Named after Maia the goddess of growth of plants.

Roman names for months. The Roman year originally had ten months a calendar which was ascribed to the legendary first king Romulus. Origins of the names of the months. Only a few names of the month were actually derived from Roman deities.

Most simply came from the numbers of the months or in two cases in honor of Roman emperors. This month was followed by Aprilis Maius and Iunius names derived from deities or aspects of Roman culture. Tradition had it that Romulus named the first month Martius after his own father Mars the god of war.

On other months it was the 13th. Eventually January Januarius and February Februarius were added to the end of the year giving all 12 months proper names. The last six names were taken from the words for five six seven eight nine and ten.

Named after Mars the god of war. Named after the Roman god of beginnings and endings Janus. The name was changed to August in honor of the Emperor Octavius Augustus on account of his victories and his entering on his first consulate in that month.

From aperire Latin for to open. Romulus the legendary first ruler of Rome is supposed to. The original Roman year had 10 named monthsMartiusMarchAprilisAprilMaiusMayJuniusJuneQuintilisJulySextilisAugustSeptemberSeptemberOctoberOctoberNovemberNovemberDecemberDecemberand probably two unnamed monthsin the dead of winter when not much happened in agriculture.

The 10 months were named Martius Aprilis Maius Junius Quintilis Sextilis September October November and December. Ides Full Moon whole moon visible in the night sky When the Romans fixed the length of the months they also fixed the date of the Ides. January was named after Janus the Roman god of beginnings and transitions while Februarys name is believed to stem from Februa an ancient festival dedicated to ritual springtime cleaning and washing.