How was the Roman Senate originally summoned?
The Roman Senate was originally summoned by a public officer named a viator, who called the Roman Senators from the country, or by a public crier, when anything had happened about which the Senators were to be consulted hastily and without delay: but in latter times by an edict, appointing the time and place, and published several days before. The cause of assembling was also added. Regular Meetings of the Roman Senate The regular meetings (senatus legitimus) were on the Kalends, Nones, and Ides in every month, until the time of Augustus, who confined them to the Kalends and Ides. • The Kalends was the first day of the month, from which the word “calendar” is derived • The Nones – thought to have been the day of the half moon • The Ides – thought to have originally been the day of the full moon. The word ides comes from Latin, meaning “half division” (of a month), the Ides was either the 13th or the 15th of the month If any one refused or neglected to attend, he was punished by a fine,
