Happy Egyptian New Year 6266, Happy Coptic New Year 1741

Happy Egyptian New Year 6266!

Today, 11 September, marks "1 Tut", the first day of the Ancient Egyptian Year 6266, according to the ancient Egyptian calendar. 

On this occasion, I am sharing this small golden amulet — the Djed pillar amulet, found in King Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, among the wrappings around his mummy. 

King Tut's Djed pillar amulet 

Associated with the ancient Egyptian deities Ptah, the god of creation, and Osiris, the god of agriculture and resurrection, the Djed pillar represents stability and eternity in Egyptian mythology.

May all your days in the year 6266 be stable forever. May this year bring peace and justice to the people of Gaza, or Gazzatu, as it was called in ancient Egypt inshallah.

The year 6266 of the ancient Egyptian calendar means that it was in use long before the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under King Narmer (around 3100 BCE). As we begin year 6266, it's clear that this calendar likely originated during the Predynastic Period, well before Egypt's unification.

The ancient Egyptian calendar is thought to be based on observations of the annual flooding of the Nile and the heliacal rising of the star Sirius (Sopdet) in ancient Egypt. It is quite possible that this calendar originated in Upper Egypt's Naqada culture, one of the most prominent Predynastic cultures in Upper Egypt (circa 4000–3000 BCE), specifically in the town of Naqada in Qena governorate.

Today, 11 September, also marks "1 Tut", the first day of the Coptic Year 1741, according to the Coptic Orthodox Church’s "Martyrs' Calendar". The Coptic Martyrs' Calendar, also called the Alexandrian Calendar, is named after Alexandria, where the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church was originally headquartered. Even today, the head of the Church is known as the Pope of Alexandria.

The Martyrs' Calendar is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar, with slight modifications introduced in 284 CE during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian. 

The year 284 marked the start of intense persecution of Christians, and thus, the Coptic calendar is also known as the "Era of the Martyrs".

Like its predecessor, the Coptic calendar has 13 months—12 months of 30 days each, and a small month, "Pi Kogi Enavot", of 5 or 6 days, depending on whether it's a leap year. 

The Coptic New Year begins on 1 Tut, usually falling on 11 or 12 September in the Gregorian calendar. It continues to be used in Egypt today to determine the dates of religious feasts, particularly in the Coptic Church, and to mark agricultural seasons.

So, Happy New Year 6266 and New Year 1741!