page_title: Martius (month)
hierarchical_section_title: Martius (month)
caption_attribution_description: English: Mosaic with the months of the year, starting with the Roman first month March. First half third century El Jem Archeological Museum of Sousse Nederlands: Mozaïek met de maanden van het jaar beginnend bij de Romeinse eerste maand, maart. Eerste helft derde eeuw El Jem Archeologisch Museum, Sousse
context_page_description: Martius or mensis Martius was the first month of the ancient Roman year until possibly as late as 153 BC. After that time, it was the third month, following Februarius and preceding Aprilis. Martius was one of the few Roman months named for a deity, Mars, who was regarded as an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus.
  March marked a return to the active life of farming, military campaigning, and sailing. It was densely packed with religious observances dating from the earliest period of Roman history. Because of its original position as the first month, a number of festivals originally associated with the new year occurred in March. In the Imperial period, March was also a time for public celebration of syncretic or international deities whose cultus was spread throughout the empire, including Isis and Cybele.
context_section_description: Martius or mensis Martius ("March") was the first month of the ancient Roman year until possibly as late as 153 BC. After that time, it was the third month, following Februarius (February) and preceding Aprilis (April). Martius was one of the few Roman months named for a deity, Mars, who was regarded as an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus.
  March marked a return to the active life of farming, military campaigning, and sailing. It was densely packed with religious observances dating from the earliest period of Roman history. Because of its original position as the first month, a number of festivals originally associated with the new year occurred in March. In the Imperial period, March was also a time for public celebration of syncretic or international deities whose cultus was spread throughout the empire, including Isis and Cybele.
caption: Panel thought to depict the Mamuralia from a mosaic of the months that places March first (from El Djem, Tunisia, first half of 3rd century AD)
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