a.d. XVIII Kal. Iul.
June 14 in Ancient Rome
Theodosius writes to the satrap of Sophanene about crown gold
politicsAD 387
Julian date · ≈ Jun 15 on our calendar
xviii kal. iul. · as written (pre-Julian calendar)
Theodosius I wrote to Gaddana, satrap of Sophanene, ordering crown gold that had been taken unlawfully to be returned, and that all satraps should offer the emperor a crown from their own resources, as by ancient custom.
Background
Sophanene was one of the small Armenian satrapies under Roman protection on the upper Tigris. The crown, the law says, was a token of the loyalty owed to the Roman empire.
Ancient source: Theodosian Code 12.13.6 · Reference
Sources
☁ Rome today (1991–2020 avg): 27°/16°C (81°/61°F) · rain 22% of days
Rome in JuneHarvest meant long days for gangs of hired reapers, often seasonal migrant…
Fields & crops
Grain harvest began in the lowlands: wheat was reaped, threshed on the threshing floor and stored. Columella advises clearing the floor and preparing granaries per Columella 11.2.
Courts & law
Normal court business. As on every Kalends, interest on loans fell due on 1 June, also the day of Carna, goddess of the body's vital organs, honoured with bean porridge and bacon per Ovid, Fasti 6.101–82.
Senate & politics
No fixed political dates, but in the Republic elections were often held in summer, with candidates canvassing in whitened togas late Republic; often July.
Military
Campaigns continued; harvests in enemy territory were sometimes burned or seized to feed armies.
Festivals & religion
The Vestalia (9 June), when bakers and millers garlanded their donkeys and mill-stones and women walked barefoot to Vesta's temple; the temple was cleaned on 15 June per Ovid, Fasti 6. Fishermen's games were held across the Tiber on 7 June.
Daily life
Harvest meant long days for gangs of hired reapers, often seasonal migrant labourers, alongside enslaved workers per Varro, Rust. 1.17, on hiring free labourers for harvests. Summer heat in Rome brought fevers, probably malaria in low, marshy districts; the wealthy left for hill or seaside villas per Horace and Celsus; malaria identification modern. The poor stayed in hot, crowded insulae.
Sources: Ovid, Fasti 6 · Varro, Res Rusticae 1.17
All days in June →
LATIN LINE OF THE DAY
Quam longe cras istud! ubi est? aut unde petendum?
“How far off that tomorrow is! Where is it? Where must it be sought?”
Martial, Epigrams 5.58.3 · translation ours (literal)
