stituted in Honour of the Mother of the Gods and of Atys: On the 26th came on the Feast of Washing the Grand-mother of the Gods, Lava∣tio Matris Deûm, being instituted in Commemo∣ration of the Day wherein she was brought from Asia, and washed in the River Almo. Vid. La∣vatio.

There were several Feasts kept on the 30th, viz. to Janus, Concord, Health and to Peace. and next Day there was one to the Moon cele∣brated on Mount Aventine, to which they sacri∣ficed a Bull.