Sextilis

Sextilis was the original Latin name for the month now known as August in the modern Gregorian and Julian calendars. The term derives from the Latin word sextus, meaning “sixth,” as it was the sixth month in the early Roman calendar before January and February were added. Sextilis played a crucial role in Roman timekeeping, history, and cultural tradition, later gaining immense significance when it was renamed Augustus in honour of Emperor Augustus.

Origin in the Roman Calendar

The earliest Roman calendar, traditionally attributed to Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, consisted of ten months and a total of 304 days, beginning in March (Martius) and ending in December (Decemberis). In this system, Sextilis was the sixth month, following Quintilis (the fifth month, later renamed July) and preceding September (the seventh month).
The months in the early Roman calendar were:

1. Martius (31 days)
2. Aprilis (30 days)
3. Maius (31 days)
4. Junius (30 days)
5. Quintilis (31 days)
6. Sextilis (30 days)
7. September (30 days)
8. October (31 days)
9. November (30 days)
10. December (30 days)

The remaining days of the year, corresponding to winter, were not initially assigned to any month.

Calendar Reforms and Position Change

Later reforms under King Numa Pompilius (c. 713 BCE) expanded the calendar to 12 months by adding Januarius (January) and Februarius (February), shifting Sextilis from the sixth to the eighth position of the year. Despite this positional change, its name—derived from “sixth”—remained unchanged for several centuries, reflecting the Roman custom of retaining traditional nomenclature even after calendar adjustments.
In the Julian calendar reform introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BCE, Sextilis retained 31 days to align with the new solar-based system. This reform stabilised the Roman calendar and eliminated many irregularities that had developed over time due to the lunar cycle system previously used.

Renaming to August

In 8 BCE, the Roman Senate decreed that Sextilis be renamed Augustus in honour of Emperor Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor. The renaming recognised the many victories and achievements Augustus had accomplished during that month, including his triumph over Egypt and the consolidation of imperial power.
Historical records indicate that several important events in Augustus’s life and reign occurred during Sextilis, making it particularly symbolic for him. The Senate’s decision to rename the month reflected the emperor’s prominence and the political culture of honouring rulers through timekeeping reforms.
Just as Julius Caesar’s month (Quintilis) had been renamed July, the transformation of Sextilis to August permanently linked the calendar to the legacy of Roman imperial history.

Characteristics and Seasonal Significance

In the Roman context, Sextilis corresponded roughly to the modern period from late July to late August. It was traditionally associated with summer, harvest, and festivals marking agricultural abundance. Many religious observances and state ceremonies took place during this period, such as:

• Consualia: A festival dedicated to Consus, the god of grain storage, marking the end of the harvest.
• Volcanalia: Celebrated in honour of Vulcan, the god of fire, on 23 Sextilis, to protect crops from fire and drought.
• Opiconsivia: Honouring Ops, the goddess of plenty and agricultural fertility.

These events reflect the agricultural and religious importance of Sextilis in Roman society.

Etymology and Linguistic Influence

The name Sextilis comes from sextus (sixth) and the suffix -ilis, used to denote ordinal months in Latin. Other month names followed a similar numerical pattern—Quintilis (fifth), September (seventh), October (eighth), November (ninth), and December (tenth).
Even after the transition to Augustus, the name Sextilis remained in use for some time in official documents, inscriptions, and provincial records, illustrating the persistence of traditional Latin usage. Over time, however, “Augustus” became the universal designation, evolving into the modern English form August and similar equivalents in other languages (e.g., Août in French, Agosto in Italian and Spanish).

Historical Importance

The renaming of Sextilis to August signified more than a mere change of terminology—it represented a fusion of political authority, religion, and timekeeping in Roman civilisation. The calendar served as both a practical and symbolic tool of imperial propaganda, emphasising the power and divine favour associated with the emperor.
Augustus’s decision to associate his name with a summer month of victories and prosperity reflected his desire to project stability and abundance throughout the empire. Consequently, the modern Western calendar preserves the memory of Roman imperial culture through this naming tradition.