The Roman Calendar July/August

The Roman Calendar Just as private religion had regular observances on a daily/annual basis, and irregular observances during crisis and exceptional events, so did the Roman State. From this grew the CALENDAR.

July (Iulius) July is the second of the summer months In July there are the Dog Days – which are the hottest days of the year Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calendar (hence the Julian calendar) in 46 BC. In the process, he renamed this month after himself.

July July 4 – Festival of Pax July 5 – Poplifugia to Jupiter July 6 – Games of Apollo begin July 7 – Nonae Caprotinae to Juno July 8 – Festival of Juno, Games of Apollo continue July 9 – Games of Apollo continue July 10 – Games of Apollo continue July 11 – Games of Apollo continue July 12 – Games of Apollo continue July 13 – Last day of Games of Apollo July 19 – Lucaria to commemorate sack of Rome by the Gauls and the subsequent destruction of the Gallic army, festival of Venus July 21 – Lucaria to commemorate sack of Rome by the Gauls and the subsequent destruction of the Gallic army July 23 – Neptunalia to Neptune July 25 – Furrinalia to Furrina

Ludi Apollinares The weeks of 6 – 13 saw games held in honour of Apollo. These were mostly dramatic performances and gladiatorial combats and had little religious connection with the God

Neptunalia Held on the 23 day of July. Dedicated in his capacity as the god of fresh-water springs in the heat of summer.

August (Augustus) August 1 – Festival of Ceres August 9 – Festival of Sol Indigis August 10 – Festival of Ops August 12 – Festival of Hercules August 13 – Vertumnalia to Vertumnus, Festival of Diana August 15 – Festival of Diana August 17 – Portunalia to Portunes, Tibernalia to Tiberinus August 19 – Vinalia to Jupiter, Vinalia Rustica to Venus August 21 – Consualia to Consus August 23 – Vulcanalia to Vulcan, festival of Juturna August 24 – Festival of Ceres August 25 – Opiconsivia to Ops Consivia August 27 – Volturnalia to Volturnus

Hercules The Greek hero had long been accepted into Roman culture because of the story that he had slain a monster in Cacus on the site long before it existed. He was a popular hero, as he was the original macho male (woman were not allowed to go)

Hercules And popular as an unscrupulous thief Business men would make very large donations to his cult which would pay for these festivals.

Diana On the traditional anniversary of the beginning of her worship Originally her worship symbolised the unification of Romans & Latins under King Servius Tullius.

Diana By Augustus’ time, her cult provided a summer holiday for SLAVES One of the very few days they had off work!

Consualia In hounor of the God Consus, held on the 21 st day His shrine lay in the Circus Maximus and his day saw offerings of grain and horse races

Volcanus Was the hottest time of the year, and was the day for the feast of Vulcan The god of destructive fire at the time when his fires were most feared