"We are as little justified in considering the mythologico-astronomical representations and inscriptions on the graves of the time of the Ramessids as founded on a fixed year, as we can do this in the case of the Medînet-Habû calendar. In this the astronomical element of the calendar is quite overgrown by the mythological. Not only was the daily and yearly course of the sun a most important event for the Egyptian astronomer, but the priest also had in his sacred books many mythological records concerning the god Rā, which had to be taken into account in these representations. The mythological ideas dated from the oldest periods of Egyptian history; we shall therefore be obliged, for their explanation, not to remain in the thirteenth or fourteenth century before Christ, but to ascend into previous centuries. _I should think about the middle of the fourth millennium before Christ, that is the time at which the true original of the Medînet-Habû calendar was framed._ Further, we must in these mythological and astronomical representations not overlook the fact that we cannot expect them to show mathematical accuracy--that, on the contrary, if that is a consideration, we must proceed with the greatest caution. We know now how inexact were the representations and texts of tombs, especially where the Egyptian artist could suppose that no human eye would inspect his work; we also know how often representations stop short for want of room, and how much the contents were mutilated for the sake of symmetry." Sirian, Pre-Sirian 3192 B.C. Teχi Thoth ┐ Phaophi ├ [Hieroglyph] Athyr │ Choiach ┘ Thoth ┐ Tybi ┐ Phaophi ├ Menchir ├ [Hieroglyph] Athyr │ Phamenoth │ Choiach ┘ Pharmuthi ┘ Tybi ┐ Pachons ┐ Menchir ├ Payni ├ [Hieroglyph] Phamenoth│ Epiphi │ Pharmuthi┘ Mesori ┘ Pachons Payni Epiphi Mesori SYRIAN AND PRE-SYRIAN TETRAMENE-SIGNS. There is also, as I have indicated, temple evidence that Sirius was not the first star utilised as a herald of sunrise. We have, then, this possibility to explain the variation from the true meaning of the signs in Ramessid times. And it may be gathered from this that the calendar was reorganised[80] when the Sirius worship came in, and that the change effected in 619 B.C. brought the hieroglyphic signs back to their natural meaning and first use. The whole story of calendar revision may, therefore, possibly have been as follows:-- [Illustration: [Each group of four linked to a Hieroglyph] Pre-Sirian Teχi Thoth Phaophi Athyr Choiach Tybi Menchir Phamenoth Pharmuthi Pachons Payni Epiphi Mesori Sirian, 3192 B.C. 1st. Cycle Thoth Phaophi Athyr Choiach Tybi Menchir Phamenoth Pharmuthi Pachons Payni Epiphi Mesori