Ceres

Ceres was the goddess of fertility and agriculture in the Archadian Pantheon.

Sacrifices of cows, comforted by a girl that has turned fifteen, were made to Ceres on the 2nd day of calends of September, beginning festivities in her name. Young noblewomen often were invited to perform this duty, such as Basilea in 205 AIC. During the sacrifice, the priest reads aloud:

Et laudatione maxima magnifica Salutamus te, Ceres divina Et offerimus tibi pro futuris Cevam candidam ab nostris Et speramus auctumnum in anno die Ut adfluens est ut illud hodie

And with greatest praise We greet you, goddess Ceres And offer you for future days Our white cow And we hope that the next harvest Is as bountiful as the one today

The festival that followed, centred around agriculture and commerce, transformed the forum into a feast hall with countless barrels of wine being offered to the thousands of people flooding in. Meat, beef, lamb, fish and pork, together with both Archadian and foreign vegetables and fruit were prepared. For the elite distinguished families of the city, a feast was held in the Palace.