Chapter 36
Dates
Special Days
1.
Kalends – Kalendae,-arum, f. pl – 1st
of the month
2.
Nones – Nonae,-arum, f. pl. – 5th of
the month
3.
Ides – Idus, Iduum, f. pl. – 13th of
the month
Ianuarius
Februarius
*Martius
Aprilis
*Maius
Iunius
*Iulius
Augustus
September
*October
November
December
Kalends
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
Nones
5th
5th
7th
5th
7th
5th
7th
5th
5th
7th
5th
5th
Ides
13th
13th
15th
13th
15th
13th
15th
13th
13th
15th
13th
13th
The ablative case is used for dates that
coincides with one of the special days (ablative
of time when)
Kalendis Aprilibus, on April 1
Nonis Februariis, on February 5
Idibus Martiis, on March 15
pridie + accusative indicates the day before one of the
special days:
pridie Kalendas Maias, (lit. on the day before May 1) on
April 30
pridie Idus Octobres, on October 14
1.
pridie Nonas Novembres __________________
2.
pridie Idus Martias ____________________
3.
pridie Kalendas Ianuarias __________________
A phrase beginning ante diem (a.d.) is used to express
all other dates:
ante diem iv Kalendis Decembres (lit. on the 4th day
before December 1st)on November 28th
When calculating, you should include the special
day and count backwards
(e.g. Dec. 1, Nov. 30, Nov. 29, Nov. 28)
ante diem viii Idus Martias (lit. on the 8th day before
the Ides of March) on March 8th
1.
a.d. xi Kal. Apr. _________________________
2.
a.d. x Id. Feb __________________________
3.
a.d. iii Non. Maias _______________________
The Romans designated years by the names of
the consuls, the chief Roman magistrates, who
were elected annually. The ablative case is
used:
Antonio et Cicerone consulibus = 63 B.C.
consul, consulis, m. consul
They also designated years by counting from
the foundation of Rome, which was set at a year
corresponding to 753 B.C. These dates were
expressed with the initials A.U.C. (ab urbe
condita, from the foundation of the city)
condo, condere, condidi, conditus, to found
To convert a Roman year to our system, follow
these rules:
1.
If the A.U.C. date is 753 or less, subtract
is from 754 and you will obtain the B.C.
date.
2.
If the A.U.C date is 754 or greater,
subtract 753 from it and you will obtain an
A.D. date.
Examples:
691 A.U.C. (less than 753)
754
-691______
63 B.C.
833 A.U.C. (greater than 754)
833
-753_____
80 A.D.
To convert a year designated according to our
system to a Roman year, follow these rules:
a.
If the year is B.C., subtract it from 754.
b.
If the year is A.D., add it to 753.
Examples:
754
____ -63 B.C.___
691 A.U.C.
753
_____+80 A.D.___
833 A.U.C.
Exercise A:
Give the English equivalents for the following dates:
1.
Kalendis Ianuariis
2.
Kalendis Decembribus
3.
Kalendis Iuniis
4.
Nonis Augustus
5.
Nonis Octorbribus
6.
Idibus Martiis
7.
Idibus Maiis
8.
Idibus Septembribus
9.
pridie Kalendas Februarias
10.
pridie Kalendas Iulias
11.
pridie Nonas Augustas
12.
pridie Idus Ianuarius
13.
pridie Idus Novembres
14.
ante diem iv Kalendas Iunias
15.
ante diem iii Nonas Iulias
16.
a.d. vi Kal. Apr.
17.
a.d. vi Kal. Maias
18.
a.d. xii Kal. Feb.
19.
a.d. vi Non. Mart.
20.
a.d. iv Id. Feb.
Exercise B:
Give Roman equivalents for the following dates:
1.
Today’s date
2.
Your own birthday
3.
The foundation of Rome (April 21, 753 B.C.)
4.
Cicero’s birthday (January 3. 106 B.C.)
5.
The date of the assassination of Julius Caesar
(March 15, 44 B.C.)
6.
Martial’s birthday (March 1, A.D. 40)
7.
The date of the Emperor Titus’ accession to
power (June 23, A.D. 79)
8.
The date of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
(August 24, A.D. 79)
More Practice
1.
Kalendis Octobribus
2.
a.d. xii Kalendas Octobres
3.
Nonis Martiis
4.
a.d. iv Nonas Septembres
5.
pridie Nonas Martias
6.
a.d. iii Idus Martias
7.
Idibus Februarius
8.
pridie Kalendas Octobres
9.
Nonis Septembribus
10.
Idibus Octobribus