01-23-2018, 12:58 PM
To-day is the fourth before the Ides of January (ANTE DIEM IV IDVS IANVARII), in modern reckoning the tenth of January.
There is a damaged explanatory note in the Fasti of Praeneste, of which a reconstruction has been attempted:
''Mid-split Day. This word endotercisus means that [the day is split up - because in ancient times the word endo] was used instead of "in". [On a mid-split day, it is unlawful in the morning . . . before] the victim is sacrificed, [and after the entrails have been laid out . . . again] it is unlawful. Therefore [the response is often given . . . that in the middle time] business can take place. Tiberius Caesar . . .''
It is perhaps needless to add that Warde Fowler gives to-day as EN, DIES ENDOTERCISVS, and that in using the Latin terms, one in which the morning is NEFASTVS before the sacrifice, the middle of the day is FASTVS and the latter part of the day, after the entrails are laid out up, it is again NEFASTVS.
Regrettably the historical note is hopelessly mutilated and no more can be said that the fourth before the Ides of January was the anniversary of some deed of note of Tiberius Caesar.
There is a damaged explanatory note in the Fasti of Praeneste, of which a reconstruction has been attempted:
''Mid-split Day. This word endotercisus means that [the day is split up - because in ancient times the word endo] was used instead of "in". [On a mid-split day, it is unlawful in the morning . . . before] the victim is sacrificed, [and after the entrails have been laid out . . . again] it is unlawful. Therefore [the response is often given . . . that in the middle time] business can take place. Tiberius Caesar . . .''
It is perhaps needless to add that Warde Fowler gives to-day as EN, DIES ENDOTERCISVS, and that in using the Latin terms, one in which the morning is NEFASTVS before the sacrifice, the middle of the day is FASTVS and the latter part of the day, after the entrails are laid out up, it is again NEFASTVS.
Regrettably the historical note is hopelessly mutilated and no more can be said that the fourth before the Ides of January was the anniversary of some deed of note of Tiberius Caesar.
Patrick J. Gray
'' Now. Close your eyes. It's but a short step to the boat, a short pull across the river.''
''And then?''
''And then, I promise you, you'll dream a different story altogether''
From ''I, Claudius'', by J. Pulman after R. Graves.
'' Now. Close your eyes. It's but a short step to the boat, a short pull across the river.''
''And then?''
''And then, I promise you, you'll dream a different story altogether''
From ''I, Claudius'', by J. Pulman after R. Graves.
