On This Day In Roman History, March 7
Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus declares a new legislation that asserts Sunday as a "venerable day of the sun" and a day for rest on March 7, 321 CE. This dies Solis Invicti can be literally translated as "sun-day" and is the etymological root for the day title of "Sunday". This legislation proposed that the entire Empire take a day of resting on this seventh day. The Latin term Invictus, meaning "Unconquered" or "Invincible" was a somewhat common honorific for several Roman-pagan deities.
Did you know?
The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, more commonly known as Elagabalus, adopted upon himself the cult of Sol. He sought to use his image in its place and install himself as a deity, referring to himself as Jupiter and Sol (fuit autem Heliogabali vel Iovis vel Solis). After his murder in 222, this image was dropped and forgotten. Elagabalus was a native to Syria and some historians view this move as an attempt to important the Syrian god of the sun into Roman culture.
Pictured: Dedication made by a priest of Jupiter Dolichenus on behalf of the well-being (salus) of the emperors, to Sol Invictus and the Genius of the military unit equites singulares. 150 - 200 CE, found at The Baths of Diocletian. Excavated in 1855. Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen, via Wikimedia Commons.
Today's quote is from Constantine's Decree. "On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for grain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost."
Opinion
Welcome to my daily opinion! Let's take a second and remember intricacies within Latin entomology and what they mean to us in modern language is confusing. Like, really really confusing. Most of these religious words we attempt to translate and understand today are not exact. Modern scholars can't even make up their minds on if "Sol" and "Sol Invictus" are two separate deities. With this all being said, I just want to express my opinion that it is important to view these ceremonial terms and practices with as open as a mind as possible, because their actual understandings and meanings to contemporary Romans were probably very complex and still somewhat misunderstood today. Before I sign off for the night, I would also like to point out the rather interesting fact that the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti was probably later synchronized with the date of Christmas; however, somewhat strong arguments exist stating Christmas tradition may even predate the mentioned festival.
Sources
Dirven, L. (1999). The Palmyrenes of Dura-Europos: a study of religious interaction in Roman Syria. Leiden: Brill.
Forsythe, G. (2012). Time in Roman religion one thousand years of religious history. New York, NY: Routledge.
Halsberghe, G. H. (1972). The cult of Sol Invictus. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
Further Reading:
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