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De Mensium Nominibus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2013

J. F. Mountford
J. F. Mountford
Affiliation:
The University, Edinburgh
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Extract

In the huge mediaeval storehouse of miscellaneous fragments, compiled not later than the eighth century and now known by the title Liber Glossarum, there are not a few items dealing with the names of the months in various parts of the ancient world. Some of them (such as Helul in Macchabaeorum libro Augustus, qui apud nos mensis sextus, vocatur) come from the second book of the Instructiones of Eucherius (p. 153, ed. Wotke); some (such as Februarius nuncupatur a Februo, id est Plutone, cui eo mense sacrificabatur) are excerpts from Isidore's Etymologiae (v. 33); while a few (such as Aprilem vero, nullo deorum suorum nomine, sed de re propria, quasi Aperilem nominaverunt eo quod tunc plurimum germinis aperiatur in florem) can be traced to Isidore's De Natura Rerum (cap. 4). Among the remainder, however, which cannot be found in any of the definitely recognisable sources of the Liber Glossarum, there are 116 forming by themselves a distinct group. In these items a curt formula gives us the names by which the months were known in eleven different parts of the world, e. g.:—

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Hellenic Studies , Volume 43 , Issue 2 , 1923 , pp. 102 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies 1923

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References

1 Bröcker, L. O.: Beiträge zur antiken Monatskunde (Phililogus, ii. pp. 246–261).Google Scholar K. Fr. Hermann: Bemerkungen zu den monologischen Glossen des Papias (ib. pp. 262–272).

2 The following Papias items are from Eucherius: IX Caslea (= Euch. 153, 13); XV b Nisan (= ib. 10); XVI a Adar (= ib. 16); XVIa Thebeth (= ib. 14); XVIb (= ib. 10); XVII (= ib. 14); XVIII (= ib. 11).

3 For advice in this section I am indebted to Prof. A. R. S. Kennedy of Edinburgh.

4 Cf. Ideler, , Handbuch der math. und technischen Chronologie, i. 440Google Scholar; Ginzel, , Handbuch der math. und tech. Chron., iii. 33.Google Scholar

5 Cf. Ideler, i. 495; Ginzel, ii. 13.

6 Papias also had access to another source for Hebrew month-names of which the Liber Glossarum knows nothing. Papias gives (XIX a): Ianuarius, Thebeth; Martius, Adar; Aprilis, Nisam; Maius, Iar; Iunius, Siban; Iulius, Tamul; Augustus Γλουα (= Elul?); September, Elul; October, μεσουρ (?); November, Maresvan. Notice also the list contained in the Hermeneumata Leidensia (C. G. Lat., iii. 72).

7 Cf. Ideler, i. 441, note 1; Ginzel iii. 33 (where the form εζηρ is given).

8 Cf Ideler, i. 442; Ginzel, iii. 25.

9 The list (XIII a) is: Martius, Famenor; Aprilis, Parmuth; Maius, Pachon; Iunius, Parmi; Iulius, Epiphi; Augustus, μεσορη, September, Tor; October, Phaophi, φαοφι; November, Adnir. The months December–Februarius are lacking, possibly because this second list of Papias began with the old caput anni (Martius) and in the process of transmission shed its later items.

10 Cf. Ginzel, iii. 31; Bischoff in Pauly-Wissowa (s.v. Kalender).

11 They are: Aprilis, Sancticus; Iunius, Fius (= Δῖος?); Iulius, Panemos; Augustus, Λωος; September, Gorpheus; October, 'ϒπερβερετεος; November, Dios.

12 Cf. Ginzel, iii. 22.

13 De Fastis Graecorum antiquioribus (Leipziger Studien, vii. p. 400, note 12). In his article (s.v. Kalender) in Pauly-Wissowa he only recognises Ληναιών (sic), Πάνημος and Κρονιών.

14 Notice that in his comment on the words vere novo Servius does not confine his remarks to the months of spring, but goes briefly through the whole calendar. Did he find in his source (Donatus?) a little disquisition on the Roman calendar, its history and the etymologies of the month-names?

15 The following items also of Papias do not appear in the Liber Glossarum, though some of them may be merely versions of items we have already considered: Va. Ianuarius graece Seddoneos ( = Αὐδυναῖος); Martins graece Distros; Aprilis mensis Xandicos; Maius graece Artemysios; Iunius graece. εκατομβαιον; Iulius mensis graece πανεμος; Augustus graece βοηδρομιον; September graece Gorpheos; November graece Deos. Vb. Beretheos graece October. IX. Artamisti Maius mensis vel Artemesius; Thamus mensis Iunius; Taminus Iunius mensis; Tyrus mensis sextus qui est Augustus; Gorpeios November mensis. XII October attice γαμηλιων.

16 The Basle edition of Bede (1563) contains a tractate headed De Divisionibus Temporum (Vol. I. p. 117 ff.), which Giles rejected as spurious. In this tractate there is a section (de mensibus) which deals with month-names; but Canon Plummer informs me that it does not agree with the Libellus printed above.