Gaius Octavius

A Problem: Assume that a 'loan', at interest, was made on October 1, to be repaid one year hence. The Pontifex Maximus forgets to insert January and February into the calendar. How was the interest calculated, i.e., for 10 months or for 12? Was the repayment date reset to December 1? Or, was the borrower just out of luck and paid 12 months interest along with a 10 month 'early' repayment? Another Problem: A group of plebians are chatting in a pub and agree to meet 27 days later. Since I don't think that they had 'calendars' handy the way moderns do, how did they know when the time to meet had arrived? Were calendars posted on every corner of the city? Tomorrow is March 20, the vernal equinox, should I be wishing all a Happy New Year? Valete, Gaius SPQR

Salve Germanicus: At first, I must state that I am a rank amateur with regard to Roman history and perhaps I am suffering from Early Onset Alzheimer's. I have read the books that you mentioned and (to me), they seem to give a very general and often vague description of the items I mentioned. Yet, many 'modern' authors are very precise, as regards the items questioned (T.A. Dodge, for example). I am still at a loss as to how this extrapolation comes about. Thank you for your effort. Si vales; valeo, Gaius SPQR

Greetings: From which sources do historians get the information regarding: 1. Army strengths. 2. Formations 3. Dispositions 4. and tactics in the various battles that the Romans fought, i.e., Zama, Cannae, etc.? Valete, Gaius Octavius P. S. How did I become a 'Slave"?