![]() ![]() The earliest New Year is marked with "." Note that in the "uncorrected early" column the earliest date is only 3/31 and the latest is all the way to 4/28. In this table, the "uncorrected" dates use the 19 year lunar cycle, just as it was established in the 5th century BC, continued straight down to the present. Modern dates on the Gregorian calendar for the Babylonian New Year may be chosen from the following table. The Babylonian New Year was, astronomically, the first New Moon (actually the first visible crescent) after the Vernal Equinox. As it happens, the 17th year is the one in which Nisannu occurs the earliest. The distribution of intercalary months is evident from about 500, while the 424 cycle is noteworthy in that a second Ululu becomes standard in the 17th year. ![]() A fairly complete record of intercalations is available from about 623. The cycle settled down into its classic form in the 19 year period beginning in 424 BC. ![]() This was the 19 Year Cycle, discussed below. With the actual observation of the crescent by the Babylonians, eventually a pattern emerged, and this began to suggest a cycle. For convenience, the table at left applies that device for the Babylonian months, which will enable us to construct a working model of the Babylonian calendar without the priests of Marduk. ![]() In the Jewish and Islâmic calendars, each month is given a conventional length, alternating 30 days and 29 days. If weather prevented the observation of the crescent, the Babylonians would begin the new month anyway after 30 days. In Islâm, months whose commencement is of religious significance, like the month after the Fast of Ramadân, still depend on the actual observation of the crescent moon by a respected religious authority. This custom is remembered in Judaism and Islâm with the principle that the new calendar day begins at sunset. The beginning of the month in the Babylonian calendar was determined by the direct observation by priests of the young crescent moon at sunset after the astronomical New Moon. Babylonian, Jewish, Muslim, Luni-Solar, Indian, Iranian Calendars The Babylonian Calendar after R.A. ![]()
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