The month of August is named after Augustus Caesar (63 BC-14 AD), the first Roman emperor. Originally, the Romans called this month Sextilis, meaning the sixth month of their early 10-month calendar. In 8 BCE, the Roman Senate renamed it to honor Augustus, recognizing his achievements, including the conquest of Egypt and his many victories.
Interestingly, Augustus chose this month because several of his major successes occurred during Sextilis. To ensure August had as many days as July (which is named after Julius Caesar), the Romans added an extra day, making both months 31 days long.
This practice of renaming and adjustment in the number of days was part of a larger Roman tradition of relating the calendar to important political figures, especially emperors, showing the deep connection between Roman governance, culture, and the way time was measured.
