*In the Boheiric dialect there are thirty-two. + Six letters of the Coptic alphabet are modifications of the forms of Egyptian characters in demotic. See p. 213. The names of the letters in Coptic are aλga, Bıza, rallela, aadaa, El, ZIT&, ht&, oita, iarta, kanna, dårλa, LI, MI, ZI, O, п¡, рo, cielε, т&V, VE (2E), BI, XI, VI, &r, ayer, gei, Dei, &ор, &пia, Jill &, TI. NAMES OF THE COPTIC MONTHS. The Copts use an Era called the "Era of the Martyrs," or the "Era of Diocletian," which began on the day equivalent to August 29, A.D. 284, in consequence of the persecution of the Christians by that Emperor. The years of this Era have 12 months of 30 days each, with five additional days in a common year, to make up 365 days; a sixth day being added every fourth year, making such fourth years consist of 366 days; and as the Julian Leap Years, and the intercalary years of this Era fall together, the Ist of Thoth always corresponds to the 29th of August. The Era of the Martyrs was generally used by Christian. writers until the introduction of the reckoning of the Christian Era by Dionysius Exiguus, A.U.C. 1286 = The Copts call the Epagomenal Days, "The A.D. 533. NAMES OF THE MUHAMMADAN MONTHS. The Muḥammadan day always begins at sunset, not midnight. For religious purposes the month begins at sunset of the day when the new moon is first seen after sunset. If the new moon is not seen on the first or second evening after conjunction, the month will begin on the third evening whether the moon be visible or not. For civil purposes the month is made to begin at the sunset immediately following conjunction. Thus there may be the difference of one or even two days between the religious and civil reckoning. |