a.d. XVII Kal. Sept.
Julian date · ≈ Aug 17 on our calendar
xvii kal. sept.
A law issued at Rome ordered that whoever heard of, caught or seized a man stained by sorcery should drag him at once before the public and the courts as an enemy of the common welfare.
Background
The law singles out charioteers: magic to win races was a real fear in the circus world. It was sent to Albinus, prefect of Rome, during Theodosius' stay in the city.
Rome today (1991–2020 avg): 31°/20°C (88°/68°F) · rain 10% of days
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
Quam blanda est tibi mater, Ammiane!
“How fond your mother is of you, Ammianus!”
