A Note by the Translator. — The following list of the Syrian names of months, in use in the empire and during the era of the Seleucidæ, several of which have been mentioned in these Documents, is taken from Caswinii Calendarium Syriacum, edited in Arabic and Latin by Volck, 1859. The later Hebrew names also are here added for comparison. It must, however, be noticed that “the years employed in the Syrian Calendar, were, at least after the incarnation, Julian years, composed of Roman months.” (See L’Art de verifier les dates: Paris, 1818, tom. i. p. 45.) The correspondence with the Hebrew months, therefore, is not so close as the names would indicate, since these commenced with the new moons, and an intercalary month, Veadar, following their twelfth month Adar, was added.

Month Syrian Hebrew    

October Tishri prior Tishri or Ethanim   

November Tishri posterior Bull or Marcheshvan   

December Canun prior Chisleu   

January Canun posterior Tebeth   

February Shubat Shebat   

March Adar Adar   

April Nisan Nisan   

May Ajar Zif or Iyar   

June Chaziran Sivan   

July Tamuz Tammuz   

August Ab Ab   

September Elul Elul