The Egyptian CAlendar

1. The Egyptian CAlendar The First Ancient Solar Calendar Leah Crenshaw October 10, 2010 Think Tank Factory 3rd Period B Days

2. The ancient Egyptians had a calendar that they used to know when to plant crops, when to have holidays, and when to have ceremonies. It is similar to the calendar we use today, with the same number of days. The Egyptians were the first civilization to base a calendar on the sun and seasons. For Starters

3. The calendar had three seasons: Akhet, Peret, and Shemu. Akhet was the time of flooding, it lasted from June 15 to October 15. Peret was the time of sowing, it lasted from October 15 to February 15. Shemu was the final season, it was the time of harvest, it lasted from February 15 to June 15. Seasons

4. Akhet, The Time of Flooding • Akhet is the time of flooding. Its first month, Thoth, is named after the god of writing and language. Akhet lasts from June 15 to October 15. There are ten holidays in Akhet. They include the Thoth festival, the opening of the year, and the procession of Isis. • Thoth • Paophi • Athyr • Khoyat

5. Peret is the time of sowing. This is when they planted all of their crops on the banks of the Nile River. It lasts from October 15 to February 15. Peret has six holidays. They include the Beginning of Eternity, the Festival of the Raising Willow, and the sailing of Sekhmet. Peret, the time of sowing • Phamenat • Pharmuti • Tybi • Mekhir

6. Shemu is the time of harvesting. This is when the Egyptians would gather their crops and store it. It lasts from February 15 to June 15. Shemu has three holidays. They are the Festival of Renenutet, the Festival of Anubis, and the Festival of Min. Shemu, The time of harvesting • Pakhons • Payni • Epiphi • Mesore

7. The Modern Calendar • In comparison to the modern calendar the Egyptian calendar was remarkably accurate. • The Egyptians were the first civilization to base a calendar on the sun. • Today we use a calendar with the same basic format, twelve months and three-hundred sixty-five days.

8. Each Day • Unlike most ancient civilizations the Egyptians ended, and of course started the next, at sunrise. • The day had twelve hours and the night had twelve hours. • But because the day is sometimes longer than night the length of the hours change.

9. Changes over time Macedonian Dystros Xandikos Artemisios Daisios Panemos Loios Gorpiaios Hyperberetaios Dios Apellaios Audnaios Peritios Egyptian Thoth Paophi Athyr Khoyat Tybi Mekhir Phamenat Pharmuti Pakhons Payni Epiphi Mesore • TheEgyptian calendar changed when Alexander the Great got to Egypt. • The Macedonians created new names for each month. • But that was changed just about two hundred years later.

10. Conclusion • The Egyptian calendar was remarkably accurate. • It had three hundred sixty-five days just like ours. • It also had twelve months. • It even had twenty-four hours in each day. • It did change over time but the basic ideas were all the same.

11. Found on http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marjorieandpaul/mediterranean/1188443820/tpod.html on 9/22/10 • Found on http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/festivalcalendar2.html on 9/22/10 • Found on http://analyzer.depaul.edu/paperplate/Egyptian%20calendar.htm on 9/22/10 • Found on http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/dailylife/calendar.html 9/22/10 • Found on http://www.kingtutshop.com/freeinfo/Ancient-Egyptian-Calendar.htm 9/22/10 • Found on http://www.ortelius.de/kalender/egypt_en.php 9/22/10 Sources