TDIAH

ante diem xiii kalendas apriles Festival of Mars (day 20) Quinquatrus (day 2) — second day of a five-day festival (although the name originally came from the fact that it came five days after the Ides, apparently) sacred to Mars but also somehow connected to Minerva; it was also apparently a ‘school holiday’, so no…

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ante diem xv kalendas apriles Festival of Mars (Day 19) Quinquatrus (Day 1) — a festival celebrating Minerva’s birthday (maybe) rites in honour of Minerva (obviously connected to the above) 11 B.C.E. — Herod dedicates his renovated Temple in Jerusalem 303 A.D. — Martyrdom of Pancharius of Nicomedia 363 A.D. — fire destroys the Temple…

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ante diem xvi kalendas apriles Festival of Mars continues (day 18) 37 A.D. — The dead emperor Tiberius’ will is annulled and Gaius (Caligula) is given the title “Augustus” by the senate 235 A.D. (?) — murder of Alexander Severus at Moguntiacum (Mainz)

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pridie idus martias Festival of Mars (day 14) Equirria — the second of two days of horse racing (the first was on February 27) dedicated to Mars; the reasons are obscure, but probably have something to do with preparing horses for the upcoming campaigning season 222 A.D. — Severus Alexander is given the title Augustus

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ante diem iii idus martias Festival of Mars (day 13) 222 A.D. dies imperii of Severus Alexander

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