1 Earliest Rome

4- R E L I G I O U S P L A C E S
and Scheid (f 993) - Another extract from this priestly record is given below,
6.2.
CIL vi.2065, col. 2, lines 15-40; ILS5Q37
In the consulship of Caius Bellicus Natalis Tebanianus and Caius Ducenius Proculus
, 14 days before the Kalends of June , in the grove of Dea Dia, in the
mastership of Caius Julius Silanus,' with Caius Nonius Bassus Salvius Liberalis taking
charge, the Arval Brothers performed the sacrifice to Dea Dia. Caius Salvius Liberalis,
who was acting in the place of the master, Caius Julius Silanus, in front of the gtove
sacrificed onto the altar two expiatory pigs in expiation for polluting the grove and the
work to be carried out there; 2
then he sacrificed a cow as an offering to Dea Dia. Caius
Salvius Liberalis Nonius Bassus, Lucius Maecius Postumus, Aulus Julius Quadratus,
Pub!ius Sallustius Blaesus, Quintus Tillius Sassius sat down in the tetrastylum and feasted
off the sacrifice, and taking up their togaepraetextae and their wreaths made of ears of
corn with woollen bands, they ascended the grove of Dea Dia with attendants clearing
the way and through Salvius Liberalis Nonius Bassus, who was acting in place of the
master, and through Quintus Tillius Sassius, who was acting in place of the fiamen? they
sacrificed a choice lamb to Dea Dia and, when the sacrifice was complete, they all made a
libation with incense and wine. Then, when the wreaths had been brought in and the
statues perfumed, 4
they made Quintus Tillius Sassius annual master from the coming
Saturnalia to the next, likewise they made Tiberius Julius Celsus Marius Candidus
flamen; then they went down to the tetrastylum, and there reclining in the dining-room
they feasted in the presence of the master, Caius Julius Silanus; after the feast wearing a
veil and sandals, with a wreath woven with roses, with an attendant clearing the way, he
ascended-above the starting gates 1
and gave the signal to the four-horse chariots and the
leapers, with Lucius Maecius Postumus presiding, he honoured the victors with palms
and silver wreaths. On the same day at Rome, in the house of the master Caius Julius
Silanus, the same people who were in the grove dined.
88
1. The head of die priesthood, appointed yearly, was known as the master (magister),
2. Expiation was required whenever the sacred grove was disturbed, trees were cleared or
cut down or when forbidden materials (for example, iron) were brought in. See 6.2.
3. The jlamen was an official of the priesthood, ranking lower than the master.
4. Ar this point they are in the temple-building itself.
5. Sc. of the circus. The day ended with chariot racing.
4.6 The cult centres of Mithras
The physical setting of ancient religions helped to define their character and
meaning. In striking contrast to official state religion, the cult of Mithras was
associated with small dark, often underground, congregational places of worship
- commonly known as 'caves' (spelea). In the theology of the cult, the form