Abstract
We began by stating that the Numan calendar is “the oldest Western calendar with a clear link to astronomy.”
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Notes
- 1.
The winter solstice may be observed both in the East when the Sun rises, and in the West when it sets; the morning rise of Arcturus is observed by looking solely East for the star that rises just before the Sun. But the vespertine rise of Arcturus may be seen only by looking both West, as the sun sets, and East, where the star rises: the “small hole” Ovid mentions (see Chap. 25) must be on the highest point of the Jupiter Capitoline temple roof (Fig. 25.3).
- 2.
In its etymological sense, the Greek noun phainomenon, “that which appears, that which may be observed”, in astronomy is more extensively interpreted as “that which may be observed and studied through direct observation.”
- 3.
See Magini 2011.
- 4.
Censorinus, de die natali, 20.2-4 recalls that the ten-month long Romulean year was “like the year of the Albans, from which the Roman year was descended, ut tunc Albanis erat, unde orti Romani”. And Festus (150), representing Verrius Flaccus, says: “The month of March marked the start of the year in Latium, and did so after the foundation of Rome, Martius mensis initium fuit anni et in Latio et post Romam conditam.” See Warde-Fowler 1908, p. 5, no. 1.
As we saw, Censorinus goes on to explain: “These 10 months lasted 304 days, distributed thusly: March 31, April 30, May 31, June 30, Quintile [i.e. July] 31, Sextile [i.e. August] and September 30 each, October 31, and November and December 30. The four longer months were known as whole months; the other 6 months were known as incomplete months. Afterwards, Numa […] created 12 months and 355 days […], Hi decem menses dies CCCIIII hoc modo habebant: Martius XXXI, Aprilis XXX, Maius XXXI, Iunius XXX, Quintilis XXXI, Sextilis et September tricenos, October XXXI, November et December XXX; quorum quattuor maiores pleni, ceteri sex cavi vocabantur. Postea sive a Numa […] XII facti sunt menses et dies CCCLV […]”
Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.12.3 writes: “But Numa, his successor […] added […], Sed secutus Numa […] addidit […]” before continuing as Censorinus does.
- 5.
Plutarch, Romanae Quaestiones, 19: Ορα δε μη μαλλον ο Νομας τη ϕυσει προσηκουσαν αρχην ελαβε του ετους ως προς ημας. καθολου μεν γαρ ουδεν εστι ϕυσει των εν κυκλω περιϕερομενων ουτ εσατον ουτε πρωτον, νομω δ αλλην αλλοι του ρονου λαμβανουσιν αρην. αριστα δ οι την μετα τροπας χειμερινας λαμβανοντες, οπηνικα του προσω βαδιζειν πεπαυμενος ο ηλιος επιστρεϕει και ανακαμπτει παλιν προς ημας.
- 6.
In the Romulean year: 17 days in March + 273 days in April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December = 290 days. In the Numan year: 269 days in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November + 21 days in December = 290 days.
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Magini, L. (2015). Reform of the Romulean Year and the Transition to the Numan Year. In: Stars, Myths and Rituals in Etruscan Rome. Space and Society. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07266-1_27
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