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The Ancient Macedonian calendar is a lunisolar calendar that was in use in ancient Macedon in the 1st millennium BC. It consisted of 12 synodic lunar months (i.e. 354 days per year), which needed intercalary months to stay in step with the seasons. By the time the calendar was being used across the Hellenistic world, seven total embolimoi (intercalary months) were being added in each 19-year Metonic cycle.
The names of the ancient Macedonian Calendar remained in use in Syria even into the Christian era.
This is the Calendar used by Josephus, being in fact the Hebrew calendar with Macedonian names. An example of 6th century AD inscriptions from Decapolis, Jordan, bearing the Solar Macedonian calendar, start from the month Audynaeus.
The solar type was merged later with the Julian calendar. In Roman Macedonia, both calendars were used. The Roman one is attested in inscriptions with the name Kalandôn gen. καλανδῶν calendae and the Macedonian Hellenikei dat. Ἑλληνικῇ Hellenic.
Finally an inscription from Kassandreia of about ca. 306-298 BC bearing a month Ἀθηναιῶν Athenaion suggests that some cities may have their own months even after the 4th century BC Macedonian expansion.
- Δίος (Dios, moon of October)
- Απελλαίος (Apellaios, moon of November, also a Dorian month - Apellaiōn was a Tenian month)
- Αυδυναίος or Αυδναίος (Audunaios or Audnaios, moon of December,Cretan month also)
- Περίτιος (Peritios, moon of January) (and festival of the month; Peritia)
- Δύστρος (Dystros, moon of February)
- Ξανδικός or Ξανθικός (Xandikos or Xanthikos, moon of March) (and festival of the month; Xanthika , purifying the army ,Hesych.) - ( intercalated 6 times over a 19-year cycle)
- Αρτεμίσιος or Αρταμίτιος (Artemisios or Artamitios, moon of April, also a Spartan, Rhodian and Epidaurian month - Artemisiōn was an Ionic month)
- Δαίσιος (Daisios, moon of May)
- Πάνημος or Πάναμος (Panēmos or Panamos, moon of June, also an Epidaurian, Miletian, Samian and Corinthian month)
- Λώιος (Lōios, moon of July - Ομολώιος, Homolōios, was an Aetolian, Beotian and Thessalian month)
- Γορπιαίος (Gorpiaios, moon of August)
- Υπερβερεταίος (Hyperberetaios, moon of September - Hyperberetos was a Cretan month, intercalated0 -(once over a 19-year cycle)
It is interesting that Josephus throughout The “Antiquities” relates the Hebrew months with the Macedonian months – below are a few examples:
- Book I, CHAPTER 3.3..... in the second month, (14) called by the Macedonians Dius, but by the Hebrews Marchesuan
- Book II, CHAPTER 14.6..... and they should prepare themselves on the tenth day of the month Xanthicus, against the fourteenth, (which month is called by the Egyptians Pharmuth, Nisan by the Hebrews; but the Macedonians call it Xanthicus,)
- Book III, CHAPTER 10.2 .........But on the seventh month, which the Macedonians call Hyperberetaeus
- Book IV, CHAPTER 4.7........ He died on the first day of that lunar month which is called by the Athenians Hecatombaeon, by the Macedonians Lous, but by the Hebrews Abba
- Book IV, CHAPTER 8.49 ........and he died on the last month of the year, which is called by the Macedonians Dystrus, but by us Adar, on the first day of the month.
- Book VIII, CHAPTER 3.1........SOLOMON began to build the temple in the fourth year of his reign, on the second month, which the Macedonians call Artemisius, and the Hebrews Ju
- Book XI , CHAPTER 5.4 ......on the twentieth day of the ninth month, which, according to the Hebrews, is called Tebeth, and according to the Macedonians, Apelleiu
The names of the Macedonian months Apellaios, Artemisios and Panemos are the same months as those in the Spartan calendar. Moreover, the months Artemisios and Panemos are also found in the Argive calendar.
- The Macedonian month Apellaios is also a Spartan and Argive month.
- The Macedonian month Panemos is also a Corinthian and Epidaurian month. It is also a Spartan and Argive month.
- The Macedonian month Hyperberetaios is also a Cretan month.
- The Macedonian month Artemisios is also a Spartan, Rhodian and Epidaurian month
We know that Spartans, Corinthians, Cretans, Epidaurians, Rhodians and Argives are of Dorian stock. Therefore, apart from the month Loios which is also a Thessalian (Aeolic) month, the Macedonian months are unique except for the four months mentioned above which are also found in the calendars of other Doric peoples.
So how do we explain that the names of three Macedonian months are the same as the three Spartan ones?
Sparta lies at the head of the Peloponnese, far away from Macedonia, in southern Greece. Ancient Macedonians and Spartans had no contacts but nevertheless they both shared three month's names. How come? Both Macedonians and Spartans are, as stated by Herodotus, of Dorian origin. Not only were Macedonia and Sparta both kingdoms and warlike people but they had the same Dorian origin. Moreover there are also Macedonian months whose names are shared with the calendars of Argos, Corinth, Epidaurus, Crete and Rhodes.
Argives, Corinthians, Cretans, Epidaurians and Rhodians are once again of Dorian stock.
A common ancestry amongst these Dorian peoples.
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Highcross Quarter - Sabbat of Beltaine
Beltaine ( Highcross Quarter )
Beltaine - Categorised as a Highcross Quarter Sabbat
15 degrees of Taurus - May 1st
Wiccan Mythology: Marriage and Sexual union of the Goddess and God
Beltaine.
Beltaine is really regarded as the most important Sabbat after Samhain. The commencement of Summer. It is a sabbat of fertility, but mostly it is a sabbat of joy and quickening. Named from the Celtic god of flame Bel, the ignitor of fires is a regular element of Beltaine sabbats. It's association of flame also makes Beltaine a sabbat of purification and cleansing.
Please do not forget that our modern interpretations of these sabbats are based on age old sabbats celebrated at a time when the year was marked by seasonal alterations, not a calendar on the wall or computer as it is today.
In the continent, where they bowed and knelt before the great Eostre, the earth has generally sprung to quickening by the vernal equinox.
However, in the Celtic British Ilses, the ground may still be very cold in March, and thus Beltaine becomes the foremost sabbat of life, when Goddess and God have matured and lay together in sexxual union.
Symbolism: On Beltaine, the great God of light and flame has grown to the age of rulership and takes over from the God of darkness. The Goddess now heavy with child becomes a mother.
Matrimony high time... Wiccan weddings are often held on or around the sabbat of Beltaine. |
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Highcross Quarter - Sabbat of Samhain
Samhain (Highcross Quarter)
Samhain (sow- en) - Categorised as a Highcross Quarter Sabbat
15 degrees of Scorpio. - November 1st
Wiccan Mythology: The overthrow and death of God
Banquet of the Dead. Samhain is also the Wiccan New Year. It is a sabbat to honour and to bid farewell to loved ones who have died, especially if they passed away within the last year.
Samhain is additionally a sabbat for reflection upon the previous twelve months and also for crafting plans for the next twelve months.
It is a time to invoke rites and ritual to rid ourselves of our negative aspects and weak points ready for the new year.
Symbolism: How is it we commence the year with a sabbat focusing upon death? Death is vital for rebirth, and the two frequently occur simultaneously. In many pagan cultures, the new year was celebrated with chaotic festivities bringing on a symbolic end of the world. The Roman Saturnalia is one very apt example.
The Goddess enters her dark phase as she mourns for her son and consort, and the dark God takes up the rulership of Winter, leading the wild hunt of the fey over the earth.
http://www.highcrossquarter.com/highcrossquarter_samhain.html |
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Highcross Quarter - Sabbat of Lughnassadh
Lughnassadh ( Highcross Quarter )
Lughnassadh (loo- na-sah) or (loon-sah) - Categorised as a Highcross Quarter Sabbat
Also known as Lammas
15 degrees of Leo, or August 1st
Wiccan Mythology: Elderly God in twighlight of existence
Lughnassadh is the beginning of Autumn and was the time of the initial harvesting. and so this is a sabbat of bringing forth fruit as well as setting store and making provision for the winter ahead. It is also viewed as the time to prepare for God's inevitable demise. The Goddess enters her era as Crone. It is a time of showing gratitude for what we have, and all that we will have, and all that others have sacrificed for us.
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