the last month of the year, wherein the sun enters the tropic of Capricorn, and makes the winter solstice.

In Romulus's year, December was the tenth month, whence the name, viz., from decem "ten;" for the Romans began their year in March.

The month of December was under the protection of Veeta. Romulus assigned it 30 days, Numa reduced it to 29, which Julius Caesar increased to 31.

Under the reign of Commodus, this month was called, by way of flattery, Amazonius, in honour of a courtezan whom that prince passionately loved, and had got painted like an Amazon; but it only kept the name during that emperor's life.

At the latter end of this month they had the juveniles ludi; and the country people kept the feast of the goddess Vacuna in the fields, having then gathered in their fruits and sown their corn; whence seems to be derived our popular festival called harvelf-home.