Lunar Eclipse (Ancient Egypt)

Lunar eclipse in hieroglyphics
	Phases of a total lunar eclipse

A lunar eclipse was mythologically considered a negative omen in ancient Egypt and was referred to as the swallowing of the moon from the sky . Because of the ancient Egyptian calendar specified date change from sunrise nocturnal lunar eclipse was in contrast to the Julian and Gregorian calendar generally in the second half of the day, with the first hour of the night began with the 12th hour of the night ended.

Mythological connections

In particular, a total lunar eclipse was a possible omen for catastrophes, war and diseases. In the minds of the Egyptians, the greatest misfortune imaginable and to be assumed would occur if Isfet, as the embodiment of total darkness , let the sky fall to earth and chaos reigned.

The most important goal was therefore to secure and preserve the existing world order ( Maat ). Lunar eclipses are very rarely documented in ancient Egyptian records and were mostly only mentioned in connection with negative occurrences.

Historical mentions

An inscription from the Chronicle of Osorkon has survived from the reign of Takelot II , in which the disastrous effects of a lunar eclipse are reported. Although there was no lunar eclipse, the turmoil in the 15th year of Takelot II's reign is compared with the effects of a lunar eclipse.

"In the 15th year of the reign, on the 25th of Shemu IV , under the majesty (Takelot II.), The god who ruled Thebes : The sky did not swallow the moon, (nevertheless) the sky raged in the land like ]. The children of the rebellion brought unrest to the southern and northern parts of the country. They did not tire of fighting, just as Horus (never tired of) fighting for his father. Years passed in which one prayed to come into (contact) again unhindered with compatriots. "

- Chronicle of Prince Osorkon

The statement children of the rebellion is a synonym for children of the powerless and means the enemies of the pharaoh , who also acts symbolically for the sun god . The opponents of royalty and the mate are dubbed with this comparison. The 25th Schemu IV mentioned is the full moon date , since a lunar eclipse can only occur on a full moon. In Egyptology there is a consensus that the text refers to a full moon festival on which no lunar eclipse occurred. In addition, the date provides an important chronological reference to the years of reign and the date of Takelot II's accession to the throne.

With regard to the full moon date 25. Schemu IV, there are assignment problems. The first lunar month day would be on the 9th / 10th. Schemu IV fall. The 11th Schemu I in connection with the Amun Re festival is known from the eleventh year of reign, and it can have started on this or the following day at the earliest if there is a calendar connection to the full moon date of the 25th Schemu IV in the 15th year of reign. Takelot II must then have ascended the throne between the first and fourth schema months. In addition, there must be a rare sequence of several lunar months of equal length, as otherwise the 25th Schemu IV cannot represent a full moon date.

Callippian cycle

Copies of the lunar eclipses observed in Athens were available in Alexandria . The Greek writers noted the relevant correspondence date of Alexandria ancient Egyptian calendar and the year of Kallippischen cycle , which at the earliest on the day of the solstice (June 21-22. ^Greg. ) Began.

cycle	Cycle year	year	Ancient Egyptian date	Julian calendar	1. Achet I (July calendar)
Callippi cycle: lunar eclipses in correspondence with the ancient Egyptian calendar
4th	20 ( S )	83 BC Chr.	26. Achet II	November 6th to 7th	September 13-14
4th	21 (N)	81 BC Chr.	12. Peret IV	April 20-21	September 12th to 13th
4th	22 (S)	80 BC Chr.	1. Peret IV	April 10-11	September 12th to 13th
4th	23 (N)	80 BC Chr.	24. Achet I.	October 5th to 6th	September 12th to 13th
4th	24 (N)	78 BC Chr.	11. Peret II	February 19-20	September 12th to 13th
4th	26 (N)	76 BC Chr.	20. Peret I	January 28-29	September 11th to 12th
4th	27 (N)	75 BC Chr.	7. Schemu II	June 14th to 15th	September 11th to 12th
4th	28 (S)	74 BC Chr.	26. Schemu I	3rd to 4th June	September 11th to 12th

literature

Ricardo A. Caminos: The Chronicle of Prince Osorkon (= Analecta Orientalia. Vol. 37). Pontificium Institutum Biblicum, Roma 1958, p. 88.
Alexander Jones: Calendrica I: New Callippic Dates . In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, Vol. 129 . Rudolf Habelt, Bonn 2000, pp. 141–158.
Alexander Jones: Astronomical Papyri from Oxyrhynchus : (P. Oxy. 4133 - 4300a). Volumes I and II, American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia 1999, ISBN 0-8716-9233-3 .
Rolf Krauss: Sothis and moon dates: studies on the astronomical and technical chronology of ancient Egypt. Gerstenberg, Hildesheim 1985, ISBN 3-8067-8086-X , p. 174.
Otto Neugebauer , Richard Anthony Parker , Karl-Theodor Zauzich : A Demotic Lunar Eclipse Text of the First Century BC In: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. Vol. 125, No. 4, 1981, pp. 312-327.

Individual evidence

↑ Alexander Jones: Calendrica I: New Callippic Dates . Pp. 147-148.
↑ The leap month began on June 18th ^jul..
↑ NASA ( memento of October 17, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Lunar eclipse in the year -82 on November 7th ^July.from around 02:05 a.m. with a maximum around 3:26 a.m. and end around 4:56 a.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).
↑ NASA ( Memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Total lunar eclipse in the year -80 on April 21st ^jul.from around 9:45 p.m. with a maximum around 10:42 p.m. and end of the totality phase around 11:34 p.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time information: + 2 hours compared to UT).
↑ The leap month began on June 24th ^jul..
↑ NASA ( memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Lunar eclipse in the year -79 on April 11th ^jul.from around 1:45 a.m. with a maximum around 3:10 a.m. and end around 4:32 a.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).
↑ NASA ( memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Total lunar eclipse in the year -79 on October 5th ^jul.from around 6:45 p.m. with a maximum around 7:57 p.m. and end of the totality phase around 9:00 p.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).
↑ NASA ( memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Lunar eclipse in the year -77 on February 19th ^jul.from around 9:10 p.m. with a maximum around 10:45 p.m. and ends around midnight (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).
↑ NASA ( Memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Partial lunar eclipse in the year -75 on January 28th ^jul.from around 7:33 p.m. with a maximum around 8:15 p.m. and ends around 8:44 p.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).
↑ NASA ( Memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Unobservable lunar eclipse in the year -74 on June 14th ^jul.from around 2:17 p.m. with a maximum around 2:50 p.m. and ends around 3:20 p.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).
↑ The leap month began on June 19th ^jul..
↑ NASA ( memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Total lunar eclipse in the year -73 on June 4th ^jul.from around 1:25 a.m. with a maximum around 3:20 a.m. and end around 5:15 a.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).

[1] Alexander Jones: Calendrica I: New Callippic Dates . Pp. 147-148.

[2] The leap month began on June 18th ^jul..

[3] NASA ( memento of October 17, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Lunar eclipse in the year -82 on November 7th ^July.from around 02:05 a.m. with a maximum around 3:26 a.m. and end around 4:56 a.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).

[4] NASA ( Memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Total lunar eclipse in the year -80 on April 21st ^jul.from around 9:45 p.m. with a maximum around 10:42 p.m. and end of the totality phase around 11:34 p.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time information: + 2 hours compared to UT).

[5] The leap month began on June 24th ^jul..

[6] NASA ( memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Lunar eclipse in the year -79 on April 11th ^jul.from around 1:45 a.m. with a maximum around 3:10 a.m. and end around 4:32 a.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).

[7] NASA ( memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Total lunar eclipse in the year -79 on October 5th ^jul.from around 6:45 p.m. with a maximum around 7:57 p.m. and end of the totality phase around 9:00 p.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).

[8] NASA ( memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Lunar eclipse in the year -77 on February 19th ^jul.from around 9:10 p.m. with a maximum around 10:45 p.m. and ends around midnight (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).

[9] NASA ( Memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Partial lunar eclipse in the year -75 on January 28th ^jul.from around 7:33 p.m. with a maximum around 8:15 p.m. and ends around 8:44 p.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).

[10] NASA ( Memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Unobservable lunar eclipse in the year -74 on June 14th ^jul.from around 2:17 p.m. with a maximum around 2:50 p.m. and ends around 3:20 p.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).

[11] The leap month began on June 19th ^jul..

[12] NASA ( memento from October 17th, 2014 in the Internet Archive ): Total lunar eclipse in the year -73 on June 4th ^jul.from around 1:25 a.m. with a maximum around 3:20 a.m. and end around 5:15 a.m. (Athens and Egyptian local time: + 2 hours compared to UT).