The cycle of Time: August
A month of venerable origins
August, the eighth month of the Gregorian calendar, derives its name from the Latin word “Augustus”, meaning “consecrated” or “venerable”. Even today, “august” retains this meaning. In the ancient Roman calendar, the month of August was known as Sextile [Se’xtile], or the “sixth month”. Subsequently, the name was changed in honour of Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of Rome. His full name was Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian Augustus, but he was known as Octavian or Augustus.
The meaning of “August”
When we describe something or someone as august, we are saying that it is majestic and inspires reverence or admiration. From august we can form an adverb, augustly, and a noun, augustness.
Furthermore, the term “August” is linked to augury, the act of divination, of telling the future, by reading the entrails of animals or observing their behaviour. Augur, on the other hand, is the officiant who predicted the future.
Mid-August
In ancient Roman culture, the month of August was a time of holidays and celebrations. The Italian term Ferragosto (Mid August) derives from the Latin phrase Feriae Augusti, which literally means “rest of Augustus”. This holiday was established by the emperor in 18 BC. and was celebrated on…
