- AUC is an acronym for Ab urbe condita meaning ‘from the founding of the City’ (of Rome).
- The Romans believed the city of Rome was founded on 21st April 753 BCE on the Palatine Hill by Romulus.
Festival of Palilia
- On the 21st April, every year, the Festival of Palilia was held to celebrate Rome’s birthday or Dies Natalis of Rome.
- This was changed by Hadrian in 121 CE to become the festival of ‘Dies Natalis Urbis’ or the ‘birthday of the city’.
Dies Natalis of Rome
- In 121 CE, Hadrian organised circus games in the Circus Maximus to celebrate the 874th anniversary of the birthday of Rome.
- Hadrian changed the name of the festival of Palilia to the festival of ‘Dies Natalis Urbis’ meaning ‘birthday of the city’.
Rome’s Millemium (1,000 AUC)
- In 248 CE Rome celebrated its first millennium, 1,000 AUC, under Philip the Arab.
Other Dating Systems
- Anno Domini
- Anno Domini (AD), meaning ‘in the year of the Lord’, and Before Christ (BC), is the dating system applied to the Julian Calendar and Gregorian Calendar.
- Common Era
- Common Era (CE) and Before Common Era (BCE) is an alternative notation to the Anno Domini dating System.
Rome