The Roman calendar was the calendar used in ancient Rome and during the time of the Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire.
- Months: The Roman calendar originally had ten months. The names of some of these months survive in the names of our current calendar months such as March, May, and June. Some months were named numerically, such as Quintilis (fifth month) and Sextilis (sixth month).
- Days: The Roman month was divided into three parts called kalends, nones, and ides. The kalends was the first day of the month marking the start of the month. The nones fell on the 5th in months with 29 or 30 days, or the 7th day in months with 31 days. The ides occurred on the 13th in months with 29 or 30 days or the 15th in months with 31 days.
- Leap Year: To keep the calendar in alignment with the solar year, an occasional intercalary month was added. This practice, however, was not regularized and was often subject to political manipulation.
- Roman New Year: The Roman New Year originally occurred on March 1st, but it was later moved to January 1st.
What are the Months in the Roman Calendar?
The early Roman calendar had ten months totaling 304 days, with the names reflecting their numerical position in the calendar year. The Roman calendar months underwent changes over time, and the following are the original months: Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, and December.
| # | Month | Days in a Month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martius (March) | 31 |
| 2 | Aprilis (April) | 30 |
| 3 | Maius (May) | 31 |
| 4 | Junius (June) | 30 |
| 5 | Quintilis (July) | 31 |
| 6 | Sextilis (August) | 30 |
| 7 | September (September) | 30 |
| 8 | October (October) | 31 |
| 9 | November (November) | 30 |
| 10 | December (December) | 30 |
| Total Days | 304 | |
The original ten months did not cover the entire solar year, leaving a gap of about 61 days. The Romans did not officially count the days during this period. In about 713 BC, King Numa Pompilius added January and February bringing the total number of months to 12.
What are the Disadvantages of the Roman calendar?
The Roman calendar, particularly in its earlier forms before the reforms by Julius Caesar and the transition to the Julian calendar, had several disadvantages:
- Lunar Basis and Inaccuracy: The original Roman calendar was lunar-based, and months were roughly tied to the phases of the moon. This made it difficult to synchronize the calendar with the solar year.
- Lack of a Standard Year Length: The early Roman calendar did not have a fixed length for the year. The concept of a standard year with a consistent number of days was not established until the Julian calendar reforms.
- Missing Winter Days: The original Roman calendar had only ten months, with a gap of about 61 days during the winter season when no official counting of days took place. This created confusion and did not account for the full solar year.
- Religious and Agricultural Inconsistencies: The lack of a standardized calendar created inconsistencies in religious and agricultural practices. Festivals and ceremonies tied to specific seasons and celestial events lost their alignment, causing disruptions in religious observances and agricultural activities.
These disadvantages ultimately prompted the need for calendar reforms, such as those carried out by Julius Caesar with the introduction of the Julian calendar in 45 BC, and later adjustments with the Gregorian calendar in 1582. These reforms aimed to create a more accurate and standardized system for measuring time.
Who is King Numa Pompilius?
King Numa Pompilius, traditionally believed to have ruled Rome from 715 BC to 673 BC, was the second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus. According to Roman mythology and historical traditions, Numa Pompilius is credited with introducing various religious, legal, and calendrical reforms during his reign.
One of the significant contributions attributed to Numa Pompilius is the reform of the Roman calendar. The original Roman calendar was a lunar calendar, which had ten months and a total of 304 days in a year. This calendar did not align well with the solar year, resulting in a misalignment with the agricultural seasons.
Numa Pompilius is said to have added two months, January and February, to the calendar. This reform increased the total number of months to twelve and brought the total number of days in a year to 355. With this adjustment, he attempted to synchronize the calendar more closely with the solar year and address the agricultural and religious needs of the Roman people.
Numa Pompilius is also associated with the establishment of various religious institutions and practices in Rome. He is credited with the foundation of numerous temples, the establishment of the office of pontifex maximus (the chief priest), and the creation of the Vestal Virgins, a group of priestesses responsible for maintaining the sacred fire in the Temple of Vesta.