the festival of the Liberalia was celebrated
in Rome on March 17 every year in honor
of Liber Pater, the god associated with wine
and the cult of Bacchus. On this day, free-
born citizen boys (age anywhere between
14 and 17) marked their passage from child-
hood to manhood, the point in life when they
formally took up their citizenship. At home,
the bulla (amulet) that had been worn by
boys since babyhood was offered to the
Lares (the protective deities of the house).
The boy then undressed in front of his family
to demonstrate that he had reached puberty.
Next, his father gave him the white toga viri-
lis that defined him as an adult citizen. From
this day on, he could participate in his civic
duties and privileges.
BOYS
TO MEN
A PROTECTIVE AMULET, CALLED
A BULLA, WAS GIVEN TO MALE
CHILDREN SOON AFTER BIRTH.
GOLD BULLA, FIRST CENTURY A.D.
NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL
MUSEUM, NAPLES
DEA/ALBUM