Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Lemuria

The Lemuria was a festival held on 9th, 11th, and 13th May to exorcise malevolent ghosts known as lemures or larvae. These restless spirits were believed to haunt the living and cause misfortune.

Date: 9th, 11th, and 13th May
Deity: Lemures
Observances: walking barefoot through the house at midnight, washing hands, throwing black beans while chanting a specific incantation and clashing bronze pots

It was believed to have been instituted by Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome, to appease the spirit of his murdered twin brother, Remus. The ritual was seen as a way to prevent the harmful effects of restless spirits and ensure the well-being of the household.

The Lemuria involved a series of rituals designed to ward off the lemures. The householder would walk barefoot through the house at midnight, wash their hands, and throw black beans behind them while chanting a specific incantation. Bronze pots would then be clashed together to scare away the lemures.

The use of black beans was a significant element of the ritual. Black beans were associated with death and the underworld, and they were believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits.