The Gregorian Calendar: Even Better than the Julian Calendar

In last month’s post, I wrote about the Julian Calendar, a huge advance in timekeeping technology that was introduced in 45 B.C. It was far more accurate than its predecessor, the Roman Calendar, which was based on a lunar year with extra days added in whenever a committee decided they were needed. The Julian Calendar wasn’t the first solar calendar ever made, but it was the first to be widely adopted across Europe. It had a standard year of 365 days, with a leap year of 366 days every fourth year.

That sounds an awful lot like the calendar we use today, doesn’t it? Well, almost, but not quite. It turns out that one leap year every four years is just a smidge too much. A tropical year—the time it takes the earth to complete exactly one revolution around the sun—is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds. This means that, once standard and leap years have been averaged together, the Julian Calendar year is longer than an actual tropical year by around 0.0077 days, or 11 minutes.

That may not seem like much time, but it adds up. Over the course of a thousand years, the Julian Calendar will drift almost 8 days ahead of the tropical year.

And so it did. By the late 16th century, the calendar used by most of the Western world was 10 days at variance from the actual orbit of the earth.

It was time to make a change to a more accurate solar calendar. The motivating force behind the switch was Pope Gregory XIII, acting on concerns about errors in calculating the date for Easter. A reform commission was assembled, and after considerable study and consultation with expert mathematicians, its members agreed on a new calendar with a small but significant change. Unlike the Julian Calendar, the Gregorian Calendar has a leap year every four years except for years which are divisible by 100 but not by 400. Those years are common years of 365 days.

The reason most people in the Western world today aren’t aware of these centennial common years is that we’ve never experienced one. The most recent centennial common year was in 1900, and the next one will be in 2100. The year 2000 was a leap year, because 2000 is divisible by 400.

The Gregorian Calendar went into effect in October of 1582 by means of a papal bull, which had no authority beyond the Roman Catholic Church and the papal states. That same year, Philip II of Spain decreed that the switch be made in his dominions, comprising not only Spain but also Portugal and much of Italy. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth also adopted the new calendar.

By Aloysius Lilius - Biblioteca del Vaticano

Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox Churches continued with the Julian Calendar, as did Protestant nations, who resisted what they saw as a Catholic innovation. The British ultimately found a work-around with their Calendar (New Style) Act of 1750, which established a system for the computation of Easter that achieved the same result without referencing Pope Gregory XIII. Britain and the British Empire, which at that time included the eastern part of the future United States, adopted the new calendar in 1752. Sweden followed in 1753.

Alert readers familiar with American history will notice that 1752 was just a little bit before the French and Indian War. If you've done any reading about that conflict, you've probably come across some parenthetical adjustments between the date systems used in different parts of Europe. During this period, the Julian Calendar was 11 days at variance from the Gregorian. So the birthdate of George Washington, who was born under the Julian Calendar, can be written as February 11, 1731/32 (Old Style, depending on whether the writer is using the English or Continental start to the new year), or as February 22, 1732 (New Style).

At various times throughout the following centuries, other nations in Europe and worldwide adopted the Gregorian Calendar, with Saudi Arabia being the most recent addition in 2016. Ethiopia continues to use its own calendar of 13 months, which is 7-8 years behind the Gregorian and has a new year that falls in the Gregorian September. Nepal uses a lunisolar calendar 56-57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar, with a new year in mid-April.

Today’s world is far more tightly interconnected than that of the sixteenth century. A uniform system of global timekeeping has clear advantages across many sectors, including international finance and trade, transportation and logistics, telecommunications and internet, science and research, military and defense, emergency and disaster response, and education and academia. The Gregorian Calendar didn't altogether unite the world in a global timekeeping standard, but it went a long way toward streamlining operations and ensuring clarity in planning, record-keeping, and communications.

Kit Hawthorne makes her home in south central Texas on her husband’s ancestral farm, which has been in the family for seven generations. When not writing, she can be found reading, drawing, sewing, quilting, reupholstering furniture, playing Irish pennywhistle, refinishing old wood, cooking huge amounts of food for the pressure canner, or wrangling various dogs, cats, horses, and people. Visit her at https://kithawthorne.com/.

The Julian Calendar: Technological Breakthrough of the Past

by Kit Hawthorne

We talk a lot about how technology has transformed the modern world, and for good reason. The 20th century saw the rise of automated production, the digital revolution, and global connectivity—and things have only sped up since then. Starting in the 21st century, computational power has doubled approximately every two years, leading to snowballing advances in automation, data analysis, and artificial intelligence.

But a lot of the everyday conventions and devices that we take for granted were huge innovations when they were first introduced (and, of course, provide the foundation for later advancements). Arabic numerals, alphabetic writing, libraries, indexes, concordances, classification systems for living organisms, measurement systems, navigation, cartography, standardized coinage, postal services, mechanical clocks, codified systems of law—these intellectual technologies didn’t just make it easier for people to perform physical tasks. They revolutionized the way people thought. Every one of them has its own complex and fascinating history, often reaching back to the ancient world.

But the intellectual technology that I want to drill down on today is calendars—specifically, the Julian Calendar, which made its first appearance in 45 B.C.

The Tusculum Portrait of Julius Caesar

We deal with calendars in some form or other just about every day but rarely pause to think about how very useful they are or how marvelous it is that we have them at all. Agricultural planning, religious and cultural ceremonies, navigation and timekeeping, economic and administrative coordination, political stability, and the keeping of historical records would be impossible in the absence of an accurate shared calendar.

A 2007 Wall Calendar by Claudio Elias

The Julian Calendar was a big improvement over its predecessor, the Roman Calendar, which was based on a lunar year. It’s easy to see the trouble with a purely lunar calendar. A period of twelve lunar months is roughly 354 days, 11-12 days shorter than a solar year, which meant that the Romans had to keep fiddling with theirs to correct the inevitable drift with respect to astronomical events like vernal equinox and winter solstice. The adding and removing of days was managed by a committee within the College of Pontiffs, a priestly group that had a lot of other duties to attend to.

Julius Caesar decided that Rome could do better. Acting with characteristic pragmatism and dispatch, he consulted an Alexandrian astronomer called Sosigenes and developed a solar calendar with a common year of 365 days. In reality, it takes approximately 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds for the earth to complete a full orbit around the sun. To make up the difference, the Julian calendar added an extra day every four years.

The Julian calendar was soon adopted throughout the Roman Empire and by various Christian churches. It is still used by the Berber people of North Africa and by some Orthodox churches, which employ it to calculate the dates of movable feasts, but in most of the world it was eventually replaced by the even more accurate Gregorian Calendar, the calendar with which most of us are familiar today.

The monastic community at Mt. Athos still uses the Julian Calendar.
Photo of Agiou Pavlou Monastery by Explorer1940.

At this point, you might be thinking, “Hold on. A calendar with three 365-day common years, followed by one leap year of 366 days—isn’t that what we use now?” Well, almost. The Gregorian Calendar is very similar to the Julian Calendar, with one small but important difference. Getting it adopted as the international standard was a wild ride that took 345 years…and, Lord willing, that’ll be the subject of my December post.

Kit Hawthorne makes her home in south central Texas on her husband’s ancestral farm, which has been in the family for seven generations. When not writing, she can be found reading, drawing, sewing, quilting, reupholstering furniture, playing Irish pennywhistle, refinishing old wood, cooking huge amounts of food for the pressure canner, or wrangling various dogs, cats, horses, and people. Visit her at https://kithawthorne.com/.

Uncovering Ancient Capernaum

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Tucked away on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee lies the ancient town of Capernaum, a site steeped in history and Biblical significance. This humble fishing village was once a hub of activity, hosting some of the most pivotal moments in Jesus' ministry. Today, archaeology has breathed new life into Capernaum's ruins, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past.

Capernaum was first discovered in the 19th century by American explorer Edward Robinson in 1838. Later, French archaeologist Charles William Wilson identified the site as the town of Capernaum around 1866.

Edward Robinson
Public Domain

Initial excavations were conducted between 1894-1926 by the Franciscans, led by Father Girolamo Golzio and Father Gaetano Orfali. They uncovered the remains of a 1st-century synagogue and a 5th-century church.

In the 1960's, major excavations began with Israeli archaeologist Vassilios Tzaferis leading a comprehensive excavation project on the eastern portion of the site, and a team led by Virgilio Corbo and Stanislao Loffreda resumed the excavations of the Franciscans on the western side.

The most prominent discovery unearthed was the remnants of a 1st-century synagogue, its stone foundations and columns still standing. This magnificent structure is believed to be the very synagogue where Jesus taught and healed (Mark 1:21-28, Luke 4:31-36).

Synagogue in Capernaum
Photo By Eddie Gerald - CC BY-SA 3.0

Also on the western side, they discovered the remains of ancient homes, including the "House of Peter," traditionally identified as the dwelling of Jesus' disciple Simon Peter (Matthew 8:14-15). The excavations revealed a complex of rooms, with a central courtyard and a remarkable preservation of 1st-century domestic life.


One of the most striking discoveries is the ancient road that winds its way through Capernaum. This very road would have been trodden by Jesus and his disciples as they traveled through the region. The road's worn stones testify to the countless feet that once walked upon them.


The archaeology of Capernaum has also shed light on the town's economy and daily life. Fishing was a primary industry, with numerous boat anchors and fishing weights found among the ruins. The town's strategic location on the Sea of Galilee made it an important center for trade and commerce.

Olive Press in Capernaum
By David Shankbone - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Today, ongoing excavations have focused on the eastern part of the site, revealing more of the ancient village and its harbor.


As we explore the ruins of Capernaum, we are reminded of the enduring power of faith and the significance of this ancient town in Jesus' ministry. The stones and artifacts unearthed here serve as a tangible connection to the past, inviting us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and his disciples.


In Capernaum's ancient streets, we find a captivating blend of history, archaeology, and spirituality – a testament to the enduring legacy of Jesus' teachings and the town that played host to some of his most remarkable moments.


You can visit the streets of ancient Capernaum in my Biblical series, Days of Messiah.

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at http://www.amberlemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Heroes of the Early Church: Pt 1 Stephen

Heroes of the Early Church: Stephen 

by Naomi Craig

St-stephenFXD.jpg, Wikimedia

The first we hear about Stephen is in the book of Acts when he is appointed as a deacon to ensure care for the Hellenistic widows.

Where did he come from? 

Hellenistic (or Greek) Jews were those of Jewish descent who had lived in and adapted to Greek culture. Hellenists also held to the belief that God was not bound to the temple as if He needed the structure to be worshipped.

Not surprising, those who were currently living in Jerusalem or in the nearby region, felt superior to those who didn't make it to the temple as frequently, and were offended when Hellenists spoke against the temple. 

TempleMount HolylandModel, wikimedia

If Stephen was trusted to be a part of the church leadership, it's safe to say he's been around for a while. Perhaps he was there when the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost? Perhaps he was one of the 500+ people the Lord Jesus appeared to after His resurrection?

At any rate we know he was 'full of faith and the Holy Spirit and power' (Acts 6:3, 8) and was well versed in the Hebrew ways.

Stephen comes to center stage after Jesus' ascension, after the church has been functioning for some time. At the end of Acts 4, we see the church were of one heart and in one accord (youth pastor joke, anyone?) and had all things in common. We see the believers giving generously, like Barnabas and the bad example set by Ananias and Sapphira. The Lord is doing mighty things through the hands of the disciples/apostles, and yet some of the widows are being overlooked. 

Juan van der Hamen - Serving Table - WGA11198, Wikimedia

Stephen and 6 other Greek Jews are appointed as Deacons. Not only did he serve the widows in a very tangible way, he also spoke boldly in the Synagogue of the Freedmen. This particular synagogue had representatives from all over the Roman empire, including those from Cilicia, the province that boasted the city Tarsus. Sound familiar? 

The Bible says though they disputed Stephen, they couldn't resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. The people brought on men to accuse Stephen of blaspheme, just as they had done for Jesus.

Stephen is brought before the council. Although the false reports keep coming, they can all see his face is like that of an angel.

So Stephen launches into a chapter-long sermon sharing the history of the Jewish people, ending with accusations that they now have betrayed and murdered Jesus. And God Most High does not dwell in the Temple as if He could be contained by man-made constricts.

Angry mob of four. Wikimedia

Just like Peter's audience in Acts 2, those in the council were "cut to the heart."  But, unlike Peter's audience who were convicted and believed, these men gnashed their teeth and shoved Stephen outside the city to stone him. 

This part of the story is almost as familiar as Jesus' death. Stephen asks in his dying breath that these men's sins be forgiven, and he dies. Christianity's first martyr.

Mosan Workshop - The Stoning of St Stephen - Walters 71140, Wikimedia

There are a couple of things about this account that are puzzling to our modern mindset.

Why was it that the Jews could execute Stephen, where they couldn't make the final call to crucify Jesus?

Why did everyone scatter out of Jerusalem except the apostles (the original 11 disciples + Judas' replacement)? Acts 8:1b

According to GotQuestions.org 

The long and short of it is that the Jewish religious leaders did not have the legal right to exact the death penalty. However, Rome’s interest in enforcing that rule was subject to many factors, not the least of which was whether or not the incident was—in Rome’s view—worth pursuing. The stoning of Stephen by the Jews was technically illegal, but the Romans had no vested interest in the matter, and the temple leaders in Jerusalem rightly felt that Rome would not respond. Jesus, on the other hand, had caught the attention of many powerful people, and the Jews would not venture to violate Roman law by executing Jesus on their own.

As for the Apostles not leaving Jerusalem? Some speculate that Saul's target at least at first was the Hellenistic Jews turned followers of The Way, those who believed the temple was not the only place to worship God. 

Acts 8:1 indicates the whole church was at risk of Saul's persecution, and I'm sure the apostles were fully aware and expected the day they would be worthy of being persecuted for the name of Jesus.

I'm convicted reading Stephen's account. I want my life to be noted as one full of Faith and  the Spirit and Power. I want to be willing to share the good news of Christ no matter the cost.

How about you?

Rumors of the risen Christ spread through Jerusalem like a wildfire. Stephen’s brutal stoning accelerates the persecution and sends the faithful fleeing the city.

The Kingdom of God spreads to Damascus, Joppa, Caesarea, Antioch, and Tarsus through the testimonies of Ananias, Tabitha, and Barnabas. While an outraged Saul sets out for Damascus to arrest them all, the followers press on fervently, with the help of the Holy Spirit—though it may cost them their lives.                                                                                                                  

Four disciples whose lives are intertwined, told in four novellas, chronicling the birth pains of the early church

Preorder And Their Numbers Grew

 

Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor's wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church or trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes, you'll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory on YouTube and helps facilitate Biblical Fiction Aficionados Community on Facebook. When not writing or trying to wrangle social media, Naomi attempts to get her rescue dog to be cute on command for the many pics she takes throughout the day.

A Woman Architect in Ancient History?

 by Naomi Craig

Ancient Egyptian Women, Wikimedia

Upper and Lower Beth Horon (now Beit Ur el foqa and Beit Ur el tachta) are mentioned several times through the Bible.

Sun looks out of the dark clouds, Wikimedia

Remember when Joshua asked for the sun to stand still so he could defeat the kings of the Amorites, and the Lord threw down rocks from heaven to defeat Israel’s enemies? (Joshua10)? That was on the ascent and descent to Beth Horon.

The Beth Horons were in the Land allotted to the tribe of Ephraim, and one of them was a Levitical city of refuge (Joshua 21:22)

Right after King Saul made that unlawful sacrifice before Samuel could get there, the Philistines encamped and were eventually driven out at the pass of Beth Horon and Aijalon Valley (1 Samuel 13:18, 14:22,31)

Solomon fortified the cities with gates and walls (2 Chronicles 8:5)

Upper and Lower Beth Horon also played into the Jewish revolt of the Maccabees between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

But what about when it was built? Or more specifically, WHO built it.

The student's manual of ancient geography, based upon the Dictionary of Greek and Roman geography (1861)

1 Chronicles 7:20-24 is a brief break from the line of geneaology. In it, the only time mentioned in scripture is “Now his daughter was She’erah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen She’erah.”

PikiWiki Israel 64666 upper beth horon village, Wikimedia

And then we are right back to the begats.

Hold on. Back up.

Women aren’t mentioned often in the Bible, so when they are it stands to reason that there was something pretty epic about this lady.

Not to mention the little fact of a woman building three cities. Even more intriguing is that two of the three cities are standing to this day.

According to my research, She’erah was Ephraim’s daughter. His dad was Joseph—you know the guy who went from slave/prisoner to Pharaoh’s vizier in a matter of minutes because the Lord gave him the wisdom to save Egypt from the seven year famine. (Read my post on the Biblical Joseph in Egyptian history here). Ephraim’s mom was Egyptian, making She’erah at least a quarter Egyptian.

I bring that up to point out She’erah would have had access to Egyptian wisdom and resources as she’s building these cities. What would have brought her up out of Egypt to build off the Aijalon Valley?

The Bible doesn’t say, but because all of the nations owed Egypt big time for keeping everybody alive during the famine, and the Bible documents that people eventually gave their land to Pharaoh when all other resources ran out. In my imagination Pharaoh pretty much had the makings of an empire.

Also, while Joseph was still alive, and for many years after, the Hebrews and the Egyptians lived in harmony. It was only much later when Joseph was forgotten that the Hebrews were made into slaves.

So here is a woman, granddaughter to Pharaoh’s vizier, part Egyptian, part Hebrew, trying to establish herself in a man’s world by building cities.

Yeah, that sounds like an easy task.

True, Egyptian women DID have more rights than Hebrew women traditionally. However, I can’t imagine all the men in the clan and camp would have been thrilled working under a woman architect.

Bethoron Tahton - Lower Bethoron 1880,Wikimedia

Have you noticed the insert about She’erah and her family before?

She'erah's Legacy

As tragedy ravages the camp, can She’erah step up and complete the outpost?
She’erah is a woman trying to leave her mark in a man’s world. Her vision and ability surpasses her father’s, yet she remains second-in-command as they are tasked to build Pharaoh’s outposts in Canaan. She knows she is worthy of the task, but her clan is skeptical.
The last place She’erah expects support is from her charioteer, but Lateef is the lone voice of encouragement. His integrity and steadfastness is a plumb-line in She’erah’s life and she can no longer deny her growing feelings for him.
Acts of sabotage threaten the construction and the shaky foundation of She’erah’s pride. It’s up to She’erah to break generations of rivalry, distrust, and jealousy—if she can learn to rely on the strengths and abilities of those around her to help.

Will she learn to trust God and others before her life’s legacy comes crumbling down around her?

Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor's wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church or trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes, you'll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory on YouTube and helps facilitate Biblical Fiction Aficionados Community on Facebook. When not writing or trying to wrangle social media, Naomi attempts to get her rescue dog to be cute on command for the many pics she takes throughout the day.


Preorder She'erah's Legacy here

Is the Biblical Joseph Documented in Egyptian History?

 By Naomi Craig

Historical Medical Exhibition; cover representing Imhotep Wellcome Wikimedia

Imhotep is listed in Egyptian history as the world's first documented polymath (gifted in many areas). He is known for his contributions in stone carving, architecture, alchemy, astronomy, higher education. He is even deified for his work in medicine centuries later.

What catches my attention with startling accuracy to the Biblical account of Joseph, is how Imhotep saved the nation of Egypt from a seven-year famine by interpreting Pharaoh's dream.

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream, c. 1896-1902, by James Jacques Joseph Tissot, Wikimedia

A statue of Imhotep, labeled with his many titles, was found in Pharaoh Djoser's step pyramid (architecture attributed to Imhotep) at the Saqqara complex. His wooden coffin faced north--indicating he was a foreigner--and was empty. If you recall in Exodus, the Hebrews took the bones of Joseph as they left Egypt.

The Famine Stele, in the island of Sehel, near Aswan, Egypt, Wikimedia

Many documentations of Imhotep revolve around the seven year famine. The Famine Stele was carved during the Ptolemaic Period (332-30BC) depicting the famine that happened hundreds of years earlier. Interesting enough, it also depicts the land grant the priests had from Djoser and Imhotep making them exempt from the taxes.

Saqqara stone pillars, Ancient Egypt, Wikimedia

On the southern side of the Saqqara complex, there was a narrow entrance. These pillars carved from stone created natural cubbies, large enough for a cashier to collect the money for grain (see the man in the light blue shirt tucked away?). The customer was then taken back to the granaries, where a runner would descend the stairs to collect the allotted grain based on the size of the customer's bag. The customers then filed out, returning as they ran out of grain.

There are so many astounding facts about Imhotep, but I will leave you with this: The primary silo at Saqqara (designed by Imhotep) was fed by eleven other silos in a downward motion. As the level of grain depleted in the main granary, the others filtered grain into it to replenish it. 

One grain superior to the eleven others? Sound familiar?

There is one potential flaw in the theory that Imhotep and Joseph are the same guy. Originally Imhotep and Pharaoh Djoser's timeline was assigned around 2600 BC and that doesn't line up with the Bible timeline. Lately, however, some Egyptologists are beginning to think the timelines they had followed COULD be inaccurate and different Pharaohs/dynasties could have been reigning at the same time.

What do you think? Could Joseph and Imhotep have been the same guy?

For further study visit 

Joseph in Egypt- The Research and Discoveries of Ron Wyatt
and
Joseph the architect of the First Pyramid and How the Pyramids Were Built

As tragedy ravages the camp, can She’erah step up and complete the outpost?

She’erah is a woman trying to leave her mark in a man’s world. Her vision and ability surpasses her father’s, yet she remains second-in-command as they are tasked to build Pharaoh’s outposts in Canaan. She knows she is worthy of the task, but her clan is skeptical.

The last place She’erah expects support is from her charioteer, but Lateef is the lone voice of encouragement. His integrity and steadfastness is a plumb-line in She’erah’s life and she can no longer deny her growing feelings for him.
Acts of sabotage threaten the construction and the shaky foundation of She’erah’s pride. It’s up to She’erah to break generations of rivalry, distrust, and jealousy—if she can learn to rely on the strengths and abilities of those around her to help.

Will she learn to trust God and others before her life’s legacy comes crumbling down around her?

Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor's wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church or trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes, you'll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory on YouTube and helps facilitate Biblical Fiction Aficionados Community on Facebook. When not writing or trying to wrangle social media, Naomi attempts to get her rescue dog to be cute on command for the many pics she takes throughout the day.

Preorder She'erah's Legacy here 

History of the Garnet: January's Birthstone

Blogger: Amber Schamel

 

 Happy New Year, everyone! My prayer is that 2021 is a wonderful year for all of us.

Let's kick off the new year with learning about January's birthstone, the garnet. 

We usually think about the garnet being a red stone, however it can actually be a range of different colors including pink, green, yellow, purple, or even brown or black. The stone also has a wide range of history, and thanks to it being so durable, we have artifacts dating back to the bronze age.

The word, "garnet" comes from a Latin word meaning "seed or grain". Most believe that this is probably a reference to the pomegranate seed, which is similar in color, and thus gave the garnet its name.

The garnet has been used by royalty for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs used them in many forms of jewelry, and adored them enough to pack their graves with them as well.  The pectoral pictured here was found in the tomb of Princess Sithathoryunet, and includes many semiprecious stones, including the garnet. 

Egyptian Pectoral found in the tomb of
Princess Sithathorynet.
Public Domain

In ancient Rome, garnets were often carved into the signet rings that stamped some of the most important documents in ancient history. According to Plimy, a Roman scholar, the garnet was one of the most popularly traded gems around 23 to 79 A.D. 

Roman signet made of garnet. 2nd Century AD
Photo courtesy of lot-art.com

In ancient times, red garnets were often referred to as carbuncle. However, that term may have also been used for almost any red stone. According to the Islamic and Jewish legends, red garnet was one of the four stones on the signet given to King Solomon by God. This seal is the predecessor of the modern Star of David.

If carbuncle was indeed referring to the red garnet, it is mentioned several times in the Bible. It would have been one of the stones in Aaron's breastplate, and is also mentioned as one of the stones covering the "anointed cherub" that most scholars believe refers to Satan before his fall. 

Another Jewish tradition says that Noah took the garnet onto the ark as a source of light. During the flood, the sun nor moon was there to provide light, so he used the stone that shone "more brilliantly by night than by day" which was how Noah knew the difference between day and night during that catastrophe. 

Garnets seem to have a light that comes from within. This is a translucent garnet, backlight by a flashlight. This specimen came from the Red Embers Mine in Erving, Massachusetts, USA. “Fiery Dragon Eyes (Red Embers Garnet),” photo by Mike Beauregard. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

In the middle ages, the garnet was a favorite of clergy and nobility alike. At this time, people believed dragons had eyes made of garnet. The belief that garnets granted protection and healing to the wearer was very widespread, and in fact, during the crusades, the gem was worn by both Christian and Muslim warriors.

When the Bohimian garnet deposits were discovered in central Europe around 1500, the garnet became more widely available.

It is commonly believed, even today, that the garnet can signal coming danger by turning pale. Regardless of whether or not the stone holds any abilities, it still fascinates people, making it a coveted gem in all parts of the world.

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  

She lives in Colorado Springs near her favorite mountain and between enjoying life as a new mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Teetotum or Spinner

by Anita Mae Draper

A Child with a Teetotum by Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin. Public Domain

In 1738, Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin (1699-1799), exhibited his painting of a young boy playing with a teetotum. Yes, it looks like a marshmallow on a toothpick, but it's a toy like a spinning top. Many of the early games which I've featured in my recent posts used a teetotum to see what the player's options were instead of dice which were considered a vice and not suitable for those of good morale standing. It's a funny sounding word, but looks like a spinning top and was often called a spinner. 

Cassell's Book of Sports and Pastimes, 1888, says that teetotums originally had only four sides and were marked with the letters T for Take All, H for Take Half, N for Nothing, and P for Put in again. Those letters didn't work well with some board games and so more sides were added for more choices. Board game publishers created some with a flat disks through which the teetotum slid into, such as the one shown on the bottom right of The Wars of the Roses game which was published in the United Kingdom between 1835 and 1840. 

War of the Roses game, 1835. Public Domain

Teetotums resemble spinning tops, which have been around since ancient times, as seen in this next photo of an Ancient Middle Eastern top which has been dated back to no later than the mid-2nd millenium BCE by Wilfred G Lambert. 

Ancient Middle Eastern top. Public Domain

The ancient top above reminds me of the dreidel that is played with during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. (And now I have the song Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel running through my mind while write.) 

The teetotum is also used in the game Perinola in many Latin American countries.

My research into Google books showed that the word teetotum showed up in many conversations when talking about people spinning around, running in a frenzy, or even being confused. I haven't read Louisa May Alcott's Rose in Bloom, but one of her characters who is learning to dance says, "A fellow must have some reward for making a teetotum of himself."

References to teetotums are also mentioned in stories by Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and others. 

Have you played a game with a teetotum, or read a book that mentioned one?

Other posts in my puzzles and game boards series can be found here:

Oct 5, 2020 - Puzzle Blocks and Cube Puzzles

Sep 5, 2020 - Dissected Puzzles in Jane Austen's World

Aug 5, 2020 - Carom and Crokinole

July 5, 2020 - The Reach for Success Board Game

June 5, 2020 - Virtue Board Games

May 5, 2020 - Geographical Board Games

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Anita Mae Draper served a 20-year term working on air bases in the communication trade of the Canadian Armed Forces before retiring to the open skies of the prairies. She uses her experience and love of history to pepper her stories of yesteryear's romance with realism and faith. Anita Mae Draper's published stories appear in Barbour Publishing, WhiteFire Publishing, and Guideposts Books. Readers can enrich their story experience with visual references by checking out Anita's Pinterest boards. All links available on her website at www.anitamaedraper.com 

Kings or Wise Men? Who Really Visited Jesus from the East?

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo - Adoration of the Magi ,

                         1655-1660 {PD}

by Kathleen Rouser 

Who were the mysterious magi and where did they come from?

They were possibly Zoroastrian priests from Persia which is modern-day Iran. Zoroastrianism purports belief in a single deity, Ahura Mazda, and that there is a conflict between good and evil. It dates back to the 6th century B.C.

Magi was a term created by those who were skeptical of their religion and is the root word for magician. In a negative terms in means “sorcerer.”

Those referred to as wise men in different biblical accounts were advisors to ancient kings. They would have been astrologers and interpreters of signs. Astrology at that time had closer ties to astronomy. They would have also been educated scholars.

Around 530 B.C. Daniel served in the Persian court of Cyrus. Were advisors to Darius, priests of a monotheistic religion, intrigued by the prophet who worshipped the one true God? Perhaps they had many conversations about scripture and prophecy of the Messiah, who would be the Savior of the world. Balaam’s prophecy in Numbers 24:17 states: "A star will rise from Jacob a scepter will emerge from Israel."(NLT)

One theory some theologians have proposed is that there was evidence that the message of the Gospel was in the stars until it was corrupted by astrology after the Tower of Babel had been built. Is it possible these wise men had searched for such a message in the stars and found the one star that they followed to the Messiah? The wise men came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2, KJV)

The three Magi (Balthasar, Caspar, 
Melchior) !2th Century {PD}

When did they visit the baby Jesus?

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10-11, NLT)

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16, NLT)

When wise men are included in the Christmas narrative, they are often depicted visiting the baby Jesus at the site of the of manger where he was born, along with the shepherds who visited on the night of Jesus’ birth. However, two things would indicate that it could have been even a year or more later. Some translations say they entered the house to visit the child, not a place where a manger was kept. Also, Herod, to make sure he had no competition from this prophesied King of the Jews, decided to execute not only newborn infants, but every male child two years and younger. It’s likely that a year or two had passed and by then they were living in a house with a toddler-aged Jesus.

What was the significance of their gifts?

As quoted above, the wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to give the child in an act of worship. One interpretation, that originated with Origen, in the time of the early church is that gold was a gift fit for a king, frankincense was a perfume to be offered to a God, and myrrh was an ointment for anointing a dead body, so it was associated with death. The symbolism of virtue is attributed to gold, prayer is attributed to frankincense, and sacrifice is attributed to myrrh. Gold and frankincense reflected the life the child would grow up to live and myrrh reflected the sacrifice He would make for us.

Caspar by Jan van Biljert,Oil on panel. 
Circa 1640–1650, Rau Antiques2018, [cc]

What traditional beliefs have come from the visit of the Wise Men?

Since the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were presented to the Christ child, tradition has it that there were three wise men. However, in the eastern Syriac churches, the traditional number is twelve. The actual number is not mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew.

In western Christian tradition the names attributed to the supposed three wise men are Balthasar, from Arabia, Melchior from Persia, and Gaspar, from India. Eastern Christian traditions ascribe different names and sometimes different countries of origin than in the western church. However, in Matthew 2:12 it says they “returned to their own country.” In the original language this means a single place of origin.

They have also been referred to as kings. This tradition comes from viewing Psalm 72:10b, The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts, as a prophecy of this event. Yet, there is no evidence in the Matthew 2 passage that they were kings.

While the wise men are often pictured as arriving by camel, these wealthy individuals likely covered the eight or nine hundred miles of their journey by riding swift Arabian horses, the preferred method of travel of the day. Camels were used mainly as pack animals.

James Tissot, "The Magi Journeying," c. 1890
Brooklyn Museum [cc]

So as you can see, traditions concerning the wise men from the east have risen and changed over the many centuries since the birth of Jesus. However, we can conclude that these men who gave of their riches and time to travel and seek out the King of Jews, believed He was deity. They truly were very wise men to worship the Messiah of the Jewish people, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Savior of the world. 

Please let me know in the comments if you've learned something new from this article. Or share something I didn't cover here. I would love to find out what others know/think about the wise men who visited Jesus. 

Kathleen Rouser is the multi-published author of the 2017 Bookvana Award winner, Rumors and Promises, her first novel about the people of fictional Stone Creek, Michigan, and its sequel, Secrets and Wishes. She is a longtime member in good standing of American Christian Fiction Writers. Kathleen wanted to be a writer before she could even read. She longs to create characters who resonate with readers and realize the need for a transforming Savior in their everyday lives. She lives in Michigan with her hero and husband of thirty-some years, and continues on the elusive quest to brew the perfect cup of coffee to enjoy while she is writing. Connect with Kathleen on her website at kathleenrouser.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser/, and on Twitter @KathleenRouser.

Bookvana Awards Winner

Sophie Biddle is an heiress on the run with a child in tow. Wary and self-reliant, Sophie is caught off guard when meeting a kind, but meddling and handsome minister at the local mercantile. Believing he has failed God and his former flock, the Reverend Ian McCormick is determined to start anew in Stone Creek, Michigan. While Sophie seeks acceptance for her child and a measure of respect for herself, the rumors swirl about her sordid past. Should Ian show concern for Sophie's plight? If he does, he'll risk losing everything — including his new position as pastor of Stone Creek. Will the scandals of their pasts bind them together, or drive both deeper into a spiral of shame?