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The synchronization of the Alexandrian calendar with the Julian calendar (Table 9.22) is not exact for all days, since the two calendars insert their intercalary day in different years within a four-year cycle. |
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The two calendars are synchronized during two periods, the month of Phamenoth and the epagomenal days. In the Egyptian leap year, the epagomenal period is extended by one day to 29 August. The extra day is recouped when the Julian calendar has its intercalary day the following February, so 5 Phamenoth is always equal to 1 March. The calendars are then synchronized by day until the Egyptian calendar has its leap day some three years later. |
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The era was back-dated to the year 5493 B.C., retaining the date of 29 August which was the first of the year at the time the correlation with the Julian calendar was introduced. |
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9.7.3.1.1.2
Historical Background |
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When Alexander III (the Great) of Macedonia came to Egypt in 322 B.C., he added a suburb, Neapolis, to the west of the existing pharaonic city of Rhacotis and included both together as a new city named Alexandria, which he intended to be a naval base and link between Macedonia and the Nile valley. |
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Table 9.22 Synchronization of Alexandrian and Julian calendars. |
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| | | | Egyptian month | Common Year | Leap Year | | 1 Thoth | 29 Aug27 Sep | 30 Aug28 Sep | | 2 Phaophi | 28 Sept27 Oct | 29 Sep28 Oct | | 3 Hathyr | 28 Oct26 Nov | 29 Oct27 Nov | | 4 Choiak | 27 Nov26 Dec | 28 Nov27 Dec | | 5 Tybi | 27 Dec25 Jan | 28 Dec26 Jan | | 6 Mecheir | 26 Jan24 Feb | 27 Jan25 Feb | | 7 Phamenoth | 25 Feb26 Mar | 26 Feb26 Mar | | 8 Pharmuthi | 27 Mar25 Apr | 27 Mar25 Apr | | 9 Pachon | 26 Apr25 May | 26 Apr25 May | | 10 Pauni | 26 May24 Jun | 26 May24 Jun | | 11 Epeiph | 25 Jun24 Jul | 25 Jun24 Jul | | 12 Mesore | 25 Jul23 Aug | 25 Jul23 Aug | | 13 Epagomena | 24 Aug28 Aug | 24 Aug29 Aug |
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