Despite an abundance of data, a lunar solution to Eighteenth Dynasty chronology remains elusive. Previous efforts have employed Richard Parker’s model for the start of the lunar month, which assumes psDntyw coincided with first dawn crescent invisibility. It is possible that this criterion has vexed the search for an authoritative timeline for the Eighteenth Dynasty. With psDntyw redefined as the first evening crescent, lunar visibility tables show high correspondence between this phenomenon and a large number of important lunar dates, suggesting that the first crescent was the metaphor par excellence for pharaonic accessions, sed festivals, temple foundations, and monuments. Paradoxically, the resulting timeline supports Parker’s middle chronology and accounts for Manetho’s regnal length data. This study provides a fresh perspective on old conundrums such as Thutmoside succession, Muršili II’s solar omen, the Era of Menophres, and the supposed one-day offset between the phyle service period and the cultic lunar month.
(icon) = Open Access (icon) = Subscription Access
Download Full Text(Pages 23–56)