The ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was observed from February 13 through February 15 and dates back to pre-Roman times, was celebrated as a means of repelling evil spirits, and purifying the city, which in turn was thought to bring health and fertility.¹ It was also mainly a festival to honor Lupercus, the god of the shepherds, and Lupa, the she-wolf who raised Romulus and Remus, the fabled founders of Rome. Lupercalia is believed to have its roots in the ancient Greek festival of Arcadian Lykaia, or festival of the wolf, and was most likely adapted, originally, to honor Lupa, as was stated before, and was subsequently built upon. The ceremonies opened with the sacrifice of two male goats and a dog. The blood of these animals was then smeared on the foreheads of two young Luperci, or high priests of Lupercus, known to the Romans as Flamen Dialis. After the sacrifices, Romans would feast on goat meat, and many (especially young men) would run through town wearing either goatskin, in imitation of Lupercus, or absolutely nothing. Another unusual practice of Lupercalia was action of whipping girls and women, supposedly to ensure fertility, prevent sterility, and ease the pain of childbirth. This tradition may in fact survive today, in the Christian practice of Easter Monday whippings. In fact, Lupercalia was such an influential holiday, that it even appears in later European works, such as William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, which opens during the festival.