Q 01/05

The month of January takes its name from which Roman god of beginnings and transitions?

A) Janus

B) Jupiter

C) Juno

D) Mars

Answer · why

A) Janus

Janus was invoked at the start of every Roman ceremony, whichever god the ceremony was actually for, which suits a month of beginnings.

Q 02/05

How many days does January have?

A) 28

B) 29

C) 30

D) 31

Answer · why

D) 31

January has 31 days, one of seven months that long; it has been a 31-day month since Julius Caesar's calendar reform of 45 BC.

Q 03/05

The god January is named for is usually shown with what unusual feature?

A) Wings on his heels

B) A double-sided head

C) A third eye

D) A lion's body

Answer · why

B) A double-sided head

Janus is shown with a double-sided head, two faces on one neck: one looks back at the old year and one forward to the new.

Q 04/05

Which semi-legendary king of Rome traditionally added January and February to the ten-month calendar?

A) Romulus

B) Tarquin the Proud

C) Servius Tullius

D) Numa Pompilius

Answer · why

D) Numa Pompilius

Numa Pompilius, Rome's second king, is credited with adding January and February to Romulus's 304-day ten-month calendar, which had left winter uncoun...

Q 05/05

Per Livy, in which year BC did the Roman consular year move to 1 January, in response to a rebellion in Hispania?

A) 153 BC

B) 121 BC

C) 89 BC

D) 44 BC

Answer · why

A) 153 BC

In 153 BC the consuls first took office on 1 January, moved up from 15 March so they could reach the Celtiberian rebellion in Hispania sooner.