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'''Stewards' Reckoning''' was the calendar system introduced in [[Gondor]] by [[Mardil Voronwë]], its first [[Ruling Steward]]. It survived until the end of the [[Third Age]], and was thus the calendar in use at the time of the [[War of the Ring]].
{{sources}}
'''Stewards' Reckoning''' or '''Revised Calendar''' was the calendar system introduced in [[Gondor]] by [[Mardil|Mardil Voronwë]], its first [[Ruling Steward]] around [[Third Age 2000]].  
 
It survived until the end of the [[Third Age]], and was thus the calendar in use at the time of the [[War of the Ring]].
==Background==
[[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]] used a [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] calendar called [[King's Reckoning]] but even after the fall of [[Sauron]] at the end of that Age, the old calendar was maintained by the [[Exiles of Númenor]] in [[Middle-earth]] into the [[Third Age]]. When the era of the Kings passed with the [[Battle of Fornost|fall of Arnor]] and the loss of King [[Eärnur]], the King's Reckoning presented (through the continued accumulation of the [[wikipedia:millenial deficit|millenial deficit]]s) an offset of about 1.6 days<ref name="lal">{{webcite|articleurl=http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Time.html|articlename=The Reckoning of Time|author=[[Andreas Moehn]]|website=Lalaith}}</ref> out of synchronicity with the astronomical observations.
 
==History==
Steward Mardil made all months of equal length (30 days) and arranged the two days gained such symmetrically to the other holidays and also inserted two leap-days in {{TA|2059}}. However this still left a minor deficit of about 8 hours<ref name="lal"/> in advance. It is possible that the leap-day of {{TA|2060|n}} was dropped in consequence.
 
In {{TA|2360|n}} Steward [[Hador (Steward of Gondor)|Hador]] added 1 day to that year though this deficiency had not quite reached that amount being now a delay of only 0.3 day<ref name="lal"/>. By {{TA|3020|n}} the deficit had once again accumulated to 0.77 days<ref>{{HM|AB}}, "not yet amounted to 1 day"</ref>.
 
The Stewards' Reckoning was eventually  adoped by most speakers of [[Westron]] such as the [[Dwarves]] and even the [[Elves]] (who maintained their former traditions only for ritual purposes).
 
In the [[Fourth Age]], the calendar was replaced by the [[New Reckoning]]
 
==The Calendar==
The Revised Calendar consisted of twelve months, each of thirty days, and five additional days that belonged to no month.
*[[yestarë]]
*[[Narwain]], [[Ninui]], [[Gwaeron]]
*[[tuilérë]] or Spring-day
*[[Gwirith]], [[Lothron]], [[Nórui]]
*[[loëndë]] (in leap-years replaced by two [[enderi]])
*[[Cerveth]], [[Úrui]], [[Ivanneth]]
*[[yáviérë]] or Autumn-day
*[[Narbeleth]], [[Hithui]],[[Girithron]]
*[[mettarë]]
 
The names of the months and days were now popularly used in Quenya (though [[Dale]] and [[Rohan]], retained old names, at least among the lower population); the [[Dúnedain]] adhered to [[Sindarin]] versions.
 
==Observations==
*Yestarë: Winter Solstice
*28 Gwaeron: Vernal Equinox
*30 Gwirith: [[Erukyermë]]
*Loëndë: Summer Solstice/[[Erulaitalë]]
*10 October: Automnal Equinox
*?? [[Eruhantalë]]
 
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category: Middle-earth Calendars]]
[[de:Truchsessen-Zeitrechnung]]
[[fi:Käskynhaltijain lasku]]

Revision as of 07:56, 28 November 2014

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
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Stewards' Reckoning or Revised Calendar was the calendar system introduced in Gondor by Mardil Voronwë, its first Ruling Steward around Third Age 2000.

It survived until the end of the Third Age, and was thus the calendar in use at the time of the War of the Ring.

Background

Arnor and Gondor used a Númenórean calendar called King's Reckoning but even after the fall of Sauron at the end of that Age, the old calendar was maintained by the Exiles of Númenor in Middle-earth into the Third Age. When the era of the Kings passed with the fall of Arnor and the loss of King Eärnur, the King's Reckoning presented (through the continued accumulation of the millenial deficits) an offset of about 1.6 days[1] out of synchronicity with the astronomical observations.

History

Steward Mardil made all months of equal length (30 days) and arranged the two days gained such symmetrically to the other holidays and also inserted two leap-days in T.A. 2059. However this still left a minor deficit of about 8 hours[1] in advance. It is possible that the leap-day of 2060 was dropped in consequence.

In 2360 Steward Hador added 1 day to that year though this deficiency had not quite reached that amount being now a delay of only 0.3 day[1]. By 3020 the deficit had once again accumulated to 0.77 days[2].

The Stewards' Reckoning was eventually adoped by most speakers of Westron such as the Dwarves and even the Elves (who maintained their former traditions only for ritual purposes).

In the Fourth Age, the calendar was replaced by the New Reckoning

The Calendar

The Revised Calendar consisted of twelve months, each of thirty days, and five additional days that belonged to no month.

The names of the months and days were now popularly used in Quenya (though Dale and Rohan, retained old names, at least among the lower population); the Dúnedain adhered to Sindarin versions.

Observations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Andreas Moehn, "The Reckoning of Time", Lalaith's Middle-earth Science Pages (accessed 23 April 2024)
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "not yet amounted to 1 day"
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