Time Concepts in Roman Culture

The Romans had a unique way of thinking about and measuring time. They were mindful of dividing time and came up with terms that identified and categorized it. They had concepts for months, days, and times of the year that were relevant to their daily lives. These concepts and terms still influence our modern understanding of time, as many of the Latin terms have been retained in our language. The Romans counted inclusively and often designated years based on who was consul that year. They also used the abbreviation AUC, which stood for Ab Urbe Condita, meaning 'from the foundation of the city,' to count years from the founding of Rome. Additionally, we still use Latin numbers and terms when referring to age, such as septuagenarian for someone in their 70s. The Roman influence on time concepts can be seen in our calendar months, with many of their Latin names still in use today, even though their order has changed.