Draft:Old Georgian calendar
Type of Ancient Calendar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Old Georgian calendar was an old system used in pre-Christianity kingdoms of Eastern Georgia.[1] It was used in the region of Kartli, which was also known as the Kingdom of Iberia.[2] It's believed to have been lunisolar, with similarities to the Armenian calendar and broader Iranian calendar traditions.[3]
Submission declined on 20 April 2026 by RangersRus (talk).
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
This draft's references do not show that the subject meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion. The draft requires multiple published secondary sources that:
Topic is notable, but this is almost entirely reliant on 3 sources (Iranica, Britannica, and a PDF). Consider research tools : :Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL) Declined by .nhals8. | |
Although the system of said calendar is partially preserved, medieval Georgian practices were associated with the Kartvelian paganism.[4] The calendar was replaced following the conversion to Christianity in the 4th century, when Georgia adopted elements of the Byzantine calendar and later the Julian calendar.[5]
Structure
Year length
The length of the Old Georgian calendar's year is an ongoing debate. Researchers argue for a 354-day year, which was consistent with traditions in ancient Eastern lunisolar countries.[6] The interpretation of this is supported by several parallels from the Armenian calendar and other religious systems reliant on lunar cycles for the time.[7]
Other researchers argue for a 365-day year, consistent with historical periods. The theory is based on later references in medieval times, known as the Middle Ages, which implied a fixed year length, which is possibly influenced by the Iranian calendars and its traditions.[8]
Because there are no primary sources surviving, both theories remain plausible, and the annual structure is considered partially reconstructed.[9]
Months
The calendar has a considered twelve months, a structure which is typical of both lunar and solar calendar systems in the Caucasus and Near East regions.[10] A portion of the months' names survives and is preserved indirectly through medieval parts of The Georgian Chronicles, agricultural terminology, and ethnographic records.[11]
The surviving names suggest they were close to seasonal cycles, including any periods of planting, a harvest, or pastoral movements. They also have terms linked to pre-Christian deities or ritual observances.[12]
Days per month
They were most likely dependent on whether or not the calendar was in a lunar or solar mode. If it were lunar, months would have alternated between 29 and 30 days. This would have reflected natural phases of the moon, and the pattern is consistent with other lunisolar calendars of the region. Said regions include the Hebrew calendar and the Babylonian calendar.[13]
However, if it were in operation as a solar system during periods, months would be 30 days each. This would've produced a 360-day base year with additional days through seasonal adjustments.[14]
Because the Old Georgian calendar is not fully preserved, both models remain possible, and researchers often treat the structure as part of a broader uncertainty surrounding the system.[15]
- provide significant coverage: discuss the subject in detail, not just brief mentions or routine announcements;
- are reliable: from reputable outlets with editorial oversight;
- are independent: not connected to the subject, such as interviews, press releases, the subject's own website, or sponsored content.
Please add references that meet all three of these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia.