August, the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. August begins (astrologically) with the sun in the sign of Leo and ends in the sign of Virgo. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of Cancer and ends in the constellation of Leo.August, originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the ancient Roman calendar, which started in March about 750 BC under Romulus. It became the eighth month either when January and February were added to the beginning of the year by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC or when those two months were moved from the end to the beginning of the year by the decemvirs about 450 BC (Roman writers disagree).
August, renamed in 8 BC in honor of the first Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar because of several of the most significant events in his rise to power, culminating in the fall of Alexandria in - guess which month? - August. Although Augustus preserved the outward form of the Roman Republic, he ruled as an autocrat for 41 years, longer than any subsequent Emperor; and his rule is the dividing line between the Republic and the Roman Empire. He ended a century of civil wars and gave Rome an era of peace, prosperity, and imperial greatness, known as the Pax Romana, or Roman peace, which lasted for over 200 years. Where are you, Augustus, when we really need you?
August, the month of the flowers gladiolus and poppy, and the birthstones peridot, sardonyx, and sapphire.
August, the month I entered this earthly angst.
