Ludi (Nova Roma)

Latest revision as of 14:23, 6 March 2026

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Ludi, "games" in Latin (the plural of ludus: "game") are public festival games held as a form of sacrificial offering in conjunction with Roman religious festivals, and are also presented as part of the cult of state.

The earliest ancient Roman ludi were horse races in the circus (ludi circenses). Animal exhibitions with mock hunts (venationes) and theatrical performances (ludi scaenici) also became part of the festivals. Days on which ludi were held were public holidays, and no business could be conducted. Although their entertainment value may have overshadowed religious sentiment at any given moment, even in late antiquity the ludi were understood as part of the worship of the traditional gods. The relation of gladiatorial games to the ludi is complex: in 105 BC, the ruling consuls offered Rome its first taste of state-sponsored "barbarian combat" demonstrated by gladiators from Capua, as part of a training program for the military. It proved immensely popular. Thereafter, the gladiator contests formerly restricted to private munera were often included in the official state ludi that accompanied the major religious festivals. Where traditional ludi had been dedicated to a deity, such as Jupiter, the munera could be dedicated to an aristocratic sponsor's divine or heroic ancestor.

In Nova Roma, as part of our mission to revive the Roman traditions and festival celebrations, we honor the Roman holidays with similar ludi which are often in the form of a reenactment festival, or history or art competition, contest or quiz for prizes, sometimes these include virtual games, as well, played online.

Ludi - Games

Only the dates of the Ludi Novi Romani are strictly legally bidding, all the other ludi dates are in the hands of the aediles, with a certain amount of flexibility whether they start it earlier or later, and end it earlier or later. The dates below therefore are indicative of an ideal timing, but in practice there may be several days of difference (but not more about 10 days). The Ludi Cereales are usually held at any time during the second half of April, and the Parilia is always included (even if it was not part of it in the antiquity). The Ludi Florales are usually held in the entire length of May in Nova Roma. The Ludi Apollinares are held anytime in July, but started within the ancient dates, the Ludi Romani are also often extended until the beginning of October, an the Ludi Plebeii are held at any dates in November.

• Ludi Novi Romani: March 1st - March 15th - resposibility of the aediles curules
• Ludi Megalenses: April 4th - 10th - resposibility of the aediles curules
• Ludi Ceriales: April 12th - 19th - resposibility of the aediles plebis
• Ludi Florales': April 28th - May 3rd - resposibility of the aediles curules
• Ludi Apollinares: July 5-13 - resposibility of the praetores
• Ludi Romani: September 4th - 19th - resposibility of the aediles curules
• Ludi Plebeii: November 4th - 17th - resposibility of the aediles plebis

Above you can see a list of different festivals celebrated throughout the year according the Roman Calendar. The festivals are arranged in order of occurrance. Not all festivals are however celebrated every year in Nova Roma. To find out more information, ancient and modern, about any of the festivals please click the name of it.

Different festivals are arranged by different magistrates, but even if a festival is held by the curule aediles, the plebeian aediles can be called to help in, and vice versa. Originally the consuls and praetors held all festivals, the praetors kept only the Ludi Apollinares: they, too, can call upon the aediles to help with the Apollo Games if necessary. If the aediles are unavailable, the responsibility of festivals returns to the consuls and praetors.

To find out when and how you can take part into the games, please see for more information at the pages of individual ludi and from the Aedilician Portal page.

Regulae Ludorum - Rules for the competitions

• Regulae Ludorum - Rules for the competitions This page contains rules for Munera Gladiatoria (gladiator fights), Venationes (wild animal fights) and Ludi Circenses (chariot races).

Ludi Circenses Championship

During the year winners of the races recieve points from their victories and in the end of the year most successful driver-chariot is rewarded. See more on the championship page.

Factiones - Racing factions

• Factio Albata - The Whites
• Factio Praesina - The Greens
• Factio Russata- The Reds
• Factio Veneta - The Blues

Ludi Amphitheatricum Championship

During the year winners of the races recieve points from their victories and in the end of the year most successful owner-gladiator/animal is rewarded. See more on the championship page.

Gladiatorial Schools

• Ludus Albatus - The Whites
• Ludus Praesinus - The Greens
• Ludus Russatus - The Reds
• Ludus Venetus - The Blues

Ludi Cultural Championship

During the year winners of the contests recieve points from their entries and in the end of the year most successful citizen is rewarded. See more on the championship page.

Table and video games section

Nova Roma also supports or enters modern kinds of games, such table or videogames relative to the ancient Rome.

See more for:

• table games: the Table games section.
• video games: the Roman videogames section.