Sothic cycle, Astronomical calendar system in Memphis, Egypt.
The Sothic cycle is an astronomical calendar system spanning 1461 Egyptian years that tracked the yearly rising of the star Sirius. The system marked agricultural and seasonal patterns, helping people predict when the Nile would flood.
Ancient Egyptians created this calendar system around 4241 BCE, using the predictable appearance of Sirius as a reliable way to measure time. It became the foundation for organizing Egyptian society and its agricultural cycles.
Ancient Egyptian priests watched the star Sirius, called Sothis, connecting its yearly reappearance to the Nile's flooding and religious festivals. These observations shaped how people planned their lives around the river's rhythm.
The system allowed farmers to plan their work accurately by predicting when the Nile would flood through careful observation of Sirius. These observations were made from different locations to ensure reliable results.
The system accumulated one day of error every four years, which meant it took about 1460 years to drift completely out of sync and then realign with the actual year. This slow drift reveals how remarkably precise the Egyptian astronomers truly were.
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