Hail Mars!
Today we lustrate our sacred talimans and ritualistic ware.
We bring now a close to the brighter portion of the year
And place our charms and sacred arma in safekeeping until the vernal times begin again.
Salve Marte!

 

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On the Armilustrium, the arma, ancilia and tubae are purified in lustration rites by the Salli or priests of Mars (and presumably those of Quirinus as well). The Armilustrium of October answer to the Quinquatrus and Tubilustrium rites of March. According to Varro, these purifications took place in the Circus Maximus. The ancilia and tubae were most likely then placed for the winter in the sacrarium Martis of the Regia. With this day, the novemdiale sacrum and tempus religiosum of the month of October come to a close. In one sense, these are the last of ferial activity for the year as a whole. In terms of cult, the December festivals belong to the ensuing solar year.