How did Ancient Greeks tell the date? - The Athenian Calendar

The video explores how ancient Greeks, particularly Athenians, understood and used calendars. It explains the civic democratic calendar used for political purposes and the festive calendar for festivals, both based on lunar cycles. The video also discusses synchronization methods for aligning lunar and solar years, and how Athenians denoted years using events like the Olympiad or the eponymous Archon.

Why was there no single calendar used throughout ancient Greece?

• Because the Greeks did not use calendars.

• Due to the fragmented nature of Greek city-states.

• Due to the influence of Roman culture.

• Because Greece was a unified empire.

What was the primary use of the Civic Democratic calendar in Athens?

• For religious festivals.

• For agricultural planning.

• For bureaucratic and democratic functions.

• For trade and commerce.

How many months were in the Civic Democratic calendar?

• 6 months

• 8 months

• 10 months

• 12 months

What was the Festive calendar primarily used for?

• Scheduling military campaigns.

• Tracking political events.

• Recording historical events.

• Dating festivals.

How did the Festive calendar account for the difference between lunar and solar years?

• By ignoring the difference.

• By adding an extra month every year.

• By adding an extra month occasionally.

• By shortening the months.

What was the Metonic cycle?

• A cycle of 4 years with 1 leap year.

• A cycle of 8 years with 3 leap years.

• A cycle of 19 years with 7 leap years.

• A cycle of 12 years.

How were years often denoted in ancient Athens?

• By the reigning king.

• By the current festival.

• By the current Olympiad.

• By the current month.