Τὰ ἀποσεσημειώμενα περὶ ἐτῶν Αἰγυπτίων … — Paris 1616

Τὰ ἀποσεσημειώμενα περὶ ἐτῶν Αἰγυπτιῶν … [notes on the Egyptian calendar & astronomy]. Cum latina interpretamento. Quibus addita authorus oratio de annis diversis, habita in auditorio Regi. — Lutetiae, Ex officina Rob. Stephani, M. DC. XVI.

Paris, Robert III Estienne, 1616

8vo (167 x 105 mm). A-D⁸ E⁴: 71 p. Modern boards.

ustc 6001336; not in Fred Schreiber’s collection. Rare, ustc shows three copies only: BnF, Bibl. Sainte Geneviève, BL.

Provenance: A gift by the François Parent to a member of the noble Du Bouchet family. ex dono auctoris on the title-page. Parent was „Professeur de philosophie grecque et latine et professeur d’hébreu au collège royal, à Paris (1594 ou 1595-1622).“ In April 1570, he registered at the University of Heidelberg, and he composed the book and held his lecture on ancient chronology and astronomy at the Collège Royal at the age of 73.

In his long dedication to Guillaume du Vair he calls Τὰ ἀποσεσημειώμενα his swan song: „… though my strength, bodily infirmity, and other things delayed me and kept me idle, as if weakened and worn out by lethargy, my spirit nevertheless did not fail; by its impulse, while lying ill at home, I meditated on something, so that the world of letters might receive in the future some fruits of our work and labors, like a swan song; trifling perhaps, yet not entirely to be despised.“

In his lecture delivered at the Collège Royal, which forms the conclusion of the book, Parent writes: Given the numerous differences in how the length of a year is defined „it seemed a useful endeavour to select passages from the treasure trove of antiquity [Eisebius, Eupolemos, Genesis, Nicolaus Damascenus, Xenophon, Eusthatius, Herodot, Horapollo, Suidae and a few more] in which the various eras of the Egyptians are presented, as it were, on a summary chart, along with the names of the authors from whom they were taken. We have therefore decided to publish this collection of passages in print, to read them aloud in public, and to explain them, so that young people familiar with them may be less likely to go astray or stumble whilst reading both sacred and secular history.”

Only by clarifying the question of what a ‘year’ meant to the Egyptians and other ancient peoples is it possible to establish a consistent chronology. If, for example, the reigns of mythical Egyptian kings are stated as lasting 10,000 years, these ‘years’ are not equivalent to our modern solar year, as they often covered a period of only a few months or weeks.

The Egyptian time periods given must therefore be converted so that they correspond to the Julian calendar and the Christian reckoning of time: ‘Thus, as there are many different kinds of years, whilst some regard them differently, they cast the reckoning of time into doubt and uncertainty: so that nothing can be established unless you know, distinguish and reconcile them: Sic annorum species multiplices, dum eos alii aliter putant, temporum rationem in dubium et incertum revocant: ut nihil statui possit, nisi eos noveris, distinguas et concilies.

Parent has divided his book into 9 chapters: 1. Astrologiae inventores, 2. Anni dierum 360 et menses ex iis, 3. Anni dierum 365, 4. Anni dierum 365 et quartae diei, 5. De anni temporibus, 6. Anni mensis unius, alii quatuor, 7. Annus quatuor annorum, 8. Annis decem pro uno solari, 9. Annos plure diversique, et aetates seu progenies.