The Inundation – the New Year

At the heart of the Egyptian calendar year was the rising waters of the Nile as part of the annually-occurring inundation. Egyptians noted that the Sirius star (Sothis) would rise roughly at same time every year, which for between 3,000-2,500 BC was in late June. With the inundation usually happening shortly thereafter, the Egyptians celebrated this time with a festival of the New Year.

Hail flood!
emerging from the earth, arriving to bring Egypt to life,
hidden of form, the darkness in the day,
the one whose followers sing to him, as he waters the plants,
created by Ra to make every herd live,
who satisfies the desert hills removed from the water,
for it is his due that descends from the sky
– he, the beloved of Geb, controller of Nepri,
the one who makes the crafts of Ptah verdant.

Hail to your countenance, Hapi (the god of the Nile),
Who comes forth from the ground, who returns to save the Black Land; […]
To whom his divine entourage gives constant praise,
Who waters the countryside created by Re
In order to preserve every kind of small creature.

~ Both attributed to Khety circa 1990-1926 bce

I particularly like the line, “to preserve every kind of small creature.” All sorts of small creatures, and especially cats, are preserved and cared for at our Sanctuaries.

Today, according to modern calculations of the ancient Egyptian calendar, and observations of the rising of Sirius, the Sothis Star, it would be the New Year signifying the rising of the Nile. Hail the inundation!