MEMENTO MORI · SERA NIMIS VITA EST CRASTINA VIVE HODIE · NON EST VIVERE SED VALERE VITA EST · HOMINEM PAGINA NOSTRA SAPIT · SVMMVM NEC METVAS DIEM NEC OPTES · HOC EST VIVERE BIS VITA POSSE PRIORE FRVI · MEMENTO MORI · QVOD SIS ESSE VELIS NIHILQVE MALIS · SPQR
Octavian dedicated the new Senate House, the Curia Julia, with an altar and statue of Victory that remained there for four centuries.
The Curia Julia (Senate House), Roman Forum, as rebuilt under Diocletian. Sonse, CC BY 2.0
Background
After his triple triumph of August 29 BC, Octavian dedicated the Curia Julia, begun by Caesar. Dio says he set up a statue of Victory brought from Tarentum, decorated with spoils from Egypt.
Senators burned incense at the altar before meetings. In the late fourth century Christian emperors had it removed, and the pagan senator Symmachus pleaded in vain for its return.
Ancient source: Fasti Maffeiani and Vaticani (V K. Sept.); Cassius Dio 51.22.1 · Reference
☁ Rome today (1991–2020 avg): 29°/20°C (84°/68°F) · rain 22% of days
Rome in AugustThe hottest weeks raised the risk of fire in the dense city, especially in…
Fields & crops
Columella marks autumn beginning around 12 August; straw and stubble were gathered, figs and early fruit picked, and vineyards readied for the vintage per Columella 11.2.
Courts & law
A quieter legal month; many elite Romans were in the countryside. Under the empire, the imperial household's slaves and freedmen kept administration running.
Senate & politics
Renamed from Sextilis in 8 BC for Augustus, who had won his greatest successes in this month, including the capture of Alexandria in 30 BC per Macrobius 1.12.35.
Military
Armies stayed in the field; disease in hot camps was often as dangerous as battle modern view based on ancient accounts.
Festivals & religion
Portunalia (17 Aug.), Vinalia Rustica (19 Aug.), Consualia (21 Aug.), Vulcanalia (23 Aug.), when small fish were offered to Vulcan to ward off fire, and Opiconsivia (25 Aug.) per Varro and Festus. On the Ides, Diana's day, enslaved people had a holiday per Festus and Plutarch.
Daily life
The hottest weeks raised the risk of fire in the dense city, especially in timber-framed insulae; Augustus set up the vigiles, a fire brigade of freedmen, in AD 6 per Suetonius and Dio. Fevers peaked in late summer and early autumn; the sick poor relied on home remedies and shrines more than on doctors modern view.
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