Year

(a) **The Civil or Vague year** consisted of twelve months, each of thirty days, to which were added five intercalary days at the close. These months were divided into the three seasons of *Akhet* (inundation), *Peret* (growing), and *Shemu* (harvest/sowing). The 20th July, which was about the beginning of the Nile rise, was looked upon as New Year’s Day. (b) **The Sothic year** of 365¼ days. This period was calculated by the rising of So this on the first day of the first month of *Shemu*, when it coincided with the rise of the Nile. (c) **The solar year**, which was to all intents and purposes the same as the Civil year. Documents were dated from the day, month, and year of the reigning monarch. Profe or H. Brugsch was of opinion that the "great year" corresponded to a lunar year with the addition of the intercalary days, and the "little year" to a lunar year, thus giving five different methods of reckoning the year.