rhm (10/25/82)
(sorry about the trashed partial article) I would like to hear/see some evidence that: 1. back in Roman times, the year began on March 1. It certainly did not during the lifetime of Julius or Augustus, and my best information is that the year began in January as far back as 400 B.C. Clearly, by the names of the months, something must have happened in very early times, but the fact seems to be that the Romans of historical times began the year in January, and that this was changed (in various ways) during the Christian era. For example, when England changed to the Gregorian calendar in 1752, they changed at the same time from a year that began on March 25 to one which began on January 1. Even at that time, the year still began in March in most parts of Italy. 2. that Julius and Augustus both stole days from February to make their months longer. I know this is the accepted story, but since February had 29 days before either Julius or Augustus was born, something doesn't add up. I believe the story actually is true with respect to Augustus.
pcmcgeer (10/27/82)
Sorry, rhm. The Romans didn't even have a modern calendar until Julius. What they had was a joint lunar-solar calendar, with intercalary days, kept in synch by elected officials. This caused the usual abuses (a favorite trick was to lengthen years in which there were elections), with the result that the Roman calendar, which consisted of 12 30-day months plus an arbitrary number of intercalary days, was out of synch with the sun by something like 15 days in 44 BC. Julius Caesar decided that enough was enough, and whipped out the Julian calendar with the help of an Egyptian astronomer whose name escapes me. It was at that time that the Julian calendar was finalized, with the 28 day February (since the Romans considered the month unlucky, according to Asimov). I don't know whether the year began on January 1 or March 1. An excellent discussion of this is in Asimov's collection Of Time, Space, and Other Things. Cheers, Rick.
rhm (10/31/82)
Nothing to be sorry about, pcmgeer. I don't know what you mean by a modern calendar. I suppose Europe didn't have one until Pope Gregory XIII, or perhaps not until this year. Certainly the Romans had a year consisting of months and techniques for keeping it more or less in track with the seasons. I would call it an ancient calendar, actually, not a modern one. As to the other statements you made, I am aware of them and agree with them, but I missed their relevance. As to the number of days per month, you are incorrect (i.e. disagree with both modern and ancient sources) in claiming that the month consisted of 12 30-day months. The correct answers for various eras have already appeared several times on the net. As to the beginning of the year, again both modern and ancient sources agree with no dispute that the year began in January during the entire lifetime of both Julius and Augustus. As to the Encyclopedia extract recently published on the net, as far as I know, almost every "fact" in it is incorrect (i.e. disagrees with both modern and ancient sources). I would be glad to discuss it (off the net) with anyone who cares.