ante diem vi idus maias

214 (?) A.D. — birth of the future emperor Claudius II Gothicus

232 A.D. — martyrdom of Felix and Palmatius

238 A.D. — murder of Maximinus Thrax (by one reckoning)

250 A.D. — martyrdom of Epimachus at Alexandria

251 A.D. — martyrdom of Alphius, Philadelphus, Cyrinus, and Benedicta at Leontini (?)

ante diem vii idus maias

• Lemuria (day 1) — a festival involving assorted rituals to keep the ghosts of one’s ancestors happy

nonas maias

431 B.C. — the “Peloponnesian War” began (according to one reckoning)

399 B.C. — death of Socrates(according to one reckoning)

1941 — death of Sir James Frazer (The Golden Bough)

ante diem iv nonas maias

11 B.C. — dedication of the Theatre of Marcellus

ca. 304 A.D. — martyrdom of Florian in what would become Austria

ca. 304 A.D. — martydom of Pelagia at Tarsus

1406 — death of Coluccio Salutati (humanist and proto-Classicist)

ante diem vi nonas maias

Floralia (day 6) — a festival originally ordered in response to an interpretation of the Sybilline books in 238 B.C., it fell into desuetude only to be revived in 173 B.C.; it was a general festival of drinking and other merriment in honour of Flora, who presided over (of course) flowers and their blossoms