ical epoch adopted by all the Roman
historians. There are various opinions respecting the year of the
foundation of Rome. (1) Fabius Pictor places it in the latter half of
the first year of the eighth Olympiad, which corresponds with the 3967th
of the Julian period, and with the year 747 B.C. (2) Polybius places it
in the second year of the seventh Olympiad, corresponding with 3964 of
the Julian period, and 750 B.C. (3) M. Porcius Cato places it in the
first year of the seventh Olympiad, that is, in 3963 of the Julian
period, and 751 B.C. (4) Verrius Flaccus places it in the fourth year of
the sixth Olympiad, that is, in the year 3962 of the Julian period, and
752 B.C. (5) Terentius Varro places it in the third year of the sixth
Olympiad, that is, in the year 3961 of the Julian period, and 753 B.C. A
knowledge of these different computations is necessary, in order to
reconcile the Roman historians with one another, and even any one writer
with himself. Livy in general adheres to the epoch of Cato, though he
sometimes follows that of Fabius Pictor. Cicero follows the account of
Varro, which is also in general adopted by Pliny. Dionysius of
Halicarnassus follows Cato. Modern chronologers for the most part adopt
the account of Varro, which is supported by a passage in Censorinus,
where it is stated that the 991st year of Rome commenced with the
festival of the Palilia, in the consulship of Ulpius and Pontianus. Now
this consulship corresponded with the 238th year of our era; therefore,
deducting 238 from 991, we have 753 to denote the year before Christ.
The Palilia commenced on the 21st of April; and all the accounts agree
in regarding that day as the epoch of the foundation of Rome.

The Romans employed two sorts of years, the civil year, which was used
in the transaction of public and private affairs, and the consular
year, according to which the annals of their history have been
composed. The civil year commenced with the calends of January, but
this did not hold a fixed place in the solar year till the time of
Julius Caesar (see CALENDAR). The installation of the consuls
regulated the commencement of the consular year. The initial day of
the consulate was never fixed, at least before the 7th century of
Rome, but varied with the different accidents which in times of
political commotion so frequently occurred to accelerate or retard the
elections. Hence it happens that a consular year, generally spe