We have all heard about the "Dog days of August". What does it really mean? And how about some trivial facts about August and dogs?
First here is some meaningless trivia:
The months of July and August were named after two Emperors of Rome. July is for Julius Caesar and August for Caesar Augustus.
Julius Caesar we all know from Shakespeare, history class, and his great love, the last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra. Tons of stuff I can tell you about that!
As far as Caesar Augustus, here we go:
This information is directly from infoplease.com
Julius's grandnephew Augustus defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra, and became emperor of Rome, the Roman Senate decided that he too should have a month named after him.
Whereas the Emperor Augustus Caesar, in the month of Sextillis . . . thrice entered the city in triumph . . . and in the same month Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people, and in the same month an end was put to the civil wars; and whereas for these reasons the said month is, and has been, most fortunate to this empire, it is hereby decreed by the senate that the said month shall be called Augustus.
Not only did the Senate name a month after Augustus, but it decided that since Julius's month, July, had 31 days, Augustus's month should equal it: under the Julian calendar, the months alternated evenly between 30 and 31 days (with the exception of February), which made August 30 days long. So, instead of August having a mere 30 days, it was lengthened to 31, preventing anyone from claiming that Emperor Augustus was saddled with an inferior month.
OK enough history. If you want more go to infoplease.com.
Now for why the dog days of August:
This is based on the position of the "DOG STAR" (aka Sirius which is why sirius radio has a "dog" as it's symbol) which is seen in the Mediterranean for 20 days before and 20 days after direct position with the sun, Consequently the people of this region began to realize, over many years, that the Dog Star was the harbinger of very
hot weather and problems. In the Mediterranean region this last from July 3rd to about August 20th. It varies where you live on the planet, but translates very well to North America. The native people suffered in the heat, disease spread like wild fire, everything started to smell bad (including the people), crops suffered and everyone got VERY CRANKY, as they had no AC.
The Dog Star is a bright shining beacon for sea travelers and the brightest star in the sky.
It was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians which ties everything back to the Romans. Also some cultures believe that Sirius is the hunting dog of Orion (another constellation) the great hunter.
So in the end it is not because your puppy is panting that it is called the dog days. Blame it all on the Romans not the pooch.
Meow for now,
Catraven =^..^=
First here is some meaningless trivia:
The months of July and August were named after two Emperors of Rome. July is for Julius Caesar and August for Caesar Augustus.
Julius Caesar we all know from Shakespeare, history class, and his great love, the last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra. Tons of stuff I can tell you about that!
As far as Caesar Augustus, here we go:
This information is directly from infoplease.com
Julius's grandnephew Augustus defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra, and became emperor of Rome, the Roman Senate decided that he too should have a month named after him.
Whereas the Emperor Augustus Caesar, in the month of Sextillis . . . thrice entered the city in triumph . . . and in the same month Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people, and in the same month an end was put to the civil wars; and whereas for these reasons the said month is, and has been, most fortunate to this empire, it is hereby decreed by the senate that the said month shall be called Augustus.
Not only did the Senate name a month after Augustus, but it decided that since Julius's month, July, had 31 days, Augustus's month should equal it: under the Julian calendar, the months alternated evenly between 30 and 31 days (with the exception of February), which made August 30 days long. So, instead of August having a mere 30 days, it was lengthened to 31, preventing anyone from claiming that Emperor Augustus was saddled with an inferior month.
OK enough history. If you want more go to infoplease.com.
Now for why the dog days of August:
This is based on the position of the "DOG STAR" (aka Sirius which is why sirius radio has a "dog" as it's symbol) which is seen in the Mediterranean for 20 days before and 20 days after direct position with the sun, Consequently the people of this region began to realize, over many years, that the Dog Star was the harbinger of very
hot weather and problems. In the Mediterranean region this last from July 3rd to about August 20th. It varies where you live on the planet, but translates very well to North America. The native people suffered in the heat, disease spread like wild fire, everything started to smell bad (including the people), crops suffered and everyone got VERY CRANKY, as they had no AC.
The Dog Star is a bright shining beacon for sea travelers and the brightest star in the sky.
It was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians which ties everything back to the Romans. Also some cultures believe that Sirius is the hunting dog of Orion (another constellation) the great hunter.
So in the end it is not because your puppy is panting that it is called the dog days. Blame it all on the Romans not the pooch.
Meow for now,
Catraven =^..^=
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