How Julius Caesar changed New Year

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Paidion
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How Julius Caesar changed New Year

Post by Paidion » Mon Dec 31, 2018 6:18 pm

HOW JULIUS CAESAR CHANGED NEW YEAR

Why does the new year now begin in the coldest month of the year? Shouldn't it begin in Spring when the when the hours of daylight begin to be longer than the hours of darkness? Well... it always had been that way until Julius Caesar added 67 days to the year in 46 B.C. The Julian calendar actually was a great improvement to the previous calendar that didn't correspond properly to the seasons, and an intercalendar month had to be thrown in every once in a while. But the Julian calendar, great improvement that it was, threw the new year completely out of whack.

Did you ever wonder where December got its name? "Dec" is a prefix for "ten." Our decimal system is based on ten. Likewise "Nov" in "November" indicates the 9th month. "Oct" in "October" names the 8th month. An octagon has 8 sides. "Sept" in "September" the 7th month. Before Julius Caesar, the month that is now called "July" was then called "Quintilis" which indicated the 5th month. But Julius Caesar wanted a month named after himself, and so he called it July. The sixth month was called "Sextilus" but Augustus Caesar had that month called "August" named after himself. And he made sure there were as many days in his month as Julius had in his. So that's why July and August are the only consecutive months in the year that both have 31 days.

So if you count 67 days from January 1, you will be brought into March. That was the first month in ancient Roman times. And, of course, spring begins in March.

We also find in the Old Testament that Passover was to be celebrated in the first month.

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. (Exodus 12:1,2 ESV)

Then THE LORD then tells them to put blood on their door posts and says that He will strike the firstborn of every man and beast, but "when I see the blood, I will pass over you." He then tells them to keep the feast of the Passover to all generations. To this day, religious Jews keep the Passover feast annually in late March or early April.

In ancient times, the New Year began around what is now March 25.
Paidion

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Seballius
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Re: How Julius Caesar changed New Year

Post by Seballius » Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:34 pm

I know you posted this over a year and a half ago. I just came across it today. Where or how do you come across all this information? Is a there a book or study that you glean it from?

Thank you


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Paidion
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Re: How Julius Caesar changed New Year

Post by Paidion » Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:38 pm

I am now 82 years old, and am forgetting a lot of things. My source of this information is one of them.
Indeed, until I read your post just now, I had forgotten that I posted that information. So I copied it so that I will have it available.

Sincerely,
Paidion
Paidion

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Seballius
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Re: How Julius Caesar changed New Year

Post by Seballius » Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:44 pm

Thank God you have your reasoning ability.

I believe you wrote in some place before that you studied a philosophy degree.

In your opinion, what is the best book that teaches traditional Logic? Or the one that you used.

Thank you


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Paidion
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Re: How Julius Caesar changed New Year

Post by Paidion » Fri Jun 26, 2020 6:17 pm

Hi Seballius, you wrote:I believe you wrote in some place before that you studied a philosophy degree.
In your opinion, what is the best book that teaches traditional Logic? Or the one that you used.
Actually, I received a B.Sc. degree (Bachelor of Science) with a major in mathematics, and a minor in philosophy.

The main book I used in studying logic in my final year, was Symbolic Logic by Irving M. Copi.
Paidion

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Seballius
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Re: How Julius Caesar changed New Year

Post by Seballius » Fri Jun 26, 2020 8:57 pm

Thank you for replying!


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Steelwheels
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Re: How Julius Caesar changed New Year

Post by Steelwheels » Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:57 am

Seballius wrote:
Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:34 pm
I know you posted this over a year and a half ago. I just came across it today. Where or how do you come across all this information? Is a there a book or study that you glean it from?

Thank you


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Gibson is a good resource for studying the history of the Roman Empire. Primary sources like Suetonius are good too. Especially his “The Twelve Caesars” translated by Robert Graves.

Also, “Being Logical” by D.Q. McInerny is a great little resource book on logic.
To know Him and to make Him known.

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Seballius
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Re: How Julius Caesar changed New Year

Post by Seballius » Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:48 pm

Thank you for the suggestions. I had to drive 8 hours today. I bought the Being Logical on Audible and I listened to all. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to listen to it several times.


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