This Day in Ancient History: ante diem v kalendas februarias

ante diem v kalendas februarias

98 A.D. — dies imperii of Trajan
198 A.D. — festival in celebration of Severus‘ victory over the Parthians; possibly concurrent: dies imperii of Caracalla

This Day in Ancient History: ante diem vi kalendas februarias

ante diem vi kalendas februarias

6 A.D. — dedication of the Temple of Castor and Pollux by the future emperor Tiberius
98 A.D. — death of Nerva (?)
ca. 303 A.D. — martyrdom of Devota
1887 — birth of Carl Blegen, future excavator of Pylos (etc.)

ante diem vii kalendas februarias

Sementivae or Paganalia (day ?) — Sementivae was a festival of sowing which was actually a moveable feast (although I’m not sure of the moveability criteria; I’m guessing that the first day falls between January 24 and 26). By Ovid’s time it appears to have been coincident with Paganalia, which also obviously has some rural aspect to it. It appears to have been a two-day festival with an interval of seven days between (corrections on this welcome … my sources seem muddled on this one)
66 A.D. — perihelion of what would eventually be called Halley’s comet (possibly mentioned in Josephus; less possibly mentioned in Suetonius)
97 A.D. — martyrdom of Timothy
1721 — death of Pierre Daniel Huet (editor of the Delphi Classics)

ante diem viii kalendas februarias

Sementivae or Paganalia (day 2) — Sementivae was a festival of sowing which was actually a moveable feast (although I’m not sure of the moveability criteria; I’m guessing that the first day falls between January 24 and 26). By Ovid’s time it appears to have been coincident with Paganalia, which also obviously has some rural aspect to it. It appears to have been a two-day festival with an interval of seven days between (corrections on this welcome … my sources seem muddled on this one)
41 A.D. — recognition of Claudius as emperor by the senate
98 A.D. — death of Nerva (?)
275 A.D. — murder of Aurelian (according to one reckoning, which I don’t think is correct … comments welcome)

ante diem ix kalendas februarias

Ludi Palatini (day 4)
Sementivae or Paganalia (day 1) — Sementivae was a festival of sowing which was actually a moveable feast (although I’m not sure of the moveability criteria; I’m guessing that the first day falls between January 24 and 26). By Ovid’s time it appears to have been coincident with Paganalia, which also obviously has some rural aspect to it. It appears to have been a two-day festival with an interval of seven days between (corrections on this welcome … my sources seem muddled on this one)
41 A.D. — murder of Gaius (Caligula); Claudius proclaimed emperor by the praetorian guard
76 A.D. — birth of the future emperor Hadrian