Calendar

The astronomers and philosophers of Meletis have established a calendar that has found some adoption in Akros and Setessa. The Meletian calendar begins with spring and divides the year into 12 months; the length of those months alternates between 29 and 30 days and each of those months begin with the new moon. Every three years an extra 30-day month is added to the end of the calendar to ensure it remains aligned. Each month is holy to a specific god and named after a major festival that takes place during that month. Setessa and Akros have adopted the same names even though they don’t share all the same observances, with one exception: the fifth month (Thriambion in Meletis) is called Iroagonion in Akros, after the Iroan Games, which are held in that month every year.

Precise knowledge of the Meletian calendar varies between, and even within, the races of Theros; the Lagonna Band centaurs have adopted the Meletian calendar to assist with trade while the Pheres Band note only the passing of the seasons. Although the phases of the moon appear to be a prominent aspect for several non-human groups, it is unclear to what extent they have a formal calendar. For example, it has been observed that the leonin relate their own festivals to the moon and the equinoxes, but it is unclear to what extent they have a formal calendar. Little is known of the means by which the tritons track the passage of time; it appears to be based on observing the currents and tides of the ocean which is linked to the phases of the moon. Those tritons who dwell within Meletis typically adopt the Meletian calendar as their own methods for tracking time are disturbed by the harbor wall. The satyrs of the Skola Valley seldom have a need to record the date and find such measurement of nature distasteful. Similarly, most of the minotaurs that roam the badlands of Phoberos have no desire to record the date, although they do have an oral tradition of recalling great battles which produces a vague form of history. The minotaur polis of Skophos may have a lunar calendar; the blood moon is significant to Mogis. Time seems to have little meaning to the Returned, for the most part they are either unaware of or unconcerned by its passage.

Year

The Meletian calendar is unconcerned with recording the year. This appears to be partly linked to the nature of Theros; history and myth are indistinguishable, an event was not 10 years ago, but many years ago. Some events could be used to suggest a general time frame; an event might be from ‘before the silence of Kruphix’, an event from a long time ago might be from ‘before the fall of Olantin’. In Meletis the name of the yearly elected council members is often used. The council of philosophers named the Twelve are elected for a term of 4 years at time, with the current leader being the centaur Perisophia. There is no mention of term limits or indication of how long Perisophia has been the leader of the Twelve but this could be used to indicate events from years ago ‘before the last election of the Twelve’ or perhaps from slightly further in the past ‘from before Perisophia led the Twelve’.

“Keep in mind correct measurement; for good timing is the most important factor in all things.”

— Hesiod’s ‘Works and Days’.

Month	Season	God
Lyokymion	Spring	Thassa
Protokynion	Spring	Nylea
Astrapion	Spring	Keranos
Polidrysion	Summer	Ephara
Thriambion	Summer	Iroas
Megasphagion	Summer	Mogis
Chalcanapsion	Autumn	Purphoros
Necrologion	Autumn	Athreos
Therimakarion	Autumn	Karametra
Katabasion	Winter	Erebos
Cheimazion	Winter	Pharika
Agrypnion	Winter	Kruphix
Anagrypnion*		Kruphix

*This month occurs only once every three years.

Phases of the Moon

The phases of the moon are significant to the Meletian calendar. Each month begins with the new moon. The month is then divided into three phases related to the moon; the first 10 days of the months is during the waxing of the moon, during the second 10 days the full moon occurs and during the third phase of either 9 or 10 days is the waning of the moon. Though for the Athenian calendar the final phase was actually a countdown to the end of the month, this might get confusing during game play, as for example the 5th of Lyokymion would refer to two different days one at the start of the month and one at the end, and so the Meletian calendar has been made without counting down the final phase.
Phase 1 – Waxing, from the 1st to the 10th
Phase 2 – Full moon from the 11th to the 20th
Phase 3 – Waning from the 21st to the 29th or 30th

The phases of the moon are linked to several festivals;

• Worshipers of Karametra gather to feast under the full moon
• The blood moon is a holy occasion for worshipers of Mogis
• Nights of a waxing moon are sacred to Pharika
• Services to Phenax are conducted under the new moon
• The Abora market in Setessa is only open to outsiders on the seven days surrounding the full moon
• The Leonin elect a new Speaker on the day of the first full moon after the autumn equinox