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.