The document summarizes the Roman calendar system. It discusses the Kalends, Nones, and Ides, which fell on the 1st, 5th/7th, and 13th/15th of each month respectively. It then explains how Romans counted inclusively backward from these dates to specify a date, such as "6 days before the Ides of March." Finally, it provides Latin terms like a.d. and pridie to denote dates before the Kalends, Nones, or Ides and gives examples of converting English dates to their Roman equivalents.

1. Roman Calendar
Kalends 1st of the month
Nones 5th or 7th of the month
Ides 13th or 15th of the month
Most of the time the Nones and the Ides fall on the 5th or 13th of the
month respectively.
They fall on the 7th or the 15th of the month ONLY in the months of:
March, May, July, October
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2. Roman Dates
The specific date is indicated by counting toward the next
important/key date on the calendar.
Instead of counting from the 1st of the month, to the
2nd, to the 3rd... etc.
Romans counted: 5 days until the Kalends of April, 4 days
until the Kalends of April, etc.
The day before the Kalends of April is called just
that: The day before the Kalends of April.
The Romans count INCLUSIVELY. This means that they count
the day they are on AND the end date. So:
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3. March 10: 6 days before the Ides of March
March 11: 5 days before the Ides of March
March 12: 4 days before the Ides of March
March 13: 3 days before the Ides of March
March 14: the day before the Ides of March
March 15: the Ides of March
March 16: 17 days before the Kalends of April
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4. In Latin
Ante diem + (acc.) = a.d.= a.d. VI Idus Martias
6 days before the Ides of March = March 10
pridie + (acc.) = pr. = pridie Idus Martias
the day before the Ides of March = March 14
abl. of time = (abl.) = Idibus Martiis
the Ides of March = March 15
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5. Julian Calendar
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6. Exercise 36 c
Give the Roman equivalents for the following dates:
a.d. vii Idu
1. Today's date: March 9, 2009
2. Your own birthday This varies
3. The foundation of Rome (April 21, 753 B.C.E.)
4. Cicero's birthday (January 3, 106 B.C.E.)
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7. 5. The date of the assassination of
Julius Caesar (March 15, 44 B.C.E.)
6. Martial's birthday (March 1, A.D. 40)
7. The date of Emperor Titus' accession
to power (June 23, A.D. 79)
8. The date of the eruption of Mount
Vesuvius (August 24, A.D. 79)
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