Pr Ntr Kmt World Religious Calendar Pagan Holy Days

World Religious Calendar 327
March 17
fixed holy days
These holy days are on the same day every year on the solar calendar.
St. Patrick’s Day:
St. Patrick’s Day: Irish holy day. Honors a Christian who became a saint by murdering large
numbers of WItches and other pagans in Ireland.
Feast of the Goddess Athena: Greek holy day.
Feast of Athena:
Liberalia:
Liberalia: Roman holy day. See Festival of Mars below.
Festival of Mars:
Agonalia: Roman holy day. Also called Agonia or Festival of Mars. An ancient Roman feria
stativa, or static festival, celebrated several times a year (January 9, May 21, and December 11). A ram
would be sacrificied by the Rex Sacrificulus (a priest in the Roman religion) at the Regia in honor of
important Roman deities, including Janus and Agonius. The rites and rituals of Agonolia (or Agonia)
were considered important for the well-being of the entire Roman nation, according to William Smith in
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Liberalia, celebrated on March 17, was also called
Agonia or Agonium Martiale. There may have been athletic events associated with Agonalia.
The January 9 Agonalia was also known as the Festival of Janus and the ram was sacrificed to
Janus.
The March 17 Agonalia (Agonium Martiale) was also known as the Festival of Mars and the ram
was sacrificed to Mars.
The May 21 Agonalia (Agonium Vediovi) was also known as the Festival of Veiovis and the ram
was sacrificed to Veiovis.
The December 11 Agonalia was also known as Septimontium and the ram was sacrificed to an
unknown deity.
Agonius is the surname or epithet of several Roman deities, especially Hermes in his role of presiding
over solemn contests. Aeschylus (Agam. 513) and Sophocles (Trach. 26) use the name Agonius as a
reference to Apollo and Zeus in the role of helpers in struggles and contests.
The priestly position of Rex Sacrifulus, or Rex Sacrorum, was created as a position to carry on the
religious duties of the king after the Roman kings were expelled when the Roman Republic was created.
This position was originally higher than the Pontifex Maximus during the Roman Republic, but fell to a
lower position in the late Republican period and the Roman Empire. The Rex Sacrorum was the only
high priestly official specifically dedicated to the Roman deity Janus (Ianus). The Pontifix Maximus (or
Supreme Pontiff, or bridge-builder) was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs. Roman Emperor
Augustus took on the title for himself. Subsequent Roman Emperors held the title until Roman Emperor
Gratian. The title Pontifex Maximus was then passed on to the Christian Bishop of Rome and became
one of the titles of the Roman Catholic Pope.
According to legend, Agonalia was first performed by Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome.
The sacrifice was originally performed on the Quirinal hill, which was originally called Agonus, near the
Colline Gate (known as Agonensis). In historical times the sacrifice was offered at the regia, or domus
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