Gregorii Opuscula, or, Notes & observations upon some passages of Scripture with other learned tracts / written by John Gregory ...

CHAP. XV. Aera Actiacae Victoriae. &c.

CAEsar Augustus having triumphed over Antonie and Cle∣opatra in the battel of Actium, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 saith Dion, became himself to bee Monarch of the World, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. in∣somuch that hee gave command that the Empire should be∣gin to compute their Acts from this daie's Achievment; which was the second of September by Dion. It was the year of the World 3919, and 4683 of the Julian Period; as otherwise, and also by an Eclips noted in the Fasti Seculi, 'tis manifest; yet by the decree of the Senate, this Aera was fixed in the destruction of Alexandria, which was taken

August the 29, of the year following, 'twas the 16 Julian year, and the 294 from the Death of Alexander.

Till this time the Egyptian account measured by Nabonas∣sar's year, consisting of 365 daies, without anie intercala∣tion of the odd hours; in the place hereof the Julian form succeeded; And becaus the Egyptians called everie daie in the year by the Name of som God, which were therefore called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and everie year of their Lustrum's or Quadriennals in like manner, which were therefore called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Anni Deorum, these years were henceforth called in honor of Augustus, Anni Augustorum Deorum, or Anni Au∣gustorum, as 'tis recorded by Censorinus, who onely menti∣oneth them by this Name.

This Aera Actiaca continued in use till the time of Diocle∣sian, who having gained himself an Opinion of Wisedom and Fortune among his People, thought himself worthie from whom the Computation should now begin, which was don. It was therefore called by those of the Empire Aera Dioclesianea; but by the Christians Aera Martyrum San∣ctorum, from the great Passion of Saints in the 19 of this Emperor's Raign, wherein more then one hundred fortie and four thousand Christians suffered persecution in Egypt. Thus Ignatius the Patriarch of Antioch answered Scaliger by his Letters; Vir, saith Scaliger, quo doctiorem Oriens nostro se∣culo non tulit. But the Aera Martyrum and that of Dioclesian begin at the same time; as Christman upon his Alfraganus proveth out of Abull Hassumi an Arabick Historiographer. And to assure the beginning of Dioclesians Aera, Theon upon the Almagest noteth an Eclips of the Moon at Alexandria, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in the 81 year of Dioclesian, and 1112 of Nabonassar. Ashyr the 29, and 6 of Phamenoth, and this Eclips, exacted to the Julian form, hapned November 25, a little after midnight, in the year of the World 4313, and 364 from the Incarnation; the Sun was in the 5 of Sagittarie. Therefore Dioclesian's Aera was fixed in the 1032 of Nabonas∣sar, which was the 284 from the Incarnation. Therefore as it is called Aera Martyrum, it referreth not to the persecuti∣on in the 19 of Dioclesian, but to that of his first year,

wherein Diodorus the Bishop celebrating the Holie Commu∣nion with manie other Christians in a Cave, was immured into the earth, and so buried all alive. Eusebius in Dioclesian.

This Aera is used by S. Ambrose, Epiphanius, Evagrius, Her∣mannus, Contractus, Bede and others. It stood in common Chri∣stian use, until the times of Dionysius the Abbot, who in stead hereof brought in the Aera of Christ's Incarnation, so that (as Peter Aliac, our Bede, and others) the Christians did not use to reckon by the years of Christ, until the 532 of the Incarnation, yet Scaliger may bee seen, De Emend. lib. 5. p. 495. & p. 496. & p. the 18 of his Prolegomena.

Nor is it to bee thought, saith Christman, that this Aera Martyrum was utterly abolished, except we mean it of Rome; for saith hee 'tis yet in use among the Egyptians, Arabians, Persians, Ethiopians, and generally the Eastern men.

Scaliger saith it once and again (how truly I doubt) that it never was but as it still is used in the Egyptian and Ethio∣pian Churches: No doubt,, but that it was most proper to Egypt where it first began, for which caus it is called by the Arabians Teric Elgupti the Aera Aegyptica. From the Egyptians the most part of the world received it, though the Abassines or Ethiopians in a directer line, as whose Patriarch and Re∣ligion is subject to that of Alexandria. The Ethiopians call it the Anni Gratiae.

Notes

• Theon. Hy∣pom. 6. in Ptolem. Al∣mag. p. 248.