Chronological Tables
These pages give access to a set of tables useful for determining Julian dates in the Ptolemaic era. This period is one of the most complex eras in Egyptian history, chronologically speaking. Data provided for the period is known in at least six different calendrical systems, each of which has its own problems in determining date translations. In compensation, we can frequently determine the exact Julian date corresponding to recorded events.
The conversion tables provided are as follows:
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Egyptian |
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Babylonian |
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Macedonian |
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Olympic |
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Athenian |
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Roman |
Each calendrical system is presented as a set of conversion tables into the Julian calendar. They are provided in Excel format (read only), HTML format, and CSV text format. They open in a new window. If you are accessing this site through a dialup line, be warned: the Excel and HTML tables are fairly large files, several hundred KB for the Excel versions and 1-3 MB for the HTML versions.
Excel has certain advantages for presentation, most notably that headings and row descriptions can be preserved while scrolling.
- HTML is provided simply because it is more widely used than Excel. However, the conversion from Excel is sometimes less than smooth. I refuse to take any responsibility for Microsoft design flaws.
- The CSV format is provided to allow the tables to be easily incorporated into offline conversion programs. However, the supporting information which is colour coded in the Excel and HTML version is lost. As a result, the CSV format gives an impression of certainty and reliability that is not always justified.
The tables for different calendars cover slightly different periods of time, depending on their relevance and on the issues involved in converting them to Julian dates.
A set of supporting discussion pages are provided for each table. These typically provide:
The conventions used in the table
- The structure of the calendar being converted
- The sources used to construct the table
- Supporting analysis for the conversions presented.
The last is usually the most important and detailed section. I have attempted to develop the analytical theory behind each conversion for myself rather than simply parroting standard texts. The analysis section for the Roman calendar is particularly extensive, since I believe that the conversion tables presented here are a significant advance on previous research into conversion of the pre-Julian calendar, which has been pretty much stalled since the 1880s. For certain calendrical systems, additional tables may be provided, e.g. the Roman Fasti Consulares and the Carlsberg lunar cycle for the Egyptian calendar.
The conversion tables are accessible from this page and from any of the discussion pages. The entry points in the menu frame to the left give access to the discussion pages. Not all tables are available at this time.
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