Small Mahzor
Encyclopedia
A Small Mahzor is a 19-year cycle in the Lunisolar calendar
system used by the Jewish People. It is similar to, but slightly different in usage with, the Greek Metonic Cycle
.
Because a tropical year
is 365.24219879 days, and a synodic month is 29.53058868 days, the difference between nineteen solar years and 235 lunar months is only about two hours. Thus by adding seven intercalary months
in nineteen years, the solar years and the lunar years basically synchronize.
Three ancient civilizations (Babylonia
, China
and Israel
) used lunisolar calendar
and knew of the rule of the itercalation from as early as 2000 BC, about the time of the biblical Tower of Babel
, the confusion of language, and dispersion of nations. Whether or not the correlation indicates cause-and-effect relationship is an open question.
The Greek astronomer Meton in the fifth century BC discovered the same principle, and the western civilization named the cycle after him . The west later applied the Metonic Cycle
on the solar Roman years (Julian
and Gregorian years
) in the Era of the Lord (Anno Domini
), a.k.a. the Common Era
. The Golden number
is the remaining number of dividing the year in the Common Era
by nineteen, plus one.
The Babylonians and the Israelites used Nisan-years
, and the Jews used Tishri-years
, their years were lunar in nature, different in length, and the beginning of the Jewish cycle is by making the day of creation according to the Rabbinical Chronology (3761 BC) Thus the Golden Number
value in the Small Mahzor is different from that in the Metonic cycle
, though the principles are the same.
Lunisolar calendar
A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures whose date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. If the solar year is defined as a tropical year then a lunisolar calendar will give an indication of the season; if it is taken as a sidereal year then the calendar will...
system used by the Jewish People. It is similar to, but slightly different in usage with, the Greek Metonic Cycle
Metonic cycle
In astronomy and calendar studies, the Metonic cycle or Enneadecaeteris is a period of very close to 19 years which is remarkable for being very nearly a common multiple of the solar year and the synodic month...
.
Because a tropical year
Tropical year
A tropical year , for general purposes, is the length of time that the Sun takes to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons, as seen from Earth; for example, the time from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, or from summer solstice to summer solstice...
is 365.24219879 days, and a synodic month is 29.53058868 days, the difference between nineteen solar years and 235 lunar months is only about two hours. Thus by adding seven intercalary months
Intercalation
Intercalation is the insertion of a leap day, week or month into some calendar years to make the calendar follow the seasons or moon phases. Lunisolar calendars may require intercalations of both days and months.- Solar calendars :...
in nineteen years, the solar years and the lunar years basically synchronize.
Three ancient civilizations (Babylonia
Babylonia
Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia , with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as a major power when Hammurabi Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) used lunisolar calendar
Lunisolar calendar
A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures whose date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. If the solar year is defined as a tropical year then a lunisolar calendar will give an indication of the season; if it is taken as a sidereal year then the calendar will...
and knew of the rule of the itercalation from as early as 2000 BC, about the time of the biblical Tower of Babel
Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel , according to the Book of Genesis, was an enormous tower built in the plain of Shinar .According to the biblical account, a united humanity of the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating from the east, came to the land of Shinar, where...
, the confusion of language, and dispersion of nations. Whether or not the correlation indicates cause-and-effect relationship is an open question.
The Greek astronomer Meton in the fifth century BC discovered the same principle, and the western civilization named the cycle after him . The west later applied the Metonic Cycle
Metonic cycle
In astronomy and calendar studies, the Metonic cycle or Enneadecaeteris is a period of very close to 19 years which is remarkable for being very nearly a common multiple of the solar year and the synodic month...
on the solar Roman years (Julian
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
and Gregorian years
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
) in the Era of the Lord (Anno Domini
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
), a.k.a. the Common Era
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
. The Golden number
Golden number
Golden number may mean:* Golden number , a number assigned to a calendar year denoting its place in a Metonic cycle* Golden ratio, an irrational mathematical constant with special properties in arts and mathematics...
is the remaining number of dividing the year in the Common Era
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
by nineteen, plus one.
The Babylonians and the Israelites used Nisan-years
Nisan-years
Nisan-years is an ancient calendar system used around Mesopotamia. Its area of usage covers Elam, Persia, Media, Syria and Israel/Judea. Its beginning was from prehistorical era...
, and the Jews used Tishri-years
Tishri-years
Tishri-years is an ancient calendar system used in Israel/Judea, and the Jewish people in Diaspora. It is based on, and is a variation of, the Nisan-years....
, their years were lunar in nature, different in length, and the beginning of the Jewish cycle is by making the day of creation according to the Rabbinical Chronology (3761 BC) Thus the Golden Number
Golden number
Golden number may mean:* Golden number , a number assigned to a calendar year denoting its place in a Metonic cycle* Golden ratio, an irrational mathematical constant with special properties in arts and mathematics...
value in the Small Mahzor is different from that in the Metonic cycle
Metonic cycle
In astronomy and calendar studies, the Metonic cycle or Enneadecaeteris is a period of very close to 19 years which is remarkable for being very nearly a common multiple of the solar year and the synodic month...
, though the principles are the same.