AboutMichael Expertise Ph.D. Cand. in Latin. Conversant with all forms of the language: classical, mediaeval, and modern. My purpose is to provide information on the Latin language of all periods. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR TRANSLATIONS. If you need assistance for a translation projects, there are other resources that provide that service, such as Vivat Latina! at www.traditio.com/latin.htm.
Experience I have 45 years of teaching at all levels from public school through university postgraduate. I read, write, and speak Latin daily.
Question how were dates expressed in latin at the time of augustus I mean how would it
be writting out?
Answer Dates, according to the Roman Calendar, are reckoned as follows:--
The first day of the month was called Kalendae (Calends). Kalendae is derived from calāre, to call,--the Calends being the day on which the pontiffs publicly announced the New Moon in the Comitia Calāta. This they did, originally, from actual observation.
On the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, but the thirteenth of the other months, were the Īdūs (Ides), the day of Full Moon.
On the seventh day of March, May, July, and October, but the fifth of the other months, were the Nōnae (Nones or ninths).
From the three points thus determined, the days of the month were reckoned backwards as so many days before the Nones, the Ides, or the Calends. The point of departure was, by Roman custom, counted in the reckoning, the second day being three days before, etc. This gives the following rule for determining the date:--
If the given date be Calends, add two to the number of days in the month preceding,--if Nones or Ides, add one to that of the day on which they fall,--and from the number thus ascertained subtract the given date. Thus,--
VIII. Kal. Feb. (31 + 2 - 8) = Jan. 25.
IV. Nōn. Mār. (7 + 1 - 4) = Mar. 4.
IV. Īd. Sept. (13 + 1 - 4) = Sept. 10. [p. 429]
The name of the month appears as an adjective in agreement with Kalendae, Nōnae, Īdūs.
The days of the Roman month by the Julian Calendar, as thus ascertained, are given in the following table:--
January February March April
1. KAL. IĀN. KAL. FEB. KAL. MĀRTIAE KAL. APRĪLĒS
2. IV. Nōn. Iān. IV. Nōn. Feb. VI. Nōn. Mārt. IV. Nōn. Apr.
3. III. Nōn. Iān. III. Nōn. Feb. V. Nōn. Mārt. III. Nōn. Apr.
4. prīd. Nōn. Iān. prīd. Nōn. Feb. IV. Nōn. Mārt. prīd. Nōn. Apr.
5. NŌN. IĀN. NŌN. FEB. III. Nōn. Mārt. NŌN. APRĪLĒS
6. VIII. Īd. Iān. VIII. Īd. Feb. prīd. Nōn. Mārt. VIII. Īd. Apr.
7. VII. Īd. Iān. VII. Īd. Feb. NŌN. MĀRTIAE VII. Īd. Apr.
8. VI. Īd. Iān. VI. Īd. Feb. VIII. Īd. Mārt. VI. Īd. Apr.
9. V. Īd. Iān. V. Īd. Feb. VII. Īd. Mārt. V. Īd. Apr.
10. IV. Īd. Iān. IV. Īd. Feb. VI. Īd. Mārt. IV. Īd. Apr.
11. III. Īd. Iān. III. Īd. Feb. V. Īd. Mārt. III. Īd. Apr.
12. prīd. Īd. Iān. prīd. Īd. Feb. IV. Īd. Mārt. prīd. Īd. Apr.
13. IDŪS IĀN. ĪDŪS FEB. III. Īd. Mārt. ĪDŪS APRĪLĒS.
14. XIX. Kal. Feb. XVI. Kal. Mārtiās prīd. Īd. Mārt. XVIII. Kal. Māiās.
15. XVIII. Kal. Feb. XV. Kal. Mārtiās ĪDŪS MĀRTIAE XVII. Kal. Māiās.
16. XVII. Kal. Feb. XIV. Kal. Mārtiās XVII. Kal. Aprīlīs. XVI. Kal. Māiās.
17. XVI. Kal. Feb. XIII. Kal. Mārtiās XVI. Kal. Aprīlīs. XV. Kal. Māiās.
18. XV. Kal. Feb. XII. Kal. Mārtiās XV. Kal. Aprīlīs. XIV. Kal. Māiās.
19. XIV. Kal. Feb. XI. Kal. Mārtiās XIV. Kal. Aprīlīs. XIII. Kal. Māiās.
20. XIII. Kal. Feb. X. Kal. Mārtiās XIII. Kal. Aprīlīs. XII. Kal. Māiās.
21. XII. Kal. Feb. IX. Kal. Mārtiās XII. Kal. Aprīlīs. XI. Kal. Māiās.
22. XI. Kal. Feb. VIII. Kal. Mārtiās XI. Kal. Aprīlīs. X. Kal. Māiās.
23. X. Kal. Feb. VII. Kal. Mārtiās X. Kal. Aprīlīs. IX. Kal. Māiās.
24. IX. Kal. Feb. VI. Kal. Mārtiās IX. Kal. Aprīlīs. VIII. Kal. Māiās.
25. VIII. Kal. Feb. V. Kal. Mārtiās VIII. Kal. Aprīlīs. VII. Kal. Māiās.
26. VII. Kal. Feb. IV. Kal. Mārtiās VII. Kal. Aprīlīs. VI. Kal. Māiās.
27. VI. Kal. Feb. III. Kal. Mārtiās VI. Kal. Aprīlīs. V. Kal. Māiās.
28. V. Kal. Feb. prīd. Kal. Mārtiās V. Kal. Aprīlīs. IV. Kal. Māiās.
29. IV. Kal. Feb. [prīd. Kal. Mārt. in IV. Kal. Aprīlīs. III. Kal. Māiās.
30. III. Kal. Feb. leap-year, the VI. III. Kal. Aprīlīs. prīd. Kal. Māiās.
31. prīd. Kal. Feb. Kal. (24th) being prīd. Kal. Aprīlīs. (So June, Sept.,
(So Aug., Dec.) counted twice.] (So May, July, Oct.) Nov.)
