Solar eclipse of Ennius
The solar eclipse of Ennius was dated retrospectively in the Roman calendar . It is named after its mention in the Annales of the poet Quintus Ennius (239–169 BC), which was only given in a quote from Cicero .
Historical meaning
The exact date of this solar eclipse is of particular importance for the history of the ancient Roman calendar , which Ennius set as " Nonis Iunis soli luna obstitit et nox " for June 5th in the Roman calendar. If a lunar calendar was used , the calendar dating of the solar eclipse would have taken place immediately before the calendar , since a solar eclipse only occurs at a new moon .
The solar eclipse noted by Ennius (and according to Cicero also the annales maximi ) on the fifth day after the new moon proves that a lunisolar calendar that was independent of the moon and that was schematized was in use. However, there is uncertainty about the annual schedule of the solar eclipse.
Solar eclipse of September 3, 404 BC Chr.
Cicero states that Ennius dated the solar eclipse around the 350th year after Rome was founded . Converted on the basis of the Varronian era (which only emerged after Ennius) in 404 BC. The corresponding solar eclipse took place in the Julian calendar system in Rome on September 3rd in the morning hours, starting around 7:00 a.m. Compared to June 5th, however, this dating means a deviation of about three months with regard to the normal seasonal monthly distribution.
Solar eclipse of June 21st, 400 BC Chr.
In order to establish a temporal reference to June 5, the solar eclipse of the year 400 B.C. Considered because here the solar eclipse with a Nundinum period or eight days before the solstice would be better suited to the setting in June. However, the solar eclipse with this variant in Rome only took place shortly before sunset between about 7:00 p.m. and 7:40 p.m.
literature
- Friedrich Karl Ginzel : Handbook of mathematical and technical chronology . Volume 2: chronology of the Jews of primitive peoples, the Romans and Greeks, as well as supplements to the first gang . Hinrich, Leipzig 1911. Reprint Austrian Literature Online, Innsbruck 2007, ISBN 3-226-00428-X , pp. 211-216.
- Jörg Rüpke : Calendar and Public: The History of Representation and Religious Qualification of Time in Rome . de Gruyter, Berlin 1995, ISBN 3-11-014514-6 , pp. 207, 363.