SmallWhale

46 BC: The Year That Wouldn't End!

Imagine a year that was super, super long! That's what happened in 46 BC, a time of big changes in Rome!

Images

The Forum of Caesar (built near the Forum Romanum in Rome in 46 BC) and the Temple of Venus Genetrix, Imperial Forums, Rome

The Forum of Caesar (built near the Forum Romanum in Rome in 46 BC) and the Temple of Venus Genetrix, Imperial Forums, Rome

openverse
Bronze Trophy (tropaeum) from Hippo Regius, a military monument that may commemorate Caesar's victory over Juba I at the battle of Tapsus in 46 BC, Annaba Museum, Algeria
<div class='fn'> The reverse of a silver republican denarius, minted in Rome in 46 BC.</div>
Cleopatra Coins, ca 46 BC
C. Considius Paetus, denarius, 46 BC, RRC 465-2a
The Forum of Caesar (built near the Forum Romanum in Rome in 46 BC) and the Temple of Venus Genetrix, Imperial Forums, Rome
The Forum of Caesar (built near the Forum Romanum in Rome in 46 BC) and the Temple of Venus Genetrix, Imperial Forums, Rome (21715130512)
The Forum of Caesar (built near the Forum Romanum in Rome in 46 BC) and the Temple of Venus Genetrix, Imperial Forums, Rome (21101482544)
Bronze Trophy (tropaeum), a military monument that may commemorate Caesar's victory over Juba I at the battle of Tapsus in 46 BC Annaba Museum, Algeria
T. Carisius, AR denarius, 46 BC, RRC 464-1
The Forum of Caesar (built near the Forum Romanum in Rome in 46 BC) and the Temple of Venus Genetrix, Imperial Forums, Rome (21538939218)
Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. T. Carisius. 46 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 4.10 g, 7h)

Key Facts

Year Designation
46 BC.
Calendar System
Last year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar.
Length of Year
445 days.
Nickname
Annus confusionis (Year of Confusion).

What Was 46 BC All About?

46 BC was a very special year in ancient Rome. It was the last year of their old calendar, which was a bit like a puzzle that didn't quite fit. The Romans had to add extra days and even whole months to make things work right. This year was so mixed up, it was nicknamed the 'Year of Confusion' because it was much, much longer than a normal year!

A Calendar Makeover!

The Romans used a calendar that was based on the moon, but the sun didn't always agree! To fix this, a very important person named Julius Caesar decided to make a new calendar. He added extra days and months to 46 BC to get everything ready for his new, improved calendar that started the very next year. It was like giving their clock a giant upgrade!

The Longest Year Ever!

Get this: 46 BC lasted for a whopping 445 days! That's almost 100 days longer than our year today. Imagine your birthday happening almost two months later than usual! This super long year was needed to catch up with the real seasons and make sure their calendar matched the Earth's trip around the sun.

Why We Remember This Crazy Year

This year is super important because it was the bridge to the calendar we use today. The Julian calendar, which started after 46 BC, was used for a very long time and helped people keep track of days, months, and years much better. It was a big step in making sure everyone was on the same page, time-wise!

Was this helpful?
W

Based on content from Wikipedia ยท Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0