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GCSE Classics · key term
A Roman festival held on 9, 11 and 13 May, during which household rites aimed to drive away harmful spirits.
Used by OCR
Paper 1
Revise: Roman Festivals of the Dead: Parentalia and LemuriaThe Lemuria aimed to remove harmful spirits from the home. Both were mainly family observances, yet both affected public life in Rome.
Distinguish the festivals by purpose: Parentalia honoured the dead; Lemuria aimed to drive away harmful spirits.
When explaining significance, connect a precise ritual to its purpose: offerings showed duty towards ancestors, while the Lemuria’s words explicitly sought protection for the family.
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