I.a place devoted to Bacchus, the place where the festivals of Bacchus were celebrated: “NE QVIS EORVM BACANAL HABVISE VELET, S. C. Bacch. v. 4: EA BACANALIA... IN DIEBVS X... FACIATIS VTEI DISMOTA SIENT,” ib. v. 28: “ad Baccas veni in Baccanal,” Plaut. Aul. 3, 1, 3: “aperire,” id. ib. 8: “Bacchanalia,” Liv. 39, 18, 7.—
II. Transf., in the plur.: Bacchānālia , ium (gen. sometimes Bacchananorum, Sall. H. 3, 79 Dietsch; Firm. Mat. Err. Prof. Relig. 6, 9), a feast of Bacchus, the orgies of Bacchus (diff. from the Roman festival of Liber; v. Liberalia); celebrated once in three years, at night, and in the most tumultuous and licentious manner (cf. Smith, Antiq.); hence, prohibited in Rome, A.U.C. 568, B.C. 186, by a decree of the Senate, Senatusconsultum de Bacchanalibus, which is yet preserved (v. Wordsworth, Fragm. and Spec. p. 172 sq.); Liv. 39, 9, 3; 39, 12, 4; 39, 16, 10; 39, 18, 7 sq.; 39, 41, 6; Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 37; Tac. H. 2, 68.—Rarely in sing.: “Bacchanal facere,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 2, 43 Lorenz ad loc.; id. Bacch. 1, 1, 20; so, exercere, id Suppos Amph Tun' me mactes? v. 12: habere, in the abovementioned S. C.—Poet.: “Bacchanalia vivere,” to live in the manner of the Bacchantes, to live riotously and wantonly, Juv. 2, 3.
