A month‑by‑month exploration of the ancient Egyptian year, tracing the festivals, rituals, and mythic events recorded in temple calendars and sacred texts. This series reconstructs how the people of Kemet understood time, renewal, and cosmic order from the first day of creation to the turning of eternity.
This episode explores the second month of the ancient Egyptian inundation season, known as the Month of Cloth. Guided by the goddess Neith, this month includes a series of festivals, rituals, and mythological events recorded in temple calendars and ancient texts. We walk through the month’s major observances and what they reveal about how the Egyptians understood creation, protection, and the structure of sacred time.
In this episode, we explore the first month of the ancient Egyptian inundation season, dedicated to the god Thoth. Drawing on temple calendars and ancient texts, we look at the major festivals, daily rituals, and mythological events that shaped this month — including the Opening of the Year, the Wag Festival, and the Festival of Drunkenness. It’s a guided walk through how the Egyptians understood time, renewal, and the divine order of the year.
In this episode, we look at the hrw Hryw rnpt, the “Days Above the Year” in the ancient Egyptian calendar. These five added days — created through the wisdom of Thoth — made room for the births of the children of Nut and Geb. They sit outside the normal 360‑day year and mark one of the most important mythological moments in Egyptian timekeeping.
In the introduction to the ancient Egyptian calendar, you discover the several calendars used by the ancient Egyptians and the celestial or seasonal events that synchronize them. Topics covered include the lunar, solar, cosmic, and regnal calendars, as well as the so-called horoscope calendar of lucky and unlucky days. It provides an in-depth overview of the Egyptian religious and civil calendars, their structure, significance, and associated festivities. The episode explores the Sothic Cycle, an ancient Egyptian astronomical system used to track time based on the heliacal rising of the star Sirius (Sothis).
The episode explores the connection between the Egyptian calendar and astronomical phenomena, particularly the heliacal rising of Sirius. It discusses the Egyptian year, which consisted of 365 days and receded one day every four years compared to the Julian year, forming a cycle of 1461 years known as the Sothic cycle. The author examines historical records, inscriptions, and calculations to analyze the alignment of the Egyptian calendar with the rising of Sirius and the implications for dating events.
The ancient Egyptian calendar evolved from natural observations to a fixed system, reflecting both practical needs and cultural traditions. Its endurance highlights the interplay between astronomy, agriculture, and societal organization in ancient Egypt.
