Transcript Roman Calendar - Missouri State University

Roman Calendar and Holiday
Entertainments
Julius Caesar, 46/45 BC
developed the modern calendar.
At the time, all relied on the
Ptolemaic cosmic system—
geocentric.
This was not refuted until AD
1543, by Copernicus.
Each Day divided into a TwelveHour Day plus Twelve-Hour Night
Day hours begin at sunrise,
end at sunset.
Variation in hour length from 66-44 minute hours
during the year.
Only two days per year, on the Vernal Equinox
(c. 3/21)and the Autumnal Equinox (c. 9/21)
when hours were 60 minute length.
Table of Daylight Hours at the Solstices
Winter Solstice
Hora
from
to
I.prima
7:33
8:17 a.m.
II.secunda
8:17
9:02 a.m.
III.tertia
9:02
9:46 a.m.
IV.quarta
9:46
10:31 a.m.
V.quinta
10:31
11:15 a.m.
VI.sexta
11:15
12:00 noon
VII.septima
12:00
12:44 p.m.
VIII.octava
12:44
1:29 p.m.
IX.nona
1:29
2:13 p.m
X.decima
2:13
2:58 p.m.
XI.undecima
2:58
3:42 p.m
.XII.duodecima 3:42
4:27 p.m.
Summer Solstice
Hora
from
I.Prima
4:27
II.Secunda
5:42
III.Tertia
6:58
IV.Quarta
8:13
V.Quinta
9:29
VI.Sexta
10:44
VII.Septima 12:00
VIII.Octava
1:15
IX.Nona
2:31
X.Decima
3:46
XI.Undecima 5:02
.XII.duodecima 6:17
to
5:42 a.m.
6:58 a.m.
8:13 a.m.
9:29 a.m.
10:44 a.m.
12:00 noon
1:15 p.m.
2:31 p.m.
3:46 p.m.
5:02 p.m.
6:17 p.m
7:33 p.m.
(Table adapted from Daily Life in Ancient Rome by Jerome Carcopino
pp.167-8.)
Days of the Week
Orginally based on Etruscan system, the
Nunindae: 7 work days plus 1 market day.
In Asia (Persians? Judeans?) there was a 6
day work week plus 1 market day. By AD
100 the 7 day week was common around
the Mediterranean.
(N.B. handout on weekdays)
Calendar’s organization
Three points each month of note:
Kalends on 1st day
Nones on 7th or 9th
Ides on 13th or 15th
Dates reckoned as so many days before Kalens,
Nones, or Ides inclusively.
E.g., March 22 = 10 days before the Kalends of
April.
Julian Calendar per annum
Old System – 12 months of various lengths, 355
days, add extra month of 22/23 days every other
year.
1 Jan. 45 BC, Caesar began 12 month, 365 ¼ ,
with an extra day every 4 years.
(N.B. handout on Roman months)
Each Roman year was named after the consuls
during that year and years were counted ab urbe
condita (from the city’s founding)
Dies Feriati – Festivals in honor of
particular gods – public expense
58- DF in early Republic – rural festivals
49 BC- Senate marked a JC victory by
declaring a new holiday
AD 37- There were 32 ‘Imperial Holidays’
AD 70- Senate formed a committee to
‘purge the calendar befouled by the flattery
of the times and reduce strain on the
treasury.’
Marcus Aurelius finally set limit at 135 total.
Holidays, e.g.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dies Parentales
mid-February
Cara Cognatio
late February
Saturnalia
mid-December
Anna Perenna
mid-March
Merchants honor Mercury May
Fisherman’s holiday
June
Fluteplayer’s holiday
June
etc.
Entertainment – Ludi – State
Funded
Ludi – Games
Ludi Circenses – races
Ludi Scaenici – Theater, dance, mime
Ludi were vowed to gods for general
prosperity, victories, delivery from danger.
E.g. During Augustus’ reign – 56 days of
Ludi Scaenici and 17 days of Ludi
Circenses.
Munera (Gifts) – Privately
funded
Connected with Etruscan rites for the dead.
Nobility offered public gladiatorial fights in
the name of a particular deceased.
e.g. AD 65 Julius Caesar showed 320
fighting pairs in memory of his father.
Augustus presented gladiators on 8
occasions, 10,000 fighters total.
Gladiator’s Ludus
• Gladis – sword
• Familia – training group from same Ludus
Gladiators drawn from criminals,
slaves, prisoners, and some
volunteers (auctorati); had to be 17
• Ludus included training ground, barracks,
lanista (director), physicians, masseurs
After Spartacan revolt of 73 BC. Security
concerns limited no. of gladiators. In
empire only emperor could own ludus.
Training
• Wooden sword and dummy
• Doctor (instructor) added specialized training
e.g. Essedarii – fought from chariots
Eques – fought mounted opponent
Heavy armed – Galli, Samnites, Myrmillones, etc.
Light armed – Thraces fought with sickle & light
shield; Retiarius found with net, trident, and
daggar.
Classed as tirones & veterani – lived in rooms 12’
square, fed barley and beans
Luda – a gladiator’s groupie
AD 80 Flavian Amphitheatre covered 6 acres
surfaced by sand (harena).
Retiarius
and
Secutor