in Chronology, the eighth month of Romulus's year, which the name implies; but tenth in the calendar of Numa, Julius Caesar, &c. The senate gave this month the name Faustinus, in compliment to Faustina, the wife of the emperor Antoninus; Commodus would have it called Inuictus; and Domitian named it Domitianus; but in spite of all these attempts it still retains its original name. This month was sacred to Mars, and under his protection.

October Equus, a horse annually sacrificed to Mars in the month of October, either because the horse is a warlike animal, or to punish him for the taking of Troy. A race was run with chariots, drawn by two horses, previous to the sacrifice, and he that ran quickest was adjudged to be the victim.