And the dogs grew mad. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, and usually feel a little weird this time of year, don’t worry. The 6 weeks between July 1 and mid-August were named by the Romans after Sirius the dog star, the brightest star in the sky, save the sun. “Dog days” were linked to Chaos: “the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics and phrensies“. Brady’s Clavis Calendarium, 1813.
