Page 37 - CORNICE GRADE 9

AN EVENT

The procession of Caesar

The Lupercal festival was a sight to see even though the rites were restricted to the forum, Lupercal cave and the
Palatine hills.
At the Lupercal altar, a male goat or goats and a dog was generally sacrificed by the Luperci making the place
reek of blood. The vestigial virgins offered salted meal cakes, their faces hidden by their hooded robes. After the
blood sacrifice, two Luperci approached the altar.
Their foreheads spread with the blood of sacrifices, are wiped and they are then expected to laugh. They force
out a laugh. There was a sacrificial feast. The most iconic part arrives. The two Luperci cut thongs from the
sacrifice known as Febura.They ran anticlockwise wearing them, practically naked around the hill. It was
believed that women hit with these could overcome any childbirth issues .
There were throngs of plebeians coming towards the forum. There was much shouting and noise. The procession
for Caesar had arrived.After defeating Pompeii, Caesar had returned victorious. Plebeians celebrated him.
Snatches of conversations could be heard here and there. 'He defeated Pompeii”. "Rome's hero", a little kid in the
crowd cried. Suddenly the grand procession appeared to form the corner of the street. Soldiers marched, their
iron armor glinting in the sun. The praetorian prefect on horseback carried the insignia of the Roman Empire,
the gold eagle with SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus). The army marched. Their pilum (spear) held high,
gladius gleaming and their shield raised. Then came Caesar himself in a chariot, hand raised high with a dainty
smile. Romans were gathered around the street for the Lupercal and Caesar's procession. As the horde of
plebeians moved forward to greet Caesar, he waved his hands from his chariot. "Caesar, our great liberator!”
“Caesar, the general Rome needs.”
Praises were showered at him from all directions. The Luperci's footsteps still resonated on the cobble stones.
Young women and ladies lined the streets being hit by the raw leather. Caesar bade his wife Calpurnia to stand.
Luperci went and hit her knowing who she was. A crown was offered to Caesar. He refused. There was a lot of
shouting and cheer. Flowers were showered. Caesar was surrounded by Romans who thought he was a hero but
unknown to him, in the crowd were people who planned his death.
-Ajitesh Karki

UNDERNEATH TH E CRIMSON MOON

The night felt drunk. Perhaps it was the consequence of the intense smell of the fiery spirits, the burning
timber, or the united melody of laughter and music that floated adrift, intoxicating each one with the
escaped gaiety in the atmosphere. This was the splendor of the Ember feast. The Ember feast is celebrated
by the Zaharians on the night of a total lunar eclipse when the moon turns red. According to the legends
and folklore, the red colour of the moon symbolises the night of bloodshed when all evils were annihilated,
and the triumph of the virtuous remained. The people were attired in their best clothes, with flowers
woven into their locks or worn in the wrist of their hands as their prized jewels, to accentuate and
appreciate the beauty of nature and an individual. Amidst them, when the livid fire ignited with its
vigorous flames aiming towards the night sky, the scene looked divine, it almost felt mythical. The fire is
interpreted as rebirth and new beginnings to which they all drank a local drink, which had a sweet taste to
it that contradicted the bitter but it all came together as a surprisingly pleasant taste. The varieties of the
food on the table continued to pleasantly surprise me, with their glorified delicacy being the roasted duck

stuffed with food items made from their clandestine recipes and “piqouquoa” which was a sweet dish made
from crushed almonds, walnuts submerged in a thick layer of cream which consisted a small percentage of
rum and cocoa. The food was savoured as they laughed and talked amongst themselves, chanting local
ballads together. The tune of the flute played as the part of the ritual, which captured the feeling of hope
into its euphony filled the air, along with the warmth of the passionate flames. The people were singing
and dancing unhesitatingly, as they rejoiced in the feeling of victory and unity underneath the bleak canvas
as the blood of evil gradually drained from the crimson moon. -Aarya Thapa
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