quinquennalia

QUINQUENNA´LIAwere games instituted by Nero A.D. 60, in imitation of the Greek festivals, and celebrated like the Greek πεντετηρίδες at the end of every four years; they consisted of musical, gymnastic, and equestrian contests, and were called Neronia, or Agon Neroneus. (Suet. Nero 12; Tac. Ann. 14.20; Dio Cass..) Suetonius and Tacitus (ll. cc.) say that such games were first introduced at Rome by Nero. The Quinquennalia, which had previously been instituted both in honour of Julius Caesar (Dio Cass.) and of Augustus (Id. 51.19; Suet. Aug. 59, 98), were confined to the towns of Italy and the provinces. The Quinquennalia of Nero appear not to have lasted long, but they were revived by Gordian III. (Friedländer, Sittengeschichte, ii.5 436 f.; Marquardt, Staatsverw. iii.2 566.) For the Agon Capitolinus of Domitian, see LUDIp. 85 b.