Feb 14, 2012 - 8:40 am

---



discoverynews:

The Seedy, Scandalous History of Valentine’s Day

Imagine half naked men running through the streets, whipping young women with bloodied thongs made from freshly cut goat skins. Although it might sound like some sort of perverted sado-masochist practice, this is what the Romans did until 496 A.D.

Indeed, mid-February was Lupercalia (Wolf Festival) time. Celebrated on February 15 at the foot of the Palatine Hill beside the cave where according to tradition the she-wolf had suckled Romulus and Remus, the festival was essentially a purification and fertility rite.

Directed by the Luperci, or “brothers of the wolf,” the festival began with the sacrifice of two male goats and a dog, their blood smeared on the faces of Luperci initiates and then wiped off with wool dipped in milk.

As thongs were cut from the sacrificed goats, the initiates would run around in the streets flagellating women to promote fertility.

keep reading

 

Reblogged from DiscoveryNews   271 Notes

1. luldagher reblogged this from discoverynews
2. luldagher liked this
3. deliciousandfriendly reblogged this from intranaut
4. embossenbroil reblogged this from discoverynews
5. i-am-the-oracular-spectacular reblogged this from dinnerforasong and added:

   The Seedy, Scandalous History of Valentine’s Day...Imagine half naked men running through...

6. i-am-the-oracular-spectacular liked this
7. av3ry liked this
8. thereblogmachine liked this
9. arsvivendi liked this
10. thesunanyway reblogged this from dontletmommasee
11. lightbeforedark reblogged this from missmuggle
12. imelizabethh liked this
13. filledwithholes reblogged this from discoverynews
14. pushinghoopswithsticks reblogged this from discoverynews
15. windowhirl reblogged this from abcsoupdot
16. talknerdy2m3 reblogged this from missmuggle
17. casshasfrass reblogged this from scienceandstuff
18. problemsolver reblogged this from discoverynews
19. missmuggle reblogged this from catsfeltlings
20. yunhotin reblogged this from discoverynews
21. word-shaker reblogged this from discoverynews
22. catsfeltlings reblogged this from darkgreenmagic
23. scienceandstuff reblogged this from discoverynews
24. cfoletto reblogged this from discoverynews
25. msdistress reblogged this from discoverynews
26. untitled-mag reblogged this from discoverynews
27. companioncube76 reblogged this from discoverynews
28. netnewsnebraska reblogged this from discoverynews
29. westindiesgal reblogged this from abcsoupdot
30. abcsoupdot reblogged this from nhaler
31. vladhazard liked this
32. eatenbyagrue reblogged this from shuraiya
33. antiquainted reblogged this from discoverynews
34. buriedinabook reblogged this from discoverynews
35. archietypes liked this
36. majorhubbs liked this
37. blind-star-of-the-sea reblogged this from discoverynews
38. thesillychild reblogged this from discoverynews
39. www-outerspacepi liked this
40. whimsikality liked this
41. milkymind reblogged this from bebebeluga
42. chrisyforshort liked this
43. catacataca liked this
44. shaunline liked this
45. theknightinpitchblackarmor liked this
46. theknightinpitchblackarmor reblogged this from nativechef
47. mm94 liked this
48. ejdrianbayaton reblogged this from discoverynews
49. theantipoet reblogged this from picturesoftheday
50. ejdrianbayaton liked this
51. Show more notesLoading...

• valentine's day
• history
• rome
• ritual
• rite
• fertility

Archive