What did being struck by th Lupercal priests mean for a women?

Being struck by the Lupercal priests during the Lupercalia festival in ancient Rome was believed to promote fertility and ensure a successful marriage. Women would stand in the path of the priests, who would strike them with goat hides, thought to bestow blessings of fertility. It was both a ritualistic act and a form of social participation in the hopes of enhancing their chances for conception and a fruitful union. For many women, this act represented a cultural norm that tied their reproductive capacity to societal expectations.