English
) will thereby become less diffi- cult, as there are a great many figures in both that refer to the same subject. The Calendalr of the Portico, as it is called, is divided into three distinct columns, the first and undermost representing a number of boats, arranged in regular order from beginning to end. This range of boats seems to have been partly intended for ornament. Digitized by Google APPENDIX. 259^ Mid partly for th^ purpose of receiving sach figures aa could not be represented in the third or upper column for want of room. The lecond or middle colunm next to the boats is narrow, and there- fore affords room but for few figures : it extends the whole leQgth^ and is (NTincipally intended to have the date set down in it where necessary, together with marks of the sun*s ingress into the signs, and the marks which represent the beginning and ending of each month, &o. The third or upper column contains a variety of figures similar to those in the boats, each having a tablet, on which th^ day of the month was originally inscribed ; but now many of them are defaced by time. Besides these, there are also the figures of zodiacal constellations, which, I believe, from the w&nt of propor- tion and other circumstances, are only meant to represent the signs. The calendar, being to long to be represented in one piece, is is divided into two separate parts, each of which is placed on the opposite plat bands of the Portico, with a figure of tsis, or the year, under each, as represented, PI. vii. The year 708 (of Rome) which is marked on the calendar, was that of the Julian correc- tion, or, as some have called it, the year of confusion; be- cause the ancients, not comprehending the nature of the correc- tion, imagined that Julius Caesar had added 79 days to the year, making it to contain 444 days, than which there could not be a greater mistake : for Julius Caesar did not add an hour to the year^ which will be seen, if his mode of correction be properly under- stood. The matter was simply this : He found the whole of the ancient festivals completely deranged ; and hence, to correct these, as well as other matters relating to the calendar, he directed that the 16th of October in Numa's year should be called the first of January, at tlie same time addiug one day to the days in Novem- ber, which before were only 29, and two days to those in Decem- ber, which in Numa's year were only 29, thereby making the former month to contain 30, and the latter 31 days. Now, it must be ob-^ vious, that by the method he thus adopted, he only changed the name of tbe time, without adding an hour, and that the position^ of the sun, moon, and planets on the 15tb of October in Numa*a year, were the same with their positions on the 1st January, in jhfi Julian year, allowing for three days that were added. So that the difference of the time was merely nominal, though taken as real by the ancient writers on the subject ; for they took it in a different light, and, computing from the ll5th of October to the end of tb^ month, they found it 17 days, to which adding November 30 day s^ aad December 31 days, made to the end of December 78 days ; Digitized by Google 260 APPENDIX. and one day more, to make it the first of January, made the num-* 79 days from the 15th of October to the 1st of January, both days inelusive, which they supposed to be in addition, and therefore made the year 444 days, that is, 365 +70 "'444. But if Julius Csssar had added 70 days, as was thus supposed, it would have made no alteration whatever in Numa's year, because then the 1st of January, instead of being on the 15th of October, would fall at its usual time, and no change take place except the three days added in November and December. Now in the calendars of Dendera, we have the same thing expressed or represented on the shoulders and body of Isis, thus : — On the shoulder of Isis, near the top, (see the plate,) are marked on one side 7 units, and on the opposite, d units more, making together 15> the day of the month, as above mentioned, at which the ccrrection was made; — next below these are four stars on each shoulder, making together 8, the number expressing the name of the month, October, the 8th month of the year, reckoning from March as the first. Therefore the 15di of October is the day given by the figure of Isis. Then die next thing is to find the addition. Along the right-hand figure of I^s, which begins the calendar, there are a number of stars marked : these being counted down to the ankle-band, give 74, to which adding the five stars in the ankle-band, we have the whole Huinber, 70 days, as the nominal difference to be added to the 15th of October, to find the time in the Julian year, which agrees with what I have above stated. On the opposite, or left-hand Isis, there re marked in the same manner down to the ankle-band 83 stars^ which with the three on the ankle-band make 86, the num- ber of days firom the first of October, to the winter solstice, both da^^ inclusive, thus: October complete 31 days, November 30 days, and 25th December, make all together 86 days, as marked on Isis. The object in putting three of t^e stars on the ankle-band. Was to point out the three days that were a<Med at the end of Ihe yfear td November and December; and the five on the opposite band was to remind the Egyptians, that they were to add five days to the end of every year, in order to make it agree or keep pace if^ith the Roman year : and in those years that were leap-years, they were to add onie day at the end of the month Meson, by which m^ins the month Thoth would always begin on ^e 20th of August, l!hen sextilis, as it did in the year of the correction, and marked so in ike ddendar, to the trani^ation and explanation of which we shall now proceed. Digitized by Google APPENDIX. 261 Translatiim of the Calendar of the Portico, Plate VJI. with explammiorp Remarh$, No. Day of the 4,6,6 Date, the Year 708 of Rome. This is marked at the head of the middle oolamn, and read from left to right, the kit figure of wkicb is di- rectly luder No. 1. The Year contains 366 days. This is represented by a small figure of Isis, tiie em- blem of the year. She has a bead-dress on of the Afri- can or Nabian speckled ben, to denote the yicissitndes of seasons ; and a tablet before her, containing the number 865 and a separate mit, in expmas tfaattke year 706, o^r the last 6ffu of which she stands, contains S66 days. The 30th day of the moon and conjunction. This is expressed by t|ie figure of a bird, which stands for 20, with the figiire of 10 nnder his feet, making SO ; and the bird Ibis, the symbol of the mQon, next to which is the mark of conjnnction. The sun enters the sign the 10th. Thisis represented by the figure of a man with a hawk's head, a symbol of the son, with a tablet before him, expressing the date twice in different characters : first 12, 4 sl6 ; and 4, 4, 8 al6. Jannary, the 1st month of the year, the sun enters the sign the 25th. This is represented by the figure of Anubis with a cres- cent on his head, having a tablet with a bird, 20, on it, a serpent, 4, and an eye, 1 , making in aU 25, the day of the month. The sun enters the sign Aquarius on the 16di and 25th January. This is marked by the fignra of ingress into the sign, placed between Nos. 2 and S, and followed by two rows of figures : the under ones are 8, 4, 4 al6 ; the upper ones are 12, I3s25. The sun and moon in ooi\junction at ni^t on the first of the month, and commencement of the year. This is represented by the figure No, 4, symbol of the sun, standing on the back of a goose. No. 6, symbol of night, or perhaps of Borne ; and No. 6, the figure of a man with the bead of an Ibis, symbol of the moon, in the boat : all three in a line, with an unit, a head, and the figure of conjunction, in the middle column, te ex- press the first, and commencement of the month and year at such conjunction. In the circular calendar, die owl represents the time as night : here the bird is a goose, which howeTer,with the Egyptians, might repre- sent the same thing : unless we consider it as the sym- bol of Rome, or as commencement of the Roman year. Digitized by Google 262 APPENDIX^ No. 7 Diy of the MoDth. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Sacrifices to Janus, on tbe 8di.