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Roman Calendar. Annus duodecim menses habet…. Januarius Februarius Martius Aprilis Maius Junius. Julius Augustus September October November December. Menses. Original Roman Calendar. Lunar Calendar = new moon averaged every 29.5 days
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Roman Calendar Annus duodecim menses habet…
Januarius Februarius Martius Aprilis Maius Junius Julius Augustus September October November December Menses
Original Roman Calendar • Lunar Calendar = new moon averaged every 29.5 days • At the time of Romulus, the calendar started with “Martius” named after “Mars” because it was the month the Romans would go to war.
Martius Aprilis Maius Junius Quintilis (5) Sextilis (6) September (7) October (8) November (9) December (10) Romulus’ Calendar
Menses • Aprilis - comes from the verb “aperire” which means to open • Month in which the flowers open • Sacred to Venus (festival to honor her held on first day of month)
Menses • Maius - named after Maia, the Greek goddess of fertility (Bona Dea festival held in May) • Junius - named after Juno, Roman goddess of marriage • June is a “favorable” time for marriage
Januarius / Februarius • 2nd King of Rome : Numa added these two months in 713 BC • Januarius - named after Janus, the two faced god (ianua = door) to symbolize the turning of the year • Februarius - named after the word “februum” which means purification • Februratio held on February 15th (cleaning)
Dates • Kalends : first day of the month, new moon (where we get the word calendar) • Nones : 8th day of the month, half moon (also the market day) • Ides : half way through the month, full moon (auspicious day)
Nones and Ides "March, May, July, October, These are they, Make Nones the seventh, Ides the fifteenth day.” In all other months, the Nones were on the 5th, and the Ides were on the 13th day.
Dates • The Kalends, Nones, and Ides are important because Romans COUNTED BACKWARDS from these markers to tell the date • Example: • March 14th : Pridie Ides Martius
Dates • The day before is called PRIDIE • Example: • October 31st : Pridie Kalends November • Other days were a.d. NN • Abbreviation for ante diem NN (meaning on the NNth day before) • Example: • September 28 = a.d. III Kalends October
Julius/Augustus • In 44BC, the month Quintilis was renamed Julius in honor of Julius Caesar • In 8BC, the month Sextilis was renamed Augustus in honor of Augustus • Thus, the Julian Calendar
PRACTICE • Using the Latin dating system, figure out these dates : • Your Birthday • New Year’s (Jan 1st) • Magistra’s Birthday (Mar 11th) • Valentine’s Day (Feb 14th) • America’s Independence Day (July 4th) • Labor Day (Sept 7th) • Thanksgiving (Nov 26th) • Christmas (Dec 25th)
Practice Answers • Your Birthday • New Year’s (Jan 1st) = • Kalends Januarius • Valentine’s Day (Feb 14th) = • a.d. XV Kalends Martius • Magistra’s Birthday (Mar 11th) = • a.d. IV Ides Martius
Practice Answers • America’s Independence Day (July 4th) = • a.d. III Nones Julius • Labor Day (Sept 7th) = • a.d. VI Ides September • Thanksgiving (Nov 26th) = • a.d. V Kalends December • Christmas (Dec 25th) • a.d. VII Kalends Janarius
tempus anni • Spring : ver • Summer : aestas • Autumn : autumnus • Winter : hiems