ABSTRACT

The often idealised era of Roman history, eventually came to a halt with Marcus Aurelius' death. Eventually, Septimius Severus, commander of the Pannonian legions, rose to power by crushing both of his main opponents: Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus. This study concentrates on one of the main events of Septimius Severus' reign, the Ludi Saeculares of ce 204. The imperial Ludi Saeculares were traditionally considered as a celebration marking a transition from an old period to a new, superior, Golden Age. Another important concept connected to the ludi is the question of power. As a result, the Ludi Saeculares, consisting of a unique and grandiose event, was for the emperor an excellent chance to manifest his power and legitimise his rule. Taking these aspects into consideration, the Ludi Saeculares are seen in this study as a point zero, a starting point for the community and the beginning of a Golden Age which defined the nature and identity of the communitas.