Saturnalicium Castrense

A dive into ancient Rome along the Appian Way

Every year, in the days leading up to the winter solstice, the Villa of Maxentius along the Via Appia Antica in Rome hosts the Saturnalicium Castrense, one of the most evocative historical re-enactments dedicated to the Roman world in the Lazio region. The event reconstructs the military version of the Saturnalia, the festival that ancient Romans celebrated from December 17th to 23rd in honor of the god Saturn, which was one of the most deeply felt and widely attended events on the entire calendar.

Saturnalia: the festival of the world turned upside down

During the Saturnalia, the social order was temporarily overturned: slaves could be considered free men and behave as such, while a princeps was elected by lot—a sort of caricature of the noble class to whom all power was entrusted for the duration of the festivities. The celebration opened with grand banquets and sacrifices and included the exchange of small symbolic gifts, the strenae, from which the Italian word "strenna" is derived.

The military version

The unique feature of the Saturnalicium Castrense is its castrense—or military—focus: the festival is re-enacted by soldiers of Constantine's army along with their families, who celebrate Saturn by sharing meals, ritual gestures, and moments of conviviality just as they did in the camps of the time. The reconstruction restores armaments, clothing, customs, and traditions with great philological care.

The setting of the Villa of Maxentius

The event takes place in the area of the Mausoleum of Romulus, within the archaeological complex of the Villa of Maxentius, one of the most fascinating sites on the Appian Way. The imperial residence, commissioned by Emperor Maxentius at the beginning of the 4th century, includes the palace, the circus, and the mausoleum dedicated to his son Romulus: an ideal backdrop for bringing the atmosphere of Late Antique Rome back to life.

Between education and celebration

At the end of the re-enactment, visitors can approach the re-enactors, observe the educational stalls, and talk with them: the performers themselves explain the customs, costumes, and practices of Roman festivals, and even the foods consumed during the celebrations. Founded in 2018, the Saturnalicium Castrense represents for the Suodales APS association the moment that closes the annual season of re-enactments: a day of joy, sharing, and celebration open to everyone, from families to ancient history enthusiasts.

A free event in the Lazio region

Organized by Suodales APS with the collaboration of Zètema Progetto Cultura and numerous re-enactment groups, the event is free and open to the public. It represents a precious opportunity to discover, in the heart of Rome's Municipio VIII and the unique context of the Appian Way Park, a living fragment of the culture and traditions of ancient Rome.