(In terms of actual fiction, the closest I recall is Asimov's "Nightmare," where the regular chaos is very much unscheduled. Thus, if the episode satirizes or slams Mardi Gras as religious rite, Roddenberry and company were following Livy (and others, presumably). The episode's cultists wear monk's robes, and obedience equals being "of the body." The latter phrase is Christian generally, but perhaps evocative of consuming "the body of Christ." Roddenberry's memorable reaction to communion (age "around 14"), as told to The Humanist, March/April 1991: "how did Jesus become something to be eaten?" Many of Saturnalia’s traditions, which celebrate the hope of harvest and a bright future during the dark winter, were incorporated into celebrations of Christmas. With the rise of Christianity, the pagan holiday was removed from official calendars but carried on as a popular secular holiday. So is "Tallulah," the likely source for "Tula," the female character. Saturnalia was celebrated well into late antiquity. The Purge it is a concept where laws stop being enforced and the crazies of the world let loose and do whatever they want without consequence. Regardless of his stated deflections (IIRC), Red Hour is an extreme Mardi Gras, with leader "Landru" a common name of the region (spelled Landrieu). Finally, his parents were from Texas (he was born there), where "Catholic" meant neighboring Louisiana (and Mexico, of course). Gene Roddenberry devised the story for "Return of the Archons." He famously rejected organized religion, but was curious and quirky, not necessarily feeling the same about all religions. This gets into a sensitive area, but it's worth expanding on the connections. Saturnalia Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the deity Saturn, held on the 17th of December of the Julian calendar and later expanded. Such rites moderated to the Lord of Misrule, Halloween ("Mischief Night"), and Mardi Gras. That the primeval Saturn had demanded human victims.Īnother Roman event, Bacchanalia, is even closer to Red Hour, but Livy's report is contested, and thought to be propaganda. Although there is no evidence of this practiceĭuring the Republic, the offering of gladiators led to later theories criticized by Christian apologists as a form of human sacrifice. These gladiator events, ten days in all throughoutĭecember. Receiving dead gladiators as offerings (munera) during or near the In sources of the third century AD and later, Saturn is recorded as The closest, from what I've read, is Saturnalia: The episode's Red Hour refers back to real customs. EDIT: this answer is meant to interpret the episode as shown, with the statements of filmmakers being of interest, but secondary. Worth mentioning: I consider "Return of the Archons" brilliantly subversive, while not necessarily agreeing with the implications. What did the Romans eat during Saturnalia Pork was the favorite Roman meat, and in the words of the poet Martial, a pig will make you a good Saturnalia. It's not the first, though what follows is, admittedly, an oblique or roundabout answer.
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