Ludi

Ludi

Various

Ludi was the word used for public games in ancient Rome. These were holidays devoted to rest and pleasure. The Ludi Megalenses were held every year from April 4-10 from 191 b.c.e. onwards in honor of Cybele, the Roman Mother Goddess, whose image had been brought to Rome in 204 b.c.e. ( see Megalesia). The Megalensian Games were followed by the Ludi Ceriales in honor of Ceres, the ancient goddess of cereals, from April 12-19 ( see Cerealia). Then came the Ludi Florales in honor of Flora, the goddess of flowers, from April 27-May 3 ( see Floralia). The Ludi Florales were followed by a period of hard work in the fields, and the next games didn't occur for seven weeks. The Ludi Apollinares, or Apollonian Games, held in honor of Apollo, went on from July 6-13. The Ludi Romani, or Roman Games, instituted in 366 b.c.e., lasted from September 4-19. And the Ludi Plebei, or Plebeian Games, which were first held somewhere between 220 and 216 b.c.e., took place November 4-17.
All in all, there were 59 days devoted to these traditional games in the Roman calendar before the time of Sulla, who became dictator of the Roman Republic in 82 b.c.e. They were considered to be the dies nefasti —days on which all civil and judicial business must be suspended for fear of offending the gods.

SOURCES:
DictRomRel-1996, p. 134
FestRom-1981, p. 40
OxYear-1999, pp. 291, 447