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| | The Galileo Project | Chronology | Gregorian Calendar |
 | | In the reign of Numa[4] two months were added to the year, January at the beginning and February at the end; and this arrangement continued till the year 452 BC., when the Decemvirs[5] changed the order of the months, and placed February after January. |
 | | The months now consisted of twenty-nine and thirty days alternately, to correspond with the synodic revolution of the moon [full moon to full moon], so that the year contained 354 days; but a day was added to make the number odd, which was considered more fortunate, and the year therefore consisted of 355 days. |
 | | In the course of a few centuries, however, the equinox sensibly retrograded towards the beginning of the year. |
| galileo.rice.edu /chron/gregorian.html (2453 words) |
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