Tobi (month)

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Tobi (Coptic : Ⲧⲱⲃⲓ, Tōbi), also known as Tybi (Greek : Τυβί, Tybí) and Tubah [1] (Arabic : طوبه), is the fifth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lies between January 9 and February 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Tobi is also the first month of the season of Proyet (Growth and Emergence) in Ancient Egypt, where the Nile floods recede and the crops start to grow throughout the land of Egypt.

Contents

Name

The name of the month of Tobi comes from Amso Khem, a form of the Ancient Egyptian God Amun Ra.

Description

Toubeh, (the ancient Tobi) : the 5th Coptic month. Corn and flax should be cleared from weeds, and land that is to be devoted to cotton, sesame, and summer cucurbita, is prepared until the 1st of Amshir. Land destined for the growth of culcas (colocasia), and sugar, should be inundated. Lands found to be uncultivable should be marked out and declared unproductive, in order that they may be exempt from taxation. The first cutting of sugar cane takes place (hasab er-rcis) -. sufficient being left for seed, viz : — one kirat in every feddan. At the end of the month work in canals and dykes should be taken in hand : and much care should be bestowed upon the repairing of sakhiehs ( water wheels), wells, &c. The Nile water is in its clearest and best state in Toubeh, and cisterns should be now filled in Cairo and all large towns. The flesh of sheep is better now than at any other season. Vegetables, especially carrots, are at their best. Horses and mules should be tethered in bersim, and it is now time for the sale of cattle. S. winds (Siba) are more prevalent than N. (Dabour). Taxes are now collected. There are various popular sayings respecting Toubeh, — e. g. that if rain falls on any of the first eleven days, but especially on the Festival of the Epiphany, it is a certain sign of good crops. The fellah says " Yfra en Nusrani" (the Christian is happy ) and asserts that God is contented with his people, and will reward them with a bounteous harvest. [2]

Coptic Synaxarium of the month of Tobi

CopticJulianGregorianCommemorations
Tobi

1

December

27

January

9

  • Martyrdom of St. Stephen, the Archdeacon.
  • Martyrdom of St. Leontius.
  • Martyrdom of Aesculapius and Dioscorus of Akhmim
22810
  • Departure of St. Theonas, the 16th Pope of Alexandria.
  • Martyrdom of St. Callinicus (Gallinicus), Bishop of Letopolis.
32911
43012
53113
6January

1

14
7215
8316
  • Consecration of the Church of St. Macarius
  • Departure of St. Andronicus, the 37th Pope of Alexandria
  • Departure of St. Benjamin, the 38th Pope of Alexandria
9417
  • Departure of St. Abraam, friend of St. George (Ga'orgi) of Scetes
  • Departure of Bishop Karas, the 1st Bishop of the United States
10518
  • Paramouni of Holy Theophany.
  • Departure of St. Demetrius II, the 111th Pope of Alexandria.
  • Commemoration of St. Justus, disciple of St. Samuel
11619
12720
  • Commemoration of Michael, the Archangel.
  • Martyrdom of St. Theodore El-Mishreke (the Oriental).
  • Martyrdom of St. Anatole (Anatolius).
13821
14922
151023
161124
  • Martyrdom of St. Philotheus.
  • Departure of St. John IV, the 48th Pope of Alexandria.
171225
181326
  • Departure of St. James, Bishop of Nisibis.
191427
  • Discovery of the Relics of St. Abahor (Pihour) St. Bisoura (Pisoura) & their Mother St. Ampira (Asra).
201528
  • Departure of St. Prochorus, one of the Seventy Disciples.
  • Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of St. John, the Owner of the Golden Gospel, and the Transfer of His Relics to It.
  • Commemoration of the Martyrdom of St. Behna (Bahnou) and St. Kloag (Bagoug), the Priest.
211629
221730
231831
2419February

1

  • Departure of St. Mary the Ascetic (The Shut-In).
  • Martyrdom of St. Bisada (Psati), the Priest.
25202
  • Departure of St. Peter, the Worshipper.
  • Martyrdom of St. Askala (Asela), the Ascetic.
26213
27224
  • Martyrdom of St. Sarapion.
  • Commemoration of Sariel, the Archangel.
  • Relocation of the Relics of St. Timothy, the Apostle.
  • Martyrdom of St. Phoebammon (Abu-Fam), the Soldier.
28235
29246
  • Departure of St. Eksani (St. Xene).
  • Commemoration of St. Seriakos (Syriacus), the Fighter.
30257
  • Martyrdom of Sts. Pistis, Helpis, Agape, & their Mother Sophia.
  • Departure of St. Andrews the Samuelite.

See also

Related Research Articles

The Season of the Inundation or Flood was the first season of the lunar and civil Egyptian calendars. It fell after the intercalary month of Days over the Year and before the Season of the Emergence. In the modern Coptic Calendar, this season lasts from Paoni 12 to Paopi 9.

The Season of the Emergence was the second season of the lunar and civil Egyptian calendars. It fell after the Season of the Inundation and before the Season of the Harvest. In the modern Coptic calendar, the season falls between Paopi 10 and Tobi 10.

The Season of the Harvest or Low Water was the third and final season of the lunar and civil Egyptian calendars. It fell after the Season of the Emergence and before the spiritually dangerous intercalary month, after which the New Year's festivities began the Season of the Inundation (Ꜣḫt). In the modern Coptic calendar it falls between Tobi 11 and Paoni 11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egyptian calendar</span> Calendar used in ancient Egypt before 22 BC

The ancient Egyptian calendar – a civil calendar – was a solar calendar with a 365-day year. The year consisted of three seasons of 120 days each, plus an intercalary month of five epagomenal days treated as outside of the year proper. Each season was divided into four months of 30 days. These twelve months were initially numbered within each season but came to also be known by the names of their principal festivals. Each month was divided into three 10-day periods known as decans or decades. It has been suggested that during the Nineteenth Dynasty and the Twentieth Dynasty the last two days of each decan were usually treated as a kind of weekend for the royal craftsmen, with royal artisans free from work.

Thout, also known as Thoth and Tut, is the first month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lies between 11 September and 10 October of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Thout is also the first month of the Season of Akhet (Inundation) in Ancient Egypt, when the Nile floods historically covered the land of Egypt; it has not done so since the construction of the High Dam at Aswan.

Paopi, also known as Phaophi and Babah, is the second month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between 11 October and 9 November of the Gregorian calendar, unless the previous Coptic year was a leap year. The month of Paopi is the second month of the Season of Akhet (Inundation) in Ancient Egypt, when the Nile floods inundated the land.

Hathor, also known as Athyr and Hatur, is the third month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lies between November 10 and December 9 of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Hathor is also the third month of the season of Akhet (Inundation) in Ancient Egypt, when the Nile floods historically covered the land of Egypt; they have not done so since the construction of the High Dam at Aswan.

Koiak, also known as Choiak and Kiyahk, is the fourth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between 10 December and 8 January of the Gregorian calendar, or between 11 December and 9 January of the Gregorian calendar in Coptic calendar years immediately following a Coptic calendar leap year. The month of Koiak is also the fourth month of the Season of Akhet (Inundation) in Ancient Egypt, when the Nile floods historically covered the land. They have not done so since the construction of the High Dam at Aswan.

Meshir, also known as Mechir and Amshir, is the sixth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lies between February 8 and March 9 of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Meshir is also the second month of the Season of Proyet in ancient Egypt, when the Nile floods recede and the crops start to grow throughout the land of Egypt.

Paremhat, also known as Phamenoth and Baramhat, is the seventh month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lies between March 10 and April 8 of the Gregorian calendar. Paremhat is also the third month of the Season of the Emergence, when the Nile floods recede and the crops start to grow throughout the land of Egypt.

Parmouti, also known as Pharmouthi and Barmudah (برموده), is the eighth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between April 9 and May 8 of the Gregorian calendar. It was also the fourth month of the Season of the Emergence, when the Nile floods receded and the crops started to grow throughout the land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pashons</span> Nine month of the Coptic calendar

Pashons, also known as Pachon and Bachans, is the ninth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between May 9 and June 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Pashons is also the first month of the Season of Shemu (Harvest) in Ancient Egypt, when the Egyptians harvest their crops throughout the land.

Paoni, also known as Payni and Ba'unah, is the tenth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between June 8 and July 7 of the Gregorian calendar. Paoni is also the second month of the Season of Shemu (Harvest) in Ancient Egypt, where the Egyptians harvest their crops throughout the land.

Epip, also known as Epiphi and Abib, is the eleventh month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between July 8 and August 6 of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Epip is also the third month of the Season of Shemu (Harvest) in ancient Egypt, where the Egyptians harvest their crops throughout the land.

Mesori is the twelfth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It is identical to Nahase in the Ethiopian calendar.

The ancient Egyptian units of measurement are those used by the dynasties of ancient Egypt prior to its incorporation in the Roman Empire and general adoption of Roman, Greek, and Byzantine units of measurement. The units of length seem to have originally been anthropic, based on various parts of the human body, although these were standardized using cubit rods, strands of rope, and official measures maintained at some temples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flooding of the Nile</span> Natural phenomenon in Egypt since ancient times

The flooding of the Nile has been an important natural cycle in Egypt since ancient times. It is celebrated by Egyptians as an annual holiday for two weeks starting August 15, known as Wafaa El-Nil. It is also celebrated in the Coptic Church by ceremonially throwing a martyr's relic into the river, hence the name, The Martyr's Finger. The flooding of the Nile was poetically described in myth as Isis's tears of sorrow for Osiris when killed by their brother Set.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faiyum Oasis</span> Depression or basin in the desert to the west of the Nile south of Cairo in Egypt

The Faiyum Oasis is a depression or basin in the desert immediately west of the Nile river, or just 62 miles south of Cairo, Egypt. The extent of the basin area is estimated at between 1,270 km2 (490 mi2) and 1,700 km2 (656 mi2). The basin floor comprises fields watered by a channel of the Nile, the Bahr Yussef, as it drains into a desert hollow to the west of the Nile Valley. The Bahr Yussef veers west through a narrow neck of land north of Ihnasya, between the archaeological sites of El Lahun and Gurob near Hawara; it then branches out, providing rich agricultural land in the Faiyum basin, draining into the large saltwater Lake Moeris. In prehistory it was a freshwater lake, but is today a saltwater lake. It is a source for tilapia and other fish for the local area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Egyptian agriculture</span>

The civilization of ancient Egypt was indebted to the Nile River and its dependable seasonal flooding. The river's predictability and fertile soil allowed the Egyptians to build an empire on the basis of great agricultural wealth. Egyptians are credited as being one of the first groups of people to practice agriculture on a large scale. This was possible because of the ingenuity of the Egyptians as they developed basin irrigation. Their farming practices allowed them to grow staple food crops, especially grains such as wheat and barley, and industrial crops, such as flax and papyrus.

Tobi 10 - Coptic Calendar - Tobi 12

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Gabra, Gawdat (2008), "Coptic Calendar", The A to Z of the Coptic Church, A to Z Guide Series, No. 107, Plymouth: The Scarecrow Press, pp.  70–1, ISBN   9780810870574 .
  2. ↑ El-Makrizi

Bibliography


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