RĔDEMPTOR, the general name for a contractor, who undertook the
building and repairing of public works, private houses, &c., and in
fact of any kind of work. The farmers of the public taxes were also
called _Redemptores_.
RĔDĬMĪCULUM (καθετήρ), a fillet attached to the _calautica_,
_diadema_, _mitra_, or other head-dress at the occiput, and passed
over the shoulders, so as to hang on each side over the breast.
_Redimicula_ were properly female ornaments.
RĒGĬFŬGĬUM or FŬGĀLIA, the king’s flight, a festival which was held
by the Romans every year on the 24th of February, and, according
to some ancient writers, in commemoration of the flight of king
Tarquinius Superbus from Rome. The day is marked in the Fasti as
nefastus. In some ancient calendars the 24th of May is likewise
called Regifugium. It is doubtful whether either of these days had
anything to do with the flight of king Tarquinius: they may have
derived their name from the symbolical flight of the Rex Sacrorum
from the comitium; for this king-priest was generally not allowed to
appear in the comitium, which was destined for the transaction of
political matters in which he could not take part. But on certain
days in the year, and certainly on the two days mentioned above,
he had to go to the comitium for the purpose of offering certain
sacrifices, and immediately after he had performed his functions
there, he hastily fled from it; and this symbolical flight was called
Regifugium.