spittle Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 According to Tom Holland (Rubicon) there was a yearly event in Rome where they remembered the 390BC Gallic Sacking by crucifying dogs (punishment for not barking a warning) whilst Geese sat on velvet cushions as the guests of honour to watch (reward for making loud geese noises to warn the citizens). Are there any primary sources that actually discuss this annual event? Does this sound like something the Romans would have done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantagathus Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 (edited) Of course it does! If statues of the Gods get to lie down at feasts, then surely geese can get pampered for their actions against the Gauls... Livy, Pliny and Ovid all make reference to the incident but Pliny (so far as I've seen) is the only one who mentions the yearly ritual: "We have already spoken of the honours earned by the geese, when the Gauls were detected in their attempt to scale the Capitol. It is for a corresponding reason, also, that punishment is yearly inflicted upon the dogs, by crucifying them alive upon a gibbet of elder, between the Temple of Juventas and that of Summanus." My guess is this occured during the Dies Alliensis or 'Day of Bad Omens' observances on July 18. Could also have occured during the Lucaria which was held on the 19th. Edited September 5, 2006 by Pantagathus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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