Chapter 36

Dates

Special Days1. Kalends – Kalendae,-arum, f. pl –

1st of the month

2. Nones – Nonae,-arum, f. pl. – 5th of the month

3. Ides – Idus, Iduum, f. pl. – 13th of the month

Kalends Nones IdesIanuarius 1st 5th 13thFebruarius 1st 5th 13th*Martius 1st 7th 15th

Aprilis 1st 5th 13th*Maius 1st 7th 15th Iunius 1st 5th 13th*Iulius 1st 7th 15thAugustus 1st 5th 13thSeptember 1st 5th 13th*October 1st 7th 15thNovember 1st 5th 13thDecember 1st 5th 13th

The ablative case is used for dates that coincides with one of the special days (ablative of time when)

Kalendis Aprilibus, on April 1Nonis Februariis, on February 5Idibus Martiis, on March 15

pridie + accusative indicates the day before one of the special days:

pridie Kalendas Maias, (lit. on the day before May 1) on April 30

pridie Idus Octobres, on October 14

1. pridie Nonas Novembres __________________

2. pridie Idus Martias ____________________

3. pridie Kalendas Ianuarias__________________

A phrase beginning ante diem (a.d.) is used to express all other dates:

ante diem iv Kalendis Decembres (lit. on the 4th day before December 1st)on November 28th

When calculating, you should include the special day and count backwards

(e.g. Dec. 1, Nov. 30, Nov. 29, Nov. 28)

ante diem viii Idus Martias (lit. on the 8th day before the Ides of March) on March 8th

1. a.d. xi Kal. Apr. _________________________

2. a.d. x Id. Feb __________________________

3. a.d. iii Non. Maias_______________________

The Romans designated years by the names of the consuls, the chief Roman magistrates, who were elected annually. The ablative case is used:

Antonio et Cicerone consulibus = 63 B.C.

consul, consulis, m. consul

They also designated years by counting from the foundation of Rome, which was set at a year corresponding to 753 B.C. These dates were expressed with the initials A.U.C. (ab urbe condita, from the foundation of the city)

condo, condere, condidi, conditus, to found

To convert a Roman year to our system, follow these rules:

1. If the A.U.C. date is 753 or less, subtract is from 754 and you will obtain the B.C. date.

2. If the A.U.C date is 754 or greater, subtract 753 from it and you will obtain an

A.D. date.

Examples: 691 A.U.C. (less than 753) 754

-691 ______ 63 B.C.

 833 A.U.C. (greater than 754) 833

-753_____80 A.D.

To convert a year designated according to our system to a Roman year, follow these rules:

a. If the year is B.C., subtract it from 754.

b. If the year is A.D., add it to 753.

Examples: 754 ____ -63 B.C.___

691 A.U.C.

753 _____+80 A.D.___

833 A.U.C.

Exercise A: Give the English equivalents for the following dates:

1. Kalendis Ianuariis

2. Kalendis Decembribus

3. Kalendis Iuniis

4. Nonis Augustus

5. Nonis Octorbribus

6. Idibus Martiis

7. Idibus Maiis

8. Idibus Septembribus

9. pridie Kalendas Februarias

10. pridie Kalendas Iulias

11. pridie Nonas Augustas

12. pridie Idus Ianuarius

13. pridie Idus Novembres

14. ante diem iv Kalendas Iunias

15. ante diem iii Nonas Iulias

16. a.d. vi Kal. Apr.

17. a.d. vi Kal. Maias

18. a.d. xii Kal. Feb.

19. a.d. vi Non. Mart.

20. a.d. iv Id. Feb.

Exercise B: Give Roman equivalents for the following dates:

1. Today’s date

2. Your own birthday

3. The foundation of Rome (April 21, 753 B.C.)

4. Cicero’s birthday (January 3. 106 B.C.)

5. The date of the assassination of Julius Caesar (March 15, 44 B.C.)

6. Martial’s birthday (March 1, A.D. 40)

7. The date of the Emperor Titus’ accession to power (June 23, A.D. 79)

8. The date of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (August 24, A.D. 79)

More Practice

1. Kalendis Octobribus

2. a.d. xii Kalendas Octobres

3. Nonis Martiis

4. a.d. iv Nonas Septembres

5. pridie Nonas Martias

6. a.d. iii Idus Martias

7. Idibus Februarius

8. pridie Kalendas Octobres

9. Nonis Septembribus

10. Idibus Octobribus