Μαϊουμᾶς

A festival used to be celebrated at Rome in the month of May. Occupying the coastal city, the one which is called Ostia↗,¹ those who held the first rank of Rome condescended to amuse themselves, throwing each other into the waters of the sea. From this the time of such a festival was named Maioumas.² Those in the city of Constantine used to celebrate a festival of the Brutoi³ up to the time of the emperor Anastasius; and Anastasius abolished this.⁴ But the Romans also used to celebrate a festival of dogs in the month of August, killing them because of the capture by the Gauls, because they remained barkless, while the geese cried out.⁵