LONDINIUM BRITANNIA
A D VI NON IUN MMDCCXXII AUC
Sort of a frustrating day. No pictures. The day began somewhere over the Atlantic on my way from Dallas to London. Long hike from the plane at Heathrow to British Immigration. Long line at Immigration. After waiting in line for about 15 minutes. I came upon a sign that said “Estimated Wait up to 45 Minutes.” After 15 more minutes, another sign indicated “Estimated Wait up to 30 Minutes.” I had brought a cane, not that I really need one, but it was suggested I do that. At the 30 minute sign there was a lady pulling folks with small children or canes out of the line and put us in an express lane. The cane is sort of a nuisance, but at this point it paid off.
Then a hike to baggage claim. And, as luck would have it, the carrousel for my flight was at the extreme far end of a bunch of carrousels. My checked bag did arrive (a wheeled duffle bag) shortly after I got to the carrousel. Then a long hike to customs and then to the main concourse. I followed the Heathrow Express signs until I came to a bunch of helpful people telling how to get to London. I asked if my BritRail Pass was good for the Heathrow Express. The first person didn’t know, checked with a coworker and then say no, I would have to buy a ticket. The ticket booth was across the way, where I asked again. Yes, was the answer. The lady filled validated the pass and filled out the 01 07 bit. Then the ride to Paddington Station, which is about two blocks from my hotel.
I have not been able to get any of my mobile devices to work properly. AT&T Global on my Kindle can’t access the internet. My mobile phone’s international SIM can’t access the internet and is bombarded with meaningless messages at a rate of about one per minute. My computer, mobile phone and Kindle can all access my JT-Mobile Hotspot, but can’t communicate with the internet through that hotspot. This hotel does have free Wi-Fi – in the lobby. The hotel in Lyon has paid Wi-Fi that works in the rooms.
A friend criticized me for saying I was planning to visit Lyon. So, I guess I have to be correct. LONDINIUM was the Roman name for the city in BRITANNIA known today as London. So to be consistent, I dated this using the good old Julian calendar as the Romans who lived in LONDINIUM did.
A D VI NON IUN MMDCCXXII AUC explained.
A D is not “after died” nor is it “anno domine.” It is ante diem – “before the day.” The Roman calendar had a few fixed days of the month. The Kalends was the first day of the month. The infamous IDES were either the 13th or 15th day of the month, depending on the month. There were two NONES one falling between the KALENDS and the IDES and the other between the IDES and the next KALENDS. The day before the KALENDS, NONES, and IDES were PRIDIE (the day before). The rest of the days were numbered as the days before (counting the day itself). So A D VII NON = “the seventh day before the NONES, counting the NONES as a day.
But we’re not done yet. There is a 13 day discrepancy between the Julian and the Gregorian calendars. So today is still June, not July. Hence, JUN = JUNIA = June.
Now the fun really begins. The ancient Romans typically designated a year by naming the consuls for that year further compounding the issue when a consul served more than one year. But there are no Roman Consuls these days. There was an alternate system occasionally used, as here. The MMDCCXXII is recognizably a Roman numeral, equivalent to our 2722. AUC is an abbreviation the Romans used meaning either AB URBE CONDITA or ANNO URBIS CONDITA, “from the founding of the city” i.e., Rome. Is there any other city?
CANICUS MODIUS
Aka Kenneth Peck