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the_old_assyrian_calendar [2015/10/13 20:13] – gombert | the_old_assyrian_calendar [2015/10/20 09:32] (current) – hawkins | ||
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- | ====== The comput | + | ====== The Computation |
- | ===== Old Assyrian Calendar | + | === Old Assyrian Calendar === |
- | ==== Months | + | == Months == |
The Old Assyrian lunisolar calendar consisted of 12 months, //warhum//, of 29 or 30 days. The Old Assyrian months are named after cultic and seasonal events: | The Old Assyrian lunisolar calendar consisted of 12 months, //warhum//, of 29 or 30 days. The Old Assyrian months are named after cultic and seasonal events: | ||
- | | I\\ II\\ III\\ IV\\ V\\ VI | Bēlet-ekallim\\ (Narmak Aššur) ša Sarrātim \\ (Narmak Aššur) ša Kēnātim\\ Mahhur ilī\\ Ab šarrāni\\ Hubur | VII\\ VIII\\ IX\\ X\\ XI\\ XII | Ṣip’um\\ Qarrātum\\ Kanwarta\\ Te’inātum* \\ Kuzallu\\ Allānātum | | + | | I\\ II\\ III\\ IV\\ V\\ VI | //Bēlet-ekallim//\\ (//Narmak Aššur//) //ša Sarrātim// |
- | *During level Ib, month X is named after the Moon God: Suen | + | *During level Ib, month X is named after the Moon God: //Suen// |
- | An intercalary month, Zibibirum was added to adjust the calendar to the agricultural cycle, but this addition was not regular ; it is observed in REL 82 and 85 in Kültepe tablets. It is also possible that the Assyrians have sometimes doubled the last month of the year without changing its name, a tradition still surviving in the Middle Assyrian period. Other years with intercalary months are attested from other sources using the Aššur eponym system; they correspond to years REL 191, 211, 224, 226, 243. | + | An intercalary month, |
The first day of the month (// | The first day of the month (// | ||
The Old Assyrian months are usually used in the loan contract dates, but time computation by month may also be found in letters sent from Aššur. | The Old Assyrian months are usually used in the loan contract dates, but time computation by month may also be found in letters sent from Aššur. | ||
- | ==== šapattum = half-month / day of the full moon, and moon (called god, ilum) phases | + | == šapattum = half-month / day of the full moon, and moon (called god, ilum) phases == |
The Assyrians used a time unit, the // | The Assyrians used a time unit, the // | ||
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* Specific date: “(When) the (Moon) God was standing (in the sky) for 5 days (//ilum// 5 //ūmim issas//)” ([[http:// | * Specific date: “(When) the (Moon) God was standing (in the sky) for 5 days (//ilum// 5 //ūmim issas//)” ([[http:// | ||
- | ==== The beginning of the year / New year’s Day ==== | + | === The beginning of the year / New year’s Day === |
According to an unpublished tablet, Kt c/k 568, the beginning of the Old Assyrian year corresponded to the winter solstice (December 22, Dercksen 2011, p. 238), while the calendar of Upper Mesopotamia kingdom (Šamšī-Adad) started in August (Charpin 1985, p. 246). Previous interpretations suggested a beginning of the Old Assyrian year the day of the autumnal equinox (September 22, Veenhof 2008, p. 243, Michel 2010, p. 222). | According to an unpublished tablet, Kt c/k 568, the beginning of the Old Assyrian year corresponded to the winter solstice (December 22, Dercksen 2011, p. 238), while the calendar of Upper Mesopotamia kingdom (Šamšī-Adad) started in August (Charpin 1985, p. 246). Previous interpretations suggested a beginning of the Old Assyrian year the day of the autumnal equinox (September 22, Veenhof 2008, p. 243, Michel 2010, p. 222). | ||
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* Donbaz, V., 1971: The Old Assyrian Month Name Kanwarta, //JCS// 24, p. 24-28.\\ | * Donbaz, V., 1971: The Old Assyrian Month Name Kanwarta, //JCS// 24, p. 24-28.\\ | ||
* Donbaz, V., 1984: New Evidence on the Reading of the The Old Assyrian Month Name Kanwarta with an Edition of the Memorandum Kt c/k 839, //JEOL// 28, p. 3-9.\\ | * Donbaz, V., 1984: New Evidence on the Reading of the The Old Assyrian Month Name Kanwarta with an Edition of the Memorandum Kt c/k 839, //JEOL// 28, p. 3-9.\\ | ||
- | * Michel, C., 2010: The day unit within the Old Assyrian calendar, in Ş. Dönmez (ed.), //Studies Presented in Honour of Veysel Donbaz//, Istanbul, p. 217-224.\\ | + | * Michel, C., 2010: [[https:// |
* Veenhof, K. R., 1997: The Old Assyrian // | * Veenhof, K. R., 1997: The Old Assyrian // | ||
* Veenhof, K. R., 2000: Old Assyrian chronology, // | * Veenhof, K. R., 2000: Old Assyrian chronology, // | ||
* Veenhof, K. R., 2008: The Old Assyrian Period, in M. Wäfler (ed.), K. R. Veenhof and J. Eidem, // | * Veenhof, K. R., 2008: The Old Assyrian Period, in M. Wäfler (ed.), K. R. Veenhof and J. Eidem, // | ||
- | + | === Week: hamuštum = “a week of x days” === | |
- | ==== Week: hamuštum = “a week of x days” | + | |
In loan contracts in Kaneš, dates are often expressed in // | In loan contracts in Kaneš, dates are often expressed in // | ||
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* Lewy, H. & J., 1943: The Origin of the Week and the Oldest West Asiatic Calendar, //HUCA// 17, p. 1-146.\\ | * Lewy, H. & J., 1943: The Origin of the Week and the Oldest West Asiatic Calendar, //HUCA// 17, p. 1-146.\\ | ||
* Lewy, J., 1939: The Assyrian Calendar, //ArOr// 11, p. 35-46.\\ | * Lewy, J., 1939: The Assyrian Calendar, //ArOr// 11, p. 35-46.\\ | ||
- | * Michel, C., 2010: The day unit within the Old Assyrian calendar, in Ş. Dönmez (ed.), //Studies Presented in Honour of Veysel Donbaz//, Istanbul, p. 217-224.\\ | + | * Michel, C., 2010: [[https:// |
* Tur-Sinai, N. H., 1951: Sabbat und Woche, //BiOr// 8, p. 14-24.\\ | * Tur-Sinai, N. H., 1951: Sabbat und Woche, //BiOr// 8, p. 14-24.\\ | ||
* Veenhof, K. R., 1997: The Old Assyrian // | * Veenhof, K. R., 1997: The Old Assyrian // | ||
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* Veenhof, K. R., 2008:The Old Assyrian Period, in M. Wäfler (ed.), K. R. Veenhof and J. Eidem, // | * Veenhof, K. R., 2008:The Old Assyrian Period, in M. Wäfler (ed.), K. R. Veenhof and J. Eidem, // | ||
- | ==== Day and Night ==== | + | === Day and Night === |
- | The smallest unit of time used in the Old Assyrian corpus is //ūmum// = “day or night”. Indeed, the word //bērum//, which usually corresponds to a time unit, a “double-hour”, | + | The smallest unit of time used in the Old Assyrian corpus is //ūmum// = “day or night”. Indeed, the word //bērum//, which usually corresponds to a time unit, a “double-hour”, |
The Mesopotamian “day” consists of daytime and nighttime (nychtemeron). Days, //ūmum//, are counted in letters from one to twenty or more. The word night, //mūšum// or // | The Mesopotamian “day” consists of daytime and nighttime (nychtemeron). Days, //ūmum//, are counted in letters from one to twenty or more. The word night, //mūšum// or // | ||
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**Bibliography** | **Bibliography** | ||
- | * Michel, C., 2010: The day unit within the Old Assyrian calendar, in Ş. Dönmez (ed.), //Studies Presented in Honour of Veysel Donbaz//, Istanbul, p. 217-224.\\ | + | * Michel, C., 2010: [[https:// |
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- | ===== Anatolian Dating System ===== | ||
- | ==== Anatolian | + | ==== Anatolian |
In Anatolia, loan contracts are not always using the Old Assyrian calendar but can be dated after important events linked to the local ruler or his family, religious festivals or agricultural activities. The deadline of the loan is often fixed according to the festival in honor of an Anatolian god or goddess, or seasonal agricultural activities. This dating system may be used alone or combined with the Assyrian dates. | In Anatolia, loan contracts are not always using the Old Assyrian calendar but can be dated after important events linked to the local ruler or his family, religious festivals or agricultural activities. The deadline of the loan is often fixed according to the festival in honor of an Anatolian god or goddess, or seasonal agricultural activities. This dating system may be used alone or combined with the Assyrian dates. | ||
- | ===Events linked to the royal family=== | + | == Events linked to the royal family == |
* Accession to the throne of the local ruler: “When Labarša became king” ([[http:// | * Accession to the throne of the local ruler: “When Labarša became king” ([[http:// | ||
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* Birth in the royal family: “When the Lady-of-the-House (queen of Kaneš?) gave birth” ([[http:// | * Birth in the royal family: “When the Lady-of-the-House (queen of Kaneš?) gave birth” ([[http:// | ||
- | ===Events concerning the cultic activities of the king=== | + | ====Events concerning the cultic activities of the king==== |
- | * Entering the god’s temple: “When the king enter the temple of Nipas” (Kt d/k 17:10-12, // | + | * Entering the god’s temple: “When the king enters |
* Coming out of the god’s temple: “When the king comes out of the temple of Nipas ([[http:// | * Coming out of the god’s temple: “When the king comes out of the temple of Nipas ([[http:// | ||
- | ===Religious festivals=== | + | == Religious festivals == |
Only ten among the many Anatolian deities mentioned in the Old Assyrian texts appear in dates on the occasion of their main festival. In some cases, these festivals are combined with another type of dating which make possible seasonal dating of these festivals within the year. | Only ten among the many Anatolian deities mentioned in the Old Assyrian texts appear in dates on the occasion of their main festival. In some cases, these festivals are combined with another type of dating which make possible seasonal dating of these festivals within the year. | ||
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| **Festival** | **Season** | **Some references** | | | **Festival** | **Season** | **Some references** | | ||
| //ša Nipas// | Beginning of spring | [[http:// | | //ša Nipas// | Beginning of spring | [[http:// | ||
- | | ša Parka | Summer (grain harvest) | [[http:// | + | | //ša Parka// | Summer (grain harvest) | [[http:// |
- | | ša Anna (Main goddess of Kaneš) | Late autumn | [[http:// | + | | //ša Anna// (Main goddess of Kaneš) | Late autumn | [[http:// |
- | | ša Tuhutānim | autumn | [[http:// | + | | //ša Tuhutānim// | autumn | [[http:// |
- | | ša Bēlim (Lord) | ? | [[http:// | + | | //ša Bēlim// (Lord) | ? | [[http:// |
- | | ša Bēl qablim (Lord of the Battle) | ? | Kt 92/k 1045:18-19 | | + | | //ša Bēl qablim// (Lord of the Battle) | ? | Kt 92/k 1045:18-19 | |
- | | ša Harihari | ? | [[http:// | + | | //ša Harihari// | ? | [[http:// |
- | | ša Usumū | ? | Kt b/k 134a:6; b:10 | | + | | //ša Usumū// | ? | Kt b/k 134a:6; b:10 | |
- | | ša < | + | | //ša// < |
- | ===Agricultural seasonal activities=== | + | == Agricultural seasonal activities == |
The loan contracts using the agricultural calendar are predominantly dealing with wheat, which was sown in autumn and barley in the spring. They follow the many agricultural events from ploughing and seeding to the time of the threshing floor and quote seasons. | The loan contracts using the agricultural calendar are predominantly dealing with wheat, which was sown in autumn and barley in the spring. They follow the many agricultural events from ploughing and seeding to the time of the threshing floor and quote seasons. | ||
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|:::| // | |:::| // | ||
|:::| //serdum// | (time of) the olives (Oct.-Dec.) | [[http:// | |:::| //serdum// | (time of) the olives (Oct.-Dec.) | [[http:// | ||
- | |:::| //eršum waṣā’um// | + | |:::| //eršum waṣā’um// |
|:::| // | |:::| // | ||
| Spring | // | | Spring | // | ||
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* Dercksen, J. G., 2008: Observations on Land Use and Agriculture in Kaneš, in C. Michel (ed.), //Old Assyrian Studies in Memory of Paul Garelli//, OAAS 4, PIHANS 112, Leiden, p. 139-157.\\ | * Dercksen, J. G., 2008: Observations on Land Use and Agriculture in Kaneš, in C. Michel (ed.), //Old Assyrian Studies in Memory of Paul Garelli//, OAAS 4, PIHANS 112, Leiden, p. 139-157.\\ | ||
* Kryszat, G., 2006: Herrscher, Herrschaft und Kulttradition in Anatolien nach den Quellen aus den altassyrischen Handelskolonien -- teil 2: Götter, Priester und Feste Altanatoliens, | * Kryszat, G., 2006: Herrscher, Herrschaft und Kulttradition in Anatolien nach den Quellen aus den altassyrischen Handelskolonien -- teil 2: Götter, Priester und Feste Altanatoliens, | ||
- | * Michel, C., 2010: The day unit within the Old Assyrian calendar, in Ş. Dönmez (ed.), //Studies Presented in Honour of Veysel Donbaz//, Istanbul, p. 217-224.\\ | + | * Michel, C., 2010: [[https:// |
* Michel, C., In press: Prêts paléo-assyriens, | * Michel, C., In press: Prêts paléo-assyriens, | ||
* Veenhof, K. R., 2008: The Old Assyrian Period, in K. R. Veenhof & J. Eidem, // | * Veenhof, K. R., 2008: The Old Assyrian Period, in K. R. Veenhof & J. Eidem, // |