Expert: Maria - 6/13/2007

Question
Hello,

I'd like to know how to write the following date in latin language: September 23rd 2006

Thanks in advance,

Pasi
Finland


Answer
Hello,

In Latin “September 23rd 2006” would be:

-A.D. IX KAL. OCT. Anno MMVI  p. Ch. n. (abbreviated phrase).

- Ante diem nonum Kalendas Octobres anno bis millesimo sexto post Christum natum (in full ).

The above translation into Roman numerals means literally:  
“On the 9th day before the Kalends of October, in the year two thousand  six after Christ’s birth”.
(See below for learning more).

Best regards,
Maria
Italy
__________________________________________________________
Please note that the Romans  had special names for 3 specific fixed  days in each month.

The named days were:

-Kalends (1st day of the month)

-Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and October; the 5th in the other months).

-Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and October; the 13th in the other months)

The remaining unnamed days of the month were identified by counting backwards from the Kalends, Nones, or the Ides.

Days in fact were referred to as so many days before the Kalendae, the Nonae, or the Ides, so that in this case the Kalends of October  are counted as one of the 9 days.

The Romans in fact counted inclusively, so in this case, i.e. September 23, they count 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 1 , to get  9 days before the Kalends of October.

Therefore  "Ante Diem Nonum Kalendas Octobres", i.e. A.D. IX KAL. OCT.   means  literally  "On the ninth day before the Kalends of October", while  MMVI p.Chr.n (anno bis millesimo sexto post Christum natum) means :”In the year two thousand  six after Christ’s birth”