Greek Technology > Macedonian Calendar

Macedonian Calendar

The Macedonian calendar was used in ancient Macedonia and later adopted in various Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged after the conquests of Alexander the Great. This calendar was a lunisolar system, meaning it was based on both the cycles of the moon and the solar year, similar to other ancient Greek calendars. The Macedonian calendar had twelve months, with an intercalary month added periodically to keep the calendar in sync with the solar year.

Structure of the Macedonian Calendar:

1. Months of the Year:The Macedonian calendar consisted of twelve months, named as follows:

   1. Dios (Διός)
   2. Apellaios (Ἀπελλαῖος)
   3. Audynaios (Αὐδυναῖος)
   4. Peritios (Περίτιος)
   5. Dystros (Δύστρος)
   6. Xandikos (Ξανδικός)
   7. Artemisios (Ἀρτεμίσιος)
   8. Daisios (Δαίσιος)
   9. Panemos (Πάνημος)
   10. Loios (Λώιος)
   11. Gorpiaios (Γορπιαίος)
   12. Hyperberetaios (Ὑπερβερεταῖος)

   An intercalary month, second Xandikos, was added when necessary to align the lunar calendar with the solar year.

2. Naming and Variations:

   • The names of the months in the Macedonian calendar were similar to those in other Greek city-states but had unique Macedonian influences.
   • As the Macedonian Empire expanded, the calendar was adopted and adapted in various Hellenistic regions, leading to some variations in month names and usage.

Usage and Historical Context:

1. Pre-Alexander the Great:

   • Before Alexander's conquests, the Macedonian calendar was primarily used within the kingdom of Macedonia. The exact details of its use and structure during this period are less well-documented compared to the later Hellenistic period.

2. Post-Alexander the Great:

   • After Alexander the Great's conquests, the Macedonian calendar spread across the territories he and his successors controlled, including Egypt, Syria, and parts of Asia.
   • The Ptolemaic and Seleucid Empires, in particular, adopted the Macedonian calendar, integrating it with their administrative and civic life.

Synchronization with the Solar Year:

1. Intercalation:

   • To keep the lunar-based calendar in alignment with the solar year, an intercalary month was added periodically. This practice was similar to the intercalation used in other ancient lunisolar calendars, such as the Attic calendar in Athens.
   • The specific rules for intercalation in the Macedonian calendar are not fully documented but would have been managed by calendar officials or priests.

2. Festivals and Public Life:

   • The Macedonian calendar was used to determine the timing of religious festivals, agricultural activities, and civic events. Key festivals and rituals were scheduled according to the lunar months, reflecting the agricultural cycles and religious observances of the time.

Influence and Legacy:

1. Hellenistic Kingdoms:

   • The adoption of the Macedonian calendar by the Hellenistic kingdoms helped standardize administrative and religious practices across the vast territories they controlled. This standardization facilitated communication and governance in the culturally diverse regions of the Hellenistic world.

2. Roman Period:

   • With the rise of Roman power, the Macedonian calendar's influence waned as the Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar, became dominant. However, some elements of the Macedonian calendar persisted in local practices and religious observances.

3. Historical Records:

   • The Macedonian calendar is referenced in various historical and archaeological records, including inscriptions, administrative documents, and literary texts. These references provide insights into its use and significance in ancient Macedonian and Hellenistic society.

Conclusion:

The Macedonian calendar was a lunisolar calendar that played a crucial role in the administration and religious life of ancient Macedonia and the Hellenistic kingdoms. Its structure, based on twelve lunar months with periodic intercalation, was similar to other Greek calendars but had unique Macedonian characteristics. The calendar's spread across the Hellenistic world after Alexander the Great's conquests helped standardize timekeeping and administrative practices, leaving a lasting legacy in the ancient Mediterranean region.

Sources

Bradley Hudson McLean (2002). An introduction to Greek epigraphy of the Hellenistic and Roman periods from Alexander the Great down to the reign of Constantine (323 B.C.-A.D. 337). University of Michigan Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-472-11238-8.

Syria, S./Arabia-Decapolis — Gerasa (Jerash) — 6th AD Epigraphical Database [1] 531 AD [2]

Thessalonica — 141 AD -252 AD, last lines

Makedonia (Chalkidike) — Poteidaia-Kassandreia — ca. 306-298 BC.