NMC103H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Menes, Sothic Cycle, Buto
18 May 2016
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4 ways of measuring time: agricultural lunar astronomical time keeping year counting from new ruler"s accession. 3 seasons of 4 months each of 3 weeks each of 10 days + 5 epagonmenal days. + hours stars determine night time hours. E. g: astronomical ceilings and nut pictures in tombs and temples. Each decan observed rising at dawn for 1- days. Dawn rising of sothis coincided with nile flood. First day of year : (first akhet one) Frist day of calendar coincided with heliacal rising of sothis every 1460 years. Allows to tie other dates to an absolute chronology. Recorded rising on 1 akhet 1 under antonius pius in 139 ce. 1321 bce: reign of haremhab late dyn: 18. Egyptians date official documents according to the rule. Inscribed with political and ritual deeds of kings. Knowing the nile height each year was very important. Royal canon of turin (time rameses ii, dyn. Menes semi mythical so don"t really know if he exists.
