13 The Chronicon Paschale and the Origins of the Byzantine Era

Abstract

Abstract The Byzantine form of the Alexandrian cycle emerged in the 7th century, with an era of creation corresponding to 5509/8 BC and a cycle that began with the 14th day of the moon on 2 April. The Byzantine cycle and its era were adaptations of an innovation proposed by the author of the Chronicon Paschale. That text uses a 19‐year cycle beginning from the 14th day of the moon on 13 April and acalendar that began on Wednesday, 21 March 5509 BC. The authors of the Byzantine cycle accepted Sunday 18 March 5509 BC as the date of creation, but numbered the years from 1 September 5509 BC, in synchronism with the civil calendar. They also moved the saltus from the end of the 19th year to the end of the 17th so as to yield a sequence of epacts in agreement with the Alexandrian cycle.