Fordicidia
The Fordicidia was a festival celebrated on 15th April in honor of Terra, the goddess of the Earth. The festival was associated with fertility, agriculture, and animal husbandry.
Date: 15th April
Deity: Terra
Observances: Sacrifice of a pregnant cow
The Fordicidia was believed to have been instituted by King Numa Pompilius, who was instructed by the god Faunus to sacrifice a pregnant cow to Terra in order to mitigate harsh agricultural conditions. The sacrifice was intended to ensure the fertility of the planted grain and the health of the flocks.
The festival involved two levels of sacrifice: a state sacrifice at the Capitol and individual sacrifices performed by families within their curiae. The state sacrifice was conducted by the Vestals, who extracted the unborn calf from the mother’s womb and burned it. The ashes of the calf were preserved and used in the ritual substance suffimen, which was sprinkled on bonfires during the Parilia, a festival celebrating the birthday of the city.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 