In the 10-month
calendar of ancient Rome,
Quintilis follows
Junius (the month of June) and precedes
Sextilis (later August).
Quintilis is
Latin for "fifth", that is, it was the fifth month (
quintilis mensis) in the earliest calendar attributed to
Romulus, which began with the month of Martius ("
Mars' month," or March). After the calendar reform that produced a 12-month year, Quintilis became the seventh month, but retained its name. In 45 BC,
Julius Caesar instituted a new
calendar that made up for astronomical discrepancies in the old, and after his death in 44 BC the month of Quintilis, his birth month, was renamed
Julius in his honor, hence July.
The month name is also attested as
Quinctilis.
