roman calendar dates

Roman Calendar Dates

Special Days

• Kalendae, -arum, f. – Kalends (1st)• Nonae, -orum, f. – Nones (5th or 7th)• Idus, -uum, m. – Ides (13th or 15th)

• Special Months: • March, May, July, October

Special Days

In March, July, October, and May, the Ides are on the 15th day, Nones 7th, all else besides have two days less for Nones and Ides

Months (Adj.)

• Ianuarius, -a, -um• Februarius, -a, -um• Martius, -a, -um• Aprilis, -is, -e• Maius, -a, -um• Iunius, -a, -um

• Iulius, -a, -um• Augustus, -a, -um• September, -bris• October, -bris• November, -bris• December, -bris

Translating Dates

• If the date is on a special day, the day and month take the ablative case

• E.g., Aprilibus Kalendis (April 1st)• If the date is before a special day, use

pridie plus the day and month in the acc.

• E.g., pridie Apriles Kalendas (March 31st)

Translating Dates, Cont.

• If the date is more than one day before a special day, – use a.d. (ante diem)– plus the Roman numeral– plus the day and month in the accusative– N.B. Be sure to count backwards

starting with the special day!– E.g., a.d. III Aprilds Kalendas (March 30th)

Examples

• Kalendis Ianuariis• Kalendis Decembribus• Kalendis Iuniis• Nonis Augustis• Nonis Octobribus• Idibus Martiis• Idibus Maiis

More Examples

• Idibus Septembribus• pridie Kalendas Februarias• pridie Kalendas Iulias• pridie Nonas Augustas• pridie Idus Ianuarias• pridie Idus Novembres

Even More Examples

• a.d. iii Nonas Iulias• a.d. vi. Kal. Apr.• a.d. xviii Kal. Maias• a.d. xii Kal. Feb.• a.d. vi Non. Mart.• a.d. iv Id. Feb.• a.d. iv Kal. Iun.

Two Ways to determine the year

1. By the consul • Consuls were elected annually• Use the ablative case• Ex: Antonio et Cicerone consulibus- 63

B.C.

Two Ways to determine the year

2. A.U.C • Ab urbe condita- from the founding of

the city• If the AUC date is 753 or less, subtract

from 754, and you will get a B.C. date• If the AUC date is greater than 753,

subtract 753 from it, and you will obtain an A.D. date