From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!alice!rhm
Newsgroups: net.followup
Title: Re: Re5: Gregorian Great Circle
Article-I.D.: alice.1039
Posted: Sat Oct 30 18:51:06 1982
Received: Sun Oct 31 03:00:20 1982
References: watmath.3704


Nothing to be sorry about, pcmgeer.  I don't know what you mean by a modern
calendar.  I suppose Europe didn't have one until Pope Gregory XIII, or
perhaps not until this year.  Certainly the Romans had a year consisting
of months and techniques for keeping it more or less in track with the seasons.
I would call it an ancient calendar, actually, not a modern one.

As to the other statements you made, I am aware of them and agree with them,
but I missed their relevance.  As to the number of days per month, you are
incorrect (i.e. disagree with both modern and ancient sources) in claiming
that the month consisted of 12 30-day months.  The correct answers for various
eras have already appeared several times on the net.

As to the beginning of the year, again both modern and ancient sources agree
with no dispute that the year began in January during the entire lifetime of
both Julius and Augustus.

As to the Encyclopedia extract recently published on the net, as far as I
know, almost every "fact" in it is incorrect (i.e. disagrees with both
modern and ancient sources).  I would be glad to discuss it (off the net)
with anyone who cares.