Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1905 — The Ancient Calendar. [ARTICLE]

The Ancient Calendar.

In times past the Jewish year had two commencements. The religious year began with the month of Ablb (April) and the civil year with Tissl (October). The year was a solar one, and but two seasons were reckoned—summer and winter. The months were lunar, twelve In number, each of thirty days. This was tbe case with the average year, but occasionally a thirteenth was necessarily Intercalated. This thirteenth month was called “Veadar.” Several of the ancient nations—the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Persians and Phoenicians in particular—began their year at the time of the autumnal equinox, about Sept. 22. The beginning of the year among the Greeks until about the year 432 B. C., when Menton Introduced the cycle called after him, was nt the time of the winter solstice, or about Dec. 22, and afterward at the time of the summer solstice, June 22. In England from the fourteenth century until tbe change from “old style” to “new style,” in 1752. the legal and ecclesiastical year began with March 25,