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Roman Calendar. The Roman Calendar. In the years 46/45 BC, Julius Caesar revised the Roman calendar into the one we know today. Called the “Julian Calendar” The year increased from 355-365 days, with a leap year every 4 years.
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The Roman Calendar • In the years 46/45 BC, Julius Caesar revised the Roman calendar into the one we know today. • Called the “Julian Calendar” • The year increased from 355-365 days, with a leap year every 4 years. • He’s the reason our months have 30 or 31 days!
Julian vs. Gregorian • By 1582, the Julian calendar was about 10 days out of alignment due to some small errors • Pope Gregory XIII revised the calendar in 1582 to correct this problem (Gregorian Calendar) • Fun fact: Britain (and its colonies) didn’t adopt the Gregorian Calendar until 1752! Wed. Sept. 2, 1752, was followed by Th., Sept. 14, 1752 in America!
Months • Ianuarius Quintilis (Iulius) • Februarius Sextilis (Augustus) • Martius Septembris • Aprilis Octobris • Maius Novembris • Iunius Decembris
How the Roman Calendar Worked • Romans did not number the days of the month like we do. • Romans used 3 reference days each month to count down their dates.
Reference Days • Kalendae: the Kalends, the 1st of the month (where we get the word “calendar”) • Nonae: the Nones, the 5th day of the month except for March, May, July and October when they’re the 7th day • Idus: the Ides, the 13th day of each month except for March, May, July, and October when they’re the 15th day • In March, July, October, May, the Ides fall on the 15th day!
Jan. 31 K N I K March 1 March 2
Writing Dates • a.d. # = ante diem # (on the # day before the nomen/named day) • “a.d. III Id. Feb” = “on the 3rd day before the Ides of February” (Feb. 11) • Always count inclusively (start your count with the reference day) • Pridie = “the day before” (prid. Kal Mart. = Feb. 28)
Kal. Feb a.d. IV Non. Feb K Jan. 31 prid. Kal. Feb a.d. III Non. Feb Prid. Non. Feb Non. Feb N a.d. VIII Id. Feb. a.d. VII Id. Feb. a.d. VI Id. Feb. a.d. V Id. Feb. a.d. XVI Kal. Mart. Id. Feb. I a.d. XV Kal. Mar. a.d. XIV Kal. Mar. a.d. III Id. Feb. prid. Id. Feb. a.d. IV Id. Feb. a.d. XI Kal. Mar. a.d. XIII Kal. Mar. a.d. XII Kal. Mar. a.d. X Kal. Mar. a.d. IX Kal. Mar. a.d. VIII Kal. Mar. a.d. VII Kal. Mar. a.d. V Kal. Mar. a.d. IV Kal. Mar. K a.d. VI Kal. Mar. a.d. III Kal. Mar. Kal. Mar. March 1 March 2 prid. Kal. Mar.
Felix Natalis Tibi! • Using the handout to guide you, calculate your birthday according to the Roman calendar. • E.g.: Mrs. Sellers’ birthday is Feb. 17. That’s a.d. XIII Kal. Mar. (13 days before the Kalends of March) • On your strip of paper, write your NAME and your ROMAN birthday on the front and your REGULAR birthday on the back. • Pin your birthday on the wall under the correct month---keep it in the correct daily order! (you can peek at the back of the other strips to check)
Naming Years • Years were named after the 2 consuls elected for that year: “in the consulship of Marcus Batiatus and Quintus Secundus” • Years could also be named “ab urbe condita” or AUC: “from the founding of the city” (754/753 BC).
Example of Years • "Claudius was born ... on the Kalends of August in the consulship of Iullus Antonius and Fabius Africanus, ..." (Suetonius Claudius II.i) • We know from other Roman records these 2 guys were consuls in a.u.c. 744… so that’s about 10 BC on our calendar.
Days of the Week • Dies Solis (day of the Sun)---Sunday • Dies Lunae (day of the Moon)---Monday • Dies Martis (day of Mars)---Tuesday • Dies Mercuris (day of Mercury)---Wednesday • Dies Iovis (day of Jove/Jupiter)---Thursday • Dies Veneris (day of Venus)---Friday • Dies Saturni (day of Saturn)---Saturday
Telling Time • Each day was divided into 12 hours (horae), from sunrise to sunset. • Hours were numbered: prima, secunda, tertia, etc. (first, second, third…) • In the summer, hours would be longer than in the winter since days were longer.