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Page 230 In this scheme, there are essentially two year structures, which I designate Y1 and Y2 (Table 9.1). Intercalaris began after 23 February, marking the festival of Terminalia in honor of Terminus, the god of boundaries, or after 24 February, marking the festival of Refugium. The concept of boundary in the spatial sense was extended, as it often is, into the temporal sense. The Romans persisted for many purposes with Martius as the first month of the year, so the end of Februarius was ceremonially the end, or boundary, of the year in many respects. If the Y2 years were alternated between 377 days (call it Y2a) and 378 days (call it Y2b) then every four years the following arrangement would be produced: Year Type Number of Days Y1 355 Y2a 377 Y1 355 Y2b 378 Total 1,465 Average 366.25 Table 9.1 Year structure of the Roman calendar. Name of Month Number of Days Y1 Y2 Ianuarius mensis 29 29 Februarius mensis 28 23 (24) Intercalaris 27 Martius mensis 31 31 Aprilis mensis 29 29 Maius mensis 31 31 Iunius mensis 29 29 Quintilis mensis 31 31 Sextilis mensis 29 29 September mensis 29 29 October mensis 31 31 November mensis 29 29 December mensis 29 29 Total 355 377 (378)
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