[1319]. Varro, L. L. 6. 26 ‘sationis causa’; and Lydus says that the feast could not be ‘stativae,’ because the ἀρχὴ σπόρου cannot be fixed to a day. Lydus’ reason is not a good one, if the sowing did not begin till Feb. 7; but it is plain that he understands the rites as prophylactic. I may note that Columella seems to know little about spring sowing (II. 2: cp. 2. 8). Mommsen, R. H. ii. 364, says that spring sowing was exceptional.
[1320]. See under Cerialia, [April 19].
[1321]. Ad Virg. Georg. 2. 385; Marq. 200 and 192, where the old explanation (Macr. 1. 7. 34) seems to be adopted, that these were substitutes for human or other victims (cp. Bötticher, Baumkultus, 80 foll.). We have no clear evidence for this, and I am not disposed to accept it.
[1322]. 2. 42. So Plut. Coriol. 3.
[1323]. Momms. C. I. L. 1. 308; Jordan, Eph. Ep. 1. 236; Aust, de Aedibus sacris, 43.
[1324]. Dion. Hal. 6. 13; Liv. 2. 20.
[1325]. Suetonius, Tib. 20; Aust, op. cit. p. 6.
[1326]. Weight must, however, be given to the fact that the transvectio equitum took place on July 15. Aust, 43, and Furtwängler in Lex. s. v. Dioscuri.
[1327]. Middleton, Ancient Rome, p. 174; Lanciani, Ruins and Excavations of Ancient Rome, p. 271 foll.
[1328]. Mommsen, Münzwesen, 301, 559.