The Pre Julian Roman Calendar was the calendar system used by the ancient Romans before the introduction of the Julian calendar in 45 BC. This early calendar was based on the lunar cycle and consisted of 10 months, totaling 304 days in a year. The calendar was said to have been created by Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, and underwent several reforms over the centuries.
The Pre Julian Roman Calendar is believed to have been created by Romulus around the 8th century BC. The calendar originally consisted of 10 months, beginning with Martius (March) and ending with December. Each month had either 29 or 30 days, with the total number of days in a year adding up to 304. This calendar was based on the lunar cycle, with each month corresponding to a specific phase of the moon.
Pre Julian Roman Calendar
Reforms and Adjustments
Over time, the Pre Julian Roman Calendar underwent several reforms and adjustments to account for inaccuracies in the lunar-based system. One of the most notable changes was made by Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, who added two months to the calendar to align it more closely with the solar year. This resulted in a total of 12 months, with January and February being added to the beginning of the year.
Transition to the Julian Calendar
Despite the reforms made to the Pre Julian Roman Calendar, it still suffered from inaccuracies and inconsistencies. In 45 BC, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, a more accurate solar-based calendar that included a leap year system to account for the extra time it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun. This transition marked the end of the Pre Julian Roman Calendar and the beginning of a new era in timekeeping.