Seleucid era

The Seleucid era (abbreviated SE for engl. Seleucid Era, in German also CME ) is a yearly counting or era, from the 4th century BC, especially with the Seleucids and Parthians, but also among other peoples in the East, to was partially used in the Islamic period into it. Among other things, she was also in use in Judaea, which show the relevant information in 1 Maccabees and in the New Testament. Due to the wide distribution it was also referred to as Greek era or yearly counting of the Greeks per se.

The era originally referred to the years of the reign of Seleucus I, one of the Diadochi ( successors) of Alexander the Great, who founded the Seleucid dynasty in the Middle East and the BC Babylon took in 312, which was seen as a key event. After his death, but was started by his successors not each new count after years of government, but the count after years of reign of Seleucus was retained.

Although so common, based annual data with a fundamental uncertainty are on the Seleucid era, subject, when it comes to convert the data into modern calendar data. The calendar year in Syria begins in October, accordingly, is the year 1 SE in Syria in October 312 BC to September 311 BC in Babylon, the calendar year begins in April, accordingly, Year 1 SE in Babylon April 311 BC to March 310 BC, dates that have been handed down only by a certain year, therefore always refer to two years of our calendar. The Macedonian Seleucid calendar starts just as the Syrian calendar in October 312 BC

The Seleucid Greek calendar mixed with Babylonian elements, the sun and the moon cycle was based. A year had twelve months a leap year 13 months, while it was within 19 years, seven leap years.

In Judaism, the use of the Seleucid era was widespread, including on Ketubbot ( marriage prescriptions ) and vagina letters. The Yemenite Jews ( Temanim ) used the era in the 20th century.