Babylonian Calendar

The rich heritage, the age old tradition and the common beliefs of the ancient Babylonia gains a definite shape in the typical structure of the Babylonian Calendar. The ancient Babylonians used a calendar with alternating 29- and 30-day months. However, this typical system needed the insertion of an extra month three times every eight years and an extra adjustment of month insertion by the King was also the typical aspect of the Babylonian calendar.

Babylonian Calendar is an ideal example of he lunisolar system and the ancient Babylonians, who lived in what is now Iraq followed this calendar whilst adding an extra month to their years at an unequal intermission in order to assess the date and time. In order to balance with the lunar year and the solar year the early Babylonians used to add an extra month three times every eight years. However, because of this irregular insertion of month Babylonian calendar was pretty confused until the 300BC till the time the Babylonians introduced a much controlled system of calculating the dates.

Nisanu, Ayaru, Simanu, Du`uzu, Abu, Ululu, Tashritu, Arakhsamna, Kislimu, Tebetu, Shabatu, Adaru were the 12 months which predominated the Babylonian calendar. Babylonian months to the end remained typically lunar however started with the sighting of the New Moon in the evening. In accord to the Babylonian calendar the day began at sunset and the sundials and water clocks were used to count hours.

Flip through the pages of 123newyear.com and rediscover the history of the Babylonian Calendar.