Table of Contents
| Culture | Current Year | Start Year | Start Day of the Year | Reason for Start of Counting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assyrian | 6774 | 4750 BCE | Nisanu 1 (April) | Traditional starting date of the Assyrian calendar |
| Ancient Egyptian | Historical | 4241 BCE | Thoth 1 (varies, traditionally July 19 in the Julian calendar) | Traditional founding date, possibly linked to the first dynasties |
| Jewish | 5784-5785 | 3761 BCE | Rosh Hashanah (varies, Tishrei 1) | Anno Mundi (AM) – Creation of the world according to Jewish tradition |
| Mayan | 5128 | 3114 BCE | Varies (depends on the system) | Mythical creation date in the Mayan Long Count calendar |
| Chinese | 4722 | 2637 BCE | Chinese New Year (varies, January/February) | Legendary founding of the Chinese calendar by Emperor Huangdi |
| Berber (Amazigh) | 2974 | 950 BCE | Yennayer (January 12/13) | Assyrian King Shoshenq I’s ascension to power |
| Roman (AUC) | 2777 | 753 BCE | January 1 (post-reform) | Founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus |
| Ancient Greek (Seleucid Era) | 2336 | 312 BCE | October 1 | Establishment of the Seleucid Empire by Seleucus I Nicator |
| Hindu (Vikram Samvat) | 2080-2081 | 57 BCE | Kartik 1 (October/November) | Victory of King Vikramaditya over the Sakas |
| Buddhist | 2567 | 544 BCE | Vesak (April/May, varies by region) | Year of Buddha’s Parinirvana (death and final enlightenment) |
| Nordic (Norse) | Varies | Early Iron Age (pre-0 AD) | Yule (midwinter solstice, around December 21) | Based on lunar months and seasonal cycles |
| Ethiopian | 2016-2017 | 8 CE | Enkutatash (September 11/12) | Commemoration of the Annunciation of Jesus |
| Zoroastrian (Yazdegerdi Era) | 1393-1394 | 632 CE | Nowruz (March 20/21) | Ascension of Yazdegerd III to the throne |
| Coptic | 1740-1741 | 284 CE | Thoth 1 (September 11/12) | Start of the Diocletian era |
Notes on These Calendars:
- Assyrian Calendar: The traditional starting date of the Assyrian calendar is 4750 BCE.
- Ancient Egyptian Calendar: The traditional start date is around 4241 BCE, often associated with early dynasties. Its current use is mainly historical.
- Jewish Calendar: The year 3761 BCE is calculated based on the creation of the world according to Jewish tradition.
- Mayan Calendar: The Long Count calendar starts from a mythical creation date in 3114 BCE.
- Chinese Calendar: The start year is 2637 BCE, linked to the legendary Emperor Huangdi.
- Berber (Amazigh) Calendar: The start year of 950 BCE is linked to the ascension of the Assyrian King Shoshenq I.
- Roman (AUC) Calendar: The start year is 753 BCE, based on the founding of Rome.
- Ancient Greek (Seleucid Era): The start year is 312 BCE, marking the establishment of the Seleucid Empire.
- Hindu (Vikram Samvat) Calendar: The start year is 57 BCE, marking the victory of King Vikramaditya over the Sakas.
- Buddhist Calendar: The start year is 544 BCE, commemorating the Buddha’s Parinirvana.
- Nordic (Norse) Calendar: Early Iron Age (pre-0 AD), with Yule around December 21.
- Ethiopian Calendar: The start year is 8 CE, commemorating the Annunciation of Jesus.
- Zoroastrian (Yazdegerdi Era): The start year is 632 CE, marking the ascension of Yazdegerd III.
- Coptic Calendar: The start year is 284 CE, marking the beginning of the Diocletian era.
Ancient Egyptian Calendar
The ancient Egyptian calendar, one of the oldest known calendars, began around 4241 BCE. It was a solar calendar with 365 days divided into 12 months of 30 days each, plus 5 extra days at the end of the year. This calendar was used in ancient Egypt and does not have a continuous counting system in use today.
Coptic Calendar
The Coptic calendar, also known as the Alexandrian calendar, is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar but starts from the year 284 CE, marking the beginning of the Diocletian era.
To clarify the table, we’ll focus on the ancient Egyptian calendar’s original start date and note that its current use is mainly historical, while the Coptic calendar has a different start point and current year.
