The drunken Mendicus shuffled his way along the streets in the dead of the night. He did not know where he was, but he briefly entertained the thought that he was guided by Bacchus, deus vinorum. Through the drunken veil over his senses, Mendicus managed to hear some sounds coming from a location further off in front of him. He determined the sound to be coming from the center of a drinking party Bacchus had thrown. God or not, Mendicus would not allow any wine to be untouched by his lips! With new determination, he went forth. Supporting himself against a wall, he recognized the sounds as human voices coming from the direction of a bonfire in front of the temple of Mars. Mendicus flattened himself on the ground between some columns and shadows completely covered him. Whether this was out of some dormant stealth skills, or too much wine, is not important. What is important, however, is what Mendicus saw across the forum.

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Scipio Marcus Lupidius, priest of Rome, walked slowly out of the entrance of the temple. After passing the 58 feet high Corinthian columns, he stopped atop the 30 or so feet high steps. He wore a simple toga with a part of it draped over his head. However, in order to properly attune himself with the god Mars, he wore the pelt of a wolf over the toga.

After taking a deep slow breath, Marcus proceeded to walk down the stairs towards a square altar with a burning bonfire. The fire illuminated the surrounding area for several feet as well as the twelve minor priests of Mars. They became quiet once the priest came out and formed a circle around the altar. The acolytes also wore simple togas with a covered head. Unlike Marcus, each of them held a long rounded shield and a spear.

The priest’s descent was a cue for the acolytes to begin the ritual. Each of them started to beat the shaft of their spear against the shield, creating a sound one would think was appealing to the god of war. Marcus penetrated the formation and stood in front of the lit altar. “Mars vigilia!” yelled the priest. The surrounding acolytes, as one loud voice, joined in Marcus’ cry of “Mars awaken” while the tempo of the shield bashing increased.

As the acolytes continued their chant, Marcus gave a signal to two temple helpers covered in the darkness beyond the acolyte circle. Through a gap, they led in a ram with long curved horns towards the altar. The waiting priest looked into the flames before taking out a dagger and a small bowl from his toga.

Marcus stretches out his arms into the night’s sky as the helpers keep the ram from running away in front of him. The acolytes recognized the signal and ceased, relieved to watch in silence. “Mars, pater romanorum, precibus nostris auculta!” [Mars, father of Romans, listen to our prayers] yelled Marcus. “The vocal part has been done, now for the act to send the words to Mars’ ears” thought the priest as he kneeled in front of the held down ram. Praying for the life energy of the animal to reach Mars, Marcus slit its throat with ease and, he hoped, no pain for the ram.

He held the small bowl under the twitching animal’s throat and once it had filled up halfway, rose from the forum ground. Marcus held the bowl above the fire and slowly let the contents spill out, sizzling as it met the high heat. The carcass of the ram was then taken by the helpers into the temple itself, where most likely, it will become an early breakfast for the two tamed wolves Marcus had brought in from his trips to the country.

As a slight breeze started to blow through the area, the twelve acolytes hit their spear against their shield one more time. This time however, they yelled out “Mars ab nostro adoramur” [Mars is praised by us]. This was the signal for two helpers to penetrate the acolyte circle and approach Marcus. One carried a wrapped up bundle in his arms while the other a medium sized bowl. The priest took the bundle and raised it above his head. “Hoc es adulescentia Romanae. Tibi liberos nostros damus. Liberi nostri validos face!” [This is the youth of Rome. To you we give our children. Make our children strong!] Shouted Marcus as he then lowered the bundle into the crook of his arm. He took the bowl from the second helper and poured its contents; blood donated by various Roman men but mostly soldiers, over the bundle while shouting “Hoc es sanguis virorum Romanorum. Via caedes tu adoramus. Sanguis noster validum face!” [This is the blood of Roman men. By way of bloodshed, we adore you. Make our blood strong!”]

The two helpers retreated and the acolytes began to grow uneasy. As proper, all Romans looked down at the idea of human sacrifice. It was a barbarian activity practiced by the vile Carthaginians. That is why many of the acolytes looked away as Marcus threw the bloodstained bundle of hay and sticks into the wind-harassed fire.

As the offering sizzled and popped, the acolytes hit the spears against their shields once and shouted, in perfect unison, “Mars Romani imperat!” [Mars rules over Romans]. At this signal, four helpers entered the acolyte formation and approached the priest. The helpers had guarded the main sacrifice of this ceremony, a rather rare creature, a white bull. Mars was one of the few deities to whom this beast could be sacrificed. Marcus was pleased that he decided to save the last for the best. The helpers brought the white bull to its knees and sat on top of it, as to hold it down. One of them gave the priest a bowl and a rag to wipe the sacrificial dagger.

Marcus kneeled in front of the white bull and looked into its red eyes. Marcus tightened his toga to guard against the wind. After whispering a short prayer, he placed the bowl under its neck. He ordered the helpers to hold the bull’s head up by its horns and then quickly cut through its’ throat. Once the bowl was filled he stood up and raised it over his head. “Imperator magnus protege! Imperium magnum protege! Genus tuus protege! De Mars rogamus” [Protect the great Emperor! Protect the great Empire! Protect your people! Of Mars we ask] shouted Marcus before pouring the blood into the fire.

The acolytes began to beat the spears against their shields while chanting thrice the words of the priest. Once they had finished the priest shouted, “Mars, sacrificii nostri accipe!” [Mars, accept our sacrifices!] and clapped his hands three times, signaling that the ceremony was over.

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From across the forum, the sobered up Mendicus observed how the priest and the acolytes slowly walked into the temple of Mars. The temple helpers were left with the task of cleaning. Even though the wind had now died down, it was still chilly. As Mendicus lay there on the ground and thought about what had occurred, two youths in the uniforms of Vigiles approached him. With no questioning, they seized him; the priest had paid them to clear the area of all people after all. Instead of resisting, Mendicus thought about the ceremony, his life, and his future. When he was thrown outside the boundaries of the forum, he landed on the street a changed man. He had decided to become something that will benefit the Roman people, instead of wasting their money on cheap wine. Mendicus decided to become a soldier, a protector of Rome. His decision was only strengthened when a loud howl of a wolf originated from the hills outside the city.


Total cost: 30,000c to be taken from the Temple Treasury

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By: Scipio Marcus Lupidius