Heath, Dunbar I.; Corbaux, Fanny: The Exodus papyri (London, 1855)

186 THE EXODUS PAPYRI,

Here ends the papyrus.

For the information of the unlearned, I subjoin a
few facts about the Aramaean beginning of months
at this period, as compared with the Egyptian date,
by which Enna appears to describe it.

The names of the four months ending the
Egyptian civil year, were Pachons, Paoni, Epiphi,
and Mesore. Each of these comprised thirty days,
and it seems universally assumed, that the five days
called the epagomense, were allowed to elapse after
Mesore; after which period, the new year commenc-
ed with the first of Thoth.

Now our passage, though not free from obscurity,
connects this Egyptian Paoni with the Aramaean
beginning of months at the time the transaction
took place.

One side of the equation then is the Egyptian
month Paoni. The position of this is well known
to have varied with respect to the seasons one day
in every four years, and we are quite able to deter-
mine it for the epoch at or near B.C. 1291. The
Aramsean beginning of months on the other hand,
is stated to have coincided with the first new moon
after the vernal equinox:

The vernal equinox in our own style of reckon-
ing, is always now named March 20th or 21st. In
the Julian nomenclature, which we agree to use for
the remote period under our consideration, it would
be called April 1st or 2nd.

Now Miss Corbaux does not profess that her
date of the Exodus may not be ultimately shifted
two or three years, nor have I thought it worth