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Egyptian calendar

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Egyptian calendar

The ancient Egyptian calendar – a civil calendar – was a solar calendar with a 365-day year. The year consisted of three seasons of 120 days each, plus an intercalary month of five epagomenal days treated as outside of the year proper. Each season was divided into four months of 30 days. These twelve months were initially numbered within each season but came to also be known by the names of their principal festivals. Each month was divided into three 10-day periods known as decans or decades. It has been suggested that during the Nineteenth Dynasty and the Twentieth Dynasty the last two days of each decan were usually treated as a kind of weekend for the royal craftsmen, with royal artisans free from work. Because this calendrical year was nearly a quarter of a day shorter than the solar year, the Egyptian calendar lost about one day every four years relative to the Julian calendar. It is therefore sometimes referred to as the wandering year (Latin: annus vagus), as its months rotated about one day through the solar year every four years. Ptolemy III's Canopus Decree attempted to correct this through the introduction of a sixth epagomenal day every four years but the proposal was resisted by the Egyptian priests and people and abandoned until the decree by Augustus in 25 BC that established the Alexandrian or Coptic calendar. The introduction of a leap day to the Egyptian calendar made it equivalent to the Julian calendar, although (like the latter) it continues to diverge from the Gregorian calendar at the turn of most centuries. This civil calendar ran concurrently with an Egyptian lunar calendar which was used for some religious rituals and festivals. Some Egyptologists have described it as lunisolar, with an intercalary month supposedly added every two or three years to maintain its consistency with the solar year, but no evidence of such intercalation before the 4th century BC has yet been discovered.

Tables

Days of the lunar month[31][c] · History › Lunar calendar
Meaning (if known)
Meaning (if known)
Day
Egyptian
Name
Meaning (if known)
Day
Name
Egyptian
Meaning (if known)
1
Psḏtyw
Literal meaning unknown but possibly related to the Ennead; the day of the New Moon.
2
Tp ꜢbdꜢbd
"Beginning the Month" or "The Month"; the beginning of the Crescent Moon.
3
Mspr
"Arrival"
4
Prt Sm
"The Going Forth of the Sm", a kind of priest
5
I͗ḫt Ḥr Ḫꜣwt
"Offerings upon the Altar"
6
Snt
"The Sixth"
7
Dnı͗t
"Partial"; the first-quarter day.
8
Tp
Unknown
9
Kꜣp
Unknown
10
Sı͗f
Unknown
11
Stt
Unknown
12
Unknown
"Partial" the second-quarter day.
13
Mꜣꜣ Sṯy
Unknown
14
Sı͗ꜣw
Unknown
15
SmdtTp Smdt
Literal meaning uncertain; the day of the Full Moon.
16
Mspr Sn NwḤbs Tp
"Second Arrival Covering the Head"
17
Sı͗ꜣw
Second Quarter Day
18
I͗ꜥḥ
"Day of the Moon"
19
Sḏm Mdwf
Unknown
20
Stp
Unknown
21
Ꜥprw
Unknown
22
Pḥ Spdt
Unknown
23
Dnı͗t
"Partial"; the third-quarter day.
24
Knḥw
Unknown
25
Stt
Unknown
26
Prt
"The Going Forth"
27
Wšb
Unknown
28
Ḥb Sd Nwt
"The Jubilee of Nut"
29
Ꜥḥꜥ
Unknown
30
Prt Mn
"The Going Forth of Min"
Heliacal rising of Sirius at Heliopolis[w] · History › Civil calendar
Egyptian
Egyptian
Year
Egyptian
Date
Julian
Date
Gregorian
3500 BC
3500 BC
Year
3500 BC
Date
III Peret 3
Date
July 16
Date
June 18
3000 BC
3000 BC
Year
3000 BC
Date
III Shemu 8
Date
July 16
Date
June 22
2500 BC
2500 BC
Year
2500 BC
Date
III Akhet 8
Date
July 16
Date
June 26
2000 BC
2000 BC
Year
2000 BC
Date
III Peret 14
Date
July 17
Date
June 30
1500 BC
1500 BC
Year
1500 BC
Date
III Shemu 19
Date
July 17
Date
July 4
1000 BC
1000 BC
Year
1000 BC
Date
III Akhet 19
Date
July 17
Date
July 8
500 BC
500 BC
Year
500 BC
Date
III Peret 25
Date
July 18
Date
July 13
AD 1
AD 1
Year
AD 1
Date
III Shemu 30
Date
July 18
Date
July 16
AD 500
AD 500
Year
AD 500
Date
IV Akhet 2
Date
July 20
Date
July 22
Year
Date
Egyptian
Julian
Gregorian
3500 BC
III Peret 3
July 16
June 18
3000 BC
III Shemu 8
July 16
June 22
2500 BC
III Akhet 8
July 16
June 26
2000 BC
III Peret 14
July 17
June 30
1500 BC
III Shemu 19
July 17
July 4
1000 BC
III Akhet 19
July 17
July 8
500 BC
III Peret 25
July 18
July 13
AD 1
III Shemu 30
July 18
July 16
AD 500
IV Akhet 2
July 20
July 22
Months · Months
Seasonal
Seasonal
Egyptological
Seasonal
English
Middle Kingdom
Egyptian
New Kingdom
I
I
Egyptological
I
English
I AkhetThoth
Egyptian
1st Month of Flood1 Ꜣḫt
Egyptian
Tḫy
Egyptian
Ḏḥwti
Greek
Θωθ
Greek
Thōth
Coptic
Ⲑⲱⲟⲩⲧ
Coptic
Tôut
II
II
Egyptological
II
English
II AkhetPhaophi
Egyptian
2nd Month of Flood2 Ꜣḫt
Egyptian
Mnht
Egyptian
P(Ꜣ) n-ip.t
Greek
Φαωφί
Greek
Phaōphí
Coptic
Ⲡⲁⲱⲡⲉ
Coptic
Baôba
III
III
Egyptological
III
English
III AkhetAthyr
Egyptian
3rd Month of Flood3 Ꜣḫt
Egyptian
Ḥwt-ḥwr
Egyptian
Ḥwt-ḥr(w)
Greek
Ἀθύρ
Greek
Athúr
Coptic
Ϩⲁⲑⲱⲣ
Coptic
Hatûr
IV
IV
Egyptological
IV
English
IV AkhetChoiak
Egyptian
4th Month of Flood4 Ꜣḫt
Egyptian
KꜢ-ḥr-KꜢ
Egyptian
KꜢ-ḥr-KꜢ
Greek
Χοιάκ
Greek
Khoiák
Coptic
ⲔⲟⲓⲁⲕⲔⲓⲁϩⲕ
Coptic
KoiakKiahk
V
V
Egyptological
V
English
I PeretTybi
Egyptian
1st Month of Growth1 Prt
Egyptian
Sf-Bdt
Egyptian
TꜢ-ꜥ(Ꜣ)bt
Greek
Τυβί
Greek
Tubí
Coptic
Ⲧⲱⲃⲓ
Coptic
Tôbi
VI
VI
Egyptological
VI
English
II PeretMechir
Egyptian
2nd Month of Growth2 Prt
Egyptian
Rḫ Wr
Egyptian
P(Ꜣ) n-pꜢ-mḫrw
Greek
Μεχίρ
Greek
Mekhír
Coptic
Ⲙⲉϣⲓⲣ
Coptic
Meshir
VII
VII
Egyptological
VII
English
III PeretPhamenoth
Egyptian
3rd Month of Growth3 Prt
Egyptian
Rḫ Nds
Egyptian
P(Ꜣ) n-imn-ḥtp
Greek
Φαμενώθ
Greek
Phamenṓth
Coptic
Ⲡⲁⲣⲉⲙϩⲁⲧ
Coptic
Baramhat
VIII
VIII
Egyptological
VIII
English
IV PeretPharmuthi
Egyptian
4th Month of Growth4 Prt
Egyptian
Rnwt
Egyptian
P(Ꜣ) n-rn(n)-wt(t)
Greek
Φαρμουθί
Greek
Pharmouthí
Coptic
Ⲡⲁⲣⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ
Coptic
Barmoda
IX
IX
Egyptological
IX
English
I ShemuPachons
Egyptian
1st Month of Low Water1 Šmw
Egyptian
Ḫnsw
Egyptian
P(Ꜣ) n-ḫns.w
Greek
Παχών
Greek
Pakhṓn
Coptic
Ⲡⲁϣⲟⲛⲥ
Coptic
Bashons
X
X
Egyptological
X
English
II ShemuPayni
Egyptian
2nd Month of Low Water2 Šmw
Egyptian
Hnt-htj
Egyptian
P(Ꜣ) n-in.t
Greek
Παϋνί
Greek
Paüní
Coptic
Ⲡⲁⲱⲛⲓ
Coptic
Baôni
XI
XI
Egyptological
XI
English
III ShemuEpiphi
Egyptian
3rd Month of Low Water3 Šmw
Egyptian
Ipt-hmt
Egyptian
Ip(i)-ip(i)
Greek
Ἐπιφί
Greek
Epiphí
Coptic
Ⲉⲡⲓⲡ
Coptic
Apip
XII
XII
Egyptological
XII
English
IV ShemuMesore
Egyptian
4th Month of Low Water4 Šmw
Egyptian
Opening of the YearWp Rnpt
Egyptian
Mswt Rꜥ"Birth of the Sun"
Greek
Μεσορή
Greek
Mesorḗ
Coptic
Ⲙⲉⲥⲱⲣⲓ
Coptic
Masôri
Egyptological
English
Intercalary MonthEpagomenal Days
Egyptian
Egyptian
Those upon the YearHryw Rnpt
Greek
ἐπαγόμεναι
Greek
epagómenai
Coptic
Ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲩϫⲓ ⲛ̀ⲁⲃⲟⲧ
Coptic
Bikudji en abod
Egyptological
English
Egyptian
Greek
Coptic
Seasonal
Middle Kingdom
New Kingdom
I
I AkhetThoth
1st Month of Flood1 Ꜣḫt
Tḫy
Ḏḥwti
Θωθ
Thōth
Ⲑⲱⲟⲩⲧ
Tôut
II
II AkhetPhaophi
2nd Month of Flood2 Ꜣḫt
Mnht
P(Ꜣ) n-ip.t
Φαωφί
Phaōphí
Ⲡⲁⲱⲡⲉ
Baôba
III
III AkhetAthyr
3rd Month of Flood3 Ꜣḫt
Ḥwt-ḥwr
Ḥwt-ḥr(w)
Ἀθύρ
Athúr
Ϩⲁⲑⲱⲣ
Hatûr
IV
IV AkhetChoiak
4th Month of Flood4 Ꜣḫt
KꜢ-ḥr-KꜢ
KꜢ-ḥr-KꜢ
Χοιάκ
Khoiák
ⲔⲟⲓⲁⲕⲔⲓⲁϩⲕ
KoiakKiahk
V
I PeretTybi
1st Month of Growth1 Prt
Sf-Bdt
TꜢ-ꜥ(Ꜣ)bt
Τυβί
Tubí
Ⲧⲱⲃⲓ
Tôbi
VI
II PeretMechir
2nd Month of Growth2 Prt
Rḫ Wr
P(Ꜣ) n-pꜢ-mḫrw
Μεχίρ
Mekhír
Ⲙⲉϣⲓⲣ
Meshir
VII
III PeretPhamenoth
3rd Month of Growth3 Prt
Rḫ Nds
P(Ꜣ) n-imn-ḥtp
Φαμενώθ
Phamenṓth
Ⲡⲁⲣⲉⲙϩⲁⲧ
Baramhat
VIII
IV PeretPharmuthi
4th Month of Growth4 Prt
Rnwt
P(Ꜣ) n-rn(n)-wt(t)
Φαρμουθί
Pharmouthí
Ⲡⲁⲣⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ
Barmoda
IX
I ShemuPachons
1st Month of Low Water1 Šmw
Ḫnsw
P(Ꜣ) n-ḫns.w
Παχών
Pakhṓn
Ⲡⲁϣⲟⲛⲥ
Bashons
X
II ShemuPayni
2nd Month of Low Water2 Šmw
Hnt-htj
P(Ꜣ) n-in.t
Παϋνί
Paüní
Ⲡⲁⲱⲛⲓ
Baôni
XI
III ShemuEpiphi
3rd Month of Low Water3 Šmw
Ipt-hmt
Ip(i)-ip(i)
Ἐπιφί
Epiphí
Ⲉⲡⲓⲡ
Apip
XII
IV ShemuMesore
4th Month of Low Water4 Šmw
Opening of the YearWp Rnpt
Mswt Rꜥ"Birth of the Sun"
Μεσορή
Mesorḗ
Ⲙⲉⲥⲱⲣⲓ
Masôri
Intercalary MonthEpagomenal Days
Those upon the YearHryw Rnpt
ἐπαγόμεναι
epagómenai
Ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲩϫⲓ ⲛ̀ⲁⲃⲟⲧ
Bikudji en abod

References

  1. although, from 25 BC to 5 AD, the Julian calendar as in use in Rome was in error because the Roman priests misunderstood
  2. In the 30 years prior to the completion of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902, the period between Egypt's "annual" floods varied
  3. For further variations, see Brugsch.
  4. Variant representations of the day of the new moon include , , , , , , , , ,
  5. In later sources, Psḏntyw.
  6. Variant representations of the day of the first crescent moon include , , , (properly N11A with the mo
  7. Variant representations of the 6th day of the lunar month include , , , , , , and
  8. Variant representations of the 1st-quarter day include and .
  9. Properly, the first sign is not an animal jawbone but the rarer, similar-looking figure of a lion's forepaw F118B
  10. Properly, the two circles are shrunk and placed within the curve of the sickle , forming U43 . The male figure
  11. Variant representations of the day of the full moon include , , , , , and .
  12. Properly, N12\t1 or N12A, with the crescent moon turned 90° clockwise.
  13. Variant representations of the 21st day of the lunar month include and .
  14. Variant representations of the 24th day of the lunar month include .
  15. Variant representations of the 27th day of the lunar month include D310 . D310 is a foot crossed by a variant of p
  16. Properly, the loaf and diagonal strokes are shrunk and fit under the two sides of the standard .
  17. Other possibilities for the original basis of the calendar include comparison of a detailed record of lunar dates agains
  18. It has been argued that the Ebers Papyrus shows a fixed calendar incorporating leap years, but this is no longer believe
  19. 1460 Julian years (exactly) or Gregorian years (roughly) in modern calculations, equivalent to 1461 Egyptian civil years
  20. Per O'Mara, actually ±16 years when including the other factors affecting the calculated Sothic year.
  21. Using Roman dating, he said of the relevant New Year that "when the emperor Antoninus Pius was consul of Rome for a seco
  22. Meyer himself accepted the earliest date, though before the Middle Chronology was shown to be more likely than the short
  23. Specifically, the calculations are for 30° N with no adjustment for clouds and an averaged amount of aerosols for the re
  24. Latin: ...ante diem XIII kal. Aug....
  25. Most ancient sources place the heliacal rising of Sirius on 19 July, but Dositheus, probable source of the date of the 2
  26. This seems to be the case, for example, with astronomical records of the XVIII Dynasty and its successors, including the
  27. Reconstructed Egyptian accentuation Phaôphi (Φαῶφι).
  28. Reconstructed Egyptian accentuation Khoíak (Χοίακ).
  29. Reconstructed Egyptian accentuation Tûbi (Τῦβι).
  30. Reconstructed Egyptian accentuation Mekheír (Μεχείρ).
  31. Reconstructed Egyptian accentuation Pharmoûthi (Φαρμοῦθι).
  32. Reconstructed Egyptian accentuation Paü̂ni (Παῧνι).
  33. Reconstructed Egyptian accentuation Epeíph (Ἐπείφ).
  34. Full version at Met Museum
    http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/100000870#fullscreen
  35. www.metmuseum.org
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  36. Winlock (1940), p. 450.
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  37. Clagett (1995), pp. 10–11.
  38. Winlock (1940).
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  40. Winlock (1940), p. 452.
  41. Histories
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  43. Winlock (1940), p. 453.
  44. Clagett (1995), p. 4–5.
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    https://books.google.com/books?id=xKKPUpDOTKAC&pg=PA3
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  75. Vygus (2015), p. 1885.
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  81. Vygus (2015), p. 1235.
  82. Parker (1950), p. 18.
  83. Vygus (2015), p. 917.
  84. Vygus (2015), p. 2294.
  85. Vygus (2015), p. 2472.
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  103. The Star Sirius in Ancient Egypt and Babylonia
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  104. De Die Natali
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  106. The Timetables of History,
  107. Clagett (1995), p. 31.
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  108. Parker (1950), p. 53.
  109. Clagett (1995), p. 36–7.
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  110. Ancient Luni-Solar and Planetary Ephemerides
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  112. Fourmilab
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  113. Opus Novum de Emendatione Temporum
  114. Grafton & al. (1985), p. 455.
  115. Luft (2006), p. 314.
  116. O'Mara (2003), p. 25.
  117. Luft (2006), p. 312.
  118. Forisek (2003), p. 12.
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  121. Biblical Archaeology
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  122. Tetley (2014), p. 43.
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  123. A Chronological Survey of Precisely Dated Demotic and Abnormal Hieratic Sources
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  124. Alexandrian reform of the Egyptian calendar
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  125. Clagett (1995), p. 14–15.
  126. Vocabolario della Lingua Greca
  127. Allen (2014), p. 133.
  128. The New Papyrological Primer
  129. Ancient Egyptian magic a hands-on guide
  130. The British Museum
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  131. The British Museum
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  132. Searching the Years: Religion and Superstition in ancient Egypt as Seen Through Horoscopes
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  133. Egypt Gods, myths and religion
  134. Cambridge Archaeological Journal
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  135. The Astrophysical Journal
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  136. PLOS ONE
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  137. Open Astronomy
    https://arxiv.org/abs/1810.06412
  138. Ahram Online
    https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1208/381146/AlAhram-Weekly/Features/Republished--Egypt-Three-calendars-of-identity.aspx
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