Modern Date : August 1st Market Day

The Kalends of August

    This is one of the dies fasti (F), on which legal actions are permitted.

    This day was sacred to the lares compitales, the lords of the crossroads. On this day temples were dedicated to Spes, the Victories and to Mars Ultor. Spes was the abstract deification of Hope.
    The emperor Claudius was born at Lugdunum (Lyons) in 10 BCE.
    The emperor Pertinax was born at Alba Pompeia in Liguria in 126 AD.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.


Modern Date : August 2nd Market Day

ante diem IV Nonas August
Fourth Day to the Nones of August

    This is one of the dies fasti (F), on which legal actions are permitted.

    On this day in 216 BCE, the Romans suffered a crushing defeat by Hannibal at Cannae. Some 50,000 of their best soldiers were killed and Rome lost control of most of Italy, becoming almost under seige in their own city.
    In 49 BCE this day, Julius Caesar defeated Pompey's generals Afranius and Petreius at Lerida in Spain.
    In 47 BCE this day, Julius Caesar defeated Pharnaces at Zela and uttered the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici."
    On this night the constellation Lyra reaches its culmination, or highest point in the sky, about 10 pm. Lyra was ancinet even to the Greeks, who recognized its' shape as distinctly that of a lyre, with a crossbeem for the strings and a tortoise-shell body. It rises in the northeast part of the sky for northern observers, and it heralded the arrival of spring to the ancients.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.


Modern Date : August 3rd Market Day

ante diem III Nonas August
Third Day to the Nones of August

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    On this day in 178 AD, the emperor Marcus Aurelius left Rome to fight the barbarians on the Danube. He would never return.
    In Greece, this day was the Festival of Artemis, the goddess the Romans called Diana. Diana was the goddess of the moon and was often called Diana Lucifera, Diana the Bringer of Light. The Greeks knew her as Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo, and daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was born under Mount Cynthus in Delos and hence was also called Cynthia and Delia. She was the goddess of hunting, carried a bow and quiver like her brother, and was especially fond of music and dance. Diana was never conquered by love, and submitted to no man, hence she was the goddess of a "chaste" moon and, except for her family, tolerated only female companions. Her priestesses were all chaste.


Modern Date : August 4th Market Day

pridie Nonas August
Day before the Nones of August

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.


Modern Date : August 5th Market Day

Nonas August
The Nones of August

    This is one of the dies fasti (F), on which legal actions are permitted. The rex sacrorum would appear on the steps of the Capitol on this day and announce to the people what days of the months would be holidays.

    This day was dedicated to Salus, the abstract deification of Health and Wealth. From the name salus comes our word salubrious, meaning good health. A temple to Salus was consecrated on the Quirinal.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    This is the 1st day of the 9th month in the 13 month Druidic calendar. The sequent letter for the month is C (or CC or Q) which is symbolic of the tree Nut, Apple, Sorb, or Quince.


Modern Date : August 6th Market Day

ante diem VIII Idus August
Eighth Day to the Ides of August

    This is one of the dies fasti (F), on which legal actions are permitted.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    This day was the Festival of Thoth in Egypt. Thoth was the god of Wisdom and Writing. In a prayer to Thoth the Egyptians would say: Suffer me to relate thy feats in whatever land I may be, Then the multitude of men shall say, "How great are the things that Thoth has done."



Modern Date : August 7th Market Day

ante diem VII Idus August
Seventh Day to the Ides of August

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    The emperor Trajan died this day from a stroke, as had his predecessor Nerva, at Selinus in Asia Minor, in 117 AD. He was 63.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    In Egypt, this was the celebrated day known as The Breaking of the Nile, or the Opet Festival. The original festival lasted 11 days but was later extended to 27 days. The statue of Amun, the state god of Egypt, was taken in a floating procession from Karnak to Luxor.



Modern Date : August 8th Market Day

ante diem VI Idus August
Sixth Day to the Ides of August

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    Today continues the Opet Festival in Egypt, in which the statue of Amun was ferried in a procession from Karnak to Luxor.


Modern Date : August 9th Market Day

ante diem V Idus August
The Festival of the Sun

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    This day is sacred to Sol Indiges, the solar deity. A public sacrifice was made by the priests on the Quirinal. The animals sacrificed by the temples were provided by the wealthy, or by temple donations, and afterwards they were used to provide free meals to the people attending the ceremonies, or to any poor or homeless people in the streets.
    On this day in 48 BCE, Julius Caesar defeated Pompey's troops at Pharsalus, causing Pompey to flee to Egypt.
    This was the day in 378 AD that the combined forces of the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths inflicted a crushing defeat on the Romans at Hadrianople, and killed the emperor Valens. The empire never recovered militarily and severe decline set in after this. The event had been entirely unnecessary -- the Visigoths had agreed to an alliance in exchange for land, after being forced out by the Huns, but corrupt Roman officials had so exploited and abused them that they became outraged.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.


Modern Date : August 10th Market Day

ante diem IV Idus August
Fourth Day to the Ides of August

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    Today continues the Opet Festival in Egypt, in which the statue of Amun was ferried in a procession from Karnak to Luxor.


Modern Date : August 16th Market Day

ante diem XVII Kalendas September
Seventeenth Day to the Kalends of September

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    Today continues the Opet Festival in Egypt, in which the statue of Amun was ferried in a procession from Karnak to Luxor.


Modern Date : August 17th Market Day

The Portunalia

    This day (NP), is for special religious observance.

    The Portunalia is a festival sacred to Portunis, an alter-ego of the god Janus. The temple of Portunis was built at the port on the Tiber, and This is one of thelso called the Tiberinalia, or the festival of the Tiber river, as Portunis is the god of the Tiber. Portunis is also known as the god of keys, or the opening of locked gates, while as Janus he was the god of doors. On this day old keys were burned in the hearth as a sacrificial offering.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    Today continues the Opet Festival in Egypt, in which the statue of Amun was ferried in a procession from Karnak to Luxor.


Modern Date : August 18th Market Day

ante diem XV Kalendas September
Fifteenth Day to the Kalends of September

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.


Modern Date : August 19th Market Day

The Vinalia

    This is one of the dies fasti (F), on which legal actions are permitted.

    This day was known as the Vinalia Rustica or the Vinalia Altera. On this day the first new wine was brought into the city. This day was a holiday specifically for the growers or kitchen-gardeners (holitores), and feasts and wine drinking were the order of the day.
    The emperor Probus was born at Sirmium (near Belgrade) this day in 232 AD. At age 50 he was murdered near Sirmium and buried there.
    Augustus died this day at Nola in Campania in 14 AD. He was 75.
    This day was also the dies natalis for the temple of Venus.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    In Egypt, this was celebrated as New Year's Day.


Modern Date : August 20th Market Day

ante diem XIII Kalendas September
Thirteenth Day to the Kalends of September

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    In ancient Mesopotamia, this was Innana's Day. Innana was the mother goddess, the queen of heaven and earth.


Modern Date : August 21st Market Day

The Consualia

    This day (NP), is for special religious observance.

    The Consualia is a festival which honors Consus, the god who protects the harvest which is now in storage at this time. The harvest grains were stored in underground vaults, and the temple of Consus was also underground. This shrine was covered with earth all year and was only uncovered for this one day. Mars, as a protector of the harvest, was also honored on this day, as were the lares, the household gods that individual families held sacred. Chariot races were held this day in the Circus Maximus, which included an odd race in which chariots were pulled by mules. As part of the ceremonies, the rex sacrorum would appear in full garb riding his horse-drawn chariot once around the Circus Maximus.
    On this day the Rape of the Sabine women took place under Romulus. Seeing a need to increase the population of Rome, Romulus authorized each Roman to forcibly take women from the visiting Sabines as their wives, but only as appropriate to their social status. A war to avenge this insult was avoided when the kidnapped Sabine women intervened and voluntarilly accepted their Roman husbands, who had been careful to treat them honorably.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.


Modern Date : August 22nd Market Day

ante diem XI Kalendas September
Eleventh Day to the Kalends of September

    This is one of then endotercisus (EN), on which mornings could be for voting and afternoons not, or vice-versa.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    In Greece, this day was known as Aedesia's Day.


Modern Date : August 23rd Market Day

The Volcanalia

    This day (NP), is for special religious observance.

    The Volcanalia is a festival sacred to Volcanus (Vulcan), the fire god. On this day great bonfires were lit at night in his honor and feasts were held. The Romans learned the hard way that temples to Volcanus had to be built outside the city, as the bonfires and festivals could get out of control by excited participants. Into the fire the Romans would throw pro animus humanis fishes from the Tiber that were caught in the area Vulcani. Volcanoes, earthquakes and lightning were all the domain of Volcanus, and these occurences were often seen as prodigies to the Romans, and were duly reported to the senate.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    Agricola died this day in 93 AD.
    On this day in 410 AD the Visigoths under Alaric, who was killed in the attack, capture and sack Rome. The rape and pillage went on for three days.
    In Greece this day was known as both the Day of Moira and the Day of Nemesea. Moira (Moros) was Doom, one of the twelve Fates. Nemesis (Adrasteia) was Revenge, one of the twelve Fates.


Modern Date : August 24th Market Day

ante diem XI Kalendas September
The Festival of Vulcan

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    This day continued the Volcanalia, though unamed as such, and the fires of the previous night were allowed to burn out, or put out if they had been buildings in the city. The rite of mundus was performed this day, in which an effigy representing the sky was placed upside down in a pit and and covered with a large stone called the lapis manalis. Three times a year, including today, the stone was removed to allow the spirits of the underworld access to the upper regions of the earth.
    This day is also sacred to Ops, a goddess representing the fertility of the earth, also known as Consivia, whose festival begins tomorrow.
    On this day in 79 AD, at 1 PM in the afternoon, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The fact that this occurred during the Festival of Vulcan was no coincidence to the Romans. Pliny the Elder died during the eruption at Pompeii. He was on a boat that had made two trips to rescue citizens, but it did not make it back from a third attempt. He was an accomplished writer of Roman history and culture, and his son, Pliny the Younger followed in his footsteps.
    The sack of Rome in 410 AD by the Visigoths continued for the second day today.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    In Egypt, this day was the Nativity of Osiris. Osiris was son of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut, and the brother of Isis. Osiris was the god of the underworld and of vegetation.

Modern Date : August 25th Market Day

The Opiconsivia

    This day (NP), is for special religious observance.

    This day is sacred to Ops Consivia, or the earth-goddess, is associated with the god Consus, but is considered to be the wife of Saturn. The shrine to Ops Consivia was located in the Regia and on this day the Vestal Virgins would have opened the room of sacred objects and performed rites unknown. The purpose of the rites was to ensure the fertility of the earth.
    The Council of Nicea, in Greece, met this day in 325 and decided which books would form the Gospels and the New Testament, and which gospels and books would be excluded or destroyed. Among the losers were the Gospel of Thomas and the mystic revelation of John. The Gospel of Thomas, although containing the complete spoken words of Jesus and predating the other four gospels, made no mention of any miracles -- as if they had never happened. The Christians needed miracles to prove their claim that Jesus was actually the son of God, and so the Gospel of Thomas was discredited and destroyed. Two partial copies survived and were found buried in the Israeli desert in the 1940s. In spite of many objections, the council of Nicea voted to add the Torah and several selected books of the Old Testament to the newly named Bible, so as to give it the appearance of authenticity.
    The Vandal Stilicho, who controlled the forces of the Western Roman empire was murdered this day in 408 AD.
    The sack of Rome by the Visigoths continued for a third day today in 410 AD. When the rape and pillage was over a baggage train of spoils and enslaved Romans 10 miles long left Rome and headed north.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman
    In Egypt, this day was the Nativity of Horus. Horus was son of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut, and the brother of Isis.


Modern Date : August 26th Market Day

ante diem VII Kalendas September
Seventh Day to the Kalends of September

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    On this day in 55 BCE, Julius Caesar invaded and conquered Britain. He was not the first Latin on the island -- a colonizer with the eponymous name Brutus had landed there centuries earlier, according to legend.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    In Egypt, this day was the Nativity of Seth. Seth was son of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut, and the brother of Isis. He was the god of chaos.


Modern Date : August 27th Market Day

The Volturnalia

    This day (NP), is for special religious observance.

    The Volturnalia is a festival dedicated to Volturnus, the river god (of the Tiber) and an alter-ego of Janus. Volturnus was the father of the goddess Juturna and they were both honored this day with feasting, wine-drinking and games.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    In Egypt, this day was known as the Nativity of Isis. Although originally a foreign deity, the worship of Isis became popular among many Romans. Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut.


Modern Date : August 28th Market Day

ante diem V Kalendas September
Fifth Day to the Kalends of September

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    St. Augustine died on this day in 490. The author of the impossible Christian wet dream "The City of God" spent his days in North Africa attending gladiatorial games, where he was admittedly addicted to the sight of death in the arena.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    In Egypt, this day was the Nativity of Nephthys. Nephthys was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut, and the sister of Isis. She was the goddess of the dead.


Modern Date : August 29th Market Day

ante diem IV Kalendas September
Fourth Day to the Kalends of September

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.
    This was New Year's Day of the Alexandrian Year, as it was known in Egypt from 26 BCE onwards.


Modern Date : August 30th Market Day

ante diem III Kalendas September
Third Day to the Kalends of September

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    On this day in 30 BCE, Cleopatra committed suicide, after hearing of Mark Antony's death and Octavian's plans to parade her as a captive through the streets of Rome. Cleopatra was a Greek by descent, being of the family of Ptolemy, one of Alexander's generals. Her son, fathered by Julius Caesar, did not survive.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.


Modern Date : August 31st Market Day

pridie Kalendas September
Day Before the Kalends of September

    This is one of the dies comitiales (C), when committees of citizens could vote on political or criminal matters.

    This was the birthday of Caligula, the mad emperor. He was born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus at Antium (Anzio). On this day in 40 AD he returned from his expedition to the channel, where he collected seashells. He celebrated a triumph over Poseidon for this victory.
    The emperor Commodus was born this day at Lanuvium in 161 AD. He was the first emperor to fight seriously in the gladiatorial games.
    August was originally called Sextilis, or the sixth month (after March). It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the most revered of the Roman emperors.


Mois de Septembre