Time Measurement

In Greece

A year had 354 days, divided into six 29 day months and six 30 day months (alternative).

There were no weeks but 10 day groups. Twenty-nine day months were divided into two 10 day groups and one 9 day group.

To calculate hours, they used a sundial called the gnomon. For shorter times, they used the water clock the clepsydra.

In Rome

In the beginning, they had a moon calendar with 304 days divided into ten months. It worked really badly so Julius Caesar entrusted Sosigenes of Alexandria with the elaboration of a new one, the so-called Julian calendar. This was practically the same as ours.

The Roman calendar obviously had holidays (religious feasts and market days) but also a funny thing: days called fasti in which public business, including the official business of the Roman state, had to be transacted, and days nefasti in which all these activities were absolutely forbidden.

The every day activities were based upon the daylight hours, which meant that in wintertime things should be done quickly and in summer they took things more relaxed.