Quaestiones Romanae

Why do they call Bacchus Liber Pater (Free Father)?[*](Cf. Petronius, Satyricon, 41, and Housman’s commentary in Classical Review, xxxii. p. 164.)

Is it because he is the father of freedom to drinkers? For most people become bold and are abounding in frank speech when they are in their cups.[*](Cf.Moralia, 716 b.) Or is it because he has provided the means for libations?

Or is it derived, as Alexander[*](Müller, Frag. Hist. Graec. iii. p. 244; Alexander Polyhistor.) asserts, from Dionysus Eleuthereus,[*](Cf. the inscription on the chair of the priest of Dionysus in the theatre at Athens,Ἱερεῶς Διονύσου Ἐλευθερέως.) so named from Eleutherae in Boeotia?

For what reason is it not the custom for maidens to marry on public holidays, but widows do marry at this time?[*](Cf. Macrobius, Saturnalia, i. 15. 21.)

Is it, as Varro has remarked, that maidens are grieved over marrying, but older women are glad, and on a holiday one should do nothing in grief or by constraint?

Or is it rather because it is seemly that not a few should be present when maidens marry, but disgraceful that many should be present when widows marry? Now the first marriage is enviable: but the second is to be deprecated, for women are ashamed if they take a second husband while the first husband is still living, and they feel sad if they do so when he is dead. Wherefore they rejoice in a quiet wedding rather than in noise and processions. Holidays distract most people, so that they have no leisure for such matters.

Or, because they seized the maiden daughters of the Sabines at a holiday festival, and thereby became involved in war, did they come to regard it as ill-omened to marry maidens on holy days?