ABSTRACT
Although the exact date of its origin is unknown, the Coptic calendar is based on the ancient Egyptian lunar calendar, which was replaced around 4236 BC by the more accurate solar calendar. The apparent incompatibilities between these calendars were resolved by another solar calendar with 365 days and three fourmonth seasons. The seasons were based on the regular flood of the Nile and the agricultural activities in Egypt: Akhit or Akhet, the season of inundation (flooding); Perit, Peret, or Proyet, the season for planting crops; and Shemu, Shenou, or Shomu, the season for harvesting (Kosack 2012: 2). The Coptic calendar contains 12 months, each with 30 days. To these are
added five intercalary days, often referred to as the “little Month” (epagomene-; Gr. hai epagomenai; Arabic: al-shahr al-s.aghı-r) or the “forgotten days” (ayya-m al-nası-). In the Middle Ages, due to the great persecutions under Emperor Diocletian, the Copts set their New Year on Tout 1 (or September 11 on the Gregorian) and made AD 284, the year Diocletian was chosen emperor, the beginning of the era (Teres 2000: 215). The calendar was titled the Year or Era of the Martyrs, conventionally abbreviated as AM, for anno martyrum. On the year prior to the Gregorian leap year, one day is added to the last month (for a total of six days), yielding the Coptic leap year. The Coptic liturgical calendar,
which is distinct from the Julian and Gregorian calendars, is outlined in Table 10.1.
