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Ancient History Quote of the Day: "The month which had been Sextilis was named 'August' in honour of Augustus, by decree of the Senate in the consulship of Marcus Censorius and Asinius Gallus, the twentieth year of Augustus' reign" (Censorius, 'On the Birthday' 22) #AAQOTD 
Yes, I'm late by a couple of days on this #AugustanAugust thing (thanks to @p_historians for the hashtag), but hopefully this little thread will remedy things.
Image in previous tweet: August panel from a Roman mosaic of the months (from El Djem, Tunisia, 3rd century AD)
Image in previous tweet: August panel from a Roman mosaic of the months (from El Djem, Tunisia, 3rd century AD)
@p_historians Macrobius (Saturnalia 1.12.35) preserves the senatorial decree that accompanied this re-naming in 8 BC, describing the Sextilis/August as "the most felicitous for our empire".
@p_historians Augustus had first entered the consulship in this month; had marched in triumph three times into the city in this month; annexed Egypt in this month (see Fasti Praenestini, Fasti Amiternini, and Fasti Antiates); and thus ended the Civil Wars.
Image: Denarius (Reverse) RIC 545
Image: Denarius (Reverse) RIC 545
@p_historians Dio Cassius (55.6.6) echoes this noting that: "The people generally wanted September to be [re-named as August], because he had been born in that month; but he preferred the other month in which he had first been elected consul and had won many great battles."
@p_historians While the event took place in 8 BC, some have believed that it took place in 27 BC, coinciding with the grant of the title of 'Augustus' on 16 January. However, this is most likely the result of the 'evidence' from a poorly summarised chapter of Livy 134. #AAQOTD #AugustanAugust
