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Treatise on moonrise and moonset

Anonymous · betmas

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machine-draft · no human review 4 passages · 813 words

Work dossier · summary and historical context

Summary

The Treatise on moonrise and moonset is an anonymous Geʿez computational work on lunar visibility, used for calendar reckoning. Its sole witness is the manuscript underlying the betmas edition, with no other copies known. The text lacks colophon, internal dating, and authorial attribution, preventing secure dating. It consists of tabular lists of moonrise and moonset times for Ethiopian months, using star-hours and day counts. The genre aligns with Ethiopic astronomical handbooks, serving a narrow scholarly audience concerned with calendrical computation rather than liturgy or homiletics. The edition provides no critical apparatus, limiting study of textual fluidity.

The treatise is a rare witness to indigenous Ethiopian astronomical computation, distinct from imported Arabic or European traditions. It provides insight into pre-modern African calendar science and the adaptation of Hellenistic star-hour systems. Its tabular format and non-monotonic sequences may reflect observational or scribal practices, offering material for studying the transmission of astronomical knowledge in Christian Ethiopia.

Historical context

The treatise belongs to the Ethiopic astronomical tradition, which developed in the Christian kingdom of Aksum and its successor states (e.g., Zagwe, Solomonic) from roughly the 4th century onward. Geʿez, the classical language of Ethiopian liturgy and learning, was used for such handbooks. The work's anonymous, undated character reflects a common pattern in Ethiopian scientific manuscripts, where scribes often omitted colophons. The Ethiopian calendar, based on the Coptic calendar with a 13th month (Pagume), is evident in the months mentioned (Miyāzyā, Gǝnbot, Sane, Ḥamle, Naḥāse, Meskerem, Ṭeqemt). The use of star-hours suggests influence from Hellenistic or Arabic astronomy, transmitted via Coptic or Syriac intermediaries. The treatise likely circulated in monastic or courtly scriptoria, where computational texts were copied for practical use in determining feast days and agricultural cycles. Its survival in a single witness indicates limited circulation, possibly due to replacement by later, more comprehensive works.

Apparatus · what the pipeline recorded

Annotation and terms

18 commentary units 5 term4 structure4 caution3 dating2 background 0 derived notes 6 open questions 4 narrative
What the kinds mean

Pipeline notes

  • limitThe English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve.
  • registerRegister: other in Geʿez; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them.
  • structurePassages: 4 narrative.
  • sourceSource edition: betmas — CC BY-SA 4.0 (per file); site footer states NC-SA - treat as NC

Term index

CopticRenderingCountFirst
no glossary terms recorded
LIT7109Moonrise:1 · narrativemedium
Source
The following edition is taken from 423-425 . ወካዕበ፡ ለእመ፡ ፈቀድከ፡ ታእምር፡ ዘከመ፡ ትበይት፡ ወርህ፡ ለለ፡ ሠርኁ፡ የከመ፡ ትበይት፡ ወርኅ፡ ለለ፡ ሌሊቱ፡ ወታስተባሪ፡ ሠርቀ፡ በ፮ ኃዋኅወ፡ ጽባሕ። ሠረቀ፡ ሚያዝያ፡ በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በኀምስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በኀምስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በሳልስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኀት፡ ፰በካልእት፡ ኆኀት፡ ፮በሣልስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩ፈጸመ፡ ፴ጽባሕ፡ ወርኀ፡ ምያዝያ። ሠረቀ፡ ግንቦት፡ በኃምስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፰በኃምስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በካልእት፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኀት፡ ፮በካልእት፡ ኆኀት፡ 1በሣልስት፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በኃምስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪ፈጸመ፡ ፳፱ጽባሕ፡ ወርኀ፡ ግንቦት። ሠረቀ፡ ወርኀ፡ ሰኔ፡ በሳድስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፬በኃምስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኀት፡ ፰በካልእ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በኃምስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፬፡ ፴መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ ሰኔ።
English
And if you wish to know how the moon sets each evening, how the moon sets each night, and you wish to observe the setting: in 6 hours of morning. Miyāzyā sets: on the fourth star, 2; on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 8; on the fifth star, 1; on the fourth star, 1; on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 8; on the second star, 6; on the third star, 1; on the fourth star, 1. Completed: 30 mornings of the month of Miyāzyā. Gǝnbot sets: on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 8; on the fifth star, 1; on the fourth star, 2; on the third star, 1; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 6; on the second star, 1; on the third star, 1; on the fourth star, 2; on the fifth star, 2. Completed: 29 mornings of the month of Gǝnbot. The month of Sane sets: on the sixth star, 4; on the fifth star, 2; on the fourth star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 8; on the second star, 1; on the third star, 1; on the fourth star, 2; on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 4. 30 days. Completed: the month of Sane.
LIT7109Moonrise:2 · narrativehigh
Source
ሠረቀ፡ ወርኀ፡ ኀምሌ፡ በሣድስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኀት፡ ፯በካልእት፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በኃምስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኀት፡ ፬ ፡ ፳ወ፱ መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ ኃምሌ። ። ሠረቀ፡ ወርኀ፡ ነሐሴ። በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪፡ ፴መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ ነሐሴ። ሠረቀ፡ ወርኀ፡ መስከረም። በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፮በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩፡ ፳ወ፱መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ መስከረም። ሠረቀ፡ ወርኀ፡ ጥቅምት፡ በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በካልእት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩፡ ፴መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ ጥቅምት። ።
English
The moon of Ḥamle rises: on the sixth star, 2; on the fourth star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 7; on the second star, 1; on the third star, 1; on the fourth star, 2; on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 4. 29 days. The moon of Ḥamle ends. The moon of Naḥāse rises: on the fifth star, 1; on the fourth star, 1; on the third star, 1; on the second star, 1; on the first star, 8; on the second star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the fourth star, 2; on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 8; on the fifth star, 2. 30 days. The moon of Naḥāse ends. The moon of Meskerem rises: on the fourth star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 6; on the second star, 1; on the third star, 1; on the fourth star, 2; on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 8; on the fifth star, 2; on the fourth star, 1. 29 days. The moon of Meskerem ends. The moon of Ṭeqemt rises: on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 8; on the second star, 1; on the third star, 1; on the fourth star, 2; on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 8; on the fifth star, 2; on the fourth star, 1; on the third star, 1. 30 days. The moon of Ṭeqemt ends.
LIT7109Moonrise:3 · narrativehigh
Source
ወሠረቀ፡ ወርኀ፡ ኅዳር፡ በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩ ፡ ፳ወ፱መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርሀእ፡ ኅዳር። ። ሠረወ፡ ወርኀ፡ ታሕሣሥ፡ በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፬በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሳድስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፬፡ ወ፴መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ ታሕሣሥ። ሠረቀ፡ ጥር፡ በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፬በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በኃምስ፡ ኆሕት፡ ፩በሳድስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፯በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፬፡ ወ፳፱መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ ጥር። ። ሠረቀ፡ ወርኀ፡ የካቲት፡ በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሳድስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪፡ ወመዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ ዘካቲት። ።
English
The moon of Ḫedār rises: on the second star, 2; on the first star, 8; on the second star, 1; on the third star, 1; on the fourth star, 1; on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 2; on the second star, 1. And 29 days, the month of Ḫedār is completed. The moon of Taḫśāś sets: on the first star, 4; on the second star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the fourth star, 1; on the fifth star, 1; on the sixth star, 8; on the fifth star, 1; on the fourth star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 4. And 30 days, the month of Taḫśāś is completed. Ṭerr rises: on the first star, 4; on the second star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the fourth star, 1; on the fifth star, 1; on the sixth star, 7; on the fifth star, 2; on the fourth star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 4. And 29 days, the month of Ṭerr is completed. Yekatit rises: on the second star, 1; on the third star, 1; on the fourth star, 1; on the fifth star, 1; on the sixth star, 8; on the fifth star, 2; on the fourth star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 8; on the second star, 2. And days, the month of Yekatit is completed.
LIT7109Moonrise:4 · narrativemedium
Source
ሠረቀ፡ ወርኀ፡ መጋቢት፡ በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፰በካልእ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በራብዕ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በኃምስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፪በሳድስ፡ ኆኅትት፡ ፯በቀዳሚት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በካልእት፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩በሣልስ፡ ኆኅት፡ ፩። ፳ወ፱መዋዕል፡ ፈጸመ፡ ወርኀ፡ መጋቢት። ።
English
The moon of Meggābit rises: on the third star, 2; on the second star, 2; on the first star, 8; on the second star, 2; on the third star, 2; on the fourth star, 1; on the fifth star, 2; on the sixth star, 7; on the first star, 1; on the second star, 1; on the third star, 1. And 29 days, the month of Meggābit is completed.
Citation. Tergwame, “Treatise on moonrise and moonset”, LIT7109Moonrise:1, machine-draft, 2026. https://naxiai.com/christian/works/LIT7109Moonrise#s1
Colophon. Source: betmas · licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (per file); site footer states NC-SA - treat as NC · model: deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor · provider: Relace · cost: $0.0026 · generated 2026-11-15.