a.d. XI Kal. Sept.
August 22 in Ancient Rome
Timothy, martyr of Ostia
religionListed AD 354
Julian date · ≈ Aug 20 on our calendar
XI kal. Sept. · as written (pre-Julian calendar)
The Roman martyr calendar of 354 marks 22 August for Timothy, honoured at Ostia, the port of Rome.
Background
The entry is only three words: the day, the name and "at Ostia" (or on the road to Ostia). Later legends made Timothy a priest from Antioch martyred in Rome, but these are not early.
The Depositio martyrum is precious because it records the cult as it was in Rome in the 330s–350s, before most of the later stories were written.
Ancient source: Chronography of 354, Depositio martyrum (XI kal. Sept.) · Reference
Sources
☁ Rome today (1991–2020 avg): 31°/20°C (88°/68°F) · rain 15% 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.
Sources: Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.12 · Columella 11.2
All days in August →
LATIN LINE OF THE DAY
Quid non longa dies, quid non consumitis anni?
“What does long time not consume, what do you, years, not consume?”
Martial, Epigrams 9.49.9 · translation ours (literal)
