What is often sacrificed during the festival of Lupercalia?

During the festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated in ancient Rome, rams were often sacrificed as part of the ritual proceedings. This festival took place in mid-February and involved various forms of purification, fertility rites, and festivities aimed at promoting health and fertility among the people. The sacrifice of rams was significant as it was believed to appease the gods and facilitate protection for the community.

Rams were chosen specifically due to their association with fertility and livestock, and the blood of the sacrificial animals was used in various rites. After the sacrifice, the priests known as the Luperci would smear the blood on their foreheads and then run through the streets, striking spectators with the hides of the rams, which was thought to confer luck and fertility.

Other animals, while important in Roman sacrifices, do not have the same specific association with Lupercalia, making the choice of rams particularly fitting and relevant to understanding the rituals of this ancient festival.