MEMENTO MORI · SERA NIMIS VITA EST CRASTINA VIVE HODIE · NON EST VIVERE SED VALERE VITA EST · HOMINEM PAGINA NOSTRA SAPIT · SVMMVM NEC METVAS DIEM NEC OPTES · HOC EST VIVERE BIS VITA POSSE PRIORE FRVI · MEMENTO MORI · QVOD SIS ESSE VELIS NIHILQVE MALIS · SPQR
Hadrian was governor of Syria when Trajan fell ill and died at Selinus in Cilicia. According to the Historia Augusta, the letter announcing his adoption reached him on 9 August, and the news of Trajan's death on the 11th, which he chose as his dies imperii.
The same passage reports a widespread rumour that the adoption was staged by Trajan's widow Plotina after his death.
Ancient source: Historia Augusta, Hadrian 4.6–7 (III id. Aug.) · Reference
☁ Rome today (1991–2020 avg): 31°/20°C (88°/68°F) · rain 11% of days
Rome in AugustThe hottest weeks raised the risk of fire in the dense city, especially in…
Fields & crops
Columella marks autumn beginning around 12 August; straw and stubble were gathered, figs and early fruit picked, and vineyards readied for the vintage per Columella 11.2.
Courts & law
A quieter legal month; many elite Romans were in the countryside. Under the empire, the imperial household's slaves and freedmen kept administration running.
Senate & politics
Renamed from Sextilis in 8 BC for Augustus, who had won his greatest successes in this month, including the capture of Alexandria in 30 BC per Macrobius 1.12.35.
Military
Armies stayed in the field; disease in hot camps was often as dangerous as battle modern view based on ancient accounts.
Festivals & religion
Portunalia (17 Aug.), Vinalia Rustica (19 Aug.), Consualia (21 Aug.), Vulcanalia (23 Aug.), when small fish were offered to Vulcan to ward off fire, and Opiconsivia (25 Aug.) per Varro and Festus. On the Ides, Diana's day, enslaved people had a holiday per Festus and Plutarch.
Daily life
The hottest weeks raised the risk of fire in the dense city, especially in timber-framed insulae; Augustus set up the vigiles, a fire brigade of freedmen, in AD 6 per Suetonius and Dio. Fevers peaked in late summer and early autumn; the sick poor relied on home remedies and shrines more than on doctors modern view.
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