pr. Id. Aug.
Julian date · ≈ Aug 13 on our calendar
prid. id. aug.
Constans and Constantius ruled that councillors of all cities should not be troubled with burdens for the emperor's private estates, since it was enough if they performed their cities' duties properly.
Background
It is one of many attempts to keep councillors able to carry their main load, the taxes and services of their towns.
Rome today (1991–2020 avg): 31°/20°C (88°/68°F) · rain 13% of days
Columella
Autumn begins. (De Re Rust. 11.2)
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.
Sources: Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.12 · Columella 11.2
Non audire, Celer, sed recitare cupis.
“You do not want to listen, Celer, but to recite.”
