festival
Cerialia
also: the Cerialia, Cerialibus, ludi Ceriales
The festival of Ceres, 12-19 April, with games in the Circus (ludi Ceriales) climaxing on 19 April. Cicero dates his chance meeting with Curio on the Appian Way and the writing of the letter to the Cerialia (Att 2.12).
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 2.12 §2 on the very day of the Cerialia
The Cerialia, the festival of Ceres celebrated 12-19 April, with games (ludi Ceriales) in the Circus; the climactic day was 19 April. The date fixes Cicero's chance meeting on the Appian Way.
- Ad Atticum 2.12 §4 at the tenth hour at the Cerialia
The tenth hour of the Roman day is mid-to-late afternoon, around 4 p.m.; on the Cerialia (here 19 April). Cicero notes the hour and festival as the time of writing.