The Roman senate's proscription of the Bacchic cult, which inspired my novel-in-progress:
The consul Spurius Postumius, son of Lucius, consulted the Senate on the Nones of May in the temple of Bellona; Marcus Aemilius, son of Marcus, and Titus Maenius, son of Publius, assisted in drafting this decree. The Senate of Rome has voted to issue the following decree, regarding the Bacchanalia, to all Roman citizens, men of Latin status, and our allies:
I. Let no one keep a shrine devoted to the worship of Bacchus. If any declare a need for such a shrine, let them appear in Rome before the urban praetor. When the pleas of these applicants have been heard, provided that not fewer than one hundred senators are present, the Senate shall decide on the matter. No Roman citizen or man of Latin rights or anyone belonging to Rome’s allies shall be associated with the Bacchanalia, unless he has appeared before the urban praetor and has received the approval of the Senate.
II. Let no man or woman be a priest of, nor any man or woman be master of such a society. Nor shall anyone of them keep a common fund; nor shall anyone appoint any man or woman to be master of such a society or officiate at its mysteries; nor hereafter shall anyone make a common oath, vow, pledge or promise to Bacchus; nor shall anyone harbor Bacchanalians or accept sanctuary from them; nor shall anyone henceforth perform Bacchic rites in secret; nor shall any one perform Bacchic rites in public, in private, or anywhere outside Rome, unless they have appeared before the urban praetor and been given permission by the Senate, as above.
III. Let no assembly of more than five persons, men and women, ever perform such rites; nor in that company shall more than two men or three women be present, unless it is in accordance with the opinion of the urban praetor and the Senate.
IV. It is the resolution of the Senate that any persons acting contrary to the Senate’s proclamation regarding the Bacchanalia shall be charged with a capital offense.
V. Romans and our allies are ordered to be vigilant for signs of the cult and to reveal its adherents to the proper authorities.
That the resolution of the Senate be universally known, this tablet shall be posted in a central meeting place for not less than thirty market days. Within ten days after the tablet has been posted, all local shrines devoted to the worship of Bacchus must be destroyed.
Thus has the Senate ruled.
The Roman senate's proscription of the Bacchic cult, which inspired my novel-in-progress:
The consul Spurius Postumius, son of Lucius, consulted the Senate on the Nones of May in the temple of Bellona; Marcus Aemilius, son of Marcus, and Titus Maenius, son of Publius, assisted in drafting this decree. The Senate of Rome has voted to issue the following decree, regarding the Bacchanalia, to all Roman citizens, men of Latin status, and our allies:
I. Let no one keep a shrine devoted to the worship of Bacchus. If any declare a need for such a shrine, let them appear in Rome before the urban praetor. When the pleas of these applicants have been heard, provided that not fewer than one hundred senators are present, the Senate shall decide on the matter. No Roman citizen or man of Latin rights or anyone belonging to Rome’s allies shall be associated with the Bacchanalia, unless he has appeared before the urban praetor and has received the approval of the Senate.
II. Let no man or woman be a priest of, nor any man or woman be master of such a society. Nor shall anyone of them keep a common fund; nor shall anyone appoint any man or woman to be master of such a society or officiate at its mysteries; nor hereafter shall anyone make a common oath, vow, pledge or promise to Bacchus; nor shall anyone harbor Bacchanalians or accept sanctuary from them; nor shall anyone henceforth perform Bacchic rites in secret; nor shall any one perform Bacchic rites in public, in private, or anywhere outside Rome, unless they have appeared before the urban praetor and been given permission by the Senate, as above.
III. Let no assembly of more than five persons, men and women, ever perform such rites; nor in that company shall more than two men or three women be present, unless it is in accordance with the opinion of the urban praetor and the Senate.
IV. It is the resolution of the Senate that any persons acting contrary to the Senate’s proclamation regarding the Bacchanalia shall be charged with a capital offense.
V. Romans and our allies are ordered to be vigilant for signs of the cult and to reveal its adherents to the proper authorities.
That the resolution of the Senate be universally known, this tablet shall be posted in a central meeting place for not less than thirty market days. Within ten days after the tablet has been posted, all local shrines devoted to the worship of Bacchus must be destroyed.
Thus has the Senate ruled.
The Roman senate's proscription of the Bacchic cult, which inspired my novel-in-progress:
The consul Spurius Postumius, son of Lucius, consulted the Senate on the Nones of May in the temple of Bellona; Marcus Aemilius, son of Marcus, and Titus Maenius, son of Publius, assisted in drafting this decree. The Senate of Rome has voted to issue the following decree, regarding the Bacchanalia, to all Roman citizens, men of Latin status, and our allies:
I. Let no one keep a shrine devoted to the worship of Bacchus. If any declare a need for such a shrine, let them appear in Rome before the urban praetor. When the pleas of these applicants have been heard, provided that not fewer than one hundred senators are present, the Senate shall decide on the matter. No Roman citizen or man of Latin rights or anyone belonging to Rome’s allies shall be associated with the Bacchanalia, unless he has appeared before the urban praetor and has received the approval of the Senate.
II. Let no man or woman be a priest of, nor any man or woman be master of such a society. Nor shall anyone of them keep a common fund; nor shall anyone appoint any man or woman to be master of such a society or officiate at its mysteries; nor hereafter shall anyone make a common oath, vow, pledge or promise to Bacchus; nor shall anyone harbor Bacchanalians or accept sanctuary from them; nor shall anyone henceforth perform Bacchic rites in secret; nor shall any one perform Bacchic rites in public, in private, or anywhere outside Rome, unless they have appeared before the urban praetor and been given permission by the Senate, as above.
III. Let no assembly of more than five persons, men and women, ever perform such rites; nor in that company shall more than two men or three women be present, unless it is in accordance with the opinion of the urban praetor and the Senate.
IV. It is the resolution of the Senate that any persons acting contrary to the Senate’s proclamation regarding the Bacchanalia shall be charged with a capital offense.
V. Romans and our allies are ordered to be vigilant for signs of the cult and to reveal its adherents to the proper authorities.
That the resolution of the Senate be universally known, this tablet shall be posted in a central meeting place for not less than thirty market days. Within ten days after the tablet has been posted, all local shrines devoted to the worship of Bacchus must be destroyed.
Thus has the Senate ruled.