The Ocala evening star., 1922-11-30
EVOLUTION OF THE CALENDER
A ROMANCE OR MANKIND

EVOLUTION UF lhE NALL4>DLN
A ROMANCE OR MANKIND
Washington, Nov. 30-The evolution
of the calendar, from the days when
man could count from day to day
through the time when the lunar
month was reckoned as "year', to
the present time of an almost univer-
sally used time county system, is
romance of the history of man. Plec-
ing together the few known facts and
remains of early life.
For instance, according to Moses b
Cotsworth, writing IN a recent publ
cation of the Pan American Union,
the well known Egyptian pyramids
were not erected by early monarchs
of that realm as monuments to their
greatness nor as tombs for their bod
les; but were huge sun dials with the
aid of which the yearly procession OF
TIE equiaoxes was discovered and the
calendar devised.
The pyramids were constructed by
mathematicians and astronomers, Mr.
Cotsworth holds. The size, height
and slopes of each being determined
to aid astronomy. Each of the piles
in lower Egypt was built at differ
ent period. until the last was found
to be the more nearly perfected for
studying the sun and stars on the
meridian of Egypl Not until each
was abandoned for better, he claims,
was a pyramid given over to the uses
Of a royal tomb.
The pyramidal form, in conjunction
with the obelisk, was devised to cast
a shadow of sufficient sharpness to be
measured and analysed day by day
The wonderful Washington monu-
nent, at Washington, D. G., which
shadow measurements found to be
constructed perfectly from base to
peak, while following the form OF
the Egyptian obelisk, Is too high, he
found to cast shadow useful for sol
ar measurements. The blending OF
the suns rays around the top, at that
distance, blurs the shadow. However
he declared, the shadow was used for
certain measurements which prove
that September % and not the 21st
is the day Of the fall equinox.
The pyramid was the result of the
Egyptians efforts to get sufficient
ly long shadow to measure the months
and years more accurately, and along
it's sides the early astronomer gazed
to mark the movements of the stars
and planets.
Stonehenge, an ancient monolithic
ruin in England, attributed to the
Druids, was another mechanical means
of determining solar and lunar move
ments, it was said, as was the pun.
pose also OF several other ancient
stone constructions in various parts OF
the world.
The primary season for the calen-
dar in early days was the need OF
knowing when to SOW and reap, how
to handle cattle and to determine
other propitious days. All people
it is supposed, used the periods of the
moon as long as their longest time
space, but this was varied and unequal
through the year. Noah, it was said
adopted the early Egyptian canendar
of five month year, 80 days to the
month and three ten-day weeks, as a
better way to ration the tribal sup
plies.
Bundles of small sticks were the
first known means of actually keeping
track of the passage of days, and
even today some American indians
keep five bundles of 80 sticks, pulling
out one stick each day. The last
bundle is repeated In each half year
to even things up, and the middle bun
die is split in two equal groups tc
determine the approach of midsum
mer and midwinter days. In the
Fiji Islands the "moon stick" was us
ed, on which a notch marked the
waning of each moon.
The Hebrews involved a six month
year when Jacob sent out stake:
from a central position in a line tt
the horizon to mark where the SUI
rose and set on the longest, shortest
and median day of the year. The
extreme ages given 10 early Bible
worthless were attributed to counting
"moons" as years and later 5 and {
months as full years.
One Of the means used by the earl!
priesthoods, to impress the masses, i
was explained, was the secrecy attend
ing the determining of the season.
and years. Sacred rods used t,
measure the shadows by which th,
time of year was determined, wer,