On September 11, 2018, Egyptians celebrated the arrival of a new Egyptian year, marking the 6260th Pharaonic year.
The Egyptian calendar, known as the oldest in the world, was meticulously calculated by ancient Egyptians in 4241 B.C. This calendar’s historical significance is immense, offering a glimpse into the advanced knowledge and astronomical insights of this ancient civilization.
As noted by Desiree Edwards-Rees in “The House of History,” the ancient Egyptians were astute astronomers who based their calendar on the Earth’s journey around the sun. They ingeniously divided the year into 365 days, organized into 12 months of 30 days each. To account for the remaining five days, they added a short month, resulting in a 13-month Egyptian year, as explained by archaeologist Ossama Alsaadawy on his official website.
The Egyptians further showcased their precision by dividing the day into 24 hours and establishing specific time measurements for the spring and autumn, as well as delineating the days of the week. This remarkable calendar was considered a divine gift from Thoth, the god of knowledge, the moon, measurements, reading, and the alphabet. So integral was the calendar to their daily lives that the first month of the Egyptian year was named after Thoth.
According to Alsaadawy, the Egyptian calendar was not only accurate but also practical, especially for farmers. It interconnected with meteorological patterns, astrological phenomena, and solar and lunar cycles. The timing of the annual Nile flood, a crucial event for ancient Egypt, was associated with the rising of the Sirius star, occurring during every flood as it reached the vicinity of Memphis City.
While Egypt no longer officially follows the Egyptian calendar, it still persists in churches and among the agricultural community. Currently, it is the 1734th Coptic year, based on both the Egyptian calendar and the ancient Greek Julian calendar. August serves as the bridge connecting the Julian and Egyptian calendars, providing the foundation for the Gregorian calendar. Festive celebrations marking the new Egyptian/Coptic year occur during the Nayrouz Fests.
During the 26th dynasty, the months in the original Egyptian calendar were associated with gods and folk idioms, reflecting their spiritual and cultural significance. These named months are a testament to the calendar’s importance in the hearts and minds of the ancient Egyptians, showing their deep connection to celestial rhythms and agricultural cycles:
- Thoth: The Egyptian god of wisdom and knowledge.
- Paopi: The god of agriculture and the Nile.
- Hathor: The goddess of beauty.
- Koiak: The god of good.
- Tobi: The god of rain.
- Meshir: The god of winds and storms.
- Paremhat: The god of heat, war, and high temperature.
- Parmouti: The god of death.
- Pashons: The god of darkness.
- Paoni: The god of metal.
- Epip: The month of happiness, when Horus avenged his father against Set.
- Mesori: The birth of the sun god Ra.
- Pi Kogi Enavot: The short month.
The enduring legacy of the Egyptian calendar, with its astronomical and agricultural wisdom, continues to echo through time, reminding us of the remarkable achievements of one of the world’s most ancient civilizations.
1 Comment
thank you for this effort. there is never enough infromation available about the beginnings of human ventures into thought and fundemental science the arose on the african continent. as the much misguided science and technology of modern times despite the oohs and aahs of their produce nevertheless wane into alarm and disgust because of the wrecklessness of havock that its so called genius bears upon the life of the planet which we all owe our existance to. reeling as a thoughtful person must in these times , it has long been found something intriguing even hopefull in the effort of grasping as clear and as accurate a understanding of the civiliziation that taught humanity the first steps towards living human . one can find the finger prints of egyptian africa in all social pillars from religion of every stripe ,governance, law,science, etc etc. Again thank you for your platform and efforts to seek that special ancient knowledge for all your seeking adds to the clarity all those who seek