Since 1992
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By Barbara McAllister
Word of the Day: July
The month of July was named to honor Julius Caesar, who was born towards the end of the month in 44 B.C. The month was initially called Quintiles, Latin for “fifth,” because July was the fifth month in the Roman calendar. The Roman year initially consisted of 10 months as conceived by Romulus, Rome’s founder. He considered March the first month and named it after Marius, or Mars, the god of war. That made August Sextillia for the sixth month, after the Latin for “sixth,” until it was named for Augustus Caesar in 8 B.C.
July and August are the only two months named after real persons, rather than ancient gods, but that’s really a technicality. After his death, Julius Caesar was officially recognized as a divine being, or god. He was a renowned general and scholar who conquered Gaul and became the dictator of the Roman Empire. Until he was assassinated. Then Augustus, also known as Caesar Augustus or Octavian, came to power and restored the republic of Rome, although he actually retained full power as Emperor and “first citizen.” Augustus was Julius Caesar’s great-nephew and adopted son who was also declared a god upon his death.
The months of September, October, November and December retained the original numbering system after the Latin for seven, eight, nine and 10 (septem, octo, novem, decem). Although subsequent emperors tried to appropriate these months, the new names didn’t stick. Otherwise, we might be celebrating New Year’s in Amazonius, Halloween in Herculeus and Christmas in Exsuperatorius (all-surpassing conqueror) thanks to Commodus, a corrupt megalomaniac who was choked to death by his own fitness coach. Commodus was not declared a god after his death and consistently appears on the Top Five Worst Roman Emperors list, alongside such bad boys as Caligula and Nero.
