This Week: Honoring Mars

Notable events in ancient history for the week of October 15 - 21

October 15, 70 B.C. - Roman poet Virgil is born on this date. He was most noted for having written the epic poem, the Aeneid, the national epic of the Roman Empire.

October 15 - The Roman festival of Equirria or Equus October was held on this date. The right side of a winning pair of horses from a ceremonial race was sacrificed to Mars, the Roman god of War.

October 17, 539 B.C. - King Cyrus of Persia releases the Jews from Babylon, after 70 years of captivity.

October 19, 202 B.C. - The Battle of Zama occurred on this date. This final battle of the Second Punic War resulted in teh Roman defeat of Hannibal's forces at Carthage. The war ended shortly afterward.

October 19 - The Roman festival of the Armilustrium was held on this date, in honor of Mars. The weapons of the Roman troops were purified and stored away for the winter months at this time.