Lex Acilia de Intercalando
The Lex Acilia de Intercalando was a Roman law introduced by the consul M. Acilius Glabrio and enacted in 191. Its content is unclear, but it dealt with intercalation in the Roman calendar.Context
The state of the Roman calendar during this period is uncertain. Roman legend traced the Republican calendar of 355 days to Numa, the city's second king, and also credited him with the establishment of some kind of intercalation to keep it aligned with the solar year. Some authors even credited him with use of the 19-year Metonic cycle. There is evidence, however, that the Romans long continued their early and unattested lunar calendar even after the establishment of the republic. Varro cites instances of intercalation at least as early as the 5th century. Alternatively, intercalation is sometimes said to have begun with the decemviri, who may have adopted either Etruscan or Greek practices. Fulvius claims the Acilian Law was the first to authorize any intercalation.Contents
The details of the law are uncertain, but it seems to have placed the decision whether or not to intercalate a month into the year with the college of pontiffs.
