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Page 236 Sosigenes was Greek. It is inconceivable that he was unaware of the prior work of Hipparchus, showing that the tropical year is shorter than 365.25 days. If Sosigenes were aware of this fact, and it seems almost certain that he was, then why did he recommend the Julian rule? Given the history of Roman calendrics, one can probably assume that: Sosigenes and Julius were accustomed to thinking in terms of centuries for the duration of calendars, and thus knew that any error would eventually require correction. Sosigenes and Julius were comfortable with the notion that future corrections could be made as they had always been made  by decree, as required. (continued) Table 9.2 Day Aprilis Maius Iunius 1 Kalendis Kalendis Kalendis 2 ante diem IV Nonas ante diem VI Nonas ante diem IV Nonas 3 ante diem III Nonas ante diem V Nonas ante diem III Nonas 4 ante diem Pridie Nonas ante diem IV Nonas ante diem Pridie Nonas 5 Nonis ante diem III Nonas Nonis 6 ante diem VIII Idus Pridie Nonas ante diem VIII Idus 7 ante diem VII Idus Nonis ante diem VII Idus 8 ante diem VI Idus ante diem VIII Idus ante diem VI Idus 9 ante diem V Idus ante diem VII Idus ante diem V Idus 10 ante diem IV Idus ante diem VI Idus ante diem IV Idus 11 ante diem III Idus ante diem V Idus ante diem III Idus 12 Pridie Idus ante diem IV Idus Pridie Idus 13 Idibus ante diem III Idus Idibus 14 ante diem XVIII Kalendas Pridie Idus ante diem XVIII Kalendas 15 ante diem XVII Kalendas Idibus ante diem XVII Kalendas 16 ante diem XVI Kalendas ante diem XVII Kalendas ante diem XVI Kalendas 17 ante diem XV Kalendas ante diem XVI Kalendas ante diem XV Kalendas 18 ante diem XIV Kalendas ante diem XV Kalendas ante diem XIV Kalendas 19 ante diem XIII Kalendas ante diem XIV Kalendas ante diem XIII Kalendas 20 ante diem XII Kalendas ante diem XIII Kalendas ante diem XII Kalendas 21 ante diem XI Kalendas ante diem XII Kalendas ante diem XI Kalendas 22 ante diem X Kalendas ante diem XI Kalendas ante diem X Kalendas 23 ante diem IX Kalendas ante diem X Kalendas ante diem IX Kalendas 24 ante diem VIII Kalendas ante diem IX Kalendas ante diem VIII Kalendas 25 ante diem VII Kalendas ante diem VIII Kalendas ante diem VII Kalendas 26 ante diem VI Kalendas ante diem VII Kalendas ante diem VI Kalendas 27 ante diem V Kalendas ante diem VI Kalendas ante diem V Kalendas 28 ante diem IV Kalendas ante diem V Kalendas ante diem IV Kalendas 29 ante diem III Kalendas ante diem IV Kalendas ante diem III Kalendas 30 pridie Kalendas ante diem III Kalendas pridie Kalendas 31 pridie Kalendas (table continued on next page)
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