How the Romans Recorded Dates
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The Roman calendar revolved around 3 most important dates:

  1. The Kalends
  2. The Nones
  3. The Ides

A date was either on one of these three, or it was approaching one of these three. For example, October 1, was the October Kalends. October 20 is 12 days before the November Kalends.

Using our October Example:

Date Roman Meaning
October 1Kal. OCT. October Kalends (First day of the month)
October 2A.D. V NON OCT. 5 days before the October Nones
October 3A.D. IV NON OCT.4 days before the October Nones
October 4A.D. III NON OCT.3 days before the October Nones
October 5A.D. II NON OCT. 2 days before the October Nones
October 6PRID NON OCT.The day before the October Nones
October 7The NonesThe Nones
October 8A.D. VII ID. OCT.7 days before the October Ides
October 9A.D. VI ID. OCT. 6 days before the October Ides
October 10A.D. V ID. OCT.5 days before the October Ides
October 11A.D. IV ID. OCT. 4 days before the October Ides
October 12A.D. III ID. OCT. 3 days before the October Ides
October 13A.D. II ID. OCT.2 days before the October Ides
October 14PRID ID. OCT.The day before the October Ides
October 15The IdesThe Ides
October 16A.D. XVI KAL. NOV16 days before the November Kalends
October 17A.D. XV KAL. NOV15 days before the November Kalends
October 18A.D. XIV KAL. NOV14 days before the November Kalends
October 19A.D. XIII KAL. NOV13 days before the November Kalends
October 20A.D. XII KAL. NOV12 days before the November Kalends
October 21A.D. XI KAL. NOV11 days before the November Kalends
October 22A.D. X KAL. NOV 10 days before the November Kalends
October 23A.D. IX KAL. NOV9 days before the November Kalends
October 24A.D. VIII KAL. NOV8 days before the November Kalends
October 25A.D. VII KAL. NOV7 days before the November Kalends
October 26A.D. VI KAL. NOV6 days before the November Kalends
October 27A.D. V KAL. NOV5 days before the November Kalends
October 28A.D. V KAL. NOV4 days before the November Kalends
October 29A.D. V KAL. NOV3 days before the November Kalends
October 30A.D. V KAL. NOV2 days before the November Kalends
October 31 PRID. KAL. NOVThe day before the November Kalends

Abbreviations:

A.D. ante diem
PRID.pridie
ID.Ides
NON.Nones
KAL. Kalends

The dates of the Nones and Ides changed from month to month. The following table illustrates their position.

Month Date of Ides Date of Nones
Januarius 13th 5th
Februarius 13th 5th
Martius 15th 7th
Aprilis 13th 5th
Maius 15th 7th
Junius 13th 5th
Quinctilis 15th 7th
Sextilis 13th 5th
September 13th 5th
October 15th 7th
November 13th 5th
December 13th 5th
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