AKET-season (Inundation)
Second Month: Phaophi
Day 1 -18th August: The Opet Festival dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu at Karnak. The Marriage of Isis and Osiris. The birth and feast of Re-Harakthte. The Feast of Wedjet. Jubilation. The Great Ennead is in festivity on this day. Do not do anything on this day. A public holiday or celebration. Wedjet, the cobra goddess of Lower Egypt was bound up with the regenerative forces. Traditionally, Pharaoh, or his high priest, would undergo extensive purification rituals during the two to four-week festival. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
On the eastern bank of the Nile at modern Luxor, is a vast enclosure containing the Great Temple of Amun; the Great Hypostyle Hall is 6,000 square metres with 134 columns built by Seti I and Ramesses II in Dynasty XlX. Religious processions in honour of Amun, carried in state in a shrine, aboard his sacred boat, or personal confrontations between the Pharaoh and his god cover every column and every inch of wall space as a testament to the piety of the royal family. The Opet Festival is one of the best-known religious festivals that took place at Thebes from the early Dynasty XVIII onwards.
Occurring annually in the second month of the season of Akhet, and lasting for a period that varied from two to four weeks, the main event was the ritual procession of the divine images of Amun, Mut and Khonsu from Karnak to Luxor. The Temple of Luxor was largely constructed as a suitable architectural setting for the Festival of Opet.
Day 2 – 19th August: Feast of Thoth. The proceeding of the Majesty of Sais – Neith. Offer to all the gods. It is important to hear what I say to you. Prayer or divinatory time: noon.
Day 3 – 20th August: Thoth is in the presence of Re in the inaccessible shrine. If you see anything, it will be good on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 4 – 21st August: It is the day of the Going Forth of Anubis for the inspection of the amulet for the protection of the body of the god. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 5 – 22nd August: Feast of Osiris. Do not go out of your house on this day. Do not copulate with a woman. It is the day of offering in the presences of Montu [the falcon-headed war god] on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 6 – 23rd August: Feast of Nekhbet. A happy day for Re in heaven, and the gods are pacified in his presence. The Ennead is making glorification in front of the Lord of the Universe. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 7 – 24th August: Feast of Horus. Do not do anything on this day. Sun rises in Virgo. Prayer or divinatory time: noon.
Day 8 – 25th August: If you see anything on this day, it will be good. Favourable is to do everything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 9 – 26th August: Feast of Khnum. Jubilation in the heart of Re. His Ennead is in festivity, all enemies are overthrown on this day. Anyone born on this day will die at a good age. Favourable is to do everything. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 10 – 27th August: Feast of Atum. Proceeding the Majesty of Bastet … the Majesty of Re… to pay tribute to the August tree [The holy tree in Heliopolis on the leaves of which the gods’ names were inscribed – symbolically the sycamore]. Favourable is to do everything. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 11 – 28th August: Feast of Dwmutef [one of the four sons of Horus responsible for the protection of the stomach after embalming. Shown in the form of a jackal]. Everything is good on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
Day 12 – 29th August: Feast of Kebeh [daughter of Anubis]. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 13 – 30th August: Feast of Imstey [one of the four sons of Horus responsible for the protection of the liver after embalming. Shown in human form]. Favourable to everything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 14 – 31st August: Feast of Hapy [one of the four sons of Horus responsible for the protection of the lungs after embalming. Shown in the form of a baboon; also the name of the god of the Inundation. Note that the fourth son of Horus, the hawk-headed Qebehsenuef, responsible for the intestines after embalming, is not allocated a feast day]. Offer to your local gods, and pacify the spirits. Prayer or divination time: dawn.
Day 15 – 1st September: Feast of Isis. Do not go out of your house at eventide. The Going Forth of the Majesty of Re at nightfall with his followers. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 16 – 2nd September: Feast of Osiris-Onnophris. Feast of the Eye of Horus. The gods who are in his retinue are in great festivity. If you see anything on this day, it will be good. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 17 – 3rd September: Give up beer and bread [i.e. fast]. Burn incense to Re and the invocation-offering to the spirits. It is important so that your words may be listened to by your local gods. On this good day … favourable in everything. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 18 – 4th September: Do not do anything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: at dawn and in the afternoon.
Day 19 – 5th September: Feast of Ptah, lord of the workshop. Do everything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 20 – 6th September: Feast of Horus and Set. Do everything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 21 – 7th September: It is the day of the Going Forth of Neith in the presence of the Majesty of Atum Re-Harakhti – may he live and be prosperous. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
Day 22 – 8th September: Do not bathe on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
Day 23 – 9th September: [Damaged] Prayer or divinatory time: dawn
Day 24 – 10th September: Do not go out of your house, or in any wind until Re sets. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 25 – 11th September: Do not go out on this day on any road. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 26 – 12th September: Do not order any work. Do not do any work on this day. It is the day of opening and sealing the windows of the place of Busiris [Old Kingdom temple complex at Abusir]. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
Day 27 – 13th September: Do not go out. Do not give your back to any work until the sun sets. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 28 – 14th September: If you see anything, it will be good on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 29 – 15th September: Anyone born on this day will die as an honourable man among his people. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 30 – 16th September: The land is in festivity on this day. House of Re, House of Osiris, House of Horus. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
The Egyptian Calendar – a revised and expanded edition of the Egyptian Book of Days – compiled by Melusine Draco : published by Ignotus Press UK : 202 pages : Available from https://www.feedaread.com/books/The-Calendar-of-Ancient-Egypt-9781788765831.aspx
Second Month: Phaophi
Day 1 -18th August: The Opet Festival dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu at Karnak. The Marriage of Isis and Osiris. The birth and feast of Re-Harakthte. The Feast of Wedjet. Jubilation. The Great Ennead is in festivity on this day. Do not do anything on this day. A public holiday or celebration. Wedjet, the cobra goddess of Lower Egypt was bound up with the regenerative forces. Traditionally, Pharaoh, or his high priest, would undergo extensive purification rituals during the two to four-week festival. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
On the eastern bank of the Nile at modern Luxor, is a vast enclosure containing the Great Temple of Amun; the Great Hypostyle Hall is 6,000 square metres with 134 columns built by Seti I and Ramesses II in Dynasty XlX. Religious processions in honour of Amun, carried in state in a shrine, aboard his sacred boat, or personal confrontations between the Pharaoh and his god cover every column and every inch of wall space as a testament to the piety of the royal family. The Opet Festival is one of the best-known religious festivals that took place at Thebes from the early Dynasty XVIII onwards.
Occurring annually in the second month of the season of Akhet, and lasting for a period that varied from two to four weeks, the main event was the ritual procession of the divine images of Amun, Mut and Khonsu from Karnak to Luxor. The Temple of Luxor was largely constructed as a suitable architectural setting for the Festival of Opet.
Day 2 – 19th August: Feast of Thoth. The proceeding of the Majesty of Sais – Neith. Offer to all the gods. It is important to hear what I say to you. Prayer or divinatory time: noon.
Day 3 – 20th August: Thoth is in the presence of Re in the inaccessible shrine. If you see anything, it will be good on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 4 – 21st August: It is the day of the Going Forth of Anubis for the inspection of the amulet for the protection of the body of the god. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 5 – 22nd August: Feast of Osiris. Do not go out of your house on this day. Do not copulate with a woman. It is the day of offering in the presences of Montu [the falcon-headed war god] on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 6 – 23rd August: Feast of Nekhbet. A happy day for Re in heaven, and the gods are pacified in his presence. The Ennead is making glorification in front of the Lord of the Universe. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 7 – 24th August: Feast of Horus. Do not do anything on this day. Sun rises in Virgo. Prayer or divinatory time: noon.
Day 8 – 25th August: If you see anything on this day, it will be good. Favourable is to do everything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 9 – 26th August: Feast of Khnum. Jubilation in the heart of Re. His Ennead is in festivity, all enemies are overthrown on this day. Anyone born on this day will die at a good age. Favourable is to do everything. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 10 – 27th August: Feast of Atum. Proceeding the Majesty of Bastet … the Majesty of Re… to pay tribute to the August tree [The holy tree in Heliopolis on the leaves of which the gods’ names were inscribed – symbolically the sycamore]. Favourable is to do everything. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 11 – 28th August: Feast of Dwmutef [one of the four sons of Horus responsible for the protection of the stomach after embalming. Shown in the form of a jackal]. Everything is good on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
Day 12 – 29th August: Feast of Kebeh [daughter of Anubis]. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 13 – 30th August: Feast of Imstey [one of the four sons of Horus responsible for the protection of the liver after embalming. Shown in human form]. Favourable to everything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 14 – 31st August: Feast of Hapy [one of the four sons of Horus responsible for the protection of the lungs after embalming. Shown in the form of a baboon; also the name of the god of the Inundation. Note that the fourth son of Horus, the hawk-headed Qebehsenuef, responsible for the intestines after embalming, is not allocated a feast day]. Offer to your local gods, and pacify the spirits. Prayer or divination time: dawn.
Day 15 – 1st September: Feast of Isis. Do not go out of your house at eventide. The Going Forth of the Majesty of Re at nightfall with his followers. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 16 – 2nd September: Feast of Osiris-Onnophris. Feast of the Eye of Horus. The gods who are in his retinue are in great festivity. If you see anything on this day, it will be good. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 17 – 3rd September: Give up beer and bread [i.e. fast]. Burn incense to Re and the invocation-offering to the spirits. It is important so that your words may be listened to by your local gods. On this good day … favourable in everything. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 18 – 4th September: Do not do anything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: at dawn and in the afternoon.
Day 19 – 5th September: Feast of Ptah, lord of the workshop. Do everything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 20 – 6th September: Feast of Horus and Set. Do everything on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 21 – 7th September: It is the day of the Going Forth of Neith in the presence of the Majesty of Atum Re-Harakhti – may he live and be prosperous. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
Day 22 – 8th September: Do not bathe on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
Day 23 – 9th September: [Damaged] Prayer or divinatory time: dawn
Day 24 – 10th September: Do not go out of your house, or in any wind until Re sets. Prayer or divinatory time: dawn.
Day 25 – 11th September: Do not go out on this day on any road. Prayer or divinatory time: do not observe – not a suitable day.
Day 26 – 12th September: Do not order any work. Do not do any work on this day. It is the day of opening and sealing the windows of the place of Busiris [Old Kingdom temple complex at Abusir]. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
Day 27 – 13th September: Do not go out. Do not give your back to any work until the sun sets. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 28 – 14th September: If you see anything, it will be good on this day. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 29 – 15th September: Anyone born on this day will die as an honourable man among his people. Prayer or divinatory time: throughout the day.
Day 30 – 16th September: The land is in festivity on this day. House of Re, House of Osiris, House of Horus. Prayer or divinatory time: in the afternoon.
The Egyptian Calendar – a revised and expanded edition of the Egyptian Book of Days – compiled by Melusine Draco : published by Ignotus Press UK : 202 pages : Available from https://www.feedaread.com/books/The-Calendar-of-Ancient-Egypt-9781788765831.aspx
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