386 Note on the origin of the Armenian Era. [Jul?, 



In this manner it will anticipate the Julian year by one day in every 

 four years, and after a period of 120 years the difference between 

 the Armenian and Julian epochs will be 30 days. The lapse of 

 1460 years will increase this difference to a whole year, and the 

 beginning of Navasard will again fall on the 24th of August, the day 

 on which it will have commenced in the year 1836. 



It is stated in ancient Armenian chronological works, that the 

 Armenian era was recommenced on the 11th of July, A. D. 552, on 

 which day fell the first of Navasard. But the want of an intercalary 

 day in the Armenian year creates a deviation of the beginning of the 

 month of Navasard from the day of the Roman month, on which it 

 originally commenced. We know on the authority of Armenian 

 authors, that the month of Areg in the early part of the fifth century 

 corresponded with the month of March. Nierses the Graceful con- 

 cludes his letter to the Greek Emperor Emmanuel thus : " Written 

 in the Armenian era 619, in the Armenian month of Areg, and in the 

 Roman month of October." And in an old manuscript copy of the 

 Armenian Ritual is stated thus : "Written in the Armenian era 670, 

 in the month of Mehekan, which corresponds with the month of 

 August." 



In the year of Christ 551 the Armenian Kalendar was reformed by 

 the Armenian Pontiff, Moses the Second, a native of the village of 

 Eliward, in the province of Aragazotn, and eminently distinguished 

 for his extraordinary talents and profound erudition. On his eleva- 

 tion to the pontifical throne, he devoted his attention to the reforma- 

 tion of the Armenian Kalendar. A council was accordingly convened 

 by him in Duin, consisting of learned Bishops and scientific indivi- 

 duals, by whose co-operation he succeeded in remodelling the Arme- 

 nian Kalendar, as much as the circumstances of the times permitted, 

 by newly commencing the cycle. Thenceforward the Armenian nation 

 adopted the reformed Kalendar, and generally began to reckon their 

 years in accordance with the rule laid down therein. In order to 

 know the Armenian era, deduct from the Christian era 551 years, and 

 the remainder, whatever it may be, will be the Armenian era required. 

 For instance, if 551 years be deducted from 1836, the remainder will 

 be 1285, which is the present Armenian year. 



It is usual with the people of Armenia to reckon the hours of the 

 day from sunset to sunset, in imitation of the custom prevalent in 

 ancient times amongst the Italians. The day, consisting of 24 hours, 

 is called in Armenian ^«-/» Aur, which entirely corresponds in sound 

 with the English word hour / In the Armenian language the hours 

 of the day and night have respectively distinct names, which I shall 

 state below. 



