Quaestiones Romanae

Why in the marriage rites do they light five torches, neither more nor less, which they call cereones?

Is it, as Varro has stated, that while the praetors use three, the aediles have a right[*](Cf. the Lex Coloniae Genetivae, column 62 (C.I.L. i.² 594 = ii. 5439), where it is specified that the aediles shall have the right and power to possess, among other things, cereos.) to more, and it is from the aediles that the wedding party light their torches?

Or is it because in their use of several numbers the odd number was considered better and more perfect for various purposes and also better adapted to marriage? For the even number admits division and its equality of division suggests strife and opposition: the odd number, however, cannot be divided into equal parts at all, but whenever it is divided it always leaves behind a remainder of the same nature as itself. Now, of the odd numbers, five is above all the nuptial number; for three is the first odd number, and two is the first even number, and five is composed of the union of these two, as it were of male and female.[*](Cf.Moralia, 288 d-e, infra, 374 a, 429 a, and 388 a with the note on the last passage; Lydus, De Mensibus, ii. 4.)

Or is it rather that, since light is the symbol of birth, and women in general are enabled by nature to bear, at the most, five children at one birth,[*](Cf.Moralia, 429 f. A few authenticated cases of sextuplets have occurred since Plutarch’s day. See also the passages of Aulus Gellius and Aristotle quoted in Classical Journal, xxx. p. 493.) the wedding company makes use of exactly that number of torches?

Or is it because they think that the nuptial pair has need of five deities: Zeus Teleios, Hera Teleia, Aphrodite, Peitho, and finally Artemis, whom women in child-birth and travail are wont to invoke?

Why is it that, although there are many shrines of Diana in Rome, the only one into which men may not enter is the shrine in the so-called Vicus Patricius?

Is it because of the current legend? For a man attempted to violate a woman who was here worshipping the goddess, and was torn to pieces by the dogs: and men do not enter because of the superstitious fear that arose from this occurrence.