This Week: Roman New Year
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Posted by Robin Fowler Feb 25, 2007 |
February 25, A.D. 138 - Roman Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius on this date, securing his choice for the next Emperor of Rome. As the next Roman Emperor, Antoninus Pius was the fourth of the Five Good Emperors.
February 26, 747 B.C. - According to the Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemaeus, this was the first day of a new era, the Nabonassar Era. This date marked the founding of a Babylonian kingdom by Nabonassar, which was considered the onset of the Neo-Babylonian Dynasty. This date was used as a starting point for time related calculations by many ancient astronomers, and was considered New Year's Day on the Egyptian calendar.
February 27, A.D. 272 - On this date, future Roman Emperor Constantine I was born. Constantine was a notable Emperor for several reasons, including:
- He issued the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, allowing Christianity to be openly worshipped for the first time,
- He moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium (later known as Constantinople), effectively beginning the Byzantine Period,
- He was the first official Christian Emperor, converting near the time of his death in A.D. 339.
February 27 - The Roman festival of the First Equirria was held on this date. In celebration of the Roman war god Mars, there were horse races held at the Campus Martius (the field of Mars) and priests purified the Roman army through certain rites, all in an effort to boost the public's and the military's morale.
March 1, A.D. 286 - Roman Emperor Diocletian promotes Maximian to Caesar, and they becoem co-Emperors of Rome.
March 1, A.D. 293 - Co-Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian name Chlorus and Galerius as Caesares, beginning the Roman Tetrarchy, a system of four leaders, which lasts until A.D. 313.
March 1 - The Roman Festival of the Matronalia was held on this date. To honor the Roman goddess of childbirth, Juno, women celebrated at the Temple of Juno Lucina on the Esquiline Hill. Women also received gifts and prayers from their husbands and daughters at home.
March 1 - According to the Roman calendar, this was New Year's Day; and the sacred fires of Rome were renewed at the Temple of Vesta.