On This Day: The Nones of July
July 6—the Nones of July. For Romans, today wasn’t just a date. It was a deadline, a debt day, and a sacred marker on every citizen’s calendar.
Unknown — "Sard ring stone" (ca. 1st century BCE–3rd century CE), public domain
Debt day and deadline.
Every Roman knew the Nones—the month’s turning point. On July 6, affairs paused for settling debts, new contracts, or tricky sacrifices. Miss the date, miss your chance—money and rituals both depended on the Nones.
Calendar tricks and priestly power.
Before the Julian reform, priests controlled the calendar. A twitch of the pen could move the Nones, stretching debts or shifting festivals for political gain. Rome’s time was never neutral—it was power, measured in days.
The Nones split each Roman month—timing everything from new contracts to temple sacrifices. Forgetting the Nones could cost you your fortune, or your favor with the gods.
