1. Calendar of the Province of Asia

In 9 BC the Koinon of Asia decided and voted for the modification of the local calendar so that it could start on Augustus’ birthday, September 23.

The modification, which became known due to a number of fragmentary inscriptions –Greek and Latin– found in five cities of Asia Minor (Priene, Apameia, Eumeneia and Dorylaeum of Phrygia, and Maeonia of Lydia), was carried out as follows: the proconsul of the province of Asia, Paulus Fabius Maximus, issued an edict concerning the Greek cities (δελτογράφημα), which included a long praise for Augustus, explaining the reasons that led to the modification, mainly that the emperor’s birthday inaugurated a new era towards the salvation of the world, and encouraging the cities to prepare a resolution that would approve the new calendar. In this way, the Roman official tried to, even formally, respect the autonomy of the cities and did not impose his will through an edict. Instead, he invited the Koinon of Asia Minor to approve the particular proposition, which was going to consolidate the imperial cult in the area. In response, the Greeks prepared two successive resolutions, through which, among others, they decided to honour the emperor and the Roman proconsul, while they also clarified the new form of the local calendar.¹

The modifications concerned the transformation of the lunar calendar of the Macedonian type (12 months of 30 or 29 days, to which an additional month was periodically added), until then in effect, into a solar calendar of the Roman type (12 months, 7 of which with 31 days, 4 of which with 30 days and 1 month with 28 or, periodically, 29 days).² The only difference with the calendar of Rome was that the year in Asia Minor would start on September 23, instead of January 1, so that it could coincide with Augustus’ birthday, while each month would start on the 23^rd day.³

Copies of the resolution were put up in public places all over Asia Minor, particularly in Caesarea and the temples of Rome and Augustus. The inscriptions of the five aforementioned cities are the only testimonies preserved to date.