The Egyptian Calendar

Keeping track of hours, days, and months was of the utmost importance to the Egyptians, as there were many sacred occasions that had to be observed in order that the spiritual bond with the gods and with the dead could be maintained. The task was complex and crucial enough to require the complete attention of specially trained priests whose duty it was to mark the passage of time.

The new year started with the inundation of the Nile, presaged by the first appearance of the star Sothis (Sirius). Now the Egyptian calendar followed the lunar model, with 12 months of 30 days each divided into three seasons. The difference between the solar and lunar year was compensated for by the presence of the five Epagomenal Days, the sacred days commemorating the births of Asar, Heru the Elder, Suti, Ast, and Nebt-Het. The actual year is 365.25 days long, however; our calendar takes this into consideration, giving us an extra day every four years (the 'leap year'), added to the month of February. I have allowed the leap year to extend the month of Pharmuthi by one day on leap years to accomodate this difference.

The following table converts the modern (Gregorian) calendar to that of the Egyptians, for the sake of maintaining the traditional sacred occasions. The dates have been adjusted to the Sothic year, which starts on July 21 in 2004.

Season of Inundation (Akhet)
	July 21	Month of Djewhty begins
	July 21	Wepet Senet (New Year's Day); Sothis (Sirius) reappears
	July 22	Night of the Tear; inundation of the Nile begins
	August 20	Month of Paopi begins
	September 19	Month of Athyr begins
	October 19	Month of Khoaik begins
	November 17	Festival of Sokaris
Season of Growing (Proyet)
	November 18	Month of Tybi begins
	November 19	Festival of Asar's Beauty
	December 18	Month of Mekhir
	January 17	Month of Pnamenotu begins
	January 17	Lamentations of Ast and Nebt-Het
	February 16	Month of Pharmuthi begins
Season of Harvest (Shemu)
	Mar 18	Month of Pakhons begins
	Mar 18	Festival of the Djed Pillar
	Mar 25	Festival of the Coming Forth of Minu
	Apr 17	Month of Paoni begins
	Apr 17	Beautiful Feast of the Valley
	May 17	Month of Epep begins
	June 16	Month of Mesore begins
Epagamonal Days
	July 16	Epagamonal Day: Asar
	July 17	Epagamonal Day: Heru the Elder
	July 18	Epagamonal Day: Suti
	July 19	Epagamonal Day: Ast
	July 16	Epagamonal Day: Nebt-Het

For your convenience, this calendar is available as an .ics file for downloading and use with iCal or other compliant calendar applications: Egyptian.ics, 9k.