Flōra, ae, f. [flos, v. flo],
I the goddess of flowers , whose festival was celebrated on the 28th of April , often with unbridled license , Ov. F. 5, 195 sq.; Lact. 1, 20, 6; Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 6; id. L. L. 5, §§ 45, 74; Lucr. 5, 739; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 14, § 36; Tac. A. 2, 49; Mart. 1, 1, 1: omnia Florae aulaea, Juv. 14, 262 al.—
II Derivv. *
A Flōrĭus , a, um, adj., of or belonging to Flora : apud M. Catonem in re Floria ita scriptum, respecting the festival of Flora , Gell. 9, 12, 7.— More freq.,
B Flōrālis , e, adj.
1 Of or belonging to Flora , Floral : flamen, Varr. L. L. 7, § 45: joci, Lact. 1, 20, 6; Sen. Ep. 97, p. 80 Bip.—
2 Of or belonging to the festival of Flora , of the Floralia : sacrum, Ov. F. 4, 947: dignissima tuba Florali matrona, Juv. 6, 250: ludi, Inscr. Orell. 2545.— In plur. subst. : Flōrālĭa , ium and ōrum, n., the festival of Flora : Florae ludi Floralia instituti, Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 6; Quint. 1, 5, 52: (prisci) Floralia IIII. Kal. Mai. instituerunt urbis anno DXIII. ex oraculis Sibyllae, ut omnia bene deflorescerent, Plin. 18, 29, 69, § 286: Varro Floralium, non Floraliorum ait, cum non ludos Florales illic, sed ipsum festum, Floralia, significaret, Macr. S. 1, 4, 14; Pers. 5, 178: solenni Floraliorum die, Just. 43, 4, 6.—Hence,
2 Flō-rālĭcĭus or -tĭus , a, um, of or belonging to the feast of Flora : et Floralicias lasset arena feras, i. e. designed for the combats exhibited during the festival of Flora , Mart. 8, 67, 4.
1 * flōrālĭa , ium, n. [flos], a flowergarden , Varr. R. R. 1, 23, 4.