Episode 98: In Rome for the Calends

Episode 98: In Rome for the Calends

From Ask a Medievalist by Ask a Medievalist

January 6, 2026 · 1h 13m · Season 6 · Episode 98

About this episode

The episode explores the complexities and confusions of the Roman calendar system.

Summary It’s January, the first month of the year, ruled by the god Janus, who looks both ways. But a week ago it was December, the…tenth month of the year? What the heck was up with Roman calendars? Join Em and Dr. Jesse to explore why this otherwise competent civilization just fell apart when it came to tracking what day it was. Notes Jörg Rüpke, The Roman Calendar from Numa to Constantine: Time, History, and the Fasti , Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. 1/ Rome’s famous AVC (or AUC today), the abbreviation for Ab urbe condita (from the founding of the city), i.e. 753 BCE. 2/ For example, archeology uses “BP” or “ Before Present .” Geology and astronomy and similar tend to use variations on “ millions of years ago “. 3/ Calends ! Nones! Ides! 4/ December is such a mess! For more on December not being the 10th month of the year (maybe ever!)–and/or the possibility of competing new years (one beginning in January and one in March), see Rüpke (p. 6). 5/ Fasti Antiates Maiores , created 60s or 50s BCE (Rüpke, p. 6), from before the Julian reforms in 46 BCE. January is the first month. Here is the original and here is the…

People in this episode

Host: Em

Guest: Dr. Jesse

Topics covered

  • Roman calendars
  • January
  • December
  • timekeeping
  • historical calendars
  • calendar reforms

Keywords

  • Roman calendar
  • January
  • December
  • timekeeping
  • calendar history
  • Gregorian calendar
  • AUC
  • calends
  • ides

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Roman Calendar from Numa to Constantine: Time, History, and the Fasti

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