or LUDI COMPITALITII, in Antiquity, a moveable feast celebrated annually at Rome in honour of the Lares. It was so called from compita, i.e., a place where several roads meet, in which it was held. (Macrobi. Saturn. i. 7.) The Compitalia were more ancient than Rome itself; though by some writers the institution is ascribed to Tarquinius Priscus, in commemoration of a miraculous circumstance attending the birth of Servius Tullius, which induced the belief that he was the son of a Lar Familiares. The story is related by Pliny (xxxvi. 27). Dionysius Halicarnassensis (iv. 14.) ascribes the institution to Servius Tullius; and in describing the Compitalia as celebrated in his time, he observes, that the rites were performed by slaves, who were permitted during these ministrations to lay aside every badge of servitude. He further adds, that this festival was celebrated a few days after the Saturnalia. Macrobius observes (loc. cit.) that the Compitalia were re-established by Tarquinius Priscus, on occasion of a response of the oracle that they should sacrifice caputa pro capitibus; i.e., that for the health and prosperity of each family a child was to be sacrificed to Mania (madness) the mother of the Lares. This abominable practice was abolished by the consul Junius Brutus, after the expulsion of the Tarquins; and, in order to satisfy the oracle, garlic and heads of poppies were offered in place of human victims. During the civil wars the Compitalia fell into disuse, but were restored by Augustus, whose Lares were substituted for those of the state. At the same time, for the purpose of superintending their worship, he instituted an order of priests, who were chosen from the Liberti, and were designated Augustales. These must not be confounded with the Augustales appointed to attend to the worship of that emperor after his decease. (See Zumpt, De Augustalibus, &c.) The Compitalia were celebrated always during winter, and usually about the beginning of January. The words in which the festival was announced are preserved in Macrobius (Saturn. i. 4), and by Aulus Gellius (x. 24). During its celebration, each family placed at the door of their house the statue of the goddess Mania, and also hung up at their doors figures of wool, representing men and women; accompanying them with supplications that the Lares and Mania would be contented with those figures, and spare the people of the house.