What was the purpose of the May festival known as Lemuria?

The May festival known as Lemuria was primarily focused on appeasing the restless spirits of the dead. This festival arose from the Roman belief in the importance of honoring the deceased and ensuring that their spirits were at peace. During Lemuria, rituals were performed to exorcise malevolent spirits from homes and to prevent them from causing harm to the living.

The festival involved a series of specific actions, including the tossing of black beans and other offerings as a form of propitiation for these spirits. The Romans believed that doing so helped to alleviate any disturbances that the spirits might cause and ensured a harmonious relationship between the living and the dead.

The other options, while significant in various Roman festivals and cultural practices, do not pertain specifically to the purpose of Lemuria. For instance, while honoring Lares (household deities) is a part of Roman religion, it is more associated with other festivals. Celebrating fertility can refer to celebrations like the Floralia, and purification rituals were often connected with different events. Therefore, Lemuria's unique focus on the spirits of the dead distinguishes it from other festivals in the Roman calendar.