182 The Rev. E. Hincks on the Years and Cycles 



see that the cycle required was that, in which some annual phenomenon advanced 

 seventy-three complete days through the wandering year ; that is to say, in which 

 it traversed through a fifth part of it. Now what phenomenon was so likely to 

 be chosen as that, which had marked the commencement of the old fixed year, 

 and for observing which there existed every facility ? The only other annual 

 phenomena, which suggest themselves, as at all likely to have taken the place of 

 this, are the heliacal rising of Sirius, and the solstice or commencement of the 

 inundation. The former of these is, however, out of the question, because the 

 corresponding cycle would contain only 1460 years ; the fifth part of which, 292, 

 is less than the minor limit already ascertained. In fact, if we counted back six 

 periods of 292 years from A. D. 34, we should reach the year 1719 B. C, when 

 the physical characters of the seasons would by no means correspond with 

 accuracy to those indicated by their hieroglyphical names. The difficulty of 

 observing the solstice correctly, on account of the very great altitude which the 

 sun then has in Egypt, as well as on account of the small change which its alti- 

 tude then undergoes on consecutive days, renders it exceedingly unlikely that 

 that phenomenon should be chosen ; and there would be no advantage gained by 

 observing the commencement of the inundation, as there is a want of regularity 

 in it. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, it cannot, I think, 

 admit of a doubt that the interval between the introduction of the wandering 

 year and A. D. 34 contained six-ffths of a complete cycle, in which the phe- 

 nomenon, which had marked the commencement of the old fixed year, travelled 

 through all the days of the wandering year. 



V. It only remains that we should determine the length of this complete 

 cycle. But here, methinks, some one will ask — " have you not yourself already 

 stated it ? Is not this the cycle obtained by comparing the year of 365 days with 

 the mean tropical year, which you have already stated to be 1505 years ?" I 

 answer that the mean tropical year is a mathematical abstraction, which may be 

 calculated, but which cannot be immediately observed; and that of the many 

 tropical years which may be observed the inequality is so great, as sensibly to 

 vary the length of the cycle formed by comparing them with a year of 365 days. 

 There are two distinct causes for the tropical year, as it must have been observed 

 hy the Egyptians, differing from the mean tropical year ; and both of these 

 causes have the effect of lengthening the year, and consequently of shortening 



