rfg@hound.UUCP (09/16/83)
Fred was almost right about the names. Actually, April (Aprilis)
was apparently named by the Etruscans and may relate to Aphrodite
the Greek Goddess of Love. May (Maius) may have been named after
Maia, a roman goddess associated with Vulcan. June (Junius) was
named after a roman clan (gens) whose name may have been taken
from Juno, another goddess. Finally, February comes from the
februa, a feast of purification held around Feb. 15.
As for the year's structure itself, consult an encyclopedia for
more detail than anyone wants to know. It's a long messy story
because its a subject that has been of great importance to
important people (like priests, rulers, conquering generals,
popes, mathematicians and astronomers) for a *very* long time.
-Dick Grantges BTL HO