Lectisternium
The Lectisternium was a ritual feast offered to the gods as a means of propitiation. The word lectisternium derives from the Latin phrase lectum sternere, which means “to spread a couch.”
Observances: Feast for the statues of gods
During the Lectisternium, the gods were represented by their busts or statues, which were placed on couches draped with fabric. Food was served on tables before the couches, as if the gods were able to eat. The priests known as the epulones organized and carried out the ritual, acting as proxies for the gods.
The Lectisternium was first held in Rome in 399 BC in response to a pestilence. The Sibylline Books, a collection of prophecies, advised the Romans to perform this ritual to appease the gods. Three couches were prepared for three pairs of gods—Apollo and Latona, Hercules and Diana, Mercury and Neptune. The feast lasted for eight days and was also celebrated by private individuals.
In subsequent times, the Lectisternium was held for various deities, including Fortuna, Saturnus, Juno Regina, and the Capitoline Triad. It was also held after significant events such as military victories or natural disasters.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 