Augustus

 

August is well underway
as I write these lines,
and it always strikes me
odd how August got its
name.

Augustus Caesar, the first
true Roman Emperor in
27 B.C., made some adjustments
to the calendar, naming this month
after himself.

July was named after Julius Caesar,
of course, after himself.
These men had the power to essentially
change how we interpret the passage
of time, through the present day.

That’s power echoing through
time. It wasn’t pure egotism however,
it was to rectify issues with the
lunar calendar and move more in-line with
the solar calendar. (With a dash of Ego).

Which needed more days
to match the 365 days it takes
for the Earth to orbit the Sun.
Before that there was a lot of
Annus Confusionus – The Year of Confusion.

A reasonable use of power,
demonstrated for the good of all,
or bad, depending on your feelings
regarding the Roman calendar.
But the most prolific use of power
I can imagine.

That is real transcendent power;
a legacy of self-named timekeeping;
nearly unrivaled in historical memory,
a pillar of the Ancient world evident
in every August appointment.

I guess that’s why these trivial
power grab attempts by modern
day Politicians make me chuckle.
Their self-important narcissism and
desire for legitimacy in History is all
iron pyrite.

It glitters,
but it isn’t Gold.