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within 11 days of wp rnpt, it was counted as intercalary. The intercalary month normally occurred every three years and was dedicated to Thoth. A feast dedicated to the god Dhwty was celebrated in that month. |
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Therefore, the early lunar calendar of the Egyptians is a member of the group of calendars called "lunistellar". Although not common, such calendars are not unknown. A calendar based on Sirius is known for the Loango on the western coast of Africa, and a similar system based on the Pleiades was recorded for tribes on the coast of Mexico in the early 16th century. |
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The first rise of the Nile is highly variable. Records for the 18731904 period show it beginning as early as 15 April and as late as 23 June, with an average in late May to early June. Calculations show that Sirius rose about 16 May in 7000 B.C. and about 12 June in 3500 B.C, which implies that the period from the fourth to fifth millennium B.C. would see Sirius rising at a time in the year when it would be associated with the first Nile floods. Thus, the first lunar calendar probably dates from that period. |
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This calendar (Table 9.8) was tied to the annual cycle of seasons. The month of Rnwtt, for example, is the last month of the prt season, and dedicated to Renutet, the harvest goddess. The rkh months are the months of greater and lesser fire. Old Kingdom lists show rkh with a determinative hieroglyph of a brazier with a flame, indicating artificial heating. Similarly in Mesopotamia, the cold month of Arahsamna was originally called warah kinunim, the "month of the brazier". |
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| Table 9.8 The original Egyptian lunar months. | | Season | Month Number | Month Name | Approximate Equivalent
Western Month | | kht | I | thy | JulyAugust | | kht | II | mnht | AugustSeptember | | kht | III | Ht-hr | SeptemberOctober | | kht | IV | kh hr kh | OctoberNovember | | prt | I | sf bdt | NovemberDecember | | prt | II | rkh wr | DecemberJanuary | | prt | III | rkh nds | JanuaryFebruary | | prt | IV | Rnwtt | FebruaryMarch | | smw | I | Hnsw | MarchApril | | smw | II | Hnt-hty | AprilMay | | smw | III | 'Ipt hmt | MayJune | | smw | IV | wp rnpt | JuneJuly | | Intercalary | Dhwtyt | |
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