Smyly — Examination of Dates of the Assouan Aramaic Papyri. 239 



Papyrus B. 



There is no reason for doubting that the clay was the 18th of Chisleu. 

 The day of Thoth is very uncertain; in the papyrus the number is only 

 partially preserved, and the lacuna, as Schiirer^ has pointed out, can be 

 filled up by symbols which may represent 6 (7 ?), or 13 (14 ?), or 16 (17 ?). 

 Of these three suggestions, the first and second are rather short, the third 

 is rather long for the lacuna ; but, as far as space is concerned, they are 

 equally possible. 



In the years 465-462, the Julian date corresponding to the 1st of Thoth 

 was the 17th of December ; hence, according to the reading adopted, the 

 date of the document was either: — 



{a) 6th (7th ?) of Thoth = 22nd (23rd ?) of December ; 

 (&) 13th (14th ?) of Thoth = 29th (30th ?) of December ; 

 (c) 16th (17th ?) of Thoth = 1st (2nd ?) of January. 



The dates obtained for the 1st of Chisleu are: — («) 5th (6th?), (&} 12t]i 

 (13th ?j, (c) 15th (16th?) of December. 



The only new moons which can correspond to these are : — 



(«) 4th of December, 464 b.c. 



(b) 12th of December, 462 B.C. 



(c) 14th of December, 465 B.C. 



Since Papyrus A is dated in the 14th or 15th year, and Papyrus B is dated 

 in the 20tli or 21st year of Xerxes, the interval between them cannot be 

 as much as nine years ; hence [h) must be rejected, and the choice lies 

 between («) and (c) ; in each case we should prefer the higher number 

 for the day of the month, in order to leave sufficient time between the 

 true and the apparent new moons. 



(1) 18th of Chisleu = 23rd of December, 464. 



(2) 18th of Chisleu = 2nd of January, 464. 



The proper reading of the number of the year is left for subsequent 

 discussion. We have thus two possible readings of the dates : — 



(1) On the 18th of Chisleu, that is the 7th day of Thoth, tlie 



20th (21st ?) year, &c. 



(2) On the 18th of Chisleu, that is the 17th day of Thoth, the 



20th (21st ?) year, &c. 



^ Theologische Literatuizeituug : February, 1907. 



