EMBOLISMALI. — Thus the Greeks called the months to which intercalary days were added in order to make the lunar cycle coincide with the solar one (at Athens, the month of Poseidon). By imitation, the Romans used this name for the month of Feb. and for the intercalary day (leap day). In chronological calculations for Easter, this was the name given to the thirteenth lunar month, which was added every three years to the twelve in order to achieve agreement with the solar year (v. EPATTA).
BIBL.: A. Giry, Manuel de diplomatique, Parigi 1894, p. 14 sq.; H. Grosfeld, Abriss der Chronologie des deutschen Mittelalters und der Neuzeit, 2e ed., Lipsia-Bellino 1912, pp. 8-9; Bischoff, Kalender, in Pauly-Wissowa, XX, col. 1572 sqr. Carmelo Trastelli