10 Facts about the Roman calendar

Post On: August 21, 2018

The following post will explain Facts about The Roman Calendar. The Roman kingdom and republic applied this calendar in their daily life. Dictator Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus applied the reforms, which founded the Julian calendar. The ides, kalends and nones of the calendar were counted according to the Roman tradition and method. There were three major days in the Roman calendar. The kalend was used to call the first day of the month. The ides was the second principle, which defines a day less than the middle of the month. The last one is the nones. If you are interested to know more about the Roman calendar, check the below post:

Facts about The Roman Calendar 1: the original Roman calendar

The beginning of Roman calendar was in spring with March as the first month. This calendar actually had 10 months. The public market and religious rituals were conducted a day week when it marked the end of the week. The calendar consisted of 38 nundinal cycles.

Facts about The Roman Calendar 2: winter period

Let us find out the winter period in Roman calendar. January and February were the months, which divided the winter period.

The Roman Calendar

The Roman Calendar

Facts about the Roman calendar 3: Romulus and Numa

Have you ever heard about Romulus and Numa? Both were considered as the early kings. The Romans also considered both as legends. The early fixed calendar of the Roman was established by both kings. The lunar observation was considered as the basis for the calendar.

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Facts about The Roman Calendar 4: the lunar observation

The lunar observation plays an important role in setting up the basis for the Roman calendar. The first sighting of the full moon was considered as the origin of the idea. The nones were from the first sighting of the first-quarter moon. The crescent moon becomes the foundation of the kalends.

Facts about The Roman Calendar 5: the intercalation

The intercalation should be conducted constantly so that the important activities and religious festival would be launched in the right season. February often had the intercalation for superstitious reason.

The Roman Calendar Pictures

The Roman Calendar Pictures

Facts about The Roman Calendar 6: the Roman republic

Consulship started to date the years after the Roman republic was founded. The pontifices got the right to control the intercalation. They tried to shorten the years of their rival in the office and lengthened their years in the office.

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Facts about The Roman Calendar 7: reformation

In 46 BC, the calendar reform took place when Caesar became the chief pontiff in Rome.

Facts about The Roman Calendar 8: the third consulship

The third consulship of Caesar was 446 days due to his calendar reform.

Facts about The Roman Calendars

Facts about The Roman Calendars

Facts about The Roman Calendar 9: a single leap day

On 24th February, a single leap day took place in Julius calendar per four years.

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Facts about the Roman calendar 10: Augustus

Augustus tried to have the calendar in its right counting. Therefore, the intercalation would only took place one or two decades.

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