On This Day: May 11 Was a Dies Comitialis
May 11: In Rome, today is a dies comitialis—a day when citizens could vote, debate, and change the future in the shadow of the Capitol.
Unknown — "Marble head of a Greek general" (1st–2nd century CE), public domain
A day to take sides and cast lots.
On a dies comitialis, the city of Rome came alive with public assembly. Tribes crowded into the Forum. Laws could be passed, officials elected, and grievances shouted above the roar of the city. Today was for action, not just talk.
Why the calendar held real power.
The Pontifex Maximus carefully marked these days—only on a dies comitialis could Romans gather to vote. Miss one, and your cause waited another cycle. The calendar wasn't just paperwork. It was a lever, and Rome’s elite pulled it with expert hands.
The Roman calendar wasn’t just dates—it carved the city’s rhythms and decided when power could shift hands.
