El CALENDARIO romano EXPLICADO: los fasti prejulianos

Introduction to the Roman Theater and Calendar

Overview of the Roman Theater

• Néstor Marquez introduces himself and the location, the Roman Theater of Caesar Augusta, inviting viewers to explore more about this historical site.

The Fasti Antiatiomico Pre-Juliano

• Marquez discusses a replica of the Fasti Antiatiomico Pre-Juliano located in a museum, emphasizing its significance and inviting viewers to visit.

Origins of the Roman Calendar

• The origins of the Roman calendar are explored, with references to how Romans reconstructed their own history regarding timekeeping.

Rómulo's Contribution

• The creation of the calendar is attributed to Romulus, founder of Rome, around 753 BC. It initially followed a lunar cycle starting in March (Martius).

Structure of Early Calendar

• The early calendar consisted of ten months: Martius (March), Aprilis (April), Maius (May), Junius (June), Quintilis (July), Sextilis (August), September, October, November, and December.

Transition from Lunar to Solar Calendar

• The early Roman calendar was deficient with only 305 days. Numa Pompilius later added two months—Januarius and Februarius—to align it better with solar cycles.

January as New Year’s Start

• Following Numa's reforms, January 1 became recognized as the start of the year; however, there were misconceptions about when the year actually began based on historical texts.

Misinterpretations in Historical Texts

• A misreading by historians led some to believe that prior years started in March instead of January due to unclear references in ancient writings.

Conclusion on February's Role

Purification and the Roman Calendar

The Significance of February in the Roman Calendar

• February is dedicated to purification, marking a transition as it prepares for the new year. It is positioned at the end of the calendar year.

• Festivals such as Lupercalia are celebrated during this month, where priests would purify people using whips made from animal skins.

• Other significant festivals include Feralia, honoring the deceased, and Terminalia, which symbolizes the end of the year.

Structure and Evolution of the Roman Calendar

• The Roman calendar was lunisolar with 355 days, slightly deficient compared to solar cycles. This structure dates back to around the 1st century BC.

• The order of months changed between the 5th and 4th centuries BC, establishing January and February as the first two months while maintaining purification festivities.

Intercalation Practices in Ancient Rome

• To align with solar cycles, intercalation was introduced every 19 years; later fixed intercalations were established to add an extra month every two years.

• An intercalary month of 27 days was added after Terminalia on February 24 to regularize annual solar cycles.

Political Manipulation of Timekeeping

• Intercalation practices were often manipulated politically to extend or shorten terms for magistrates based on convenience rather than strict adherence to timekeeping.

• By Julius Caesar's time (1st century BC), discrepancies had caused calendars to be over three months out of sync with natural seasons.

Characteristics of Months in Pre-Julian Calendar

• The pre-Julian calendar featured only months with either 29 or 31 days; February uniquely had 28 days since its inception around the 7th century BC.

• February's association with purification and death connects it symbolically to odd (gods of heaven) versus even numbers (underworld).

Understanding Nunda Cycles

• The nunda cycle consists of an eight-day period used by Romans for counting time inclusively; this system reflects their unique approach to numeration.

Roman Calendar and Its Significance

Structure of the Roman Calendar

• The Roman calendar included a sequence of market days, denoted by letters (C, D, E, F), indicating when markets were held each year.

• Specific letters represented different types of days; for example, 'n' indicated days dedicated to the gods where certain activities were restricted.

• The term "nefasto" originated from these sacred days dedicated to divine worship but later took on negative connotations in Christian contexts.

Religious Observances and Social Implications

• Days marked as 'n' were reserved for veneration of deities, prohibiting commercial work and economic transactions during these times.

• The calendar primarily served the elite classes in Rome; rural individuals often could not adhere strictly to its dictates due to agricultural responsibilities.

Key Day Types in the Calendar

• The letter 'c' signified comitialis days meant for Senate meetings, emphasizing the calendar's focus on urban governance.

• Other designations like 'f' (fas) allowed for social and commercial activities while still honoring religious practices at specific times.

Monthly Structure and Important Dates

• The month was structured around key dates: Calendas (1st), Nonas (5th or 7th), and Idus (13th or 15th), with potential additional significant dates lost over time.

• Romans counted down to these important dates inclusively, which could lead to confusion regarding monthly transitions if not carefully noted.

Festivals and Cultural Significance

• Various festivals such as Quirinalia celebrated deities like Quirinus; other notable events included Ceres’ fairs and celebrations marking Rome's foundation.

Insights into the Pre-Julian Calendar and Its Historical Context

Overview of Significant Dates in Roman History

• The discussion highlights various important dates in Roman history, including the "dies alienis," marking Rome's defeat at the Battle of the River Alia in July.

• Notably, certain days are referred to as "atter los 10 atros," described as some of the most dreadful days of the year when Romans faced significant troubles.

The Discovery and Importance of the Fasti Antat

• A remarkable calendar painted on stucco was discovered, containing over 300 fragments that were pieced together to reconstruct a complete calendar.

• This calendar is significant as it represents one of the few pre-Julian calendars preserved to date, providing insights into ancient Roman timekeeping.

Transition to the Julian Calendar

• The narrative transitions to discuss events leading up to 46 BC, noted as a year filled with confusion due to intercalary months added for seasonal alignment with civil calendars.

• On January 1st, 45 BC, Julius Caesar's reform led to the implementation of the Julian calendar, marking a pivotal change in how time was measured.

Future Discussions on Calendar Reforms

• The speaker indicates plans for future discussions regarding Julius Caesar's reforms and their lasting impact on modern calendars.