The celebration of the ludi saeculares in 204 AD was probably the most important single religious (and political) occasion that took place during the reign of Septimius Severus. The festival highlighted the power of the emperor in two ways: through tradition and innovation. In the Severan ludi, traditionalism can be found to some extent in the actual program, which quite closely follows the Augustan example; all the major components are left in place. However, the most powerful way to connect the Severan games to tradition was the erection of the inscription on the Campus Martius, alongside other records of the ludi saeculares. This act indicated that the Severan games had become a link in a chain of hundreds of years, started by Augustus himself.
Many themes of the Severan ludi followed the tradition of previous imperial Secular Games. This consisted of the completion of purification rites on behalf of the community, conducted by women during the night time, and sacrifices to the most deities central for the Roman commonwealth in the day-time rituals, and closely followed the Augustan examples. The chorus of children during the last day of the ludi symbolized continuity and the beginning of a new, youthful Golden Age for the empire, as was probably also the case in the previous ludi.
However, the novelties in the program are of most interest in the aspect of legitimizing power. After all, they can be considered as the most “genuine” Severan ideas. The most important ones seem to be details highlighting the rulers’ family roles, and those were most likely related to the campaign for moral reforms and the promotion of family values. The inclusion of Julia Domna as the leader of the Roman mothers is perhaps one the most striking family themes in the ludi saeculares. The second-day celebrations, in particular, emphasize the relationship of the imperial couple. Moreover, Septimius Severus as a “father-figure” can be traced both from the traditional role he played in the celebration of the ludi saeculares and from the novelties in the inscription of AD 204. One concept which related to these details is indulgentia, generosity, which seems to be the major concept highlighting the role of Septimius Severus as a ruler in the ludi.
Besides the notions of family values and generosity, the third theme rising from the Severan ludi saeculares is universalism. The details of the games seem to underline the position of the imperial couple as the one who can control the whole sphere of the empire can be associated to their images as “cosmic figures” presented also on Severan coinage, for example. Moreover, in many places, the inscription indicates their “power to protect”. This indicates that the Severan ludi saeculares demonstrated the power of the royal family to those witnessing the celebrations, as well as to those who just saw the record in Campus Martius. The document – as well as the festival – highlighted the royal family, rising above all others in a hierarchy of power. The magnificent occasion which celebrated the birth of the Golden Age, and which encouraged subjects to consider their relationship to the top of the empire in family terms and, accordingly, encouraged the people to base its Roman identity on these principles.
