[image ALT: Much of my site will be useless to you if you've got the images turned off!]
mail:
Bill Thayer

[image ALT: Cliccare qui per una pagina di aiuto in Italiano.]
Italiano

[Link to a series of help pages]
Help
[Link to the next level up]
Up
[Link to my homepage]
Home

 p835  Opalia

Unsigned article on p835 of

William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.:
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.

OPA′LIA, a Roman festival in honour of Opis,​a which was celebrated on the 14th day before the Calends of January (Dec. 19th), being the third day of the Saturnalia, which was also originally celebrated on the same day, when only one day was devoted to the latter festival. It was believed that Opis was the wife of Saturnus, and for this reason the festivals were celebrated at the same time (Macrob. Sat. I.10º; Varr. de Ling. Lat. VI.22, ed. Müller; Festus, s.v. Opalia). The worshippers of Opis paid their vows sitting, and touched the earth on purpose, of which she was the goddess (Macrob. l.c.).


Thayer's Note:

a Opis: thus Smith's article thruout. The usual spelling is Ops; Opis is normally a genitive.


[image ALT: Valid HTML 4.01.]

Page updated: 14 Mar 02