2 articles for "Dionysian Period"
Dionysian Period [Astro*Index]A 532-year period in which lunations fall on the same day of the week and the same day of the month. Named after Dionysius Exiguus, the 6th century monk and astrologer. Also called the Victorian Period, after Victorius of Aquitain. Formed as the product of two cycles (19 x 28 = 532). The 19-year Metonic Cycle causes lunations to occur on the same day of the month, while the 28-year cycle of the Sun realigns the Sun to the same day of the week. Prior to the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar, the Dionysian Period was used to determine the date of Easter Sunday.
See also:Dionysian Period [DeVore]
♦ Dominical Letter ♦ Metonic Cycle ♦ Lunation ♦ Gregorian Calendar
The 28-year cycle of the Sun, on which is based the Dominical Letter, brings the Sun back to the same day of the week. The 19-year Metonic Cycle restores the new moon to the same day of the month. Therefore 28 X 19 = 532 years — the period on which Lunations recur on the same day of the month and the same day of the week. This is the Dionysian Period, so called after Dionysius Exiguus; also called the Victorian period, after Victorius of Aquitain. Its use in determining Easter Sunday was discontinued with the Gregorian reformation of the Julian calendar.
See also:
♦ Dominical Letter ♦ Metonic Cycle ♦ Lunation ♦ Gregorian Calendar
Astro*Index Copyright © 1997 Michael Erlewine