Ancient calendars: Secrets of Egypt In the category ancient civilization Many people are interested in knowledge and learning about many subjects, this knowledge may be vital at some point in your life, attention enough. and dive into more detail in Ancient calendars: Secrets of Egypt.
Myths, legends and deities played a huge role For the inhabitants of ancient civilizations. This was reflected in all spheres of life. Studies show that even the Egyptian calendar was composed in the form of synthesis of scientific data and mythology. There are many versions of the origin and decryption of ancient Egyptian calendar data.
Solar and Lunar Time calculation systems
It is Believed that in Ancient Egypt there were two types of calendars, solar and lunar, on a par with each other. The Latter, according to historians, was used only as a religious, and recorded the time of the sacred holidays. Moon Calendar Month lasted 29 - 30 days. The Beginning of the month was considered the first day of moon invisibility. The Number of months in the year was also non-permanent - 12 - 13 months.
The Appearance of the thirteenth month is explained by the fact that it was necessary to celebrate the sunrise of Sirius in the same lunar month. The Heliacactic sunrises of Sirius (Sotis) were observed especially attentively, and meetings of such sunrises were accompanied by idleness. The Year in which it was 13, not 12 months, was usually called "big". The Lunar calendar did not pass the test of time, and it was replaced by one of the first solar calendars in the world.
Calendar year of the Egyptians
The system developed in antiquity differed simplicity and convenience for inhabitants. The Year consisted of 12 months (the same, Faofi, Atir, Hoyak, Tibi, Mehir, Famote, Farmuti, Pakhon, Pyni, Epifi, Mesori). Each of them lasted exactly 30 days. Most of the names of the months are derived from the names of the gods they were ordained. For example, he received the name on behalf of the god of the Moon and wisdom, Atir-goddess Khator, Famento-King of the Amenoffice, etc.
One month was divided into three big weeks (ten days each) and six small (pentades, 5 days). Also, the ancient Egyptians had three seasons, 4 months in each-a flood, or Achet (from mid-July to November), the time of Germination, Peret (November-March), drought, or the deceased (March-July). Thanks to the long observations of the brightest star, Sirius, the length of the year in 365 days was set.
The Advent of the leap year in Ancient Egypt
The Egyptian priests and sages initially knew that their year was shorter than the true one. However, the people did not want to see the system of the "wandering" year, so that religious holidays were celebrated not at the same time, but passing, consecrated all the months. That is why the Egyptian pharaohs, coming to the throne, among other things, promised not to change the length of the year, that is not to introduce an additional day every 4 years.
Only one ruler, Ewerget the third, from the Ptolemaic dynasty, dared To take such a step. In 238 BC He issued a decree, which actually proclaimed the introduction of one additional day a year, that is, the emergence of a leap year. The Egyptian year was shorter than tropical for 6 hours. This means that every four years, the sunrise of Sirius "lagged" for 24 hours, and every 120 years these six hours gave a whole month of "late". This led to the beginning of the year gradually shifting to an earlier time.
Unique features of the ancient Egyptian calendar
Due to the fact that in Ancient Egypt was not established a single era, and the chronology was conducted by the time of the reign of this or that pharaoh. There are several documents that fix the time of the reign of emperors, composed in different systems of chronology, including taking into account the "wandering" year.
Since The first thot was movable, it coincided with the solstice one time in 1461 year, that is, after one hundredth period. Many sources of the Egyptian chronology contain Sotis - dates, indication of the time of the Helakacic sunrise of Sirius. For the study of the calendar and the system of time of ancient Egyptians scientists use the data of those times-the first day of visibility of the Moon and new moons, as well as the synchronisms of history.
