August

[Horatius Piscinus]

Salvete

Towards the end of summer fewer holidays and festivals appear in the Fasti as there was more work to be done in the field and vinyard. Thus our almanac fills with advice to the farmer from Pliny and Virgil, and a little astronomical lore.

SEXTILIS/AUGUSTUS

The month of the sixth Moon after the Vernal Equinox, Sextilis, renamed for the emperor Augustus, is sacred to Ceres.

1 N: KALENDS 30 Jul: Victoria on the Palatine, 294 BCE; Spes in Forum Holitorium, 258 BCE; Victoria Virgo on the Palatine,193 BCE. Birth of emperor Claudius, 10 BCE.

2 IV Non 31 July F: DIES ATER: Cannae, 216 BCE. VENI VEDI VINCI Julius Caesar at Zela, 47 BCE. This is the season, too, for extracting thelees of wine and for boiling defruction; this last done when there is no moon, or if at Full Moon, in the day time (Pliny 18.74).

3 III Non 1 Aug. C: The signs bring rains, as Canis rises (Ovid Fasti 4.904). Supplicia canum, a sacrifice of dog to the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.

4 Pridie Non 2 Aug. C: Moon on the equator. Varro: If, at the fourth day of the Moon, Her horns are erect, there will be great storms at sea; indeed, unless She has a corona.

5 NONAE Augustae 3 Aug F: Salus on the Quirinale, 302 BCE. Fly the fifth; then sprang pale Orcus and Eumenides (Virgil Georgics 1.27).

6 VII Idus 4 Aug F: With Vulcan's aid boil the sweet must juice down and skim with leaves the quivering cauldren's wave (Virgil Georgics 1.295-6).

7 VII Idus 5Aug C: PORTUNALIA:.Purify keys by fire to safeguard the house.

8 VI Idus 6 Aug C: The Moon at perigree lies on the Dragon's tail.

9 V Idus 7 Aug C: Sol Indiges on the Quirinale. Andrianople, 378 CE. Never gather the grape in a heated state (Pliny 18.74)

10 IV Idus 8 Aug. C: Mehercule, 'tis the Perseids' time, damper for camper, and cooler, too.

11 III Idus 9 Aug C: The Lyre by its setting (at daybreak) opens the Autumn.

12 Prid. Idus 10 Aug C: Hercules Magnus Custodius in the Circus Flaminius; Hercules Invictor in the Circus Maximus, 3rd cent. Venus Victrix, 55 BCE; Virtus, Honos, Felicitas in Theatro Marmereo.

If showers prevail at the Dolphin's setting, they will not cease so long as Arcturus is visible.

13 IDIBUS Sextilis 11 Aug. NP: VERTUMNALIA: Marriage of Pomona, goddess of orchards, and Vertumnus, god of the changing seasons. Diana on the Aventine, before 509 BCE; Castor and Pollox in the Circus Maximus, 3rd cent; Fortuna of the Equites, 173 BCE; Felicitas on the Velabrio, 173 BCE; Hercules Victor at Porta Trigeminam; Flora in the Circus Maximus. Grove of the Carmenae (Muses) at Porta Capena. Feriae Jovi.

14 XIX Kal Sept 12 Aug. F: At the FULL MOON the nights are cold in summer.

15 XVIII Kal Sept. 13 Aug. C: Ruddy Ceres in mid heat is mown & in mid heat the parched ears are bruised upon the floor (Virgil Georgics 1.297-8)

16 XVII Kal Sept 14 Aug C: Seventh after tenth is lucky both to set the vine in earth and take and tame the steer, and fix the lashes to the warp (Vir. Geo. 1.284-5).

17 XVI Kal Sept 15 Aug NP: PORTUNALIA: Procession from the Temple of Portunus in the Forum of Holitorium to the Porta Aemilii for the Tibernalia sacrifice, 260 BCE. Sacrifice to Janus Portunes in the Theater of Marcelli, 260 BCE. The flamen Portunalis anoints the arms of Quirinus, while the Roman people, the Quirites, throw keys into the fire for a blessing.

18 XV Kal Sept 16 Aug C: Flora, the feast of flowers: Cut wheat before the grain hardens, just as its colour changes (Columella .2.1)

19 XIV Kal Sept 17 Aug F: VINALIA: Venus in the Circus Maximus, 295; Venus in the Locus Libitinae. The day when would be announced the beginning of the grape harvest. Death of emperor Augustus at Nola, 14 CE.

20 XIII Kal Sept 18 Aug C: Better to begin harvest two days too soon than two days too late (Oracles of Husbandry from Pliny 18.72).

21 XII Kal Sept 19 Aug NP: CONSUALIA: Sacrifices offered to Consus on the Aventine, 273 BCE. In the Circus Maximus fruits of the harvest were placed upon his subterranian altar surrounded by Seia (sown gain seeds), Segetia (grain ripened above ground), and Tutilina (stored grain).

22 XI Kal Sept 20 Aug EN: Aedesia, a cleansing of temples. Fire the naked fields & the light stubble burn with crackling flame (Virgil Georgics 1.84-5)

23 X Kal Sept 2I Aug NP: VOCANALIA: Volcanus in the Circus Flaminius, 3rd cent. A nighttime feast for Ops. Maia on the Capitoline above the Comitia. Nymphae in the Campus Martius.

24 IX Kal Sext 22 Aug C: Opening of the Mundus. The field mustard rabbia should be sown after Vulcanalia. Before housing the corn, a bramble frog should be hung up by one of its hind legs at the threshold of the granary (Pliny 18.73)

25 VIII Kal Sept 23 Aug NP: OPICONSIVA: Sacrifice of the Vestales Virgines to Consiva in the Regia, the pontifex maximus present, veiled in the guise of a Vestal. (Varro Ling. Lat. 6.21).

26 VII Kal Sept 24 Aug C: This is the proper time to gather the elm leaves (for fodder)... while the moon is on the wane they will not decay (Pliny 18.74)

27 VI Kal Sept 25 Aug NP: VOLTURNALIA: Sacrifice to Volturnus at the river.

28 V Kal Sept 26 Aug C: Sol and Luna in the Circus Maximus, 3rd cent. The Arrow sets & Etesian winds cease to blow.

29 IV Kal Sept 27 Aug C: NEW MOON After the setting of Lyre, vetches should be sown, kidney beans & hay grass, while the moon is in conjunction (Pliny 18.74).

30 III Kal Sept 28 Aug C: Now the day grows shorter & more soft the summer's heat (Virgil Georgics 1.313).

31 Prid Kal Sept 29 Aug C: Many the tasks that lightlier lend themselves in chilly night, or when the sun is young (Virgil Georgics 1.287-8).

Valete bene