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.• 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!

March 1

March 2

Jan. 31

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)

March 1

March 2

Jan. 31

prid. Kal. Feb

Kal. Feb

a.d. IV Non. Feb

a.d. III Non. Feb

Prid. Non. Feb

Non. Feb

a.d. VIII Id. Feb.

a.d. VII Id. Feb.

a.d. VI Id. Feb.

a.d. V Id. Feb.

a.d. IV Id. Feb.

a.d. III Id. Feb.

prid. Id. Feb.

Id. Feb.

a.d. XVI Kal. Mart.

a.d. XV Kal. Mar.

a.d. XIV Kal. Mar.a.d.

XIII Kal. Mar.

a.d. XII Kal. Mar.

a.d. XI Kal. Mar.

a.d. X Kal. Mar.

a.d. IX Kal. Mar.

a.d. VIII Kal. Mar.

a.d. VII Kal. Mar.a.d. VI

Kal. Mar.

a.d. V Kal. Mar.

a.d. IV Kal. Mar.

a.d. III Kal. Mar.

prid. Kal. Mar.

Kal. Mar.

• 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)

Felix Natalis Tibi!

Additional Roman Calendar/Time Information

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.

Winter Solstice

Hora from to

I. prima 7:33 8:17 a.m.

II. secunda 8:17 9:02 a.m.

III. tertia 9:02 9:46 a.m.

IV. quarta 9:46 10:31 a.m.

V. quinta 10:31 11:15 a.m.

VI. sexta 11:15 12:00 noon

VII. septima 12:00 12:44 p.m.

VIII. octava 12:44 1:29 p.m.

IX. nona 1:29 2:13 p.m.

X. decima 2:13 2:58 p.m.

XI. undecima 2:58 3:42 p.m.

XII. duodecima 3:42 4:27 p.m.

Summer Solstice

Hora from to

I. prima 4:27 5:42 a.m.

II. secunda 5:42 6:58 a.m.

III. tertia 6:58 8:13 a.m.

IV. quarta 8:13 9:29 a.m.

V. quinta 9:29 10:44 a.m.

VI. sexta 10:44 12:00 noon

VII. septima 12:00 1:15 p.m.

VIII. octava 1:15 2:31 p.m.

IX. nona 2:31 3:46 p.m.

X. decima 3:46 5:02 p.m.

XI. undecima 5:02 6:17 p.m.

XII. duodecima 6:17 7:33 p.m.