What Day Is August 2? Battle of Cannae and Declaration Signing
August 2 is the 214th day of the year (215th in a leap year). In 216 BC, Hannibal destroyed a Roman army at Cannae; in 1776, most delegates formally signed the Declaration of Independence.
About August 2
August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (215th in a leap year). There are 151 days remaining until the end of the year.
The significance of August 2
In 216 BC, Carthaginian general Hannibal encircled a Roman army of around 87,000 soldiers at Cannae in southern Italy. By nightfall, roughly 70,000 had died. The battle is still studied in military academies as the definitive example of a double envelopment. In 1776, most members of the Continental Congress put their signatures to the Declaration of Independence, the document that had been adopted three weeks earlier on July 4.
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On This Day in History
- -216Hannibal encircled and destroyed a Roman army at the Battle of Cannae, killing roughly 70,000 soldiers in one afternoon.
- 1776Most delegates to the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, three weeks after it was formally adopted on July 4.
Baby Names for This Day
August 2 falls under Leo. Names that carry Leo's courage and determination:
- LeonBoy
Greek for 'lion'; strong, direct, and easy to carry.
- MaximaGirl
'Greatest' in Latin; the spirit of Cannae, where tactics decided everything.
- CleoGirl
Short for Cleopatra ('glory of the father'); bold and classical.
- MarcusBoy
Roman name; grounded in the republic that Cannae nearly broke.
- NovaGirl
'New' in Latin; a Leo name pointing toward bright beginnings.
- HannibalBoy
Phoenician 'grace of Baal'; the general who outthought Rome at Cannae.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is August 2?add
August 2 is the anniversary of the Battle of Cannae (216 BC) and the day most delegates signed the US Declaration of Independence (1776). It is the 214th day of the year.
What number day of the year is August 2?add
August 2 is the 214th day of the year, or the 215th in a leap year, with 151 days remaining.
What zodiac sign is August 2?add
August 2 is Leo, which runs from July 23 to August 22.