Between them, these calendars have seventy-two (72) months, and that number must be cut down to 64 to create the final "ancient" quadrant of the bracket.
The voting for the final spots in the "ancient" bracket will take place by paired matchups between months from the same calendars, "win and in."
In a battle for the 40th seed, we have a classic rivalry between Olympian gods as symbolized by two ancient Greek months:
- Anthesterion: This mid-winter month played host to the annual Anthesteria, a major Athenian festival to Dionysus.
- Thargelion: This spring month contained the Thargelia, a major festival to Apollo and Artemis.
- Gamelion: The celebration of the hieros gamos, or "holy marriage," between Zeus and Hera took place in this month.
- Metageitnion: Every four years during this autumn month, the Eleusinia festival was held to honor Demeter, although this festival was not associated with the Eleusinian mysteries.
- Sabatu: Linguists believe that the word "Sabatu," signifying the final full Babylonian month, is related to the history of the word "Sabbath."
- Abu: This fifth month of the Babylonian calendar was sacred to Gilgamesh, as attested in the only post-Old Babylonian reference to the culture hero.
- Addaru: Six (6) out of every nineteen (19) years, a second Addaru was added as an intercalary month.
- Tisritum: The fall equinox occurred during Tisritum, which was known as the "month of the holy mound" in honor of the ground upon which Babylon's original ziggurat stood.
- 1 Deer: The thirteen (13) days of 1 Deer were associated with the act of hunting.
- 1 Flower: 1 Flower was dedicated to Xipe Totec, the flayed god associated with human sacrifice.
- 1 House: The trecena of 1 House were seen as a time of conflict between nature and culture.
- 1 Flint: 1 Flint was dedicated to the "Lord of Mictlan," the Aztec underworld.
- Boedromion: The Athenians held the Boedromia festival on the 7th of Boedromion.
- Maimakterion: The month of Maimakterion is named in honor of a cultic form of Zeus associated with storms.
- Pharmuthi: The 23rd of Pharmuthi is when the martyrdom of St. George is celebrated in the Coptic church.
- Mesore: The final month of the Egyptian calendar, Mesore corresponded to the end of summer before the harvesting season.
Note that, to encourage new posters, voters with fewer than 50 total posts, or whose accounts were registered any time in 2020, will have their votes counted for 1.5 in this and all future rounds. Additionally, all votes (regardless of whether from a new poster) accompanied by interesting discussion or justification will receive an additional 0.5 vote credit. To vote, please copy the ballot below into a new post and use any reasonable method of identifying your preference (delete the one you don't favor, bold the one you do, etc.). Voting in this play-in closes in two days.
BALLOT: COPY/PASTE TO VOTE
40 seed: Thargelion v Anthesterion
49 seed: Gamelion v Metageitnion
52 seed: Sabatu v Abu
58 seed: Addaru v Tisritum
60 seed: 1 Deer v 1 Flower
62 seed: 1 House v 1 Flint
63 seed: Boedromion v Maimakterion
64 seed: Pharmuthi v Mesore
