Megillat Ta’anit

ancient Jewish chronology

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

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Megillat Ta'anit, or the "Scroll of Fasting," is an ancient Jewish text that serves as a significant source for Jewish chronology. It lists specific days of the year that are identified with historical events, primarily focusing on days that are not to be observed as fasts.1

The scroll categorizes these events into five chronological periods: pre-Hasmonean, Hasmonean, Roman (up to 65 CE), the war against Rome (65-66 CE), and miscellaneous events. While it doesn't provide specific year dates, it helps establish a timeline by associating events with particular days and months. This makes it a valuable tool for understanding the sequence of historical occurrences in Jewish history.1

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chronology
Jewish
Megillat taʿanit (“Scroll of Fasting”), although recording only the days and months of the year without the dates of the years, is nevertheless an important source for Jewish chronology. It lists events on 35 days of the year that have been identified with events in…
Read More
Megillat taʿanit (“Scroll of Fasting”), although recording only the days and months of the year without the dates of the years, is nevertheless an important source for Jewish chronology. It lists events on 35 days of the year that have been identified with events in…
Read More