Opalia (Ancient Rome)
Opalia was an ancient Roman festival celebrated around December 19, during the Saturnalia, a week-long period of merriment and social upheaval. This festival, dedicated to the goddess Ops, who was revered as the deity of harvests and the wife of Saturn, marked a significant day within the broader context of winter festivities. The Saturnalia itself was a time when traditional social hierarchies were temporarily relaxed, allowing Romans to engage in joyous celebrations and communal gatherings. On Opalia, worshippers often sought the blessings of Ops, particularly to ensure fruitful harvests and abundant crops. The event reflected the agrarian roots of Roman society and highlighted the importance of fertility and prosperity in their culture. As a time of both reverence and revelry, Opalia contributed to the rich tapestry of Roman religious and social life, illustrating the connection between spirituality and agricultural practices in ancient Rome.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Opalia (Ancient Rome)
Opalia (Ancient Rome)
The Opalia, celebrated on or about December 19 of every year by the ancient Romans, was the third day of that period of winter revelry known as the Saturnalia, named for the god Saturn. The Saturnalia, which lasted for seven days and was timed to include the religiously significant Winter Solstice, was a time for the normally reserved Romans to abandon their class distinctions and party with abandon. The Opalia was a day of special reverence for the goddess Ops, Saturn's wife and the goddess of harvests, in addition to being the mother of Jupiter, later the king of the gods. Roman farmers often prayed to her to bless their seeds before they planted them.