AGONALIA, or Agona, in antiquity, feasts celebrated by the Romans, in honor of Janus; or, as some will have it, in honor of the god Agonus, whom the Romans used to invoke upon their undertaking any business of importance. See FEAST. Authors vary as to the etymology of this solemnity; some derive it from Mount Agon, afterwards Mons Quirinalis, whereon it was held. Others suppose it taken from that ceremony in the feast, where the priest holding the naked knife, and ready to strike the victim, which was a ram, asked, Agone? Shall I do it? This is Ovid's opinion. Fast. L. Lv. 319. See SACRIFICE.
