The Roman national festival.

The growth of art, and of poetic art especially, in antiquity was intimately associated with the development of national festivals. The extraordinary thanksgiving-festival of the Roman community which, had been organized in the previous period mainly under Greek influence, the ludi maximi, or Romani (P. 235), acquired during the present epoch a longer duration, and greater variety in the amusements. Originally limited to one day, the festival was prolonged by an additional day after the happy termination of each of the three great revolutions of 245, 260 and 387 and thus at the close of this period it had already a duration of four days.

The Roman stage.

A still more important circumstance was, that, probably on the institution of the eurule ædileship (387) which was from the first intrusted with the preparation and oversight, of the festival (P. 306), it lost its extraordinary character and its reference to a special vow made by the general, and took its place in the series of the ordinary annual festivals. Nevertheless the government adhered to the rule of allowing the proper spectacle, namely the chariot-race which was its principal feature, to take place not more than once at the close of the festival. On the other days the multitude were probably left mainly to furnish amusement for themselves, although musicians, dancers, rope-walkers, jugglers, jesters and such like would not fail to make their appearance on the occasion, whether hired or not. But about the year 390 an important change occurred, which must have been connected with the fixing and prolongation of the festival that took place shortly before.