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Wikiversity:Colloquium
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2026-04-19T21:14:50Z
Codename Noreste
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/* Inactive curators */ new topic ([[mw:c:Special:MyLanguage/User:JWBTH/CD|CD]])
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{{Wikiversity:Colloquium/Header}}
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== Requested update to [[Wikiversity:Interface administrators]] ==
Currently, [[Wikiversity:Interface administrators]] is a policy that includes a caveat that interface admins are not required long-term and that user right can only be added for a period of up to two weeks. I am proposing that we remove this qualification and allow for indefinite interface admin status. I think this is useful because there are reasons for tweaking the site CSS or JavaScript (e.g. to comply with dark mode), add gadgets (e.g. importing Cat-a-Lot, which I would like to do), or otherwise modifying the site that could plausibly come up on an irregular basis and requiring the overhead of a bureaucrat to add the user rights is inefficient. In particular, I am also going to request this right if the community accepts indefinite interface admins. Thoughts? —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 23:23, 17 August 2025 (UTC)
:And who will then monitor them to make sure they don't damage the project in any way, or abuse the rights acquired in this way? For large projects, this might not be a problem, but for smaller projects like the English Wikiversity, I'm not sure if there are enough users who would say, something is happening here that shouldn't be happening. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 10:28, 20 August 2025 (UTC)
::Anyone would be who. This argument applies to any person with any advanced rights here. —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 10:46, 20 August 2025 (UTC)
:I think it is reasonable to allow for longer periods of access than 2 weeks to interface admin and support adjusting the policy to allow for this flexibility. -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 04:57, 2 December 2025 (UTC)
::+1 —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 16:38, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:@[[User:Koavf|Koavf]] I agree that the two-week requirement could be revised, but wouldn’t people just request access for a specific purpose anyway? Instead of granting indefinite access, they should request the specific time frame they need the rights for—until the planned fixes are completed—and then request an extension if more time is required. We could remove the two-week criterion while still keeping the access explicitly temporary. [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 02:48, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
::I just don't see why this wiki needs to be different than all of the others. —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 07:18, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:::There isn’t really much of a need for a permanent one at this point in time [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 09:53, 25 January 2026 (UTC)
:I quite agree with this proposal, so long as they perform the suggested changes as mentioned here. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 04:06, 26 January 2026 (UTC)
:: Just to clarify, I support '''indefinite interface admin status'''. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 18:34, 13 April 2026 (UTC)
:I think there is decent consensus for lengthening this, but not necessarily for indefinite permissions, so does anyone object to me revising it to the standard being 120 days instead of two weeks? I'll check back on this thread in three weeks and if there's no objection, I'll make the change. —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 20:47, 13 April 2026 (UTC)
::Sure [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 23:27, 13 April 2026 (UTC)
== Curators and curators policy ==
How does it come, that Wikiversity has curators, but Curators policy is still being proposed? How do the curators exists and act if the policy about them havent been approved yet? [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 18:33, 16 October 2025 (UTC)
:It looks as if it is not just curators. The policy on Bureaucratship is still being proposed as well. See [[Wikiversity:Bureaucratship]]. —[[User:RailwayEnthusiast2025|<span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#008000; text-shadow:gray 0.2em 0.2em 0.4em;">RailwayEnthusiast2025</span>]] <sup>[[User talk:RailwayEnthusiast2025|<span style="color:#59a53f">''talk with me!''</span>]]</sup> 18:33, 27 October 2025 (UTC)
:I think its just the nature of a small WMF sister project in that there are lots of drafts, gaps, and potential improvements. In this case, these community would need to vote on those proposed Wikiversity staff policies if we think they're ready. -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 02:08, 3 December 2025 (UTC)
:What? I thought you were getting it approved, Juandev... :) [[User:I'm Mr. Chris|I'm Mr. Chris]] ([[User talk:I'm Mr. Chris|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/I'm Mr. Chris|contribs]]) 14:20, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
::Yeah I think this one is important too and we need to aprove it too @[[User:I'm Mr. Chris|I'm Mr. Chris]]. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 15:56, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
:::I thinks its ready to made into a policy, it seems to be complete and informative about what the rights does and how to get it. [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 03:08, 15 February 2026 (UTC)
::::Agree -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 11:00, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
== [[Template:AI-generated]] ==
After going through the plethora of ChatGPT-generated pages made by [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] (with many more pages to go), I'd like community input on this proposal to [[Wikiversity:Artificial intelligence]] that I think would be benefical for the community:
*Resources generated by AI '''must''' be indicated as so through the project box, [[Template:AI-generated]], on either the page or the main resource (if the page is a part of a project).
I do not believe including a small note/reference that a page is AI-generated is sufficient, and I take my thinking from [[WV:Original research|Wikiversity's OR policy]] for OR work: ''Within Wikiversity, all original research should be clearly identified as such''. I believe resources created from AI should also be clearly indicated as such, especially since we are working on whether or not AI-generated resources should be allowed on the website (discussion is [[Wikiversity talk:Artificial intelligence|here]], for reference). This makes it easier for organizational purposes, and in the event ''if'' we ban AI-generated work.
I've left a message on Lee's talk page over a week ago and did not get a response or acknowledgement, so I'd like for the community's input for this inclusion to the policy. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 15:53, 26 January 2026 (UTC)
:I believe that existing Wikiversity policies are sufficient. Authors are responsible for the accuracy and usefulness of the content that is published. This policy covers AI-generated content that is: 1) carefully reviewed by the author publishing it, and 2) the source is noted. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 19:38, 27 January 2026 (UTC)
::A small reference for pages that are substantially filled with Chat-GPT entries, like [[Real Good Religion]], [[Attributing Blame]], [[Fostering Curiosity]], are not sufficient IMO and a project box would be the best indicator that a page is AI-generated (especially when there is a mixture of human created content AND AI-generated content, as present in a lot of your pages). This is useful, especially considering the notable issues with AI (including hallucinations and fabrication of details), so viewers and support staff are aware. These small notes left on the pages are not as easily viewable as a project box or banner would be. I really don't see the issue with a clear-label guideline. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 22:34, 27 January 2026 (UTC)
::{{ping|Lbeaumont}} I noticed your reversions [https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=Exploring_Existential_Concerns&diff=prev&oldid=2788278 here] & [https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=Subjective_Awareness&diff=prev&oldid=2788257 here]. I'd prefer to have a clean conversation regarding this proposition. Please voice your concerns here. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 15:53, 28 January 2026 (UTC)
:::Regarding Subjective Awareness, I distinctly recall the effort I went to to write that the old-fashioned way. It is true that ChatGPT assisted me in augmenting the list of words suggested as candidate subjective states. This is a small section of the course, is clearly marked, and makes no factual claim. Marking the entire course as AI-generated is misleading. I would have made these comments when I reverted your edit; however, the revert button does not provide that opportunity.
:::Regarding the Exploring Existential Concerns course, please note this was adapted from my EmotionalCompetency.com website, which predates the availability of LLMs. The course does include two links, clearly labeled as ChatGPT-generated. Again, marking the entire course as AI-generated is misleading.
:::On a broader issue, I don't consider your opinions to have established a carefully debated and adopted Wikiversity policy. You went ahead and modified many of my courses over my clearly stated objections. Please let this issue play out more completely before editing my courses further. Thanks. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 15:11, 29 January 2026 (UTC)
::::Understood, and I respect your position. I apologize if my edits were seen as overarching. We could change the project box to "a portion of this resource was generated by AI", or something along those lines. Feel free to revert my changes where you see fit, and I encourage more users to provide their input. EDIT: I've made changes to the template to indicate that a portion of the content has been generated from an LLM. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 15:50, 29 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::Thanks for this reply. The new banner is unduly large and alarming. There is no need for alarm here. The use of AI is not harmful per se. Like any technology, it can be used to help or to harm. I take care to craft prompts carefully, point the LMM to reliable source materials, and to carefully read and verify the generated text before I publish it. This is all in keeping with long-established Wikiversity policy. We don't want to use a [[w:One-drop_rule|one-drop rule]] here or cause a [[w:Satanic_panic|satanic panic]]. We can learn our lessons from history here. I don't see any pedagogical reason for establishing a classification of "AI generated", but if there is a consensus that it is needed, perhaps it can be handled as just another category that learning resources can be assigned to. I would rather focus on identifying any errors in factual claims than on casting pejorative bias toward AI-generated content. An essay on the best practices for using LMM on Wikiveristy would be welcome. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 15:58, 30 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::The new banner mimics the banner that is available on the English Wikibooks (see [[b:Template:AI-generated]] & [[b:Template:Uses AI]]), so my revisions aren't unique in this aspect. At this point, I'd welcome other peoples' inputs. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 19:40, 30 January 2026 (UTC)
== How do I start making pages? ==
Is there a notability guideline for Wikiversity? What is the sourcing policy for information? What is the Manual of Style? What kind of educational content qualifies for Wikiversity? All the introduction pages are a bit unclear.
[[User:VidanaliK|VidanaliK]] ([[User talk:VidanaliK|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/VidanaliK|contribs]]) 02:25, 28 January 2026 (UTC)
:{{ping|VidanaliK}} Welcome to Wikiversity! I've left you a welcome message on your talk page. That should help you out. Make sure to especially look at [[Wikiversity:Introduction]]. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 03:11, 28 January 2026 (UTC)
::It says that I can't post more pages because I have apparently exceeded the new page limit. How long does it take before that new page limit expires? [[User:VidanaliK|VidanaliK]] ([[User talk:VidanaliK|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/VidanaliK|contribs]]) 16:57, 28 January 2026 (UTC)
:::This is a restriction for new users so that Wikiversity is not hit with massive spam. As for when this limit will expire, it should be a few days or after a certain number of edits. It's easy to overcome, though I do not have the exact numbers atm. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 15:08, 29 January 2026 (UTC)
::::OK, I think I got past the limit. [[User:VidanaliK|VidanaliK]] ([[User talk:VidanaliK|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/VidanaliK|contribs]]) 17:21, 29 January 2026 (UTC)
==Why does it feel like Wikiversity is no longer really active anymore?==
I've been looking at recent changes, and both today and yesterday there haven't been many changes that I haven't made; it feels like walking through a ghost town, is this just me or is Wikiversity not really active anymore? [[User:VidanaliK|VidanaliK]] ([[User talk:VidanaliK|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/VidanaliK|contribs]]) 03:54, 30 January 2026 (UTC)
:There is fewer people editing these days compared to the past. Many newcomers tend to edit in Wikipedia instead. [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 06:39, 30 January 2026 (UTC)
:It’s a little slow, but I’m happy to know that Wikiversity is a place that I think should provide value even if the activity of editors fluctuates. If it’s any consolation your edits may be encouraging for some anonymous newcomer to start edits on their own! I think it’s hard to build community when there is such a wide variety of interests and a smaller starting userbase. Also sometimes the getting into a particular topic that already exists can be intimidating because some relics (large portals, school, categories, etc.) have intricate, unique and generally messy levels of organization. [[User:IanVG|IanVG]] ([[User talk:IanVG|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/IanVG|contribs]]) 22:16, 9 March 2026 (UTC)
== Inactivity policy for Curators ==
I was wondering if there is a specific inactivity polity for curators (semi-admins) as I am pretty sure the global policy does not apply to them as they are not ''fully'' sysops. [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 03:20, 15 February 2026 (UTC)
:Unfortunately, I don't see an inactivity policy, but if we were to create such a new policy for curators, it should be the same for custodians (administrators). [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 18:45, 15 February 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] There is currently none, that I could find, for custodians either. [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 00:47, 17 February 2026 (UTC)
:::I think we should propose a local inactivity policy for custodians (and by extension, curators), which should be at least one year without any edits ''and'' logged actions. However, I don't know which page should it be when the inactivity removal procedure starts. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 00:53, 17 February 2026 (UTC)
::::@[[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] In theory, there should be a section added at [[WV:Candidates for custodianship]] [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 00:55, 17 February 2026 (UTC)
::::: To be consistent with the [[meta:Admin activity review|global period of 2 years inactivity]] for en.wv [[Wikiversity:Custodianship#Notes|Custodians]] and [[Wikiversity:Bureaucratship#How are bureaucrats removed?|Bureaucrats]] we could add something like this to [[Wikiversity:Curators]]:
::::::The maximum time period of inactivity <u>without community review</u> for curators is two years (consistent with the [[:meta:Category:Global policies|global policy]] described at [[meta:Admin activity review|Admin activity review]] which applies for [[Wikiversity:Custodianship#Notes|Custodians]] and [[Wikiversity:Bureaucratship|Bureaucrats]]). After that time a custodian will remove the rights.
::::: -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 10:51, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
:::::Yup, I agree with Jtneill, there is a policy proposal for Wikiversity:Curators, where it should be logically deployed. The question is if we are ready to aprove the policy. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 17:43, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
:::::: I agree, but we should notify the colloquium about inactive curators, just like a steward would do for inactive custodians and bureaucrats per [[:m:Admin activity review|AAR]]. What is the minimum timeframe an inactive curator should receive so they can respond they would keep their rights? [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 17:49, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
== [[Wikiversity:Artificial intelligence]] to become an official policy ==
{{Archive top|After running for a week, there is consensus, alongside comments, for [[Wikiversity:Artificial intelligence]] to be implemented as an official policy. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 23:27, 17 April 2026 (UTC)}}
With the introduction of AI-material, and some material just plain disruptive, its imperative that Wikiversity catches up with its sister projects and implements an official AI policy that we can work with. The recent issue of [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]]'s 50+ articles that contain significantly large AI-generated material has made me came to the Colloquium. This user has also been removing the [[Template:AI-generated]] template from their pages, calling it "misleading", "alarmist", and "pejorative" - which is all just simply nonsensical rationales. Not to even mention this user's contributions to the English Wikipedia have been [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Inner_Development_Goals contested] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Multipolar_trap removed] a couple of times (for being low-quality and clearly LLM-generated), highlighting the need for an actual policy to be implemented here on Wikiversity. I would like to ping {{ping|Juandev}} and {{ping|Jtneill}} for their thoughts as well, since I'd like this to be implemented as soon as possible.
Wikiversity has a significant issue with implementing anti-disruptive measures, hence why we have received numerous complaints as a community about our quality. I originally was reverting the removal of the templates, but realized that this is still a proposed policy, which it shouldn't be anymore. It should be a recognized Wikiversity policy. 14:54, 10 March 2026 (UTC) —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 14:54, 10 March 2026 (UTC)
:@[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] '''I agree''' that the draft, should become official policy. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 17:00, 10 March 2026 (UTC)
:I provided a detailed response at: [[Wikiversity talk:Artificial intelligence#Evolving a Wikiversity policy on AI]]
:I will appreaciate it if you consder that carefully. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 22:49, 10 March 2026 (UTC)
:Agree it should become official Wikiversity policy on the condition <u>that point point 5 is about [significant/substantial] LLM-generated text specifically</u>. Not a good idea to overuse it, it should be added when there is substantial AI-generated text on the page, not for other cases. [[User:Prototyperspective|Prototyperspective]] ([[User talk:Prototyperspective|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Prototyperspective|contribs]]) 12:37, 11 March 2026 (UTC)
:What policy is being debated? Is it the text on this page, which is pointed to by the general banner, or the text at: [[Wikiversity:Artificial intelligence|Wikiversity:Artificial intelligence,]] which is pointed to by the specific banner? Let's begin with coherence on the text being debated. Thanks! [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 11:49, 17 March 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] This is a call for approval of the new Wikiversity policy. You expressed your opinion [[Wikiversity talk:Artificial intelligence#Evolving a Wikiversity policy on AI|on the talk page of the proposal]], I replied to you and await your response.When creating policies, it is necessary to propose specific solutions. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 14:12, 17 March 2026 (UTC)
:::Toward a Justified and Parsimonious AI Policy
:::As we collaborate to develop a consensus policy on the use of Large Language Models, it is wise to begin by considering the needs of the various stakeholders to the policy.
:::The stakeholders are:
:::1) The users,
:::2) The source providers, and
:::3) The editors
:::There may also be others with a minor stake in this policy, including the population at large.
:::The many needs of the users are currently addressed by long-standing [[Wikiversity:Policies|Wikiversity policies]], so we can focus on what, if any, additional needs arise as LLMs are deployed.
:::As always, users need assurance that propositional statements are accurate. This is covered by the existing policy on [[Wikiversity:Verifiability|verifiably]]. In addition, it is expected by both the users and those that provide materials used as sources for the text are [[Wikiversity:Cite sources|accurately attributed]]. This is also covered by [[Wikiversity:Cite sources|existing policies]].
:::To respect the time and effort of editors, a parsimonious policy will unburden editors from costly requirements that exceed benefits to the users.
:::Finally, it is important to recognize that because attention is our most valuable seizing attention unnecessarily is a form of theft.
:::The following proposed policy statement results from these considerations:
:::Recommended Policy statement:
:::· Editors [[Wikiversity:Verifiability|verify the accuracy]] of propositional statements, regardless of the source.
:::· Editors [[Wikiversity:Cite sources|attribute the source]] of propositional statements. In the case of LLM, cite the LLM model and the prompt used.
:::· Use of various available templates to mark the use of LLM are optional. Templates that are flexible in noting the type and extend of LLM usage are preferred. Templates that avoid unduly distracting or alarming the user are preferred. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 19:56, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Do we discuss here or there? I have replied you there as your proposal is about that policy so it is tradition to discuss it at the affected talk page. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 21:59, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
: {{support}} Thanks for the proposed policy development and discussion; also note proposed policy talk page discussion: [[Wikiversity talk:Artificial intelligence]] -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 12:05, 24 March 2026 (UTC)
::I think the Wikiversity AI policy shall be official. – [[User:RestoreAccess111|RestoreAccess111]] <sup style="font-family:Arimo, Arial;">[[User talk:RestoreAccess111|Talk!]]</sup> <sup style="font-family:Times New Roman, Tinos;">[[Special:Contributions/RestoreAccess111|Watch!]]</sup> 06:11, 13 April 2026 (UTC)
{{archive bottom}}
== New titles for user right nominations ==
<div class="cd-moveMark">''Moved from [[Wikiversity talk:Candidates for Custodianship#New titles for user right nominations]]. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 23:20, 17 April 2026 (UTC)''</div>
I would like to propose the following retitles should a user be nominated for any of the following user rights:
* Curator: Candidates for Curatorship
* Bureaucrat: Candidates for Bureaucratship
The reason is that many curator (and probably bureaucrat) requests have run solely under {{tq|Candidates for Custodianship}}, but that title might sound misleading (especially in regards to the permission a user is requesting). CheckUser and Oversight (suppressor) are not included above since no user was nominated for these sensitive permissions, probably. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 01:30, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
:And it's not that when someone at the beginning misplaced the request, no one thought to move it and the others copied it. Even today, it would be possible to simply take it all and move it. Otherwise, for me, the more fundamental problem is that there is [[Wikiversity:Curators|no approved policy for curators]] than where the requests are based. Curators then operate in a certain vacuum and if one of them "breaks out of the chain", the average user doesn't have many transparent tools to deal with it, because there is no policy. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 07:02, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
::I am not talking about the curator page (policy proposal). [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 19:08, 21 March 2026 (UTC)
: @[[User:Juandev|Juandev]] I'll see if I can do an overhaul of [[Wikiversity:Candidates for Custodianship]], just like I recently did with the Requests for adminship page on English Wikiquote. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 22:17, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
== Technical Request: Courtesy link.. ==
[[Template_talk:Information#Background_must_have_color_defined_as_well]] [[User:ShakespeareFan00|ShakespeareFan00]] ([[User talk:ShakespeareFan00|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/ShakespeareFan00|contribs]]) 11:43, 20 March 2026 (UTC)
: I can't edit the template directly as it need an sysop/interface admin to do it. [[User:ShakespeareFan00|ShakespeareFan00]] ([[User talk:ShakespeareFan00|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/ShakespeareFan00|contribs]]) 11:43, 20 March 2026 (UTC)
:: Also if the Template field of - https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Special:LintErrors/night-mode-unaware-background-color is examined, there is poential for an admin to clear a substantial proportion of these by implmenting a simmilar fix to the indciated templates (and underlying stylesheets). It would be nice to clear things like Project box and others, as many other templates (and thus pages depend on them.) :)
[[User:ShakespeareFan00|ShakespeareFan00]] ([[User talk:ShakespeareFan00|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/ShakespeareFan00|contribs]]) 11:43, 20 March 2026 (UTC)
:I think it would be best to grant you interface admin rights for a short period of time to make these changes. However, I still have doubts about the suitability of this solution, which may cause other problems and no one has explained to me why dark mode has to be implemented this way @[[User:ShakespeareFan00|ShakespeareFan00]]. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 20:43, 20 March 2026 (UTC)
: I would have reservations about holding such rights, which is why I was trying to do what I could without needing them. However if it is the only way to get the required changes made, I would suggest asking on Wikipedia to find technical editors, willing to undertake the changes needed. [[User:ShakespeareFan00|ShakespeareFan00]] ([[User talk:ShakespeareFan00|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/ShakespeareFan00|contribs]]) 09:32, 21 March 2026 (UTC)
== WikiEducator has closed ==
Some of you may know of a similar project to Wikiversity, called [https://wikieducator.org/Main_Page WikiEducator], championed by [https://oerfoundation.org/about/staff/wayne-mackintosh/ Wayne Mackintosh][https://www.linkedin.com/posts/waynemackintosh_important-notice-about-the-oer-foundation-activity-7405113051688931329-Nhm9/][https://openeducation.nz/killed-not-starved/].
It seems [https://openeducation.nz/terminating-oer-foundation their foundation has closed] and they are no longer operating.
They had done quite a bit of outreach (e.g., in the Pacific and Africa) to get educators using wiki.
The WikiEducator content is still available in MediaWiki - and potentially could be imported to Wikiversity ([https://wikieducator.org/WikiEducator:Copyrights CC-BY-SA] is the default license).
The closing of WikiEducator arguably makes the nurturing of Wikiversity even more important.
-- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 02:09, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:I was never active there. If anyone has an account or is otherwise in contact, we may want to copy relevant information here or even at [[:outreach:]]. —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 04:46, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
== Wikinews is ending ==
Apparently mainly due to low editorial activity, low public interest, but also failure to achieve the goals from the proposal for the creation of the project, the Wikinews project is ending after years of discussions ([[Meta:Proposal for Closing Wikinews|some reading]]).
And I would be interested to see how Wikiversity is doing in the monitored metrics. We probably have more editors than Wikinews had, but what about consumers and achieving the goals? [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 19:14, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:Wikiversity's biggest issue in recent times was the hosting of low-quality, trash content. Thankfully we've done a great job in removing pseudoscience and other embarrassingly trash content (Wikidebates, for example), but the biggest concern moving forward is proper maintenance IMO. I've caught several pseudoscience pages being created within the last few months that could easily have flown under the radar (ex, [[The Kelemen Dilemma: Causal Collapse and Axiomatic Instability]]), so I'd urge our custodians/curators to be on the lookout for this type of content. Usually an AI-overview can point this type of content out relatively well.
:In terms of visibility, I believe Wikiversity is a high-traffic project. I remember my [[Mathematical Properties]] showing up on the first page of Google when searching up "math properties" for the longest time (and is still showing up in the first page 'till this day!). Besides, Wikinews hosted a lot of short-term content (the nature of news articles), while Wikiversity hosts content that can still be useful a decade later (ex, [[A Reader's Guide to Annotation]]).
:I think we are on a better path than we were a few months ago, and I do want to thank everyone here who has been helping out with maintaining our website! —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 20:48, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:For what it's worth, the group that did that study has since disbanded, so no one is monitoring the other sister projects in the same way. Additionally, Wikinews had some catastrophic server issues due to the maintenance of [[:m:Extension:DynamicPageList]] which don't apply here. Your questions are still worth addressing, but I just wanted to cut off any concern at the pass about Wikiversity being in the same precarious situation. Wikiversity is definitely the biggest "lagging behind" or "failure" project now that Wikinews is being shuttered, but I don't see any near- or medium-term pathway to closing Wikiversity. —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 00:46, 2 April 2026 (UTC)
:[[w:en:Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2026-03-31/News and notes|Entirety of Wikinews to be shut down]] (Wikipedia Signpost) -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 02:03, 11 April 2026 (UTC)
== Action Required: Update templates/modules for electoral maps (Migrating from P1846 to P14226) ==
Hello everyone,
This is a notice regarding an ongoing data migration on Wikidata that may affect your election-related templates and Lua modules (such as <code>Module:Itemgroup/list</code>).
'''The Change:'''<br />
Currently, many templates pull electoral maps from Wikidata using the property [[:d:Property:P1846|P1846]], combined with the qualifier [[:d:Property:P180|P180]]: [[:d:Q19571328|Q19571328]].
We are migrating this data (across roughly 4,000 items) to a newly created, dedicated property: '''[[:d:Property:P14226|P14226]]'''.
'''What You Need To Do:'''<br />
To ensure your templates and infoboxes do not break or lose their maps, please update your local code to fetch data from [[:d:Property:P14226|P14226]] instead of the old [[:d:Property:P1846|P1846]] + [[:d:Property:P180|P180]] structure. A [[m:Wikidata/Property Migration: P1846 to P14226/List|list of pages]] was generated using Wikimedia Global Search.
'''Deadline:'''<br />
We are temporarily retaining the old data on [[:d:Property:P1846|P1846]] to allow for a smooth transition. However, to complete the data cleanup on Wikidata, the old [[:d:Property:P1846|P1846]] statements will be removed after '''May 1, 2026'''. Please update your modules and templates before this date to prevent any disruption to your wiki's election articles.
Let us know if you have any questions or need assistance with the query logic. Thank you for your help! [[User:ZI Jony|ZI Jony]] using [[User:MediaWiki message delivery|MediaWiki message delivery]] ([[User talk:MediaWiki message delivery|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/MediaWiki message delivery|contribs]]) 17:11, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
<!-- Message sent by User:ZI Jony@metawiki using the list at https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Distribution_list/Non-Technical_Village_Pumps_distribution_list&oldid=29941252 -->
:I didnt find such properties, so we are probably fine. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 21:00, 12 April 2026 (UTC)
:: +1 (agreed). [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 22:19, 12 April 2026 (UTC)
== Enable the abuse filter block action? ==
In light of [[Special:AbuseLog/80178]] (coupon spam), I would like to propose enabling the block action for the abuse filter. Only custodians will be able to enable and disable that action on an abuse filter, and it is useful to block ongoing vandalism. Thoughts? [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 19:12, 13 April 2026 (UTC)
:Seems like a good idea, almost all of the users which create such pages are spambots so this shouldn’t be a problem. [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 23:41, 13 April 2026 (UTC)
:Can you explain some more (I am new to abuse filters)? It looks like the attempted edit was prevented? Which abuse filter?
:Note on your suggestion, have also reactivated Antispam Filter 12 - see [[WV:RCA]]. -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 10:45, 15 April 2026 (UTC)
:: I am proposing that we activate the abuse filter block action, which if a user triggers an abuse filter, it would actually block the user in question - the same mechanism that a custodian would use to block users. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 13:11, 15 April 2026 (UTC)
:::OK, thankyou, that makes sense. And, reviewing the abuse filter 12 log, it would be helpful because it would prevent the need for manual blocking. But I don't see a setting for autoblocking? -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 23:14, 15 April 2026 (UTC)
:::: I think it probably adds an autoblock. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 00:43, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
== Advice needed: A Neurodiversity-inspired Idea/observation ==
If I want the greatest participation of others to "provide constructive criticism to my idea" or to "shoot down my idea" or "idea".
What I've called it so far is "The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea". At other times I used more sensationalist wording but here on Wikiversity I don't dare do that. I actually woke up with thinking about putting this into my userspace draft: "Personal Observations Made By Meeting Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults".
My ultimate goal is to stop blathering about my "idea" to friend and family without feeling my "methodology" is going into any progressive direction whatsoever. My latest encounter was somewhat constructive though. A friend of a friend who worked with people presenting ideas in attempting to getting grants. I don't want a grant. I just want to figure out how I can express my "idea" in a way so that I can more clearly figure out what flaws it got.
At the same time I tend to overthink. If anyone thinks etherpad might be a good place and considering Wikimedia already got an etherpad at https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/ if anyone feels like they know me better in the future feel free to suggest a "session" on etherpad.
'''If I don't receive a reply to this in 1 week's time I will begin to explore this "idea" into my userspace''' unless you replied and refrained me from doing so, of course. Then maybe after "developing it there" I might reference it to you another future time here in the Colloquium, with my "idea" still in my userspace draft. This "idea" is sort of a burden, I'm happy I've made the choice to get rid of it and hopefully move on with my life, unless there is something to this "idea".
My failure is probably evident: I feel I haven't told you anything. Same happened to when I talked to friends and family. In danger of overthinking it further I'll publish this right now. I need to "keep it together" [[User:ThinkingScience|ThinkingScience]] ([[User talk:ThinkingScience|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/ThinkingScience|contribs]]) 10:36, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
:Good on you putting it out there ... and hitting publish :). I'd say go for it (no need to wait), give birth to your idea and share about it here and elsewhere. Let it take shape and see where it might go. In many ways, this is exactly what an open collaborative learning community should be doing. Others might not know well how to respond, so perhaps consider creating some questions to accompany the idea. Sincerely, James -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 11:21, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
::Thank you for encouraging me in developing the idea.
::I have created a "questions" section in the draft which is visible in the table of contents now. My brain was "frozen" today metaphorically speaking in that I felt I had like a "writer's block" so the draft has more "AI/LLM" content than before. I used the LLM for generating questions. The answers are so far human-only.
::I've also created a subsection where I could add the prompts that made the LLM generate the questions. That could help people make better prompts perhaps. I've described what it is about inside of it and there are some chaotically written notes.
::[[Draft:The_Neurodiversity-inspired_Idea#Questions_that_might_encourage_the_development_of_this_idea_and_its_methodology]]
::My draft is missing stuff. Any questions that you contribute to my draft will probably help me and if I don't understand the questions I'll probably notify you and also at the same time "feed them" to an LLM and ask in my input like "explain in simple words what this question means, what is it searching for?" etc. while I wait for an answer. If you have any more feedback please give it to me here or on the Draft page, its talk page or my user talk page. Thank you for helping me! [[User:ThinkingScience|ThinkingScience]] ([[User talk:ThinkingScience|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/ThinkingScience|contribs]]) 21:20, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
:May I think that you should not add deadlines ; being read, and rising interest for collaboration, or even simply for exchange of thoughts, such an effective meeting event loads a huge bunch of unprobability, which time can help to… somehow diminish. Maybe, I would advice you having a central place for developping your ideas, your needs, your advances, maybe a page in your own user zone, and from time to time, depending your feeling, it could be every trimester or so, or more frequently, you could write a short account of progress (or even of no progress), or a call for participation, in such a place as this present one ; I think that will increase much exposure of your projet. Maybe also, if you can find a project name, not necessarily very meaningfull by itseilf (at least it will gain signification with time, as your project develops), that will serve as a kind-of hook, and make your announcement titles more visible. Best regards (and my excuses for my poor command of English, which seems to be unplease an anti-abuse filter, "Questionable Language (profanity)", which I don't understand…). My few cents. -- [[User:Eric.LEWIN|Eric.LEWIN]] ([[User talk:Eric.LEWIN|discussion]] • [[Special:Contributions/Eric.LEWIN|contributions]]) 10:06, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
::Sorry about the false positive on the profanity filter - I've fixed it. -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 10:26, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
:::"May I think that you should not add deadlines ; being read, and rising interest for collaboration, or even simply for exchange of thoughts, such an effective meeting event loads a huge bunch of unprobability, which time can help to… somehow diminish."
::Thank you Eric for this comment. Trust in time is how I interpret it. I should not feel like I need to be in a hurry. I'll try to give this time. Thank you!
:::"Maybe, I would advice you having a central place for developping your ideas, your needs, your advances, maybe a page in your own user zone, and from time to time, depending your feeling, it could be every trimester or so, or more frequently, you could write a short account of progress (or even of no progress), or a call for participation, in such a place as this present one ; I think that will increase much exposure of your projet."
::A central place for developing or making "project notes" regarding the Neurodiversity idea on my userspace, I might need that, like a diary or "project notes" of the Neurodiversity idea similar to my course notes regarding my experience with Coursera.
::Any actions I take are going to be related to my Userspace from now on but I'll also update the draft when necessary. Now in the beginning I might be working daily to once every 3 days on both the draft and the daily notes I plan to make.
:::"Maybe also, if you can find a project name, not necessarily very meaningfull by itseilf (at least it will gain signification with time, as your project develops), that will serve as a kind-of hook, and make your announcement titles more visible."
::Thank you for the advice. I was brainstorming yesterday about it. I concluded that since I've not yet developed a methodology that adheres to "Do no harm" and this is my first time working my "idea" into a way that is compatible with how projects develop on English Wikiversity this is new to me. My methodology isn't developed and therefore trying to get attention to my project through a name can wait. Yesterday I figured out a silly title that has nothing to do with the project: "Planetary Awareness Potato Cabbage Rolls" or something like that. Google output read that no such thing exists so I wanted it mainly to be unique. I don't want to raise attention that I'm unsure whether I'll actually be capable of developing a methodology for but project notes is my best bet so far in tracking my progress. Every day I think about this "idea" but I need to improve the important parts.
:::"Best regards (and my excuses for my poor command of English, which seems to be unplease an anti-abuse filter, "Questionable Language (profanity)", which I don't understand…). My few cents."
::You added great points and I felt that I was helped by you! I encourage you to post again and I can understand that interacting with any kind of automated filter can be discouraging and can be for me too! Thank you for giving me feedback! [[User:ThinkingScience|ThinkingScience]] ([[User talk:ThinkingScience|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/ThinkingScience|contribs]]) 16:01, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
== Add some user rights to the curator user group? ==
By default, only custodians have the ability to mark new pages as patrolled (<code>patrol</code>) and have their own page creations automatically marked as patrolled (<code>autopatrol</code>). I am proposing both of the following:
* Curators can mark new pages as patrolled, helping on reducing the backlog of new, unpatrolled pages.
* New pages made by curators will be automatically marked as patrolled by the MediaWiki software.
Before we implement this, I would suggest implementing a proposed guideline for marking new pages as patrolled for curators and custodians.
Thoughts? [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 16:32, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
:Agree, <s>also can we also allow curators to undelete pages since they already have the rights to delete them?</s> [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 02:54, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
::I think the requirement that undelete NOT be included came from above (meta / stewards / central office). Having access to the undelete page gives access to information that is restricted by their policies to admins (custodians and bureaucrats). -- [[User:Dave Braunschweig|Dave Braunschweig]] ([[User talk:Dave Braunschweig|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Dave Braunschweig|contribs]]) 20:12, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
::: [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]], unless if requests for curator and custodian should be RfA-like processes (that is, including voting and comments), then I have to agree with Dave above. [[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 22:03, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
::::Oh, I didn’t realise that. Withdrawing my comment.. [[User:PieWriter|PieWriter]] ([[User talk:PieWriter|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PieWriter|contribs]]) 00:08, 19 April 2026 (UTC)
:{{support}} Seems reasonable and would reduce overhead. —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 14:35, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
:'''Agree''', implement it also to [[Wikiversity:Curators]] proposal please. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 17:11, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
== Wikiversity:Curators to become a policy ==
I've looked at the discussions about the Curators policy, I've looked at the practices, and it seems to me that there is no dispute about the wording of the policy, and what's more, the community has been using this proposal as if it were an offical policy for several years. Therefore, I propose that [[Wikiversity:Curators]] become a policy. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 18:35, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
:*{{support}} —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 18:54, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
:{{support}} —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 20:21, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
== Inactive curators ==
Hello, even though [[Wikiversity:Curators]] is not a policy yet, there are curators listed here that have been inactive for two years or more:
* {{user|Cody naccarato}} (last edit on 13 Dec 2022, last logged action on 10 Dec 2022)
* {{user|Praxidicae}} (last edit on 10 Sep 2022, last logged action on 12 Sep 2022)
[[User:Codename Noreste|Codename Noreste]] ([[User talk:Codename Noreste|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Codename Noreste|contribs]]) 21:14, 19 April 2026 (UTC)
n7l7adzszygxa3ibx1m70j0av9bopb1
School talk:Electronics
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<div style="padding:2em 5em 2em 3em;"> <!--Top, right, bottom, left -->
* [[School talk:Electronics/School talk Archive Electronic engineering 2006 | School talk:Electronic engineering 2006]]
* [[School talk:Electronics/School talk Archive Electronic engineering before merger | School talk:Electronic engineering before merger]]
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<div style="border-bottom:1px solid Sienna; background-color:ForestGreen;{{text color default}}; padding:0.2em 0.5em 0.2em 0.5em; font-size:110%; font-weight:bold;">General School discussions</div>
<div style="padding:2em 5em 2em 3em;"> <!--Top, right, bottom, left -->
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<noinclude>
[[Category:Electronic engineering]]
</noinclude>
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== program layout questions and issues ==
the layout of the program ee seams a little odd now i learned the technician method rather than engineering method but it seams the order of things is a bit off.<br>
heres some ideas i just put to paper also heres a coarse layout from devry if a couple others could find there coarse layouts and post them see if we can come up with some ideas.<br>
[http://kc.devry.edu/docs/registration-pos-summer2004.pdf devry coarse layout all degrees]
<table>
<tr>
<td>
current layout
</td>
<td>
how i learnd it givin i did the technician style
</td>
<td>
idea for development
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
===Level 1===<br>
* [[EE 111 Digital Electronics]]<br>
* [[EE 112 Electronics fundamentals]]<br>
* [[EE 113 Analog Electronics]]<br>
* [[EE 114 Computer Organization]]<br>
* [[Printed Circuit Board Layout]]<br>
* [[ME 103 Workshop Practice]]<br>
* [[Engineering Mathematics]]<br>
* [[Engineering Physics]]<br>
* [[Engineering Chemistry]]<br>
* [[Computer Programming]]<br>
</td>
<td>
===Level 1===<br>
term 1<br>
* COMP100 Comp App for Biz w/Lab (msoffice and internet)<br>
* MATH105 Technical Mathematics(general algrabra class) <br>
* COLL145 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving<br>
* ECT112 Digital Fundamentals(starts with simple ciructs(switches & leds) bin,hex,dec logic gates flipflops mux ends with atod dtoa)<br>
* COMP128 PC Systems and Networks (comp repair and building as well as networking a+)<br>
term 2<br>
* ENGL112 Composition<br>
* ECT150 Electronics 1 (hands on circct aprotch to MATH120 r c l analog circuts ending with basic transistors)[MATH105]<br>
* ECT162 Introduction to Microprocessors(altera graphic logic applcation)[MATH105, ECT112]<br>
* MATH120 Technical Mathematics II[MATH105](mathmatical approch to ECT150 with schmatic analisys by hand)<br>
one thing i loved was my math and electroncis was taught by same teacher and was 2 aproches to the same thing folowing each other<br>
</td>
<td>
===Level 1===
term 1
* computer applcations(prob kinda remedial)<br>
* [[EE 114 Computer Organization]]??computer hardware/software(a+ cirt track kinda)<br>
* [[EE 111 Digital Electronics]](needs begenning circuts)<br>
* EE 116 117 118... PCB Layout(diferent apps eaglecad orcad gEDA...)<br>
pcb layout can be set in to 2 classes basic circut sim and pcb layout and heavy multilayerd dense highspeed ciructs/microwave frequency<br>
<br>
term 2<br>
* programable logic(somtihng like the altera visual logic design)<br>
* [[EE 113 Analog Electronics]](devices bjt jfet mosfet scr igbjt...)<br>
* [[EE 112 Electronics fundamentals]](r c l breadboard dmm analysys/design)<br>
* [[Engineering Mathematics]](r c l paper cicrcut analysys/design)<br>
<br>
unknown/fit in anywhere<br>
* [[ME 103 Workshop Practice]]??<br>
* [[Engineering Physics]]<br>
* [[Engineering Chemistry]]<br>
* [[Computer Programming]]<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
===Level 2===<br>
* [[EE 211 Electronic Circuits]]<br>
* [[EE 212 Digital Circuits and Systems]]<br>
* [[Analog Integrated Circuits]]<br>
* [[EE 214 Computer Aided Circuit Analysis]]<br>
* [[Quantum Mechanics]]<br>
* [[EE 202 Signals and Systems]]<br>
* [[CSE Operating System]]<br>
* [[CSE Data Structure and Algorithm]]<br>
* [[TEL 101 Telecommunication Principles]]<br>
* [[CSE 203 Database Management System]]<br>
* [[ME 106 Thermofluid Mechanics]]<br>
</td>
<td>
===Level 2===<br>
term 3<br>
* ECT210 Electronics II (devices bjt fet mostfet scr igbjt triac opamps)[ECT150, MATH120]<br>
* ECT215 Data and Fiber Optic Telecom [COMP128, ECT162]<br>
* PHYS202 Applied Physics [MATH120]<br>
* PSYC110 Psychology<br>
term 4<br>
* CARD205 Career Development<br>
* ECT250 Technology Integration(was a review of everything prior to this)[ECT210, ECT215]<br>
* ECT252 Embedded Microprocessors(atmel microcontroler the whole of at90s1200 and mega16/at8535 and assembly programing for avrasm)[ECT162]<br>
* ECT261 Communications Systems (start of wireless circuts osclators detectors)[ECT210, ECT215]<br>
term 4 electives 1 or other<br>
ECT262 Sensors and Instrumentation<br>
ECT267 Local Area Networks and the Internet<br>
</td>
<td>
===Level 2===<br>
* [[EE 211 Electronic Circuits]](devices bjt jfet mosfet scr igbjt opamps... more advanced)<br>
* [[EE 212 Digital Circuits and Systems]](makes sense to have several diffrant ones avalable atmel mot/onsimi xilog...)<br>
* [[Analogoue Integrated Circuits]](begennings of transimitters detectors and amps?)<br>
* [[EE 214 Computer Aided Circuit Analysis]](pcb layout II as pcb and spice fit together)<br>
* [[Quantum Mechanics]]<br>
* [[EE 202 Signals and Systems]]<br>
* [[CSE Operating System]]<br>
* [[CSE Data Structure and Algorithm]]<br>
* [[TEL 101 Telecommunication Principles]]<br>
* [[CSE 203 Database Management System]]<br>
* [[ME 106 Thermofluid Mechanics]]<br>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
anyhow its starting thougt hope it gets some pepole thinking thers also a eet(ee) plan of study in that pdf at the top and ya ect is 5 terms i didnt post the last one <br>
if someone else has some ideas or contenuations on this thats great but i do think we need to look at it<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 05:39, 28 September 2007 (UTC)
looking at it again most of its prob that i took technician track rather than engineering track
i still think the first courses need to start off with simpler stuff as well as basic breadboarding and circuitry before doing any logic circuits
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 06:08, 28 September 2007 (UTC)
== Level 0 ==
added lvl 0 to the corse list and some ideas<br>
<br>
i am thinking of remedial stuff here.<br>
intro to electronics, Likely someone could skip allot but it would be there to bring every one up to speed<br>
under basic spice, It was a thought perhaps the basics of a cad program LTspice/switcher cad III beaning 100% free, gEDA as its open source possibly harder to run, and multisim not free by any measure but widely used.<br>
test equipment<br>
was thinking how to use digital and analog handled and bench meters hp has a nice standard bench meter.<br>
<br>
couple modals of oscopes ive got a analog tektronix 2246 prob a digital textronics would be nice to<br>
agilent is also rather popular so prob a digital one of them maybe a bk precision and a pc oscope.<br>
<br>
also power supples as money will be tight for a lot of people. <br>
how to use battery's for circuits <br>
i know bk precision and i think hp/agilent make some standard looking analog and digital supplys.<br>
personally planning to put my schematic for a simple dual isolated supply up eventually when time comes as its not hard to build<br>
<br>
signal generators<br>
i only ever used a agilent digital signal gen i know theres others prob would be nice to have one from a couple other makers.<br>
<br>
also for the above test equipment thinking would be nice to have hints and tips for buying ones own equipment off ebay or in store.
<br>
<br>
the other 2 courses i think are likely needed as to what else should be in them i don't know for sure.<br>
<br>
the following at level 0 are here for ideas on the talk page.<br>
* EE ??? Intro to Electronics
** Breadboarding, Basic spice, Soldering, test equipment
* EE ??? Intro to Computers
** Hardware basics, OS basics, Software basics
* EE ??? Intro to Engendering Math
** Algebra, Geometry, Trig
<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 05:25, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
==class descriptions==
i think it would be nice to have these on all ower classes i've put 4 out there already so you can see what it would look like or at least 1 idea for it.<br>
<br>
Also there are some classes that are less than clear exactly what thay cover and there pages arnt created yet.<br>
<br>
I suggest rather than start on them just to have a this is what this covers, on a page, putting a description below the class link
this way if we need to alter the names of pages it wont take a move+redirect. Then we can make the pages when we have actual content to place on them.<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 05:25, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
for presveration shuld we decide to go back
Level 0<br>
the following at level 0 are here for ideas on the talk page.<br>
EE 001 Introduction to Engineering Principles<br>
Engineering throughout history,engineering types,engineering job market,expectations and ethics, PE Licensing and other certifications<br>
EE 005 Introduction to Computers<br>
Hardware principles,basic operating and file system usage,introductory software usage and design<br>
EE ??? Intro to Engendering Math<br>
Algebra, Geometry, Trig<br>
EE 090 Introduction to Electronics<br>
Basic Electric definition and principles,basic measuring devices,introductory breadboarding and solid state devices, basic spice, soldering and schematic basics<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 08:30, 3 October 2007 (UTC)
==class nav template==
i've suggested a basic layout for page names and made a template for class pages its in use in the EE111 class.<br>
full class name/full lecture name<br>
EE_111_Digital_Electronics/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 05:25, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
== class name proposal ==
I talked to jwschmidt and couple others on irc and a lot of people don't like the class number/name system for pages<br>
'''current system'''
* classes
** EE 111 Digital Electronics
* lectures
** EE_111_Digital_Electronics/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops
*advantages
** easy for someone who is trying to learn in classes
** pages show in order by department(in the categorys)
*problems
** apparently confusing to a lot of people.
** others also wouldn't be to hard to follow along in classes if they are done right.
'''proposed system 1'''
this is what i have been using lately.
* classes
** EE_Digital Electronics
* lectures
** EE_Digital_Electronics/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops
*advantages
** pages show in order by department(in the categorys)
*problems
** maby little confusing at first? likely not a prob to someone interested in the field
'''proposed system 2'''
* classes
** Digital_Electronics_EE
* lectures
** Digital_Electronics_EE/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops
*advantages
** pages show in order by class and you can still tell witch department there related to(in the categorys)
*problems
** maby little confusing at first? likely not a prob to someone interested in the field
'''proposed system 3'''
* classes
** Digital_Electronics
* lectures
** Digital_Electronics/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops
* advantages
** like wikipedia
* problems
** like wikipedia perhaps makes it harder for someone to say learn on here as they would in univeristy (more of difference only to class names)
** possible name collisions "analog electronics" for engineering "analog electronics" for techichan (electron flow / hole flow [http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/murphy/HoleFlow/default.html|see hole vr electron] see the find out why's)
<br>
ideas thoughts comments???
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 00:48, 2 October 2007 (UTC)
== online resources ==
*[http://www.tech-systems-labs.com/navy.htm United States Navy Electronic Training Course]
*[http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/ Electrical Engineering and Computer Science] - Thank you guys! this is great website! I have learned much from it, and also, this MIT free online website may do some helps. Please contact them if anyone need any source... {{unsigned|71.75.217.111}} (Comment moved to appropriate section --[[User:Gbaor|Gbaor]] 06:15, 21 July 2008 (UTC))
== School Face Lift ==
Hey pips. Please comment on face lift for the department. Colour scheme can be discussed as well. Thanx! [[User:Thuvack|Thuvack]] 10:58, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
:I was thinking PCB green the black on dark purple isnt working thow hard to read [[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 23:34, 4 April 2008 (UTC)
::PCB Green sounds good, Anyboy-else with other suggestion. If this is the only suggestion after a week, then I'll change Box-headers to PCB Green. -[[User:Thuvack|Thuvack]] 15:28, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
::{{done}}- What should we change the background colour to, I dont think lavender goes well with PCB green. - [[User:Thuvack|Thuvack]] 12:56, 10 April 2008 (UTC)
:::well theres 2 shades of PCB green
:::<strong>{{font|color=#004600|copper PCB green}}{{font|color=00c400|Mask PCB green}}</strong>
:::althow those colors prob arnt best, generally a PCB will use thick white lettering for all labels and text.
:::If you really wanted to implement PCB green you should have masked copper as the headers and mask green as the body and white font with no flourishes say aerial witch wiki already uses.[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 11:59, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
::::Please have a look at this [[User:Thuvack/Testing page 6|proposed School Face lift]]. It incorporates catergorisation and course wish list on sub pages. Also Department news are moved to a sub page. Please see this [http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Colloquium#Content.2FCourse_Categorization_Idea_for_Department_Pages discussion] for clarity on motivations towards this standardisation. I will wait a week for comments before implementing this change.;-)[[User:Thuvack|Thuvack]] 05:47, 17 July 2008 (UTC)
::::{{Done}} -- Please comment--[[User:Thuvack|{{font|color=blue|'''Thuvack'''}}]] | <sup>[[User_talk:Thuvack|{{font|color=green|talk}}]] | [[User:Thuvack/Mind-Logs|{{font|color=fuchsia|Blog}}]]</sup> 11:08, 28 July 2008 (UTC)
== TALK PAGE MERGER ==
I have merged the old talk page at [[topic_talk:electronic engineering]] with the talk on this page.
the old talk is now in the School talk:Electronic engineering before merger page.
the old archive that was on the page has been moved to School talk:Electronic engineering 2006.
some of the current talk on this page can be archived as well under a new subpage of this page.
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 16:20, 19 April 2009 (UTC)
== A little confused... ==
When I look at what Electrical Engineers and Electronic Engineers do, it seems almost if not the exact same. The question that I have is, if you major in Electrical Engineering in college, would you learn everything that you need for Electronic Engineering and when you begin to "job-hunt," would you just choose your dicipline for Electronic Engineering? Thanks. [[User:CRBR|CRBR]] 19:41, 28 November 2009 (UTC)
: It is almost exactly the same and most insitutions keep them fully together. What we have on WV is electronics engineering reffering to digital, communcations, computing, and signals. as well as some power managment and support of them. For electrical engineering the focus is more on power transmission and power management, and industrial power. it would cover mains wireing, power distrabution, motor control, lighting. IIRC the electrical engienering school was started by some peopole who had extensive knowolage about that focus. The division was mantained somewhat as a failure to decide or conceve of how exactly they could be effectively combined, so it was decided to keep them seperate and share some content as apropreate.[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 00:45, 5 April 2010 (UTC)
== MOVE/RENAME PROPOSED ==
So i proposed and tried to get started a move from school:electronics to school:electronic engineering based on the fact that the content, page titles, links to the page all address it and are centerd around Electronic Engineering. The discussion is on [[Wikiversity:Request_custodian_action#page_delete_or_move_for_School:Electronics_to_School:Electronic_engineering]] due to a issue with the target page.
rcjdzi23cmpw5d07qxed4bel3kkz7k4
Christianity/Gospel 101/Verses for the week
0
3754
2805603
1873684
2026-04-20T08:56:51Z
ShakespeareFan00
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wikitext
text/x-wiki
Find ECCEHOMO edit below as example of translation methods.<br>
Discover 3 verses already translated in The Updated [[b:Christianity#Appendix|Modernity]] Version (Parallel, Annotated) and can be revised as such here. {{font|color=#FF0000|New}}
----
== Verse 1 ==
And the dragon stood before the woman
<s>which</s> <b>who</b> was ready to be delivered, <s>for</s> waiting to
devour her child as soon as it was born.
<s>And</s> She brought forth a man child, who was
to rule all nations with a rod of iron; <s>and</s> <b>but</b> her
child was <s>caught</s> <b>called (?)</b> up <s>un</s>to God, and to his
throne. Re. 12: 4, 5
:'''called''' or
:'''delivered''' or
:'''translated'''
Result was turn the first sentence around and keep the lofty language of "brought forth,"
:And in front of the woman who was about to be delivered, the dragon stood waiting to devour the child as soon as it was born. She brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; but her child was delivered up to God, and to his throne.
But while he thought on these things,
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared
unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou
son of David, fear not to take unto thee
Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall
bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people
from their sins. Mt.1: 20-21
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and
shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his
name Emmanuel, which being interpreted
is, God with us.
Mt. 1: 23
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Mt. 1: 1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king…
Mt. 2: 1
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken
by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama
was there a voice heard, lamentation, and
weeping, and great mourning, Rachel
weeping for her children, and would not be
comforted, because they are not.
Mt. 2: I6-18
When he arose, he took the young child and
his mother by night, and departed into
Egypt: And was there until the death of
Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Out of Egypt have I called my Son.
Mt. 2: 14-15
And he came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the prophets, He shall be
called a Nazarene. Mt. 2: 23
For all the prophets and the law
prophesied until John. And if ye will
receive it, this is Elias, which was for
to come. Mt. 11: 13-14
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water: and, lo, the
heavens were opened unto him and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove,
and lighting upon him. Mt. 3: 16
And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven
open, and the angels of God ascending
and descending upon the Son of man.
Joh. 1: 51
And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt
in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast,
in the borders of Zabulon and
Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
The land of Zabulon, and the land of
Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people
which sat in darkness saw great light, and
to them which sat in the region and shadow
of death light is sprung up. Mt 4: 13-16
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because
he hath anointed me to preach the gospel
to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to
the captives, and recovering of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised. To preach the acceptable year of
the Lord. And he closed the book, and he
gave it again to the minister, and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the
synagogue were fastened on him. And he
began to say unto them, This day is this
scripture fulfilled in your ears. Lu. 4: 18-22
And when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies then know that
the desolation thereof is nigh, Then let
them in Judea flee to the mountains, and
let them which are in the midst of it depart
out; and let not them that are in the
countries enter thereinto. For these be
the days of vengeance, that all things
which are written may be fulfilled.
Lu. 21: 20-22
If I told you earthly things, and ye believe
not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of
heavenly things? And no man hath
ascended up to heaven, but he that came
down from heaven, even the Son of man
which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted
up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of man be lifted up.
Joh. 3: 12-14
For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
Joh. 3: 16
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary,
the brother of James, and Joses, and of
Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters
here with us? And they were offended at
him. Mk. 6: 3
For Jesus himself testified that a prophet
hath no honour in his own country.
Joh. 4: 44
In the last day, that great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man
thirst let him come unto me, and drink. He
that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of
living water. (But this spake he of the
Spirit, which they that believe on him
should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not
yet given; because that Jesus was not yet
glorified.) Joh. 7: 37-38
When the even was come, they brought
unto him many that were possessed with
devils: and he cast out the spirits with His
word, and healed all that were sick: That
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took
our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Mt. 8: 16-17
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen;
my beloved, in whom my soul is well
pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and
he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
Mt. 12: 18
== Verse 2 ==
<b>He will not break</b> a bruised reed <s>shall he not break</s>, <s>and</s>
<b>nor will he extinguish the</b> smoking flax <s>shall he not quench</s>, <b>un</b>til he
<s>send forth</s> <b>has brought on</b> judgment unto victory.
Mt. 12: 20
:Helps: It is the same word and image (2Kings 18:21) which [Isaiah] uses in his prophecy of our Lord, “a bruised reed (רצץ קנה qâneh râtsats) shall He not break,” i. e., He shall not break that which is already bruised. The word implies, then, don't kick a man when he's down.
I am the good shepherd, and know my
sheep, and am known of mine. As the
Father knoweth me, even so know I the
Father: and I lay down my life for the
sheep. And other sheep I have, which are
not of this fold: them also I must bring, and
they shall hear my voice; and there shall
be one fold, and one shepherd.
Joh. 10: 14-16
On the next day much people that were
come to the feast, when they heard that
Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took
branches of palm trees, and went forth to
meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is
the King of Israel that cometh in the name
of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found
a young ass, sat thereupon; as it is written:
Joh. 12: 12-14
And when the chief priests and scribes
saw the wonderful things that he did, and
the children crying in the temple, and
saying, Hosanna to the son of David;
they were sore displeased, And said
unto him, Hearest thou what these say?
And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye
never read, Out of the mouth of babes
and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
Mt. 21: 15-16
And said unto them, It is written, My
house shall be called the house of prayer;
but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mt. 21: 13
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read
in the scriptures, The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is become the
head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mt. 21: 42
Therefore they could not believe, because
that Esaias said again, He hath blinded
their eyes, and hardened their heart; that
they should not see with their eyes, nor
understand with their heart, and be
converted, and I should heal them.
These things said Esaias, when he
saw His glory, and spake of Him.
Joh. 12: 39-41
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the
fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of
God shall come. And he took bread,
and gave unto them, saying, This is my
body which is given for you: this do in
remembrance of me. Likewise also the
cup after supper, saying, This cup is the
NEW TESTAMENT in my blood which is
shed for you. Lu. 22: 18-20
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have
chosen: but that the scripture may be
fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath
lifted up his heel against me. Joh. 13: 18
If I had not done among them the works
which none other man did, they had not
had sin: but now have they both seen and
hate both me and my Father. But this
cometh to pass that the word might be
fulfilled that is written in their law, They
hated me without a cause. Joh. 15: 24-25
And said unto them, What will ye give me,
and I will deliver him unto you? And they
covenanted with him for thirty pieces of
silver. Mt. 26: 15
Then saith Jesus unto them. All ye shall be
offended because of me this night: for it is
written, I will smite the shepherd, and the
sheep of the flock shall be scattered
abroad. Mt. 26: 31
And he cast down the pieces of silver
in the temple, and departed, and went and
hanged himself. And the chief priests took
the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful
for to put them into the treasury, because
it is the price of blood. And they took
counsel, and bought with them the potter’s
field, to bury strangers in. Mt. 27: 5-7
For many bare false witness against him,
but their witness agreed not together.
Mk. 14: 56
And he answered him to never a word;
insomuch that the governor marvelled
greatly. Mt. 27: l4
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and
when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered
him to be crucified. Mt. 27: 26
== Verse 3 ==
Then <s>came</s> Jesus <s>forth</s> <b>came forward</b>, wearing the crown
of thorns, and the purple robe. And <b>Pilatus</b>
<s>saith unto</s> <b>said to</b> them, <b>[ECCEHOMO]</b> Behold the
man. Joh. 19: 5<br>
[[User:Athrash|<nowiki></nowiki>]] - [[User:Athrash|Athrash]] | [[User_talk:Athrash|<small>{Talk)</small>]] 07:26, 23 August 2005 (UTC)
And he said unto them the third time, Why,
what evil hath he done? I have found no
cause of death in him: I will therefore
chastise him, and let him go. And they
were instant with loud voices, requiring
that he might be crucified. And the voices
of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
And Pilate gave sentence that it should be
as they required. Lu. 23: 22-24
And they smote him on the head with a
reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing
their knees worshipped him. And when
they had mocked him, they took off the
purple from him, and put his own clothes
on him, and led him out to crucify him.
Mk. 15: 19-20
The other disciples therefore said unto him,
We have seen the Lord. But he said unto
them, Except I shall see in his hands the
print of the nails, and put my finger into the
print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his
side, I will not believe.
Joh. 20: 25
And when they were come to the place,
which is called Calvary, there they
crucified him, and the malefactors, one
on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Lu. 23: 33
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for
they know not what they do. And they
parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Lu. 23: 34
After this, Jesus knowing that all things
were now accomplished, that the scripture
might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Joh. 19: 28
They gave him vinegar to drink mingled
with gall: and when he had tasted thereof,
he would not drink. Mt. 27: 34
And they that passed by reviled him,
wagging their heads. Mt. 27:39
And one of the malefactors which were
hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be
Christ, save thyself and us. Lu. 23: 39
(Mt. 27:43)
But the other answering rebuked him,
saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing
thou art in the same condemnation? And
we indeed justly; for we receive the due
reward of our deeds: but this man hath
done nothing amiss. And he said unto
Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou
comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said
unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day
shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Lu. 23: 42-43
Now from the sixth hour there was
darkness over all the land unto the ninth
hour. Mt. 27: 45
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with
a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli lama
sabachthani? that is to say, My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mt. 27: 46
And when Jesus had cried with a loud
voice, he said. Father, into thy hands
I commend my spirit: and having said
thus, he gave up the ghost. Lu. 23:46
Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that
one man should die for the people, and that
the whole nation perish not. John 11:50
But when they came to Jesus, and saw that
he was dead already, they brake not his
legs: Joh. 19: 33
But one of the soldiers with a spear
pierced his side, and forthwith came
there out blood and water. Joh. 19: 34
When the even was come, there came a
rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph,
who aIso himself was Jesus' disciple: He
went to Pilate, and begged the body of
Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body
to be delivered. Mt. 27: 57-58
And he said unto them, These are the
words which I spake unto you, that all
things must be fulfilled, which were written
in the law of Moses, and in the prophets,
and in the psalms, concerning me. Then
opened he their understanding, that they
might understand the scriptures, And
said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus
it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise
from the dead the third day: And that
repentance and remission of sins should
be preached in his name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem, And
ye are witnesses of these things.
Lu. 24: 44-48
And it came to pass, while he blessed
them, he was parted from them, and
carried up into heaven. Lu. 24: 51
So then after the Lord had spoken unto
them, he was received up into heaven, and
sat on the right hand of God. Mk. 16: 19
----
Back to [[Christianity/Gospel 101|Gospel 101]]
[[Category:Christian Studies]]
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School talk:Electronic engineering
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* '''[[User:Muhammad|Muhammad]] (Undergraduate student of EEE in IUT, Bangladesh)'''
* '''[[User:Mnuddin|Mnuddin]] (Bachelor of Electronic Engineering ([http://www.latrobe.edu.au/ee SBEE])student in http://www.latrobe.edu.au La Trobe University], Australia)'''
* '''[[User:mister_k_k|mister_k_k]](undergradate student of electronics and communication engineering,india)'''
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* '''[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] (Associates Degree in Electronics & Computer Technology from DeVry university Kansas City)'''
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* '''[[User:Raminop|Raminop]] (Undergraduate student of Electrical Engineering at University of Tehran)'''
* '''[[User:Palakmathur|Palak Mathur]] (Graduate in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering from Anand Engineering college, Agra. Currently Working as Software Engineer with Infosys Technologies Limited, Pune, India)'''
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== Electrical & Electronic Engineering? ==
Shouldn't the topic be called '''Electrical & Electronic Engineering'''? [[User:57.66.65.39|57.66.65.39]] 15:45, 22 August 2006 (UTC)
I agree. Is it possible to rename pages?
:I agree, I'm not an electronic enegineer, I'm an eletrical engineer!--[[User:Rayc|Rayc]] 22:24, 3 September 2006 (UTC)
:I agree too I will change it to Electrical & Electronic Engineering--[[User:Mrebus|Mrebus]] 21:07, 10 October 2006 (UTC)
== Page arrangement ==
Who's here anyway? I think maybe we should move lessons off the main page and into sub categories, to allow for topics like electronic materials and devices and circuit design and analysis. We should probably also seperate digital and analogue electronics.
:* I agree. That would be better if we could do the sub-categories.For example Microprocessor Systems, Control Theory, Automation, Robotics, Mecatronics. But i think it is ok for now,because we dont have too many lessons right now , maybe we can seperate them later. [[User:Cengiz Isik|Cengiz Isik]] 02:04, 3 October 2006 (UTC)
:* I had proposed this earlier on, and have implemented this as requested. Right now, we don't have many lessons, so I guess it is ok for people to add lessons in the main page, I shall keep an eye out and link the pages as required.[[User:Misericordia|Misericordia]] 02:45, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
== [[School:Electronics]] ==
Please coordinate with [[School:Electronics]]. --[[User:JWSchmidt|JWSchmidt]] 03:11, 26 August 2006 (UTC)
:* Can we just merge the content from this page into the Electronic Engineering school's courses? Seems like the Electronics school page is even less organised than the electronic engineering school and doesn't have the potential to be very comprehensive without a complete rewrite --[[User:Spuzzdawg|Spuzzdawg]] 01:38, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
::Yes, although it seems that page is intended to be a course, and so it seems that it could be moved into the [[Wikiversity:Namespaces#Topic:|Topic namespace]]. I'd recommend getting in touch with the author of that page to see whether they have any intention of developing the course, or what plans they have for it, and to work out a way for productive collaboration. [[User:Cormaggio|Cormaggio]] <sup><small>[[User talk:Cormaggio|talk]]</small></sup> 13:06, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
:* It seems wasteful to have multiple projects on the same topic working independantly of one another. I would also suggest that the other project, at least at the moment, would appear to be better suited to wikibooks --[[User:Spuzzdawg|Spuzzdawg]] 13:54, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
== Organization ==
I was surpried to see the small amount of content in this section of the wikiversity. As a suggestion, I think that instead of starting the lesson on electronical elgeeniring with mathematical laws, the lesson should begin explaining what is and what is not electronics.
Also, since electronics is so broad, it will be very difficult and pointless to try to have very specific and in depth information on all subjects. Also, consider that to give an adequate course on a given subject, you need a very good understanding of that field and nobody has a very good understanding of every field of electronics. So,I sugest we give a overview of electronics with in depth articles
I would recoment something like the following:
What are electronics.
What an electronic signal is. Explain voltage and current and how it represent the information of interest in a signal.
Explain the difference between passive electronics devices and active electronic devices.
Explain the difference between analog and digital. (A good explanation is needed here, not just the incorrect usual "analog is dead, digital is the future").
The resistor, and its laws (ohms, kirchol, etc.) Some simple resitor networks (all direct current or voltage only).
Better concept of how the information of interest can be represented by and electronic singal, introduction of Alternating current, Frecuency and phase concepts.
Pasive analog electronic components: Resistor Capacitor and Inductor and their propieties. Some simple filters.
Pasive analog filter design.
Active components: Diode, Bipolar transitor and MOSFET transitor.
The most important analog building block : The operational amplifier
Opamp configurations: Add, substracnt, multiply/divide, integrate and diferentiate.
Digital Logic: Diferences between analog and digital.
Binary system, Boolean logic, and basic memoryless digital gates.
Digital gates with memory: Flip flops.
Finite State Machines.
Some sugestions for In-depth articles:
Analog system processing.
Digital system processing.
Moore's Law and system integration.
Fabrication of semiconductor devices.
Analog Active Filter.
Microcontrollers
MOSFET transistor modes, regions of operation, and frecuency response.
Bipolar transistor modes, regions of operation, and frecuency response.
Diferencial pair.
Just some thoughts. Let me know what do you think.
NightHawk
[[User:Misericordia|Misericordia]] 22:50, 30 September 2006 (UTC)
I agree with this, further I would like to propose the following amendments.
Since the discipline of electrical engineering is so broad, I think it would be worth while to break it up into several main groups, in particular:
- Electronics (all of the pages submitted thus far would fall under this category)
- Power Systems (something like three phase power)
- Control Theorey (variable gain, PID, statespace)
- Signal Processing (fourier transform, filter design, concept of spectra)
- Analogue Communications (AM/FM modulation techniques, filter design)
- Digital Communications (digital modulation techniques eg, ASK, QPSK; it may be worthwhile to look at coding techniques eg turbo coding, shannon's limit; there's always CDMA to look at as well)
- RF communications (high frequency effects, impedance matching, smith charts)
please let me know what you think.
Misericordia
At U of T we have the following divisions within electrical:
Photonics: fiber optics, lasers, and light based technologies and also optical communications systems (at the physical layer)
Power: energy systems, motors, generators, various power converters, solar power
Communications: large group which includes information theory, signals and systems, encryption, digital signal processing, digital modulation techniques (ASK, QPSK, etc), wireless communications, error control coding, computer networks, multimedia systems.
Electromagnetics: transmission lines, microwave circuits, waveguides, antennas, computer simulation of EM problems like FDTD or method of moments,
Biomedical - ?? not sure exactly but they study how to address medical problems using electrical technolgies e.g. nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. This field is new and interdisplinary.
Electronics - essentially electronic circuit. They also create some RF circuits so there is overlap with Electromagnetics. They tend to be more focuse on RF circuits as part of a larger system.
Computers - microprocessors, computer architecture, compilers, programming languages, distributed systems, digital hardware, embedded systems, operating systems, digital logic design, databases, etc.
Systems Control - Feedback control systems. This is a very large field with a lot of theory so it is a separate discipline. Topic include: robust control, adaptive control, observability, controlability, real time control, nonlinear control etc.
It should be noted that these divisions are based on focus. There is however some overlap. For instance: both computer engineers and electronics engineers are interested in VLSI Cmos digital logic design. However in general the focus of computer engineers is more on creating processors or digital logic circuits. The focus of electronic engineers is on the circuits themselves and also on integrating them with A/D converters, analog circuits etc. The Electronics engineers tend to be more on the analog side and computer engineers more on the digital/microprocessor side.
--[[User:70.49.57.198|70.49.57.198]] 23:54, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
----
==Newbies wanting to help...==
Just a question: I'm currently studying Electronic Engineering and would like to (try to) contribute to the lectures. I'm not sure as to how it works, exactly, do we just fall in and type up contibutions or add to the empty topics, or are things happening in some certain order, i.e certain topics hetting allocated to certain people?
Regards,
R00ik0p
[[User:196.31.32.59|196.31.32.59]] 20:45, 23 November 2006 (UTC)
:Nothing happens in any particular order, you are welcome to edit anything at any time. This is a wiki! I would recommend you register for a username though, so that people can identify you, and you can get credit for all your contributions. --[[User:Whiteknight|Whiteknight]] 18:35, 14 December 2006 (UTC)
== Old Engineer, New to Wikiversity ==
Hi all.
I studied Electronics & Electrical Engineering ('96) and I'd like to help out constructing these pages. I've already added a little bit under Silicon.
[[User:Teddy Bear|Teddy Bear]] 13:12, 2 March 2007 (UTC) Teddy Bear
==Hi==
Hi! Why they heck won't they let you use the same username for all wikimedia projects. Oh well whatever. Hi I am commonly known as NightFalcon90909 and someday when I am not being lazy I will actually sign up for wikiversity. In the meantime, I will be randomly visiting the pages in the school and generally cleaning up. I am still in highschool but am very interested in electronic/electrical engineering specifically. SO. I will clean up pages when I notice it, I will take stuff from Wikipedia and Wikibooks to improve these pages, and generally be a pain :-D [[User:24.115.203.92|24.115.203.92]] 19:30, 21 March 2007 (UTC)
== School: Electronic Engineering redirecting to Topic: Electronic Engineering ==
Why has the electronic school been removed and placed in the topic namespace? This seems to contravene the purpose of the different namespaces as explained to me in wikiversity_talk:namespaces. The entire outline for the course seems to have also been changed and not for the better in my opinion. --[[User:Spuzzdawg|spuzzdawg]] 15:58, 30 May 2007 (UTC)
}}
<noinclude>
[[Category:Electronic engineering]]
</noinclude>
== program layout questions and issues ==
the layout of the program ee seams a little odd now i learned the technician method rather than engineering method but it seams the order of things is a bit off.<br>
heres some ideas i just put to paper also heres a coarse layout from devry if a couple others could find there coarse layouts and post them see if we can come up with some ideas.<br>
[http://kc.devry.edu/docs/registration-pos-summer2004.pdf devry coarse layout all degrees]
<table>
<tr>
<td>
current layout
</td>
<td>
how i learnd it givin i did the technician style
</td>
<td>
idea for development
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
===Level 1===<br>
* [[EE 111 Digital Electronics]]<br>
* [[EE 112 Electronics fundamentals]]<br>
* [[EE 113 Analog Electronics]]<br>
* [[EE 114 Computer Organization]]<br>
* [[Printed Circuit Board Layout]]<br>
* [[ME 103 Workshop Practice]]<br>
* [[Engineering Mathematics]]<br>
* [[Engineering Physics]]<br>
* [[Engineering Chemistry]]<br>
* [[Computer Programming]]<br>
</td>
<td>
===Level 1===<br>
term 1<br>
* COMP100 Comp App for Biz w/Lab (msoffice and internet)<br>
* MATH105 Technical Mathematics(general algrabra class) <br>
* COLL145 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving<br>
* ECT112 Digital Fundamentals(starts with simple ciructs(switches & leds) bin,hex,dec logic gates flipflops mux ends with atod dtoa)<br>
* COMP128 PC Systems and Networks (comp repair and building as well as networking a+)<br>
term 2<br>
* ENGL112 Composition<br>
* ECT150 Electronics 1 (hands on circct aprotch to MATH120 r c l analog circuts ending with basic transistors)[MATH105]<br>
* ECT162 Introduction to Microprocessors(altera graphic logic applcation)[MATH105, ECT112]<br>
* MATH120 Technical Mathematics II[MATH105](mathmatical approch to ECT150 with schmatic analisys by hand)<br>
one thing i loved was my math and electroncis was taught by same teacher and was 2 aproches to the same thing folowing each other<br>
</td>
<td>
===Level 1===
term 1
* computer applcations(prob kinda remedial)<br>
* [[EE 114 Computer Organization]]??computer hardware/software(a+ cirt track kinda)<br>
* [[EE 111 Digital Electronics]](needs begenning circuts)<br>
* EE 116 117 118... PCB Layout(diferent apps eaglecad orcad gEDA...)<br>
pcb layout can be set in to 2 classes basic circut sim and pcb layout and heavy multilayerd dense highspeed ciructs/microwave frequency<br>
<br>
term 2<br>
* programable logic(somtihng like the altera visual logic design)<br>
* [[EE 113 Analog Electronics]](devices bjt jfet mosfet scr igbjt...)<br>
* [[EE 112 Electronics fundamentals]](r c l breadboard dmm analysys/design)<br>
* [[Engineering Mathematics]](r c l paper cicrcut analysys/design)<br>
<br>
unknown/fit in anywhere<br>
* [[ME 103 Workshop Practice]]??<br>
* [[Engineering Physics]]<br>
* [[Engineering Chemistry]]<br>
* [[Computer Programming]]<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
===Level 2===<br>
* [[EE 211 Electronic Circuits]]<br>
* [[EE 212 Digital Circuits and Systems]]<br>
* [[Analog Integrated Circuits]]<br>
* [[EE 214 Computer Aided Circuit Analysis]]<br>
* [[Quantum Mechanics]]<br>
* [[EE 202 Signals and Systems]]<br>
* [[CSE Operating System]]<br>
* [[CSE Data Structure and Algorithm]]<br>
* [[TEL 101 Telecommunication Principles]]<br>
* [[CSE 203 Database Management System]]<br>
* [[ME 106 Thermofluid Mechanics]]<br>
</td>
<td>
===Level 2===<br>
term 3<br>
* ECT210 Electronics II (devices bjt fet mostfet scr igbjt triac opamps)[ECT150, MATH120]<br>
* ECT215 Data and Fiber Optic Telecom [COMP128, ECT162]<br>
* PHYS202 Applied Physics [MATH120]<br>
* PSYC110 Psychology<br>
term 4<br>
* CARD205 Career Development<br>
* ECT250 Technology Integration(was a review of everything prior to this)[ECT210, ECT215]<br>
* ECT252 Embedded Microprocessors(atmel microcontroler the whole of at90s1200 and mega16/at8535 and assembly programing for avrasm)[ECT162]<br>
* ECT261 Communications Systems (start of wireless circuts osclators detectors)[ECT210, ECT215]<br>
term 4 electives 1 or other<br>
ECT262 Sensors and Instrumentation<br>
ECT267 Local Area Networks and the Internet<br>
</td>
<td>
===Level 2===<br>
* [[EE 211 Electronic Circuits]](devices bjt jfet mosfet scr igbjt opamps... more advanced)<br>
* [[EE 212 Digital Circuits and Systems]](makes sense to have several diffrant ones avalable atmel mot/onsimi xilog...)<br>
* [[EE 213 Analogoue Integrated Circuits]](begennings of transimitters detectors and amps?)<br>
* [[EE 214 Computer Aided Circuit Analysis]](pcb layout II as pcb and spice fit together)<br>
* [[Quantum Mechanics]]<br>
* [[EE 202 Signals and Systems]]<br>
* [[CSE Operating System]]<br>
* [[CSE Data Structure and Algorithm]]<br>
* [[TEL 101 Telecommunication Principles]]<br>
* [[CSE 203 Database Management System]]<br>
* [[ME 106 Thermofluid Mechanics]]<br>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
anyhow its starting thougt hope it gets some pepole thinking thers also a eet(ee) plan of study in that pdf at the top and ya ect is 5 terms i didnt post the last one <br>
if someone else has some ideas or contenuations on this thats great but i do think we need to look at it<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 05:39, 28 September 2007 (UTC)
looking at it again most of its prob that i took technician track rather than engineering track
i still think the first courses need to start off with simpler stuff as well as basic breadboarding and circuitry before doing any logic circuits
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 06:08, 28 September 2007 (UTC)
== Level 0 ==
added lvl 0 to the corse list and some ideas<br>
<br>
i am thinking of remedial stuff here.<br>
intro to electronics, Likely someone could skip allot but it would be there to bring every one up to speed<br>
under basic spice, It was a thought perhaps the basics of a cad program LTspice/switcher cad III beaning 100% free, gEDA as its open source possibly harder to run, and multisim not free by any measure but widely used.<br>
test equipment<br>
was thinking how to use digital and analog handled and bench meters hp has a nice standard bench meter.<br>
<br>
couple modals of oscopes ive got a analog tektronix 2246 prob a digital textronics would be nice to<br>
agilent is also rather popular so prob a digital one of them maybe a bk precision and a pc oscope.<br>
<br>
also power supples as money will be tight for a lot of people. <br>
how to use battery's for circuits <br>
i know bk precision and i think hp/agilent make some standard looking analog and digital supplys.<br>
personally planning to put my schematic for a simple dual isolated supply up eventually when time comes as its not hard to build<br>
<br>
signal generators<br>
i only ever used a agilent digital signal gen i know theres others prob would be nice to have one from a couple other makers.<br>
<br>
also for the above test equipment thinking would be nice to have hints and tips for buying ones own equipment off ebay or in store.
<br>
<br>
the other 2 courses i think are likely needed as to what else should be in them i don't know for sure.<br>
<br>
the following at level 0 are here for ideas on the talk page.<br>
* EE ??? Intro to Electronics
** Breadboarding, Basic spice, Soldering, test equipment
* EE ??? Intro to Computers
** Hardware basics, OS basics, Software basics
* EE ??? Intro to Engendering Math
** Algebra, Geometry, Trig
<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 05:25, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
==class descriptions==
i think it would be nice to have these on all ower classes i've put 4 out there already so you can see what it would look like or at least 1 idea for it.<br>
<br>
Also there are some classes that are less than clear exactly what thay cover and there pages arnt created yet.<br>
<br>
I suggest rather than start on them just to have a this is what this covers, on a page, putting a description below the class link
this way if we need to alter the names of pages it wont take a move+redirect. Then we can make the pages when we have actual content to place on them.<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 05:25, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
for presveration shuld we decide to go back
Level 0<br>
the following at level 0 are here for ideas on the talk page.<br>
EE 001 Introduction to Engineering Principles<br>
Engineering throughout history,engineering types,engineering job market,expectations and ethics, PE Licensing and other certifications<br>
EE 005 Introduction to Computers<br>
Hardware principles,basic operating and file system usage,introductory software usage and design<br>
EE ??? Intro to Engendering Math<br>
Algebra, Geometry, Trig<br>
EE 090 Introduction to Electronics<br>
Basic Electric definition and principles,basic measuring devices,introductory breadboarding and solid state devices, basic spice, soldering and schematic basics<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 08:30, 3 October 2007 (UTC)
==class nav template==
i've suggested a basic layout for page names and made a template for class pages its in use in the EE111 class.<br>
full class name/full lecture name<br>
EE_111_Digital_Electronics/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops<br>
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 05:25, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
== class name proposal ==
I talked to jwschmidt and couple others on irc and a lot of people don't like the class number/name system for pages<br>
'''current system'''
* classes
** EE 111 Digital Electronics
* lectures
** EE_111_Digital_Electronics/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops
*advantages
** easy for someone who is trying to learn in classes
** pages show in order by department(in the categorys)
*problems
** apparently confusing to a lot of people.
** others also wouldn't be to hard to follow along in classes if they are done right.
'''proposed system 1'''
this is what i have been using lately.
* classes
** EE_Digital Electronics
* lectures
** EE_Digital_Electronics/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops
*advantages
** pages show in order by department(in the categorys)
*problems
** maby little confusing at first? likely not a prob to someone interested in the field
'''proposed system 2'''
* classes
** Digital_Electronics_EE
* lectures
** Digital_Electronics_EE/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops
*advantages
** pages show in order by class and you can still tell witch department there related to(in the categorys)
*problems
** maby little confusing at first? likely not a prob to someone interested in the field
'''proposed system 3'''
* classes
** Digital_Electronics
* lectures
** Digital_Electronics/Lecture_6%2C_Flip-flops
* advantages
** like wikipedia
* problems
** like wikipedia perhaps makes it harder for someone to say learn on here as they would in univeristy (more of difference only to class names)
** possible name collisions "analog electronics" for engineering "analog electronics" for techichan (electron flow / hole flow [http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/murphy/HoleFlow/default.html|see hole vr electron] see the find out why's)
<br>
ideas thoughts comments???
[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 00:48, 2 October 2007 (UTC)
== online resources ==
*[http://www.tech-systems-labs.com/navy.htm United States Navy Electronic Training Course]
*[http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/ Electrical Engineering and Computer Science] - Thank you guys! this is great website! I have learned much from it, and also, this MIT free online website may do some helps. Please contact them if anyone need any source... {{unsigned|71.75.217.111}} (Comment moved to appropriate section --[[User:Gbaor|Gbaor]] 06:15, 21 July 2008 (UTC))
== School Face Lift ==
Hey pips. Please comment on face lift for the department. Colour scheme can be discussed as well. Thanx! [[User:Thuvack|Thuvack]] 10:58, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
:I was thinking PCB green the black on dark purple isnt working thow hard to read [[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 23:34, 4 April 2008 (UTC)
::PCB Green sounds good, Anyboy-else with other suggestion. If this is the only suggestion after a week, then I'll change Box-headers to PCB Green. -[[User:Thuvack|Thuvack]] 15:28, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
::{{done}}- What should we change the background colour to, I dont think lavender goes well with PCB green. - [[User:Thuvack|Thuvack]] 12:56, 10 April 2008 (UTC)
:::well theres 2 shades of PCB green
:::<strong>{{font|color=#004600|copper PCB green}}{{font|color=00c400|Mask PCB green}}</strong>
:::althow those colors prob arnt best, generally a PCB will use thick white lettering for all labels and text.
:::If you really wanted to implement PCB green you should have masked copper as the headers and mask green as the body and white font with no flourishes say aerial witch wiki already uses.[[User:Eadthem|Eadthem]] 11:59, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
::::Please have a look at this [[User:Thuvack/Testing page 6|proposed School Face lift]]. It incorporates catergorisation and course wish list on sub pages. Also Department news are moved to a sub page. Please see this [http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Colloquium#Content.2FCourse_Categorization_Idea_for_Department_Pages discussion] for clarity on motivations towards this standardisation. I will wait a week for comments before implementing this change.;-)[[User:Thuvack|Thuvack]] 05:47, 17 July 2008 (UTC)
::::{{Done}} -- Please comment--[[User:Thuvack|{{font|color=blue|'''Thuvack'''}}]] | <sup>[[User_talk:Thuvack|{{font|color=green|talk}}]] | [[User:Thuvack/Mind-Logs|{{font|color=fuchsia|Blog}}]]</sup> 11:08, 28 July 2008 (UTC)
</div>
|}
jazp1v5qjrvmg84aq00g29hkctnnqn1
Instructional Design/Constructivism/Exploration of Constructivist Practices, Principles and Strategies
0
52649
2805606
2459836
2026-04-20T08:58:14Z
ShakespeareFan00
6645
2805606
wikitext
text/x-wiki
==Why Constructivism?==
Holzer states, "The basic idea of constructivism is that knowledge must be constructed by the learner; it cannot be supplied by the teacher. This is vividly expressed by the Farsi proverb, 'A well must produce its own water.'"
Piaget's definitions of knowledge were a foundation of constructivist theory:
"Knowledge is an interaction between subject and object . . .
Knowledge . . . is a perpetual construction made by exchanges between . . . thought and its object . . .
Knowledge . . . isn't a copy of reality . . . it's a reconstitution of reality by the concepts of the subject, who, progressively and with all kinds of experimental probes, approaches the object without ever attaining it in itself.
Thus, the construction of knowledge is a dynamic process that requires the active engagement of the learner.
The implications of constructivism relative to learning and teaching are as follows: We are all responsible for our own learning; the teacher is responsible for creating an effective learning environment."
Reference: Bringuier, J.C., Conversations with Jean Piaget, The University of Chicago Press (1980) (as cited in ''The Innovator'' No. 2 Spring 1994, Holzer, SM).
One means of creating effective (''constructivist'') learning environments is to use '''authentic activities''' or projects in the classroom, whether it be in k12, higher education, or corporate contexts. '''Authentic activities''' are those that have real-world application and efficacy. Jonassen states, "[w]e cannot all become masters of every content area." (Duffy & Jonassen, 1992, p.140). Students should be provided appropriate activites which challenge each student and they should be allowed to choose the level of difficulty and involvement which matches their ability at that time. Reference: ''Constructivism and the technology of instruction: a conversation''. Duffy & Jonassen. (1992).
==Authentic Learning Experience (ALE) Checklist==
Below is the '''Authentic Learning Experience Checklist''' used in this lesson. The checklist and definitions are based on an article titled "Authentic activities and online learning." (Reeves, Herrington, and Oliver. 2002). The article can be retrieved from: elrond.scam.ecu.edu.au/oliver/2002/Reeves.pdf
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5 <p style="text-align:center;">center text</p>
|
| Review the checklist and begin to grasp the concepts as outlined below. To download a copy, '''HOLD SHIFT and CLICK''' the '''[http://mypage.iu.edu/~anthonys/Wikiversity%20Resources/ALE%20List.pdf Authentic Learning Experience Checklist].'''
|}
== Next steps ==
Before proceeding to Lesson 1, HOLD SHIFT and CLICK here [http://mypage.iu.edu/~skneal/Index/FRUSTR/FRUSTR.html to take a quick quiz ].
----
'''Click [[../Cognitivism v. Constructivism/ | Lesson 1]] to continue.'''
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5 <p style="text-align:center;">center text</p>
| [[Instructional Design | Instructional Design: Homepage]]
| [[Instructional Design/Constructivism | Constructivism: Introduction]]
| '''Pre-Lesson'''
| [[../Cognitivism v. Constructivism/ | Lesson 1]]
| [[../Incorporating Authentic Learning Experiences/ | Lesson 2]]
| [[../Self Evaluation/ | Lesson 3]]
| [[../Conclusion & Resources/ | Conclusion]]
|}
[[Category:Constructivist learning]]
0a474bgqpvllv9mo6v67s2se36rqmso
Brezhoneg C'hwec'h/Lesson 6
0
59366
2805615
2196377
2026-04-20T09:07:39Z
ShakespeareFan00
6645
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wikitext
text/x-wiki
{{Breton}}
{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="5" style="width: 99%; background-color: inherit;color:inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto"
| style="background-color: PapayaWhip;{{text color default}}; border: 1px solid #777777; -moz-border-radius-topleft: 8px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleft: 8px; -moz-border-radius-topright: 8px; -moz-border-radius-bottomright: 8px;" colspan="2" |
== Traoù fentus / Jokes ==
'''Tach'''
<br>
Peseurt diforc'h a zo etre windows hag un tach ?
<br>
Respont : hini ebet, an daou a zo tonket da blantiñ.
<br><br>
'''Alc'hwezh'''
<br>
Deuet eo ar spie, a-benn ar fin! Paket eo bet ha kordennet buan hag aes gant Ewen.
Boullc'hurun! Nac'hañ a ra al lakepod reiñ alc'houez an armel-houarn m'emañ eil lodenn ar film enni!
Un niverenn pemp sifr eo an alc'houez-se. A-raok bezañ jahinet gant Ewen, en deus kinniget e lakaat da zeskiñ ar vonnreizh dre eñvor, setu e asant al lampon da reiñ un nebeut titouroù:
- Ampar ha bihanoc'h eget an eil eo ar sifr kentañ.
- Daouzek eo hollad an daou sifr kentañ.
- An holl sifroù a zo disheñvel.
- Tu zo dezhañ bezañ rannet dre tri.
- Ar pempvet sifr a zo div wech an trede hini.
<br>
Respont : deoc'h da gavout!
<br><br>
'''Eur'''
<br>
Kreisteiz rik eo.
A-benn pegeit amzer e vo an eil biz war egile adarre?
<br>
Respont : 12/11 = 1h05′27″03
<br><br>
== Exercises ==
==== Ex 1 : Quiz ====
Go to the [[/Quiz|Quiz]].
==== Ex 2 : Memory training ====
Write out the Breton words, section by section.
Have 2 columns, clearly separated, and write Breton and English. Then cover up one column (eg. English) with paper and write the corresponding words on the paper.
Then try it the other way round, cover up the Breton, and write out the words using the English as cues. This will be a little bit more difficult.
Repeat all this after an interval, the more you do it the easier you will remember the words.
|}
{{Template:Page Turner
|PreviousLesson=Brezhoneg Pemp
|PreviousPage=Brezhoneg C'hwec'h/Lesson 5
|NextPage=Brezhoneg C'hwec'h/Lesson 7
|LessonFirstPage=Brezhoneg C'hwec'h
|NextLesson=Brezhoneg Seizh
|FirstPage=Topic:Breton
|Division=Topic:Brythonic Celtic Languages Division
}}
[[Category:Brezhoneg C'hwec'h]]
n8g9mu440k8ucp1v6syvsxn7n7ru0a2
Brezhoneg Unan/Lesson 4/Quiz on mutations after the article
0
71458
2805616
2214630
2026-04-20T09:08:24Z
ShakespeareFan00
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text/x-wiki
{{Breton}}
{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="5" style="width: 99%; background-color: inherit; color:inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto"
| style="background-color: #eed153;{{text color default}}; border: 1px solid #777777; -moz-border-radius-topleft: 8px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleft: 8px; -moz-border-radius-topright: 8px; -moz-border-radius-bottomright: 8px;" colspan="1" |
Enter the word with the proper mutation :
Help : The gender (Masculine / Feminine) is indicated (M or F)
Hint : The article indicates the mutation
<quiz display=simple>
{
|type="{}"}
Kazh (M) : Ar { C'hazh|C'HAZH|c'hazh|C'Hazh }
{
|type="{}"}
Kador (F) : Ar { Gador|gador }
|| The rule A1 is applied.
</quiz>
|}
3a185upff52yaji1lkmngbdp1ope6os
User talk:Titodutta
3
116314
2805550
1037550
2026-04-19T19:02:24Z
Suyash.dwivedi
929167
Wiki Anniversary Wishes
2805550
wikitext
text/x-wiki
==Welcoming Myself==
{{Welcome}} --[[User:Titodutta|Titodutta]] 23:58, 17 July 2011 (UTC)
==And being welcomed==
Indeed, welcome! The welcome template, like a number of templates, is intended to be substituted. If you use <nowiki>{{subst:welcome}}</nowiki> it would then properly be signed. --[[User:Abd|Abd]] 12:46, 18 August 2011 (UTC)
== Response Posted ==
Response posted at [[Wikiversity:Candidates_for_Custodianship/Dave_Braunschweig#Questions]]. Thanks! -- [[User:Dave Braunschweig|Dave Braunschweig]] ([[User talk:Dave Braunschweig|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Dave Braunschweig|contribs]]) 14:16, 26 May 2013 (UTC)
:I have seen and added a comment! I'll check it later again! --[[User:Titodutta|Tito Dutta]] [[User_talk:Titodutta|(Talk)]] 18:45, 26 May 2013 (UTC)
::I have added a vote, you can move it correct section. In addition, consider writing edit summary, see [[:wikipedia:WP:FIES]] --[[User:Titodutta|Tito Dutta]] [[User_talk:Titodutta|(Talk)]] 01:16, 27 May 2013 (UTC)
== Belated Wiki Anniversary Wishes 🎉 ==
<div style="border: 3px solid #f75920; background: #f8f9fa; padding: 15px; margin: 10px 0; font-size: 95%; line-height: 1.6em;">
[[File:Rose and Carnation Flower Bouquet 02.png|150px|right|Happy Wiki Anniversary]]
Dear [[User:Titodutta|Titodutta]],
Your wiki anniversary was '''18 days''' ago, marking '''15 years''' (as per SUL) of dedicated service! I wanted to extend a heartfelt thanks for your amazing contributions. With over '''313,273''' edits, your dedication is an inspiration to the community. Wishing you all the best for the year ahead!
''Use this [https://suyashdwivedi.github.io/Wiki_Tools/Wiki_Anniversary.html '''Tool'''] to send wiki anniversary wishes to other amazing Wikimedians.''
- [[User:Suyash.dwivedi|Suyash.dwivedi]] ([[User talk:Suyash.dwivedi|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Suyash.dwivedi|contribs]]) 19:02, 19 April 2026 (UTC)
</div>
3ds4csz3mdqteco99lim34ub8elp9e2
Template:Hiero/5Fold
10
132029
2805595
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2026-04-20T07:57:52Z
ShakespeareFan00
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{{ hiero
| align = {{{align|left}}}
| 1 = {{{name}}}
| 2 =
<table>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px 10px 10px;background: white; color:var(--color-base-fixed,#202122);">
<!--This table surrounds the serekh-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" stylr="align:center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>G5</hiero></td>
<td height="48px" width="2px" style="background-color:black; color:white;"></td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the Horus name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" style="background-color:black; color:white;"></td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="46" style="padding: 0px 5px 0px 5px;">{{{horus}}}</td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="2px" style="background-color:black; color:white;"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">[[Image:Srxtail2.svg]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;">''serekh'' or Horus name</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px;background: white;">
<!--This table surrounds the Nebty name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>G16</hiero></td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the Nebty name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
<td height="45" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">{{{nebty}}}</td>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;">''Nebty'' name</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px 10px 10px;background: white;">
<!--This table surrounds the Golden Horus name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>G8</hiero></td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the Golden Horus name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
<td height="45" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">{{{goldenhorus}}}</td>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;">''Golden Horus'' name</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px;background: white;">
<!--This table surrounds the praenomen-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>M23-L2</hiero></td>
<td>[[Image:Hiero_Ca1.svg]]</td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the praenomen-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="45" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">{{{praenomen}}}</td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</table>
</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">[[Image:Hiero_Ca2.svg]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;color:#202122;">''praenomen'' or throne name</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px 10px 10px;background: white;color:#202122;">
<!--This table surrounds the nomen-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>G39-N5</hiero></td>
<td>[[Image:Hiero_Ca1.svg]]</td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the nomen-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="45" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">{{{nomen}}}</td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">[[Image:Hiero_Ca2.svg]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;color:#202122;">''nomen'' or birth name</td>
</tr>
</table>
| era = {{{era|default}}}
| style = {{{style|}}}
}}<noinclude>{{doc|content=
This table template produces a serekh and two cartouches for an Egyptian pharaoh's Horus name, praenomen and nomen. The parameters that can be set are align=left/right, era=sets the colour scheme, name=name in English of the pharaoh, horus=hieroglyphs for the Horus name with 'hiero' tags, praenomen=hieroglyphs of the pharaoh's praenomen with 'hiero' tags, nomen=hieroglyphs of the pharaoh's nomen with 'hiero' tags.
}}</noinclude>
jcwixga49xbv39fu3wzhrqy6kahmkem
2805596
2805595
2026-04-20T07:59:30Z
ShakespeareFan00
6645
2805596
wikitext
text/x-wiki
{{ hiero
| align = {{{align|left}}}
| 1 = {{{name}}}
| 2 =
<table>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px 10px 10px;background: white; color:var(--color-base-fixed,#202122);">
<!--This table surrounds the serekh-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" stylr="align:center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>G5</hiero></td>
<td height="48px" width="2px" style="background-color:black; color:white;"></td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the Horus name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" style="background-color:black; color:white;"></td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="46" style="padding: 0px 5px 0px 5px;">{{{horus}}}</td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="2px" style="background-color:black; color:white;"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">[[Image:Srxtail2.svg]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;color:#202122;">''serekh'' or Horus name</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px;background: white;color:#202122;">
<!--This table surrounds the Nebty name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>G16</hiero></td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the Nebty name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
<td height="45" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">{{{nebty}}}</td>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;color:#202122;">''Nebty'' name</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px 10px 10px;background: white;color:#202122;">
<!--This table surrounds the Golden Horus name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>G8</hiero></td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the Golden Horus name-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
<td height="45" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">{{{goldenhorus}}}</td>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;color:#202122;">''Golden Horus'' name</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px;background: white;color:#202122;">
<!--This table surrounds the praenomen-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>M23-L2</hiero></td>
<td>[[Image:Hiero_Ca1.svg]]</td>
<td>
<!--This table includes the horizontal lines and hieroglyphs of the praenomen-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="45" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">{{{praenomen}}}</td>
</tr><tr>
<td height="2px" bgcolor="black"></td>
</table>
</td>
<td align="center" valign="middle">[[Image:Hiero_Ca2.svg]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;color:#202122;">''praenomen'' or throne name</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:4px 10px 10px 10px;background: white;color:#202122;">
<!--This table surrounds the nomen-->
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td><hiero>G39-N5</hiero></td>
<td>[[Image:Hiero_Ca1.svg]]</td>
<td>
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<td style="text-align:center;text-valign:middle;padding:5px;background: white;color:#202122;">''nomen'' or birth name</td>
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| era = {{{era|default}}}
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This table template produces a serekh and two cartouches for an Egyptian pharaoh's Horus name, praenomen and nomen. The parameters that can be set are align=left/right, era=sets the colour scheme, name=name in English of the pharaoh, horus=hieroglyphs for the Horus name with 'hiero' tags, praenomen=hieroglyphs of the pharaoh's praenomen with 'hiero' tags, nomen=hieroglyphs of the pharaoh's nomen with 'hiero' tags.
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7cc6rd9pp32gmvgdn2dzu54jznqk8fg
User:Droflet/Sandbox
2
135484
2805593
2204499
2026-04-20T07:53:26Z
ShakespeareFan00
6645
Attempting to solve lints - Please ignore the notification this edit generated.
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==For Colloquium on shortcomings with Mediawiki software ==
It seems to me that the Mediawiki software lacks some important functionality that Wikiversity needs. Wikipedia is essentially non-hierarchical whereas Wikiversity is intrinsically hierarchical. For Wikipedia each page of content is stand-alone and this is deliberately how this encyclopedia is conceived. On the other hand Wikiversity content is conceptually hierarchical with each main topic area heading up any number of subordinate pages. It may look like the Portal: namespace could be the place for putting these top level, topic area pages but that is the problem: Portal: is a separate namespace and, for example, is not searched from the search box unless prefixed with "Portal:". Top level pages need to be in Mainspace.
More on main topics: This includes two types of topic: the sort that helps organise Wikiversity generically and includes 'Schools', 'Portals', 'Topics' (see [https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/File:Two_content_tracks.png]) and also the top level pages of the distinct learning projects and resources. It seems to me that Wikiversity software should allow the creating of top level topics such that all the subordinate material under each topic is structurally contained under that topic. So if you 'grab' the top level page, you have direct access to everything under it and nothing that is '''''not''''' under it.
Don't subpages allow this now? Yes to a certain extent. But there are two problems associated with this in practice:
First, not enforceable nor natural
Second, lack of ability to have page display names or aliases
==Stuff - might be useful as examples ==
<!-- This portal was created using subst:box portal skeleton -->
{{Navbox
<!-- |bodyclass = -->
|style = float:left;width:75%;
|name = Droflet/Sandbox
|title = <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:150%;"> Topics for Progress and Prospects in Parkinson's Research</span>
|image = [[File:GIF image - NEW!.gif|32px|link=|alt=]]
|navbar = plain
|titlestyle = color:blue;background:lightgreen;padding-top:2em;padding-bottom:2em;
|basestyle = color:green;background:pink;
|groupstyle = width:auto;
|liststyle = width:90%;
|group1style = color:green;background:pink;
|list1style = background:#ffdd44;
|group2style = color:red;background:gold;
|list2style = background:#ff44dd;
|group3style = color:lightgreen;background:#ff66dd;
|above = Text above the info
<!-- |state = -->
|group1 = [[Researching_Parkinson's]]
|list1 = [[Modelling_PD]] {{·}} Member 1.2
|group2 = [[PD_Causes]]
|list2 = [[PD_Inheritance/SNCA|SNCA]] {{·}}
[[PD_Inheritance/LRRK2|LRRK2]] {{·}} [[PD_Inheritance/MAPT|MAPT]]
|group3 = [[Parkinson's_Pathogenesis|Pathogenesis]]
|list3 = {{Navbox
|name = Nested Navbox
|title = Nested Navbox
<!-- |titleclass =
|image = -->
|state = uncollapsed
|border = child
|navbar = plain
|basestyle = color:red;background:yellow;
|above = Text above the info of the nested subbox
<!-- |state = -->
|group1 = [[Current_Parkinson's_Paradigm|Current Parkinson's Paradigm]]
|list1 = [[Current_Parkinson's_Paradigm/Working_Hypothesis|Working Hypothesis]], [[Current_Parkinson's_Paradigm/Emerging_Hypotheses| Emerging Hypotheses]], [[Current_Parkinson's_Paradigm/Oxidative_Stress| Oxidative Stress]], [[Current_Parkinson's_Paradigm/Inflammation| Inflammation]], [[Current_Parkinson's_Paradigm/Role_of_alpha-synuclein| Role of alpha-synuclein]]
|group2 = Group s2
|list2 = Member s2.1 {{·}} Member s2.2 {{·}} Member s2.3
|below = Text below the info of the nested subbox
}}
|below = Text below the info
}}
<div style="float:right;width:100%">
<span style="color:blue;font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:14pt">This is text.</span> <span style="color:yellow">And more text.</span> height:30px;font-size:14pt;
</div>
{|
|-
|
{{/Tmpl_Cot|Title One - - <small><small>''(Click to show / hide)''</small></small> |border=2px groove red|bg=orange|width=400px|style=height:40px;}}
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{{Collapse_top|Title Two - - <small>''(Click to show / hide)''</small>|bg=lightgreen|width=300px}}
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|}
Text immediately before {{Collapse_top|<big>Magazine Section</big> - - <small>''(Click to show / hide)''</small>|This is an example of pulling in another page |bg=lightblue|width=350px|expand=1}}
{{{{FULLPAGENAME}}/Magazine Section}}
{{Collapse_bottom}} and after goes above and below the box.
<div style="float:right; width:100%">
{{/box-header|<big>The Science Behind Parkinson's Portal</big>|{{FULLPAGENAME}}/Intro|}}
{{{{FULLPAGENAME}}/Intro}}
{{/box-footer|}}
</div>
<div style="float:left; width:70%">
{{robelbox|theme=2|title=Test title}}
<div style="{{Robelbox/pad}}; height:50px; overflow:auto;">
Test content using a default box with theme=2
blah
blah
blah
blah
</div>
{{Robelbox/close}}
{{RoundBoxTop|theme=12}}
<div style="{{Robelbox/pad}}; height:50px; overflow:auto;">
Test content using a default box with theme=12
blah
blah
blah
blah
</div>
{{RoundBoxBottom}}
{{Collapse_top|Test overflow|border=thin solid red|width=50%}}
<div style="height:100px; overflow:auto; {{Robelbox/pad}}; border: thin solid gold;">
Test content using a default box with theme=12
blah
blah
blah
blah
</div>
{{Collapse_bottom}}
Adding an interwiki link: [[wikipedia:Randomized control trial|Randomized control trial]]
[[User:Droflet/Sandbox/GDNF]]
{{Portals}}
</div>
{{Purgepage}}
<ref>{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1172/JCI68295
| issn = 0021-9738
| last = Aviles-Olmos
| first = Iciar
| coauthors = John Dickson, Zinovia Kefalopoulou, Atbin Djamshidian, Peter Ell, Therese Soderlund, Peter Whitton, Richard Wyse, Tom Isaacs, Andrew Lees, Patricia Limousin, Thomas Foltynie
| title = Exenatide and the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease
| journal = Journal of Clinical Investigation
| date = 2013-05-20
| url = http://www.jci.org/articles/view/68295?key=424690bda975bb0c7d68
}}</ref>
__NOTOC__ __NOEDITSECTION__
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}|*{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
<!-- Recategorize Category:Portals under construction to an appropriate subcategory of Category:Portals
once the portal is ready for viewing by non-editors. -->
[[Category:Portals under construction|{{PAGENAME}}]]
4xq5q1zjcgtbk3xf4pemavgeguas9ot
User:Drbogdan
2
145886
2805573
2787205
2026-04-20T00:05:42Z
Drbogdan
241794
adj
2805573
wikitext
text/x-wiki
[[File:DrDennisBogdan.jpg|thumb|[http://drbogdan.dreamwidth.org Dr. Dennis Bogdan]]]
'''Drbogdan''' - My Professional Background Includes [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0014299970901676 Publishing Medical Research Studies], [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53700048583_989671ec8b_n.jpg Directing Hospital Laboratories], [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53700048583_989671ec8b_n.jpg Lecturing University Students] And [https://archive.ph/YmCTD Contributing As A Grandmaster Editor To Wikipedia]. Also, I Have [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53700048583_989671ec8b_n.jpg Headed Science Fairs] And Have Been Associated With, For A Brief Time, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_Symphony_Orchestra The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra] And [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_Ballet_Theatre The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater]. My Professional Background Is Summarized In More Detail On [https://drbogdan.wordpress.com/2024/10/08/publications-complete My Publications Pages] And WebSites ([https://drbogdan.dreamwidth.org DreamWidth], [https://drbogdan.livejournal.com LiveJournal] And [https://drbogdan.wordpress.com/My-Profile WordPress]).
==My Links==
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20151003143043/http://home.comcast.net/~drbogdan/publications.html My Publications Page] ([http://archive.today/bXZYs <u><big>'''a'''</big></u>rchive]/[http://web.archive.org/web/20140128184001/http://home.comcast.net/~drbogdan/publications.html way<u><big>'''b'''</big></u>ack]/[http://www.webcitation.org/6P1riKsfF web<u><big>'''c'''</big></u>ite])
* [https://drbogdan.wordpress.com/2024/10/08/publications-summary-20241008 My Publications Summary] & [https://drbogdan.wordpress.com/2024/10/08/publications-complete-20241008 Publications Complete]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20151002151258/http://home.comcast.net/~drbogdan/membersonly/music.html My Original Music] & [http://www.youtube.com/user/joannebogdan/videos My Original Music Videos]
* [http://www.facebook.com/drbogdan My FaceBook] & [https://www.flickr.com/photos/drbogdan/ My Flickr] & [http://drbogdan.livejournal.com My LiveJournal]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Drbogdan&direction=prev&oldid=1232617906 My Wikipedia Page] ([https://archive.ph/YmCTD a]/[https://web.archive.org/web/20240722001545/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Drbogdan b]/[https://ghostarchive.org/archive/4oVTp g]<!---/[http://www.webcitation.org/6P1of3jXl c]--->)
* EMail Me (drbogdan) => @ [[Special:EmailUser/Drbogdan|Wikipedia]] OR @ [mailto:drbogdan@yahoo.com Yahoo]
{| align=center border=3 cellspacing=0 style="border-width: 5px; border-color: SkyBlue; background: Beige; margin: 2em;"
| style="text-align: center; padding: 10px 60px 10px 60px;" |
<small>'''This is a Wikiversity [[w:Wikipedia:User pages|user page]].'''</small><br /><small>This is not an encyclopedia article. If you find this page on any site other than Wikiversity, you are viewing a [[w:Mirror (computing)|mirror site]]. Be aware that the page may be outdated and that the user to whom this page belongs may have no personal affiliation with any site other than Wikiversity itself. The original page is located at https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/User:Drbogdan</small>
|}
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<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
<!---
{{Persondata
| NAME = [[w:User talk:Drbogdan|Dr. Dennis Bogdan]]
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = [[w:User talk:Drbogdan|Drbogdan]]; [[w:User talk:Drbogdan|Dennis]]
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = [[w:Americans|American]] [[w:Scientist]]
| DATE OF BIRTH = 12 March 1944
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[w:Sharon, Pennsylvania]], [[w:USA]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
--->
g50u4d78tq2wf50qwnmj44ehkvm66it
IT Service Management/Service Transition
0
152209
2805557
1958510
2026-04-19T20:57:04Z
~2026-24181-01
3067383
/* Readings */ Removed broken reading link
2805557
wikitext
text/x-wiki
{{:{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Sidebar}}
'''Service transition''' ensures that new, modified or retired services meet the expectations of the business as documented in the service strategy and service design stages of the lifecycle. Service transition includes the processes of transition planning and support, change management, service asset and configuration management, release and deployment management, service validation and testing, change evaluation, and knowledge management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
__TOC__
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for the Service Transition portion of ITIL Foundation certification include:<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=625&sID=197 ITIL Foundation Syllabus]</ref>
* Account for the purpose, objectives and scope of service transition
* Briefly explain what value service transition provides to the business
* Explain the purpose, objectives, scope, basic concepts, process activities and interfaces for:
** Change management
*** Types of change request
*** Change models
*** Remediation planning
*** Change advisory board / emergency change advisory board
*** Lifecycle of a normal change
* State the purpose, objectives and scope for:
** Release and deployment management
*** Four phases of release and deployment
** Knowledge management
*** Data-to-Information-to-Knowledge-to-Wisdom (DIKW) & SKMS
** Service asset and configuration management (SACM)
** Transition planning and support
* Define and explain:
** Change
** Change proposals
** Change types (standard, emergency and normal)
** Configuration item (CI)
** Configuration management system
** Definitive media library (DML)
** Release policy
** Service knowledge management system (SKMS)
== Readings ==
# [[Wikipedia: ITIL#Service transition]]
# [[Wikipedia: Change management (ITSM)]]
# [[Wikipedia: Software asset management]]
# [[Wikipedia: Configuration Management (ITSM)]]
# [[Wikipedia: Configuration management database]]
# [[Wikipedia: Release management]]
# [[Wikipedia: Verification and validation]]
# [[Wikipedia: Knowledge management]]
# [https://web.archive.org/web/20130921015219/http://www.itil.org/en/vomkennen/itil/servicetransition/index.php Archive.org: ITIL.org: Service Transition]
#
== Multimedia ==
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWMzmZp7Jf0 YouTube: Introduction to ITIL Service Transition]
== Activities ==
# Describe the purpose, objectives and scope of service transition and explain what value service transition provides to the business.
# Explain the purpose, objectives, scope, basic concepts, process activities and interfaces for change management, including examples for each:
#* Change management
#* Types of change request
#* Change models
#* Remediation planning
#* Change advisory board / emergency change advisory board
#* Lifecycle of a normal change
# State the purpose, objectives and scope for one or more of the following, with examples:
#* Release and deployment management, including the four phases of release and deployment
#* Knowledge management, including Data-to-Information-to-Knowledge-to-Wisdom (DIKW) & SKMS
#* Service asset and configuration management (SACM)
#* Transition planning and support
# Case Project - Continue the hypothetical organization and service desk design your team documented in the previous lesson. Add the following information to the Service Transition section.
#* Based on the new or changed services proposal identified in the previous lesson, determine and outline a transition plan.
#* Describe how the changes will be managed, including the change process, remediation planning, and the change advisory board,
#* Describe any technology or tools that will be used to manage deployment of the changes.
#* Describe how knowledge and wisdom will be collected and shared within the service desk organization.
# Use the [[Talk:{{PAGENAMEE}} | Discuss]] page to post comments and questions regarding this lesson.
# Review the [[#Lesson_Summary | lesson summary]], [[#Key_Terms | key terms]], [[#Review_Questions | review questions]] and [[#Assessments | assessments]] below.
== Lesson Summary ==
* Service transition ensures that new, modified or retired services meet the expectations of the business as documented in the service strategy and service design stages of the lifecycle. Service transition includes the following processes: transition planning and support, change management, service asset and configuration management, release and deployment management, service validation and testing, change evaluation, and knowledge management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Change management is the process responsible for controlling the lifecycle of all changes, enabling beneficial changes to be made with minimum disruption to IT services.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Change request types include standard, emergency, and normal. Standard changes are preapproved, clearly defined and understood, with low or well-known risk. Emergency changes may be assessed and authorized by an emergency change advisory board, with limited testing, and documented after the change is completed. Normal changes follow the typical lifecycle with a request for change (RFC), assessment, evaluation, authorization, planning and testing, implementation, and review.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* Change models are repeatable ways of dealing with a particular category of change. These include specific agreed steps that will be followed for a change of this category. Change models may be very complex with many steps that require authorization or may be very simple with no requirement for authorization.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Remediation planning is the plan of actions to be taken to recover after a failed change or release. Remediation may include back-out, invocation of service continuity plans, or other actions designed to enable the business process to continue.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* The change advisory board / emergency change advisory board is a group of people that support the assessment, prioritization, authorization and scheduling of changes. A change advisory board is usually made up of representatives from: all areas within the IT service provider; the business; and third parties such as suppliers.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Release and deployment management is the process responsible for planning, scheduling and controlling the build, test and deployment of releases, and for delivering new functionality required by the business while protecting the integrity of existing services.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* The four phases of release and deployment are plan, build and test, deploy, and review and close.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* Knowledge management is the process responsible for sharing perspectives, ideas, experience and information, and for ensuring that these are available in the right place and at the right time. The knowledge management process enables informed decisions, and improves efficiency by reducing the need to rediscover knowledge.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Data-to-Information-to-Knowledge-to-Wisdom (DIKW) is a way of understanding the relationships between data, information, knowledge and wisdom. DIKW shows how each of these builds on the others.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A service knowledge management system (SKMS) is a set of tools and databases that is used to manage knowledge, information and data. The service knowledge management system includes the configuration management system, as well as other databases and information systems. The service knowledge management system includes tools for collecting, storing, managing, updating, analyzing and presenting all the knowledge, information and data that an IT service provider will need to manage the full lifecycle of IT services.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service asset and configuration management (SACM) is the process responsible for ensuring that the assets required to deliver services are properly controlled, and that accurate and reliable information about those assets is available when and where it is needed. This information includes details of how the assets have been configured and the relationships between assets.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Transition planning and support is the process responsible for planning all service transition processes and coordinating the resources that they require.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A change is the addition, modification or removal of anything that could have an effect on IT services. The scope should include changes to all architectures, processes, tools, metrics and documentation, as well as changes to IT services and other configuration items.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Change proposals are documents that include a high level description of a potential service introduction or significant change, along with a corresponding business case and an expected implementation schedule. Change proposals are normally created by the service portfolio management process and are passed to change management for authorization. Change management will review the potential impact on other services, on shared resources, and on the overall change schedule. Once the change proposal has been authorized, service portfolio management will charter the service.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Configuration items (CI) are any component or other service asset that needs to be managed in order to deliver an IT service. Information about each configuration item is recorded in a configuration record within the configuration management system and is maintained throughout its lifecycle by service asset and configuration management. Configuration items are under the control of change management. They typically include IT services, hardware, software, buildings, people and formal documentation such as process documentation and service level agreements.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A configuration management system is a set of tools, data and information that is used to support service asset and configuration management. The CMS is part of an overall service knowledge management system and includes tools for collecting, storing, managing, updating, analyzing and presenting data about all configuration items and their relationships. The CMS may also include information about incidents, problems, known errors, changes and releases. The CMS is maintained by service asset and configuration management and is used by all IT service management processes.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A definitive media library (DML) is one or more locations in which the definitive and authorized versions of all software configuration items are securely stored. The definitive media library may also contain associated configuration items such as licences and documentation. It is a single logical storage area even if there are multiple locations. The definitive media library is controlled by service asset and configuration management and is recorded in the configuration management system.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A release policy defines how releases will be defined and processed and how release activities will be managed.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
== Key Terms ==
Key Terms definitions are copyright © AXELOS Limited 2011. All rights reserved. Material is reproduced with the permission of AXELOS.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
;asset management
:A generic activity or process responsible for tracking and reporting the value and ownership of assets throughout their lifecycle.
;asset register
:A list of fixed assets that includes their ownership and value.
;attribute
:A piece of information about a configuration item.
;back-out
:An activity that restores a service or other configuration item to a previous baseline.
;baseline
:A snapshot that is used as a reference point.
;benchmark
:A baseline that is used to compare related data sets as part of a benchmarking exercise.
;build
:The activity of assembling a number of configuration items to create part of an IT service.
;build environment
:A controlled environment where applications, IT services and other builds are assembled prior to being moved into a test or live environment.
;change
:The addition, modification or removal of anything that could have an effect on IT services.
;change advisory board (CAB)
:A group of people that support the assessment, prioritization, authorization and scheduling of changes.
;change evaluation
:The process responsible for formal assessment of a new or changed IT service to ensure that risks have been managed and to help determine whether to authorize the change.
;change history
:Information about all changes made to a configuration item during its life.
;change management
:The process responsible for controlling the lifecycle of all changes, enabling beneficial changes to be made with minimum disruption to IT services.
;change model
:A repeatable way of dealing with a particular category of change.
;change proposal
:A document that includes a high level description of a potential service introduction or significant change, along with a corresponding business case and an expected implementation schedule.
;change record
:A record containing the details of a change.
;change schedule
:A document that lists all authorized changes and their planned implementation dates, as well as the estimated dates of longer-term changes.
;change window
:A regular, agreed time when changes or releases may be implemented with minimal impact on services.
;CI type
:A category that is used to classify configuration items.
;component CI
:A configuration item that is part of an assembly.
;configuration
:A generic term used to describe a group of configuration items that work together to deliver an IT service, or a recognizable part of an IT service.
;configuration baseline
:The baseline of a configuration that has been formally agreed and is managed through the change management process.
;configuration control
:The activity responsible for ensuring that adding, modifying or removing a configuration item is properly managed.
;configuration identification
:The activity responsible for collecting information about configuration items and their relationships, and loading this information into the configuration management database.
;configuration item (CI)
:Any component or other service asset that needs to be managed in order to deliver an IT service.
;configuration management database (CMDB)
:A database used to store configuration records throughout their lifecycle.
;configuration management system (CMS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support service asset and configuration management.
;configuration record
:A record containing the details of a configuration item.
;configuration structure
:The hierarchy and other relationships between all the configuration items that comprise a configuration.
;Data-to-Information-to-Knowledge-to-Wisdom (DIKW)
:A way of understanding the relationships between data, information, knowledge and wisdom.
;definitive media library (DML)
:One or more locations in which the definitive and authorized versions of all software configuration items are securely stored.
;deployment
:The activity responsible for movement of new or changed hardware, software, documentation, process etc. to the live environment.
;early life support (ELS)
:A stage in the service lifecycle that occurs at the end of deployment and before the service is fully accepted into operation.
;emergency change
:A change that must be introduced as soon as possible.
;emergency change advisory board (ECAB)
:A subgroup of the change advisory board that makes decisions about emergency changes.
;environment
:A subset of the IT infrastructure that is used for a particular purpose.
;fixed asset
:A tangible business asset that has a long-term useful life.
;fixed asset management
:The process responsible for tracking and reporting the value and ownership of fixed assets throughout their lifecycle.
;impact
:A measure of the effect of an incident, problem or change on business processes.
;knowledge base
:A logical database containing data and information used by the service knowledge management system.
;knowledge management
:The process responsible for sharing perspectives, ideas, experience and information, and for ensuring that these are available in the right place and at the right time.
;live
:Refers to an IT service or other configuration item that is being used to deliver service to a customer.
;live environment
:A controlled environment containing live configuration items used to deliver IT services to customers.
;normal change
:A change that is not an emergency change or a standard change.
;pilot
:A limited deployment of an IT service, a release or a process to the live environment.
;priority
:A category used to identify the relative importance of an incident, problem or change.
;projected service outage (PSO)
:A document that identifies the effect of planned changes, maintenance activities and test plans on agreed service levels.
;qualification
:An activity that ensures that the IT infrastructure is appropriate and correctly configured to support an application or IT service.
;quality assurance (QA)
:The process responsible for ensuring that the quality of a service, process or other service asset will provide its intended value.
;release
:One or more changes to an IT service that are built, tested and deployed together.
;release and deployment management
:The process responsible for planning, scheduling and controlling the build, test and deployment of releases, and for delivering new functionality required by the business while protecting the integrity of existing services.
;release identification
:A naming convention used to uniquely identify a release.
;release package
:A set of configuration items that will be built, tested and deployed together as a single release.
;release record
:A record that defines the content of a release.
;release unit
:Components of an IT service that are normally released together.
;remediation
:Actions taken to recover after a failed change or release.
;request for change (RFC)
:A formal proposal for a change to be made.
;retire
:Permanent removal of an IT service, or other configuration item, from the live environment.
;service acceptance criteria (SAC)
:A set of criteria used to ensure that an IT service meets its functionality and quality requirements and that the IT service provider is ready to operate the new IT service when it has been deployed.
;service asset and configuration management (SACM)
:The process responsible for ensuring that the assets required to deliver services are properly controlled, and that accurate and reliable information about those assets is available when and where it is needed.
;service knowledge management system (SKMS)
:A set of tools and databases that is used to manage knowledge, information and data.
;service transition
:A stage in the lifecycle of a service which ensures that new, modified or retired services meet the expectations of the business as documented in the service strategy and service design stages of the lifecycle.
;service validation and testing
:The process responsible for validation and testing of a new or changed IT service.
;snapshot
:The current state of a configuration item, process or any other set of data recorded at a specific point in time.
;software asset management (SAM)
:The process responsible for tracking and reporting the use and ownership of software assets throughout their lifecycle.
;standard change
:A pre-authorized change that is low risk, relatively common and follows a procedure or work instruction.
;status accounting
:The activity responsible for recording and reporting the lifecycle of each configuration item.
;test
:An activity that verifies that a configuration item, IT service, process etc. meets its specification or agreed requirements.
;test environment
:A controlled environment used to test configuration items, releases, IT services, processes etc.
;transition
:A change in state, corresponding to a movement of an IT service or other configuration item from one lifecycle status to the next.
;transition planning and support
:The process responsible for planning all service transition processes and coordinating the resources that they require.
;urgency
:A measure of how long it will be until an incident, problem or change has a significant impact on the business.
;validation
:An activity that ensures a new or changed IT service, process, plan or other deliverable meets the needs of the business.
;verification
:An activity that ensures that a new or changed IT service, process, plan or other deliverable is complete, accurate, reliable and matches its design specification.
;verification and audit
:The activities responsible for ensuring that information in the configuration management system is accurate and that all configuration items have been identified and recorded.
;version
:A version is used to identify a specific baseline of a configuration item.
== Review Questions ==
{{noprint|{{JavaScript required|'''Enable JavaScript to hide answers.'''}}}}
{{Hide in print|'''Click on a question to see the answer.'''}}
{{review start}}
{{review question
|Service transition ensures _____. Service transition includes the following processes: _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, and _____.
|Service transition ensures that new, modified or retired services meet the expectations of the business as documented in the service strategy and service design stages of the lifecycle. Service transition includes the following processes: transition planning and support, change management, service asset and configuration management, release and deployment management, service validation and testing, change evaluation, and knowledge management.
}}
{{review question
|Change management is the process responsible for _____.
|Change management is the process responsible for controlling the lifecycle of all changes, enabling beneficial changes to be made with minimum disruption to IT services.
}}
{{review question
|Change request types include _____, _____, and _____. _____ changes are preapproved, clearly defined and understood, with low or well-known risk. _____ changes may be assessed and authorized by an emergency change advisory board, with limited testing, and documented after the change is completed. _____ changes follow the typical lifecycle with a request for change (RFC), assessment, evaluation, authorization, planning and testing, implementation, and review.
|Change request types include standard, emergency, and normal. Standard changes are preapproved, clearly defined and understood, with low or well-known risk. Emergency changes may be assessed and authorized by an emergency change advisory board, with limited testing, and documented after the change is completed. Normal changes follow the typical lifecycle with a request for change (RFC), assessment, evaluation, authorization, planning and testing, implementation, and review.
}}
{{review question
|Change models are _____. These include specific agreed steps that will be followed for a change of this category. Change models may be very complex with many steps that require authorization or may be very simple with no requirement for authorization.
|Change models are repeatable ways of dealing with a particular category of change. These include specific agreed steps that will be followed for a change of this category. Change models may be very complex with many steps that require authorization or may be very simple with no requirement for authorization.
}}
{{review question
|Remediation planning is the plan of _____. Remediation may include _____.
|Remediation planning is the plan of actions to be taken to recover after a failed change or release. Remediation may include back-out, invocation of service continuity plans, or other actions designed to enable the business process to continue.
}}
{{review question
|The change advisory board / emergency change advisory board is a group of people that support _____. A change advisory board is usually made up of representatives from: _____.
|The change advisory board / emergency change advisory board is a group of people that support the assessment, prioritization, authorization and scheduling of changes. A change advisory board is usually made up of representatives from: all areas within the IT service provider; the business; and third parties such as suppliers.
}}
{{review question
|Release and deployment management is the process responsible for _____.
|Release and deployment management is the process responsible for planning, scheduling and controlling the build, test and deployment of releases, and for delivering new functionality required by the business while protecting the integrity of existing services.
}}
{{review question
|The four phases of release and deployment are _____, _____, _____, and _____.
|The four phases of release and deployment are plan, build and test, deploy, and review and close.
}}
{{review question
|Knowledge management is the process responsible for _____. The knowledge management process enables _____, and improves efficiency by _____.
|Knowledge management is the process responsible for sharing perspectives, ideas, experience and information, and for ensuring that these are available in the right place and at the right time. The knowledge management process enables informed decisions, and improves efficiency by reducing the need to rediscover knowledge.
}}
{{review question
|_____-to-_____-to-_____-to-_____ (DIKW) is a way of understanding the relationships between _____, _____, _____ and _____. DIKW shows how each of these builds on the others.
|Data-to-Information-to-Knowledge-to-Wisdom (DIKW) is a way of understanding the relationships between data, information, knowledge and wisdom. DIKW shows how each of these builds on the others.
}}
{{review question
|A service knowledge management system (SKMS) is _____. The service knowledge management system includes _____. The service knowledge management system includes tools for _____.
|A service knowledge management system (SKMS) is a set of tools and databases that is used to manage knowledge, information and data. The service knowledge management system includes the configuration management system, as well as other databases and information systems. The service knowledge management system includes tools for collecting, storing, managing, updating, analyzing and presenting all the knowledge, information and data that an IT service provider will need to manage the full lifecycle of IT services.
}}
{{review question
|Service asset and configuration management (SACM) is the process responsible for _____. This information includes _____.
|Service asset and configuration management (SACM) is the process responsible for ensuring that the assets required to deliver services are properly controlled, and that accurate and reliable information about those assets is available when and where it is needed. This information includes details of how the assets have been configured and the relationships between assets.
}}
{{review question
|Transition planning and support is the process responsible for _____.
|Transition planning and support is the process responsible for planning all service transition processes and coordinating the resources that they require.
}}
{{review question
|A change is the _____, _____or _____of anything that could have an effect on IT services. The scope should include changes to _____.
|A change is the addition, modification or removal of anything that could have an effect on IT services. The scope should include changes to all architectures, processes, tools, metrics and documentation, as well as changes to IT services and other configuration items.
}}
{{review question
|Change proposals are documents that include _____, along with _____. Change proposals are normally created by _____ and are passed to change management for authorization. Change management will review _____. Once the change proposal has been authorized, _____ will charter the service.
|Change proposals are documents that include a high level description of a potential service introduction or significant change, along with a corresponding business case and an expected implementation schedule. Change proposals are normally created by the service portfolio management process and are passed to change management for authorization. Change management will review the potential impact on other services, on shared resources, and on the overall change schedule. Once the change proposal has been authorized, service portfolio management will charter the service.
}}
{{review question
|Configuration items (CI) are _____. Information about each configuration item is recorded in a configuration record within the configuration management system and is maintained throughout its lifecycle by _____. Configuration items are under the control of _____. They typically include _____.
|Configuration items (CI) are any component or other service asset that needs to be managed in order to deliver an IT service. Information about each configuration item is recorded in a configuration record within the configuration management system and is maintained throughout its lifecycle by service asset and configuration management. Configuration items are under the control of change management. They typically include IT services, hardware, software, buildings, people and formal documentation such as process documentation and service level agreements.
}}
{{review question
|A configuration management system is _____. The CMS is part of an overall service knowledge management system and includes tools for _____. The CMS may also include information about _____. The CMS is maintained by _____ and is used by all IT service management processes.
|A configuration management system is a set of tools, data and information that is used to support service asset and configuration management. The CMS is part of an overall service knowledge management system and includes tools for collecting, storing, managing, updating, analyzing and presenting data about all configuration items and their relationships. The CMS may also include information about incidents, problems, known errors, changes and releases. The CMS is maintained by service asset and configuration management and is used by all IT service management processes.
}}
{{review question
|A definitive media library (DML) is _____. The definitive media library may also contain _____. It is a single logical storage area even if there are multiple locations. The definitive media library is controlled by _____ and is recorded in the _____.
|A definitive media library (DML) is one or more locations in which the definitive and authorized versions of all software configuration items are securely stored. The definitive media library may also contain associated configuration items such as licences and documentation. It is a single logical storage area even if there are multiple locations. The definitive media library is controlled by service asset and configuration management and is recorded in the configuration management system.
}}
{{review question
|A release policy defines _____.
|A release policy defines how releases will be defined and processed and how release activities will be managed.
}}
{{review end}}
== Assessments ==
* Flashcards: [http://quizlet.com/41463909 Quizlet: IT Service Management - Service Transition]
* Quiz: [http://quizlet.com/41463909/test?mult_choice=on&prompt-with=1&limit=10 Quizlet: IT Service Management - Service Transition]
== See Also ==
* [http://www.bmc.com/guides/itil-service-transition.html BMC: ITIL Service Transition]
* [http://wiki.en.it-processmaps.com/index.php/ITIL_Service_Transition IT Process Maps: ITIL Service Transition]
== References ==
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[[Category:IT Service Management]]
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IT Service Management/Service Design
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'''Service design''' includes the design of the services, governing practices, processes and policies required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments. Service design includes the processes of design coordination, service catalog management, service level management, availability management, capacity management, IT service continuity management, information security management, and supplier management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
__TOC__
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for the Service Design portion of ITIL Foundation certification include:<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=625&sID=197 ITIL Foundation Syllabus]</ref>
* Account for the purpose, objectives and scope of service design
* Briefly explain what value service design provides to the business
* Understand the importance of people, processes, products and partners for service management
* Understand the five major aspects of service design:
** Service solutions for new or changed services
** Management information systems and tools
** Technology architectures and management architectures
** The processes required
** Measurement methods and metrics
* Explain the purpose, objectives, scope, basic concepts, process activities and interfaces for:
** Service level management (SLM)
** Service-based SLA
** Multi-level SLAs
** Service level requirements (SLRs)
** SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart
** Service review
** Service improvement plan (SIP)
** The relationship between SLM and BRM
* State the purpose, objectives and scope for:
** Service catalog management
** Availability management
** Service availability
** Component availability
** Reliability
** Maintainability
** Serviceability
** Vital business functions (VBF)
** Information security management (ISM)
*** Information security policy
** Supplier management
*** Supplier categories
** Capacity management
*** Capacity plan
*** Business capacity management
*** Service capacity management
*** Component capacity management
** IT service continuity management
*** Purpose of business impact analysis (BIA)
*** Risk assessment
** Design coordination
* Define and explain:
** Availability
** Operational level agreement (OLA)
** Service catalog (both two-view and three-view types)
** Service design package
** Service level agreement (SLA)
** Underpinning contract
== Readings ==
# [[Wikipedia: Service Design]]
# [[Wikibooks: ITIL v3 (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)/Service Design | Wikibooks: ITIL v3 Service Design]]
# [[Wikipedia: ITIL#Service design]]
# [[Wikipedia: Service catalog]]
# [[Wikipedia: Service-level agreement]]
# [[Wikipedia: Availability]]
# [[Wikipedia: Capacity management]]
# [[Wikipedia: Business continuity]]
# [[Wikipedia: ITIL security management]]
# [[Wikipedia: Supply management (procurement)]]
# [https://web.archive.org/web/20130921015137/http://www.itil.org/en/vomkennen/itil/servicedesign/index.php Archive.org: ITIL.org: Service Design]
# [http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/~/media/Files/members/activities/ITIL/servicedesign/ITIL_Introducing%20Service%20Design%20pdf.ashx UCISA: ITIL - Introducing Service Design]
== Multimedia ==
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JukRhrMVB3E YouTube: Introduction to ITIL Service Design]
#
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSdBOeEqspw/ YouTube: Service Design]
#
== Activities ==
# Describe the purpose, objectives and scope of service design and explain what value service design provides to the business.
# Describe the importance of people, processes, products and partners in service management. Include examples for each.
# Explain the five major aspects of service design and include examples for each:
#* Service solutions for new or changed services
#* Management information systems and tools
#* Technology architectures and management architectures
#* The processes required
#* Measurement methods and metrics
# Explain the purpose, objectives, scope, basic concepts, process activities and interfaces for service level management, including:
#* Service level management (SLM)
#* Service level agreements (SLAs)
#* Service level requirements (SLRs)
#* SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart
#* Service review
#* Service improvement plan (SIP)
#* The relationship between SLM and BRM
# Explain the purpose, objectives, and scope for one or more of the following service design processes and include examples:
#* Design coordination
#* Service catalog management
#* Service level management
#* Availability management
#* Capacity management
#* IT service continuity management
#* Information security management
#* Supplier management
# Case Project - Continue the hypothetical organization and service desk design your team documented in the previous lesson. Add the following information to the Service Design section.
#* Based on the greatest challenge or opportunity identified in the previous lesson, identify a service solution for new or changed services for the service desk. Describe the new or changed services proposal.
#* Describe any management information systems or tools necessary to implement this proposal.
#* Describe any necessary technology architecture changes or management architecture changes necessary to implement this proposal.
#* Describe the processes that would be impacted by this proposal, including service level, capacity, availability, continuity, and security.
#* Describe the measurement methods and metrics that would be used to determine whether or not the proposal is successful.
#* Define the parameters for a service level agreement that could be used to support this proposal. Include appropriate levels for the metrics identified above.
# Use the [[Talk:{{PAGENAMEE}} | Discuss]] page to post comments and questions regarding this lesson.
# Review the [[#Lesson_Summary | lesson summary]], [[#Key_Terms | key terms]], [[#Review_Questions | review questions]] and [[#Assessments | assessments]] below.
== Lesson Summary ==
* Service design includes the design of the services, governing practices, processes and policies required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments. Service design includes the following processes: design coordination, service catalog management, service level management, availability management, capacity management, IT service continuity management, information security management, and supplier management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* The value service design provides to the business is efficient services that match business requirements of capacity, continuity, availability, security, and functionality at an affordable cost.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* People are assets of the organization who help to deliver an IT service through their abilities to carry out activities.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Processes are structured sets of activities designed to accomplish a specific objective. A process takes one or more defined inputs and turns them into defined outputs. It may include any of the roles, responsibilities, tools and management controls required to reliably deliver the outputs. A process may define policies, standards, guidelines, activities and work instructions if they are needed.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Products are items produced or purchased, and distinct from services that are provided.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Partners form a relationship that involves working closely together for common goals or mutual benefit. The IT service provider should have a partnership with the business and with third parties who are critical to the delivery of IT services.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* The five major aspects of service design are service solutions for new or changed services, management information systems and tools, technology architectures and management architectures, the processes required, and measurement methods and metrics.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=625&sID=197 ITIL Foundation Syllabus]</ref>
* Service level management (SLM) is the service design process responsible for negotiating achievable service level agreements and ensuring that these are met. It is responsible for ensuring that all IT service management processes, operational level agreements and underpinning contracts are appropriate for the agreed service level targets. Service level management monitors and reports on service levels, holds regular service reviews with customers, and identifies required improvements.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A service level agreement (SLA) is an agreement between an IT service provider and a customer which describes the IT service, documents service level targets, and specifies the responsibilities of the IT service provider and the customer. A single agreement may cover multiple IT services or multiple customers.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service level agreements may be service-based, customer-based, or multi-level. A multi-level SLA includes a corporate level for the organization, a customer level for the customer, and a service level for each service covered by the agreement.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* Service level requirements (SLRs) are customer requirements for an aspect of an IT service. Service level requirements are based on business objectives and used to negotiate agreed service level targets.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* An SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart is used to help monitor and report achievements against service level targets. A SLAM chart is typically color-coded to show whether each agreed service level target has been met, missed or nearly missed during each of the previous 12 months.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A service review meeting should be held with customers monthly or quarterly to review any major incidents, service reports, improvement plans, changes anticipated, etc.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* Service improvement plan (SIP) is a formal plan to implement improvements to a process or IT service.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Business relationship management (BRM) is the service strategy process responsible for maintaining a positive relationship with customers. Business relationship management identifies customer needs and ensures that the service provider is able to meet these needs with an appropriate catalog of services. This process has strong links with service level management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service catalog management is the process responsible for providing and maintaining the service catalog and for ensuring that it is available to those who are authorized to access it.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Availability management is the process responsible for ensuring that IT services meet the current and future availability needs of the business in a cost-effective and timely manner. Availability management defines, analyses, plans, measures and improves all aspects of the availability of IT services, and ensures that all IT infrastructures, processes, tools, roles etc. are appropriate for the agreed service level targets for availability.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service availability is the ability of an IT service to perform its agreed function when required. <ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Component availability is the ability of a configuration item to perform its agreed function when required.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Reliability is a measure of how long an IT service or other configuration item can perform its agreed function without interruption, usually measured as MTBF or MTBSI.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Maintainability is a measure of how quickly and effectively an IT service or other configuration item can be restored to normal working after a failure, often measured and reported as MTRS.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Serviceability is the ability of a third-party supplier to meet the terms of its contract. This contract will include agreed levels of reliability, maintainability and availability for a configuration item.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Vital business functions (VBF) is part of a business process that is critical to the success of the business.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Information security management (ISM) is the process responsible for ensuring that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of an organization’s assets, information, data and IT services match the agreed needs of the business. Information security management supports business security and has a wider scope than that of the IT service provider, and includes handling of paper, building access, phone calls etc. for the entire organization.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Information security policy is the policy that governs the organization’s approach to information security management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Supplier management is the process responsible for obtaining value for money from suppliers, ensuring that all contracts and agreements with suppliers support the needs of the business, and that all suppliers meet their contractual commitments.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Suppliers are categorized based on value and risk. Strategic suppliers are high value, with a high risk of impact for negative performance. Tactical suppliers are medium value and medium risk. Operational suppliers are either low value or low risk. Commodity suppliers are both low value and low risk.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* Capacity management is the process responsible for ensuring that the capacity of IT services and the IT infrastructure is able to meet agreed capacity- and performance-related requirements in a cost-effective and timely manner. Capacity management considers all resources required to deliver an IT service, and is concerned with meeting both the current and future capacity and performance needs of the business. Capacity management includes three sub-processes: business capacity management, service capacity management, and component capacity management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Capacity plan is a plan used to manage the resources required to deliver IT services. The plan contains details of current and historic usage of IT services and components, and any issues that need to be addressed (including related improvement activities). The plan also contains scenarios for different predictions of business demand and costed options to deliver the agreed service level targets.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Business capacity management is the sub- process of capacity management responsible for understanding future business requirements for use in the capacity plan.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the performance and capacity of IT services. Information on the resources used by each IT service and the pattern of usage over time are collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Component capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the capacity, utilization and performance of configuration items. Data is collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* IT service continuity management is the process responsible for managing risks that could seriously affect IT services. IT service continuity management ensures that the IT service provider can always provide minimum agreed service levels, by reducing the risk to an acceptable level and planning for the recovery of IT services. IT service continuity management supports business continuity management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Business impact analysis (BIA) is the activity in business continuity management that identifies vital business functions and their dependencies. These dependencies may include suppliers, people, other business processes, IT services etc. Business impact analysis defines the recovery requirements for IT services. These requirements include recovery time objectives, recovery point objectives and minimum service level targets for each IT service.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Risk assessment is the initial steps of risk management: analysing the value of assets to the business, identifying threats to those assets, and evaluating how vulnerable each asset is to those threats. Risk assessment can be quantitative (based on numerical data) or qualitative.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Design coordination is the process responsible for coordinating all service design activities, processes and resources. Design coordination ensures the consistent and effective design of new or changed IT services, service management information systems, architectures, technology, processes, information and metrics.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Availability is the ability of an IT service or other configuration item to perform its agreed function when required. Availability is determined by reliability, maintainability, serviceability, performance and security. Availability is usually calculated as a percentage. This calculation is often based on agreed service time and downtime, and it is best practice to calculate availability of an IT service using measurements of the business output.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Operational level agreement (OLA) is an agreement between an IT service provider and another part of the same organization.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service catalog (both two-view and three-view types) is a database or structured document with information about all live IT services, including those available for deployment. The service catalog is part of the service portfolio and contains information about two types of IT service: customer-facing services that are visible to the business; and supporting services required by the service provider to deliver customer-facing services.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A service design package is document(s) defining all aspects of an IT service and its requirements through each stage of its lifecycle. A service design package is produced for each new IT service, major change or IT service retirement.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* An underpinning contract is a contract between an IT service provider and a third party. The third party provides goods or services that support delivery of an IT service to a customer. The underpinning contract defines targets and responsibilities that are required to meet agreed service level targets in one or more service level agreements.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
== Key Terms ==
Key Terms definitions are copyright © AXELOS Limited 2011. All rights reserved. Material is reproduced with the permission of AXELOS.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
;agreed service time (AST)
:A synonym for service hours, commonly used in formal calculations of availability.
;analytical modelling
:A technique that uses mathematical models to predict the behaviour of IT services or other configuration items.
;application portfolio
:A database or structured document used to manage applications throughout their lifecycle.
;application service provider (ASP)
:An external service provider that provides IT services using applications running at the service provider’s premises.
;application sizing
:The activity responsible for understanding the resource requirements needed to support a new application, or a major change to an existing application.
;architecture
:The structure of a system or IT service, including the relationships of components to each other and to the environment they are in.
;availability
:Ability of an IT service or other configuration item to perform its agreed function when required.
;availability management (AM)
:The process responsible for ensuring that IT services meet the current and future availability needs of the business in a cost-effective and timely manner.
;availability management information system (AMIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support availability management.
;availability plan
:A plan to ensure that existing and future availability requirements for IT services can be provided cost- effectively.
;backup
:Copying data to protect against loss of integrity or availability of the original.
;brainstorming
:A technique that helps a team to generate ideas.
;business capacity management
:In the context of ITSM, business capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding future business requirements for use in the capacity plan.
;business continuity management (BCM)
:The business process responsible for managing risks that could seriously affect the business.
;business continuity plan (BCP)
:A plan defining the steps required to restore business processes following a disruption.
;capacity
:The maximum throughput that a configuration item or IT service can deliver.
;capacity management
:The process responsible for ensuring that the capacity of IT services and the IT infrastructure is able to meet agreed capacity- and performance-related requirements in a cost-effective and timely manner.
;capacity management information system (CMIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support capacity management.
;capacity plan
:A plan used to manage the resources required to deliver IT services, including details of current and historic usage of IT services and components, and any issues that need to be addressed (including related improvement activities).
;capacity planning
:The activity within capacity management responsible for creating a capacity plan.
;commercial off the shelf (COTS)
:Pre-existing application software or middleware that can be purchased from a third party.
;component capacity management (CCM)
:The sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the capacity, utilization and performance of configuration items.
;component failure impact analysis (CFIA)
:A technique that helps to identify the impact of configuration item failure on IT services and the business.
;confidentiality
:A security principle that requires that data should only be accessed by authorized people.
;continuous availability
:An approach or design to achieve 100% availability.
;continuous operation
:An approach or design to eliminate planned downtime of an IT service.
;customer-facing service
:An IT service that is visible to the customer.
;demand management
:The process responsible for understanding, anticipating and influencing customer demand for services.
;design
:An activity or process that identifies requirements and then defines a solution that is able to meet these requirements.
;design coordination
:The process responsible for coordinating all service design activities, processes and resources.
;development
:The process responsible for creating or modifying an IT service or application ready for subsequent release and deployment.
;development environment
:An environment used to create or modify IT services or applications.
;downtime
:The time when an IT service or other configuration item is not available during its agreed service time.
;expanded incident lifecycle
:Detailed stages in the lifecycle of an incident.
;fast recovery
:A recovery option that is also known as hot standby, which normally uses a dedicated fixed facility with computer systems and software configured ready to run the IT services.
;fault tolerance
:The ability of an IT service or other configuration item to continue to operate correctly after failure of a component part.
;fault tree analysis (FTA)
:A technique that can be used to determine a chain of events that has caused an incident, or may cause an incident in the future.
;fixed facility
:A permanent building, available for use when needed by an IT service continuity plan.
;gradual recovery
:A recovery option that is also known as cold standby, which typically uses a portable or fixed facility that has environmental support and network cabling, but no computer systems.
;high availability
:An approach or design that minimizes or hides the effects of configuration item failure from the users of an IT service.
;immediate recovery
:A recovery option that is also known as hot standby, in which provision is made to recover the IT service with no significant loss of service to the customer.
;information security management (ISM)
:The process responsible for ensuring that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of an organization’s assets, information, data and IT services match the agreed needs of the business.
;information security management system (ISMS)
:The framework of policy, processes, functions, standards, guidelines and tools that ensures an organization can achieve its information security management objectives.
;information security policy
:The policy that governs the organization’s approach to information security management.
;integrity
:A security principle that ensures data and configuration items are modified only by authorized personnel and activities.
;intermediate recovery
:A recovery option that is also known as warm standby, which usually uses a shared portable or fixed facility that has computer systems and network components.
;invocation
:Initiation of the steps defined in a plan.
;ISO/IEC 27001
:An international specification for information security management.
;IT service continuity management (ITSCM)
:The process responsible for managing risks that could seriously affect IT services.
;IT service continuity plan
:A plan defining the steps required to recover one or more IT services.
;IT steering group (ISG)
:A formal group that is responsible for ensuring that business and IT service provider strategies and plans are closely aligned.
;key performance indicator (KPI)
:A metric that is used to help manage an IT service, process, plan, project or other activity.
;maintainability
:A measure of how quickly and effectively an IT service or other configuration item can be restored to normal working after a failure.
;management information system (MIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support a process or function.
;mean time between failures (MTBF)
:The average time that an IT service or other configuration item can perform its agreed function without interruption, measured from when the configuration item starts working, until it next fails.
;mean time between service incidents (MTBSI)
:The mean time from when a system or IT service fails, until it next fails, which is equal to MTBF plus MTRS.
;middleware
:Software that connects two or more software components or applications.
;operational level agreement (OLA)
:An agreement between an IT service provider and another part of the same organization.
;percentage utilization
:The amount of time that a component is busy over a given period of time.
;planned downtime
:Agreed time when an IT service will not be available.
;portable facility
:A prefabricated building, or a large vehicle, provided by a third party and moved to a site when needed according to an IT service continuity plan.
;project management office (PMO)
:A function or group responsible for managing the lifecycle of projects.
;project portfolio
:A database or structured document used to manage projects throughout their lifecycle.
;RACI
:A model used to help define roles and responsibilities, which stands for responsible, accountable, consulted and informed.
;reciprocal arrangement
:An agreement between two organizations to share resources in an emergency.
;recovery
:Returning a configuration item or an IT service to a working state.
;recovery option
:A strategy for responding to an interruption to service.
;recovery point objective (RPO)
:The maximum amount of data that may be lost when service is restored after an interruption.
;recovery time objective (RTO)
:The maximum time allowed for the recovery of an IT service following an interruption.
;redundancy
:Use of one or more additional configuration items to provide fault tolerance.
;reliability
:A measure of how long an IT service or other configuration item can perform its agreed function without interruption.
;requirement
:A formal statement of what is needed.
;resilience
:The ability of an IT service or other configuration item to resist failure or to recover in a timely manner following a failure.
;return to normal
:The phase of an IT service continuity plan during which full normal operations are resumed.
;security management information system (SMIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support information security management.
;service capacity management (SCM)
:The sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the performance and capacity of IT services.
;service catalog
:A database or structured document with information about all live IT services, including those available for deployment.
;service catalog management
:The process responsible for providing and maintaining the service catalog and for ensuring that it is available to those who are authorized to access it.
;service charter
:A document that contains details of a new or changed service.
;service design
:A stage in the lifecycle of a service, which includes the design of the services, governing practices, processes and policies required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments.
;service design package (SDP)
:Document(s) defining all aspects of an IT service and its requirements through each stage of its lifecycle.
;service failure analysis (SFA)
:A technique that identifies underlying causes of one or more IT service interruptions.
;service hours
:An agreed time period when a particular IT service should be available.
;service level agreement (SLA)
:An agreement between an IT service provider and a customer which describes the IT service, documents service level targets, and specifies the responsibilities of the IT service provider and the customer.
;service level management (SLM)
:The process responsible for negotiating achievable service level agreements and ensuring that these are met.
;service level requirement (SLR)
:A customer requirement for an aspect of an IT service.
;service level target
:A commitment that is documented in a service level agreement.
;service option
:A choice of utility and warranty offered to customers by a core service or service package.
;serviceability
:The ability of a third-party supplier to meet the terms of its contract.
;simulation modelling
:A technique that creates a detailed model to predict the behaviour of an IT service or other configuration item.
;single point of failure (SPOF)
:Any configuration item that can cause an incident when it fails, and for which a countermeasure has not been implemented.
;SMART
:An acronym for helping to remember that targets in service level agreements and project plans should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
;standby
:Used to refer to resources that are not required to deliver the live IT services, but are available to support IT service continuity plans.
;statement of requirements (SOR)
:A document containing all requirements for a product purchase, or a new or changed IT service.
;supplier
:A third party responsible for supplying goods or services that are required to deliver IT services.
;supplier and contract management information system (SCMIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support supplier management.
;supplier management
:The process responsible for obtaining value for money from suppliers, ensuring that all contracts and agreements with suppliers support the needs of the business, and that all suppliers meet their contractual commitments.
;support hours
:The times or hours when support is available to the users.
;supporting service
:An IT service that is not directly used by the business, but is required by the IT service provider to deliver customer-facing services.
;terms of reference (TOR)
:A document specifying the requirements, scope, deliverables, resources and schedule for a project or activity.
;throughput
:A measure of the number of transactions or other operations performed in a fixed time.
;underpinning contract (UC)
:A contract between an IT service provider and a third party.
;urgency
:A measure of how long it will be until an incident, problem or change has a significant impact on the business.
;usability
:The ease with which an application, product or IT service can be used. Usability requirements are often included in a statement of requirements.
;use case
:A technique used to define required functionality and objectives, and to design tests.
;vital business function (VBF)
:Part of a business process that is critical to the success of the business.
== Review Questions ==
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{{review start}}
{{review question
|Service design includes _____, _____, _____ and _____ required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments. Service design includes the following processes: _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, and _____.
|Service design includes the design of the services, governing practices, processes and policies required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments. Service design includes the following processes: design coordination, service catalog management, service level management, availability management, capacity management, IT service continuity management, information security management, and supplier management.
}}
{{review question
|The value service design provides to the business is _____.
|The value service design provides to the business is efficient services that match business requirements of capacity, continuity, availability, security, and functionality at an affordable cost.
}}
{{review question
|People are _____.
|People are assets of the organization who help to deliver an IT service through their abilities to carry out activities.
}}
{{review question
|Processes are _____. A process takes one or more defined inputs and turns them into defined outputs. It may include any of the roles, responsibilities, tools and management controls required to reliably deliver the outputs. A process may define _____ if they are needed.
|Processes are structured sets of activities designed to accomplish a specific objective. A process takes one or more defined inputs and turns them into defined outputs. It may include any of the roles, responsibilities, tools and management controls required to reliably deliver the outputs. A process may define policies, standards, guidelines, activities and work instructions if they are needed.
}}
{{review question
|Products are _____.
|Products are items produced or purchased, and distinct from services that are provided.
}}
{{review question
|Partners form _____. The IT service provider should have a partnership with _____.
|Partners form a relationship that involves working closely together for common goals or mutual benefit. The IT service provider should have a partnership with the business and with third parties who are critical to the delivery of IT services.
}}
{{review question
|The five major aspects of service design are _____, _____, _____, _____, and _____.
|The five major aspects of service design are service solutions for new or changed services, management information systems and tools, technology architectures and management architectures, the processes required, and measurement methods and metrics.
}}
{{review question
|Service level management (SLM) is the service design process responsible for _____. It is responsible for ensuring that all _____, _____ and _____ are appropriate for the agreed service level targets. Service level management _____, _____, and _____.
|Service level management (SLM) is the service design process responsible for negotiating achievable service level agreements and ensuring that these are met. It is responsible for ensuring that all IT service management processes, operational level agreements and underpinning contracts are appropriate for the agreed service level targets. Service level management monitors and reports on service levels, holds regular service reviews with customers, and identifies required improvements.
}}
{{review question
|A service level agreement (SLA) is an agreement between _____ and _____ which describes _____, documents _____, and specifies _____. A single agreement may cover multiple IT services or multiple customers.
|A service level agreement (SLA) is an agreement between an IT service provider and a customer which describes the IT service, documents service level targets, and specifies the responsibilities of the IT service provider and the customer. A single agreement may cover multiple IT services or multiple customers.
}}
{{review question
|Service level agreements may be _____-based, _____-based, or _____. A _____ SLA includes a corporate level for the organization, a customer level for the customer, and a service level for each service covered by the agreement.
|Service level agreements may be service-based, customer-based, or multi-level. A multi-level SLA includes a corporate level for the organization, a customer level for the customer, and a service level for each service covered by the agreement.
}}
{{review question
|Service level requirements (SLRs) are _____. Service level requirements are based on _____ and used to negotiate _____.
|Service level requirements (SLRs) are customer requirements for an aspect of an IT service. Service level requirements are based on business objectives and used to negotiate agreed service level targets.
}}
{{review question
|An SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart is used to _____. A SLAM chart is typically color-coded to show _____ during each of the previous 12 months.
|An SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart is used to help monitor and report achievements against service level targets. A SLAM chart is typically color-coded to show whether each agreed service level target has been met, missed or nearly missed during each of the previous 12 months.
}}
{{review question
|A service review meeting should be held with customers _____ to review _____, _____, _____, _____, etc.
|A service review meeting should be held with customers monthly or quarterly to review any major incidents, service reports, improvement plans, changes anticipated, etc.
}}
{{review question
|Service improvement plan (SIP) is a formal plan to implement improvements to a _____ or _____.
|Service improvement plan (SIP) is a formal plan to implement improvements to a process or IT service.
}}
{{review question
|Business relationship management (BRM) is the service strategy process responsible for _____. Business relationship management identifies _____ and ensures that the service provider is able to _____. This process has strong links with service level management.
|Business relationship management (BRM) is the service strategy process responsible for maintaining a positive relationship with customers. Business relationship management identifies customer needs and ensures that the service provider is able to meet these needs with an appropriate catalog of services. This process has strong links with service level management.
}}
{{review question
|Service catalog management is the process responsible for _____ and for ensuring that it is _____.
|Service catalog management is the process responsible for providing and maintaining the service catalog and for ensuring that it is available to those who are authorized to access it.
}}
{{review question
|Availability management is the process responsible for _____. Availability management _____ all aspects of the availability of IT services, and ensures that _____ are appropriate for the agreed service level targets for availability.
|Availability management is the process responsible for ensuring that IT services meet the current and future availability needs of the business in a cost-effective and timely manner. Availability management defines, analyses, plans, measures and improves all aspects of the availability of IT services, and ensures that all IT infrastructures, processes, tools, roles etc. are appropriate for the agreed service level targets for availability.
}}
{{review question
|Service availability is the _____.
|Service availability is the ability of an IT service to perform its agreed function when required.
}}
{{review question
|Component availability is the _____.
|Component availability is the ability of a configuration item to perform its agreed function when required.
}}
{{review question
|Reliability is a measure of _____, usually measured as _____.
|Reliability is a measure of how long an IT service or other configuration item can perform its agreed function without interruption, usually measured as MTBF or MTBSI.
}}
{{review question
|Maintainability is a measure of _____, often measured and reported as _____.
|Maintainability is a measure of how quickly and effectively an IT service or other configuration item can be restored to normal working after a failure, often measured and reported as MTRS.
}}
{{review question
|Serviceability is the ability of _____ to meet the terms of its contract. This contract will include _____, _____ and _____ for a configuration item.
|Serviceability is the ability of a third-party supplier to meet the terms of its contract. This contract will include agreed levels of reliability, maintainability and availability for a configuration item.
}}
{{review question
|Vital business functions (VBF) is _____.
|Vital business functions (VBF) is part of a business process that is critical to the success of the business.
}}
{{review question
|Information security management (ISM) is the process responsible for ensuring that the _____, _____ and _____ of an organization’s assets, information, data and IT services match the agreed needs of the business. Information security management supports business security and has a wider scope than that of the IT service provider, and includes _____ for the entire organization.
|Information security management (ISM) is the process responsible for ensuring that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of an organization’s assets, information, data and IT services match the agreed needs of the business. Information security management supports business security and has a wider scope than that of the IT service provider, and includes handling of paper, building access, phone calls etc. for the entire organization.
}}
{{review question
|Information security policy is the policy that governs _____.
|Information security policy is the policy that governs the organization’s approach to information security management.
}}
{{review question
|Supplier management is the process responsible for _____, _____, and _____.
|Supplier management is the process responsible for obtaining value for money from suppliers, ensuring that all contracts and agreements with suppliers support the needs of the business, and that all suppliers meet their contractual commitments.
}}
{{review question
|Suppliers are categorized based on _____ and _____. Strategic suppliers are _____, with _____. Tactical suppliers are _____ and _____. Operational suppliers are either _____ or _____. Commodity suppliers are both _____ and _____.
|Suppliers are categorized based on value and risk. Strategic suppliers are high value, with a high risk of impact for negative performance. Tactical suppliers are medium value and medium risk. Operational suppliers are either low value or low risk. Commodity suppliers are both low value and low risk.
}}
{{review question
|Capacity management is the process responsible for ensuring that _____. Capacity management considers _____, and is concerned with meeting _____. Capacity management includes three sub-processes: _____, _____, and _____.
|Capacity management is the process responsible for ensuring that the capacity of IT services and the IT infrastructure is able to meet agreed capacity- and performance-related requirements in a cost-effective and timely manner. Capacity management considers all resources required to deliver an IT service, and is concerned with meeting both the current and future capacity and performance needs of the business. Capacity management includes three sub-processes: business capacity management, service capacity management, and component capacity management.
}}
{{review question
|Capacity plan is _____. The plan contains _____, and _____. The plan also contains _____.
|Capacity plan is a plan used to manage the resources required to deliver IT services. The plan contains details of current and historic usage of IT services and components, and any issues that need to be addressed (including related improvement activities). The plan also contains scenarios for different predictions of business demand and costed options to deliver the agreed service level targets.
}}
{{review question
|Business capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for _____.
|Business capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding future business requirements for use in the capacity plan.
}}
{{review question
|Service capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for _____. Information on _____ and _____ are collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.
|Service capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the performance and capacity of IT services. Information on the resources used by each IT service and the pattern of usage over time are collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.
}}
{{review question
|Component capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for _____. Data is collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.
|Component capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the capacity, utilization and performance of configuration items. Data is collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.
}}
{{review question
|IT service continuity management is the process responsible for _____. IT service continuity management ensures that _____, by _____ and _____. IT service continuity management supports business continuity management.
|IT service continuity management is the process responsible for managing risks that could seriously affect IT services. IT service continuity management ensures that the IT service provider can always provide minimum agreed service levels, by reducing the risk to an acceptable level and planning for the recovery of IT services. IT service continuity management supports business continuity management.
}}
{{review question
|Business impact analysis (BIA) is _____. These dependencies may include _____. Business impact analysis defines _____. These requirements include _____.
|Business impact analysis (BIA) is the activity in business continuity management that identifies vital business functions and their dependencies. These dependencies may include suppliers, people, other business processes, IT services etc. Business impact analysis defines the recovery requirements for IT services. These requirements include recovery time objectives, recovery point objectives and minimum service level targets for each IT service.
}}
{{review question
|Risk assessment is the initial steps of risk management: _____, _____, and _____. Risk assessment can be quantitative (based on numerical data) or qualitative.
|Risk assessment is the initial steps of risk management: analyzing the value of assets to the business, identifying threats to those assets, and evaluating how vulnerable each asset is to those threats. Risk assessment can be quantitative (based on numerical data) or qualitative.
}}
{{review question
|Design coordination is the process responsible for _____. Design coordination ensures _____.
|Design coordination is the process responsible for coordinating all service design activities, processes and resources. Design coordination ensures the consistent and effective design of new or changed IT services, service management information systems, architectures, technology, processes, information and metrics.
}}
{{review question
|Availability is the ability of an IT service or other configuration item to _____. Availability is determined by _____. Availability is usually calculated as a percentage. This calculation is often based on _____ and _____, and it is best practice to calculate availability of an IT service using _____.
|Availability is the ability of an IT service or other configuration item to perform its agreed function when required. Availability is determined by reliability, maintainability, serviceability, performance and security. Availability is usually calculated as a percentage. This calculation is often based on agreed service time and downtime, and it is best practice to calculate availability of an IT service using measurements of the business output.
}}
{{review question
|Operational level agreement (OLA) is an agreement between _____ and _____.
|Operational level agreement (OLA) is an agreement between an IT service provider and another part of the same organization.
}}
{{review question
|Service catalog (both two-view and three-view types) is _____, including those available for deployment. The service catalog is part of the service portfolio and contains information about two types of IT service: _____ that are visible to the business; and _____ required by the service provider to deliver _____.
|Service catalog (both two-view and three-view types) is a database or structured document with information about all live IT services, including those available for deployment. The service catalog is part of the service portfolio and contains information about two types of IT service: customer-facing services that are visible to the business; and supporting services required by the service provider to deliver customer-facing services.
}}
{{review question
|A service design package is document(s) defining all _____ through each stage of its lifecycle. A service design package is produced for _____.
|A service design package is document(s) defining all aspects of an IT service and its requirements through each stage of its lifecycle. A service design package is produced for each new IT service, major change or IT service retirement.
}}
{{review question
|An underpinning contract is a contract between _____ and _____. The _____ provides goods or services that support _____. The underpinning contract defines _____.
|An underpinning contract is a contract between an IT service provider and a third party. The third party provides goods or services that support delivery of an IT service to a customer. The underpinning contract defines targets and responsibilities that are required to meet agreed service level targets in one or more service level agreements.
}}
{{review end}}
== Assessments ==
* Flashcards: [http://quizlet.com/41463751 Quizlet: IT Service Management - Service Design]
* Quiz: [http://quizlet.com/41463751/test?mult_choice=on&prompt-with=1&limit=10 Quizlet: IT Service Management - Service Design]
== See Also ==
* [http://www.bmc.com/guides/itil-service-design.html BMC: ITIL Service Design]
* [http://wiki.en.it-processmaps.com/index.php/ITIL_Service_Design IT Process Maps: ITIL Service Design]
* [http://thoughtrock.com/blogs/itil-2011-refresh-business-relationship-management-brm Thought Rock: Business Relationship Management (BRM)]
* [https://www.thinkhdi.com/~/media/HDICorp/Files/White-Papers/whtppr-0412-slm-making-it-work-hornbill.pdf Think HDI: Service Level Management (SLM)]
== References ==
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'''Service design''' includes the design of the services, governing practices, processes and policies required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments. Service design includes the processes of design coordination, service catalog management, service level management, availability management, capacity management, IT service continuity management, information security management, and supplier management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
__TOC__
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for the Service Design portion of ITIL Foundation certification include:<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=625&sID=197 ITIL Foundation Syllabus]</ref>
* Account for the purpose, objectives and scope of service design
* Briefly explain what value service design provides to the business
* Understand the importance of people, processes, products and partners for service management
* Understand the five major aspects of service design:
** Service solutions for new or changed services
** Management information systems and tools
** Technology architectures and management architectures
** The processes required
** Measurement methods and metrics
* Explain the purpose, objectives, scope, basic concepts, process activities and interfaces for:
** Service level management (SLM)
** Service-based SLA
** Multi-level SLAs
** Service level requirements (SLRs)
** SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart
** Service review
** Service improvement plan (SIP)
** The relationship between SLM and BRM
* State the purpose, objectives and scope for:
** Service catalog management
** Availability management
** Service availability
** Component availability
** Reliability
** Maintainability
** Serviceability
** Vital business functions (VBF)
** Information security management (ISM)
*** Information security policy
** Supplier management
*** Supplier categories
** Capacity management
*** Capacity plan
*** Business capacity management
*** Service capacity management
*** Component capacity management
** IT service continuity management
*** Purpose of business impact analysis (BIA)
*** Risk assessment
** Design coordination
* Define and explain:
** Availability
** Operational level agreement (OLA)
** Service catalog (both two-view and three-view types)
** Service design package
** Service level agreement (SLA)
** Underpinning contract
== Readings ==
# [[Wikipedia: Service Design]]
# [[Wikibooks: ITIL v3 (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)/Service Design | Wikibooks: ITIL v3 Service Design]]
# [[Wikipedia: ITIL#Service design]]
# [[Wikipedia: Service catalog]]
# [[Wikipedia: Service-level agreement]]
# [[Wikipedia: Availability]]
# [[Wikipedia: Capacity management]]
# [[Wikipedia: Business continuity]]
# [[Wikipedia: ITIL security management]]
# [[Wikipedia: Supply management (procurement)]]
# [https://web.archive.org/web/20130921015137/http://www.itil.org/en/vomkennen/itil/servicedesign/index.php Archive.org: ITIL.org: Service Design]
#
== Multimedia ==
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JukRhrMVB3E YouTube: Introduction to ITIL Service Design]
#
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSdBOeEqspw/ YouTube: Service Design]
#
== Activities ==
# Describe the purpose, objectives and scope of service design and explain what value service design provides to the business.
# Describe the importance of people, processes, products and partners in service management. Include examples for each.
# Explain the five major aspects of service design and include examples for each:
#* Service solutions for new or changed services
#* Management information systems and tools
#* Technology architectures and management architectures
#* The processes required
#* Measurement methods and metrics
# Explain the purpose, objectives, scope, basic concepts, process activities and interfaces for service level management, including:
#* Service level management (SLM)
#* Service level agreements (SLAs)
#* Service level requirements (SLRs)
#* SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart
#* Service review
#* Service improvement plan (SIP)
#* The relationship between SLM and BRM
# Explain the purpose, objectives, and scope for one or more of the following service design processes and include examples:
#* Design coordination
#* Service catalog management
#* Service level management
#* Availability management
#* Capacity management
#* IT service continuity management
#* Information security management
#* Supplier management
# Case Project - Continue the hypothetical organization and service desk design your team documented in the previous lesson. Add the following information to the Service Design section.
#* Based on the greatest challenge or opportunity identified in the previous lesson, identify a service solution for new or changed services for the service desk. Describe the new or changed services proposal.
#* Describe any management information systems or tools necessary to implement this proposal.
#* Describe any necessary technology architecture changes or management architecture changes necessary to implement this proposal.
#* Describe the processes that would be impacted by this proposal, including service level, capacity, availability, continuity, and security.
#* Describe the measurement methods and metrics that would be used to determine whether or not the proposal is successful.
#* Define the parameters for a service level agreement that could be used to support this proposal. Include appropriate levels for the metrics identified above.
# Use the [[Talk:{{PAGENAMEE}} | Discuss]] page to post comments and questions regarding this lesson.
# Review the [[#Lesson_Summary | lesson summary]], [[#Key_Terms | key terms]], [[#Review_Questions | review questions]] and [[#Assessments | assessments]] below.
== Lesson Summary ==
* Service design includes the design of the services, governing practices, processes and policies required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments. Service design includes the following processes: design coordination, service catalog management, service level management, availability management, capacity management, IT service continuity management, information security management, and supplier management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* The value service design provides to the business is efficient services that match business requirements of capacity, continuity, availability, security, and functionality at an affordable cost.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* People are assets of the organization who help to deliver an IT service through their abilities to carry out activities.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Processes are structured sets of activities designed to accomplish a specific objective. A process takes one or more defined inputs and turns them into defined outputs. It may include any of the roles, responsibilities, tools and management controls required to reliably deliver the outputs. A process may define policies, standards, guidelines, activities and work instructions if they are needed.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Products are items produced or purchased, and distinct from services that are provided.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Partners form a relationship that involves working closely together for common goals or mutual benefit. The IT service provider should have a partnership with the business and with third parties who are critical to the delivery of IT services.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* The five major aspects of service design are service solutions for new or changed services, management information systems and tools, technology architectures and management architectures, the processes required, and measurement methods and metrics.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=625&sID=197 ITIL Foundation Syllabus]</ref>
* Service level management (SLM) is the service design process responsible for negotiating achievable service level agreements and ensuring that these are met. It is responsible for ensuring that all IT service management processes, operational level agreements and underpinning contracts are appropriate for the agreed service level targets. Service level management monitors and reports on service levels, holds regular service reviews with customers, and identifies required improvements.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A service level agreement (SLA) is an agreement between an IT service provider and a customer which describes the IT service, documents service level targets, and specifies the responsibilities of the IT service provider and the customer. A single agreement may cover multiple IT services or multiple customers.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service level agreements may be service-based, customer-based, or multi-level. A multi-level SLA includes a corporate level for the organization, a customer level for the customer, and a service level for each service covered by the agreement.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* Service level requirements (SLRs) are customer requirements for an aspect of an IT service. Service level requirements are based on business objectives and used to negotiate agreed service level targets.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* An SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart is used to help monitor and report achievements against service level targets. A SLAM chart is typically color-coded to show whether each agreed service level target has been met, missed or nearly missed during each of the previous 12 months.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A service review meeting should be held with customers monthly or quarterly to review any major incidents, service reports, improvement plans, changes anticipated, etc.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* Service improvement plan (SIP) is a formal plan to implement improvements to a process or IT service.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Business relationship management (BRM) is the service strategy process responsible for maintaining a positive relationship with customers. Business relationship management identifies customer needs and ensures that the service provider is able to meet these needs with an appropriate catalog of services. This process has strong links with service level management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service catalog management is the process responsible for providing and maintaining the service catalog and for ensuring that it is available to those who are authorized to access it.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Availability management is the process responsible for ensuring that IT services meet the current and future availability needs of the business in a cost-effective and timely manner. Availability management defines, analyses, plans, measures and improves all aspects of the availability of IT services, and ensures that all IT infrastructures, processes, tools, roles etc. are appropriate for the agreed service level targets for availability.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service availability is the ability of an IT service to perform its agreed function when required. <ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Component availability is the ability of a configuration item to perform its agreed function when required.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Reliability is a measure of how long an IT service or other configuration item can perform its agreed function without interruption, usually measured as MTBF or MTBSI.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Maintainability is a measure of how quickly and effectively an IT service or other configuration item can be restored to normal working after a failure, often measured and reported as MTRS.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Serviceability is the ability of a third-party supplier to meet the terms of its contract. This contract will include agreed levels of reliability, maintainability and availability for a configuration item.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Vital business functions (VBF) is part of a business process that is critical to the success of the business.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Information security management (ISM) is the process responsible for ensuring that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of an organization’s assets, information, data and IT services match the agreed needs of the business. Information security management supports business security and has a wider scope than that of the IT service provider, and includes handling of paper, building access, phone calls etc. for the entire organization.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Information security policy is the policy that governs the organization’s approach to information security management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Supplier management is the process responsible for obtaining value for money from suppliers, ensuring that all contracts and agreements with suppliers support the needs of the business, and that all suppliers meet their contractual commitments.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Suppliers are categorized based on value and risk. Strategic suppliers are high value, with a high risk of impact for negative performance. Tactical suppliers are medium value and medium risk. Operational suppliers are either low value or low risk. Commodity suppliers are both low value and low risk.<ref>Gallacher, Liz and Morris, Helen. (2012). ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Sybex. {{ISBN|9781119942757}}</ref>
* Capacity management is the process responsible for ensuring that the capacity of IT services and the IT infrastructure is able to meet agreed capacity- and performance-related requirements in a cost-effective and timely manner. Capacity management considers all resources required to deliver an IT service, and is concerned with meeting both the current and future capacity and performance needs of the business. Capacity management includes three sub-processes: business capacity management, service capacity management, and component capacity management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Capacity plan is a plan used to manage the resources required to deliver IT services. The plan contains details of current and historic usage of IT services and components, and any issues that need to be addressed (including related improvement activities). The plan also contains scenarios for different predictions of business demand and costed options to deliver the agreed service level targets.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Business capacity management is the sub- process of capacity management responsible for understanding future business requirements for use in the capacity plan.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the performance and capacity of IT services. Information on the resources used by each IT service and the pattern of usage over time are collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Component capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the capacity, utilization and performance of configuration items. Data is collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* IT service continuity management is the process responsible for managing risks that could seriously affect IT services. IT service continuity management ensures that the IT service provider can always provide minimum agreed service levels, by reducing the risk to an acceptable level and planning for the recovery of IT services. IT service continuity management supports business continuity management.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Business impact analysis (BIA) is the activity in business continuity management that identifies vital business functions and their dependencies. These dependencies may include suppliers, people, other business processes, IT services etc. Business impact analysis defines the recovery requirements for IT services. These requirements include recovery time objectives, recovery point objectives and minimum service level targets for each IT service.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Risk assessment is the initial steps of risk management: analysing the value of assets to the business, identifying threats to those assets, and evaluating how vulnerable each asset is to those threats. Risk assessment can be quantitative (based on numerical data) or qualitative.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Design coordination is the process responsible for coordinating all service design activities, processes and resources. Design coordination ensures the consistent and effective design of new or changed IT services, service management information systems, architectures, technology, processes, information and metrics.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Availability is the ability of an IT service or other configuration item to perform its agreed function when required. Availability is determined by reliability, maintainability, serviceability, performance and security. Availability is usually calculated as a percentage. This calculation is often based on agreed service time and downtime, and it is best practice to calculate availability of an IT service using measurements of the business output.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Operational level agreement (OLA) is an agreement between an IT service provider and another part of the same organization.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* Service catalog (both two-view and three-view types) is a database or structured document with information about all live IT services, including those available for deployment. The service catalog is part of the service portfolio and contains information about two types of IT service: customer-facing services that are visible to the business; and supporting services required by the service provider to deliver customer-facing services.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* A service design package is document(s) defining all aspects of an IT service and its requirements through each stage of its lifecycle. A service design package is produced for each new IT service, major change or IT service retirement.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
* An underpinning contract is a contract between an IT service provider and a third party. The third party provides goods or services that support delivery of an IT service to a customer. The underpinning contract defines targets and responsibilities that are required to meet agreed service level targets in one or more service level agreements.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
== Key Terms ==
Key Terms definitions are copyright © AXELOS Limited 2011. All rights reserved. Material is reproduced with the permission of AXELOS.<ref>[http://www.itil-officialsite.com/InternationalActivities/TranslatedGlossaries.aspx ITIL Translated Glossaries]</ref>
;agreed service time (AST)
:A synonym for service hours, commonly used in formal calculations of availability.
;analytical modelling
:A technique that uses mathematical models to predict the behaviour of IT services or other configuration items.
;application portfolio
:A database or structured document used to manage applications throughout their lifecycle.
;application service provider (ASP)
:An external service provider that provides IT services using applications running at the service provider’s premises.
;application sizing
:The activity responsible for understanding the resource requirements needed to support a new application, or a major change to an existing application.
;architecture
:The structure of a system or IT service, including the relationships of components to each other and to the environment they are in.
;availability
:Ability of an IT service or other configuration item to perform its agreed function when required.
;availability management (AM)
:The process responsible for ensuring that IT services meet the current and future availability needs of the business in a cost-effective and timely manner.
;availability management information system (AMIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support availability management.
;availability plan
:A plan to ensure that existing and future availability requirements for IT services can be provided cost- effectively.
;backup
:Copying data to protect against loss of integrity or availability of the original.
;brainstorming
:A technique that helps a team to generate ideas.
;business capacity management
:In the context of ITSM, business capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding future business requirements for use in the capacity plan.
;business continuity management (BCM)
:The business process responsible for managing risks that could seriously affect the business.
;business continuity plan (BCP)
:A plan defining the steps required to restore business processes following a disruption.
;capacity
:The maximum throughput that a configuration item or IT service can deliver.
;capacity management
:The process responsible for ensuring that the capacity of IT services and the IT infrastructure is able to meet agreed capacity- and performance-related requirements in a cost-effective and timely manner.
;capacity management information system (CMIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support capacity management.
;capacity plan
:A plan used to manage the resources required to deliver IT services, including details of current and historic usage of IT services and components, and any issues that need to be addressed (including related improvement activities).
;capacity planning
:The activity within capacity management responsible for creating a capacity plan.
;commercial off the shelf (COTS)
:Pre-existing application software or middleware that can be purchased from a third party.
;component capacity management (CCM)
:The sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the capacity, utilization and performance of configuration items.
;component failure impact analysis (CFIA)
:A technique that helps to identify the impact of configuration item failure on IT services and the business.
;confidentiality
:A security principle that requires that data should only be accessed by authorized people.
;continuous availability
:An approach or design to achieve 100% availability.
;continuous operation
:An approach or design to eliminate planned downtime of an IT service.
;customer-facing service
:An IT service that is visible to the customer.
;demand management
:The process responsible for understanding, anticipating and influencing customer demand for services.
;design
:An activity or process that identifies requirements and then defines a solution that is able to meet these requirements.
;design coordination
:The process responsible for coordinating all service design activities, processes and resources.
;development
:The process responsible for creating or modifying an IT service or application ready for subsequent release and deployment.
;development environment
:An environment used to create or modify IT services or applications.
;downtime
:The time when an IT service or other configuration item is not available during its agreed service time.
;expanded incident lifecycle
:Detailed stages in the lifecycle of an incident.
;fast recovery
:A recovery option that is also known as hot standby, which normally uses a dedicated fixed facility with computer systems and software configured ready to run the IT services.
;fault tolerance
:The ability of an IT service or other configuration item to continue to operate correctly after failure of a component part.
;fault tree analysis (FTA)
:A technique that can be used to determine a chain of events that has caused an incident, or may cause an incident in the future.
;fixed facility
:A permanent building, available for use when needed by an IT service continuity plan.
;gradual recovery
:A recovery option that is also known as cold standby, which typically uses a portable or fixed facility that has environmental support and network cabling, but no computer systems.
;high availability
:An approach or design that minimizes or hides the effects of configuration item failure from the users of an IT service.
;immediate recovery
:A recovery option that is also known as hot standby, in which provision is made to recover the IT service with no significant loss of service to the customer.
;information security management (ISM)
:The process responsible for ensuring that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of an organization’s assets, information, data and IT services match the agreed needs of the business.
;information security management system (ISMS)
:The framework of policy, processes, functions, standards, guidelines and tools that ensures an organization can achieve its information security management objectives.
;information security policy
:The policy that governs the organization’s approach to information security management.
;integrity
:A security principle that ensures data and configuration items are modified only by authorized personnel and activities.
;intermediate recovery
:A recovery option that is also known as warm standby, which usually uses a shared portable or fixed facility that has computer systems and network components.
;invocation
:Initiation of the steps defined in a plan.
;ISO/IEC 27001
:An international specification for information security management.
;IT service continuity management (ITSCM)
:The process responsible for managing risks that could seriously affect IT services.
;IT service continuity plan
:A plan defining the steps required to recover one or more IT services.
;IT steering group (ISG)
:A formal group that is responsible for ensuring that business and IT service provider strategies and plans are closely aligned.
;key performance indicator (KPI)
:A metric that is used to help manage an IT service, process, plan, project or other activity.
;maintainability
:A measure of how quickly and effectively an IT service or other configuration item can be restored to normal working after a failure.
;management information system (MIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support a process or function.
;mean time between failures (MTBF)
:The average time that an IT service or other configuration item can perform its agreed function without interruption, measured from when the configuration item starts working, until it next fails.
;mean time between service incidents (MTBSI)
:The mean time from when a system or IT service fails, until it next fails, which is equal to MTBF plus MTRS.
;middleware
:Software that connects two or more software components or applications.
;operational level agreement (OLA)
:An agreement between an IT service provider and another part of the same organization.
;percentage utilization
:The amount of time that a component is busy over a given period of time.
;planned downtime
:Agreed time when an IT service will not be available.
;portable facility
:A prefabricated building, or a large vehicle, provided by a third party and moved to a site when needed according to an IT service continuity plan.
;project management office (PMO)
:A function or group responsible for managing the lifecycle of projects.
;project portfolio
:A database or structured document used to manage projects throughout their lifecycle.
;RACI
:A model used to help define roles and responsibilities, which stands for responsible, accountable, consulted and informed.
;reciprocal arrangement
:An agreement between two organizations to share resources in an emergency.
;recovery
:Returning a configuration item or an IT service to a working state.
;recovery option
:A strategy for responding to an interruption to service.
;recovery point objective (RPO)
:The maximum amount of data that may be lost when service is restored after an interruption.
;recovery time objective (RTO)
:The maximum time allowed for the recovery of an IT service following an interruption.
;redundancy
:Use of one or more additional configuration items to provide fault tolerance.
;reliability
:A measure of how long an IT service or other configuration item can perform its agreed function without interruption.
;requirement
:A formal statement of what is needed.
;resilience
:The ability of an IT service or other configuration item to resist failure or to recover in a timely manner following a failure.
;return to normal
:The phase of an IT service continuity plan during which full normal operations are resumed.
;security management information system (SMIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support information security management.
;service capacity management (SCM)
:The sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the performance and capacity of IT services.
;service catalog
:A database or structured document with information about all live IT services, including those available for deployment.
;service catalog management
:The process responsible for providing and maintaining the service catalog and for ensuring that it is available to those who are authorized to access it.
;service charter
:A document that contains details of a new or changed service.
;service design
:A stage in the lifecycle of a service, which includes the design of the services, governing practices, processes and policies required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments.
;service design package (SDP)
:Document(s) defining all aspects of an IT service and its requirements through each stage of its lifecycle.
;service failure analysis (SFA)
:A technique that identifies underlying causes of one or more IT service interruptions.
;service hours
:An agreed time period when a particular IT service should be available.
;service level agreement (SLA)
:An agreement between an IT service provider and a customer which describes the IT service, documents service level targets, and specifies the responsibilities of the IT service provider and the customer.
;service level management (SLM)
:The process responsible for negotiating achievable service level agreements and ensuring that these are met.
;service level requirement (SLR)
:A customer requirement for an aspect of an IT service.
;service level target
:A commitment that is documented in a service level agreement.
;service option
:A choice of utility and warranty offered to customers by a core service or service package.
;serviceability
:The ability of a third-party supplier to meet the terms of its contract.
;simulation modelling
:A technique that creates a detailed model to predict the behaviour of an IT service or other configuration item.
;single point of failure (SPOF)
:Any configuration item that can cause an incident when it fails, and for which a countermeasure has not been implemented.
;SMART
:An acronym for helping to remember that targets in service level agreements and project plans should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
;standby
:Used to refer to resources that are not required to deliver the live IT services, but are available to support IT service continuity plans.
;statement of requirements (SOR)
:A document containing all requirements for a product purchase, or a new or changed IT service.
;supplier
:A third party responsible for supplying goods or services that are required to deliver IT services.
;supplier and contract management information system (SCMIS)
:A set of tools, data and information that is used to support supplier management.
;supplier management
:The process responsible for obtaining value for money from suppliers, ensuring that all contracts and agreements with suppliers support the needs of the business, and that all suppliers meet their contractual commitments.
;support hours
:The times or hours when support is available to the users.
;supporting service
:An IT service that is not directly used by the business, but is required by the IT service provider to deliver customer-facing services.
;terms of reference (TOR)
:A document specifying the requirements, scope, deliverables, resources and schedule for a project or activity.
;throughput
:A measure of the number of transactions or other operations performed in a fixed time.
;underpinning contract (UC)
:A contract between an IT service provider and a third party.
;urgency
:A measure of how long it will be until an incident, problem or change has a significant impact on the business.
;usability
:The ease with which an application, product or IT service can be used. Usability requirements are often included in a statement of requirements.
;use case
:A technique used to define required functionality and objectives, and to design tests.
;vital business function (VBF)
:Part of a business process that is critical to the success of the business.
== Review Questions ==
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{{review start}}
{{review question
|Service design includes _____, _____, _____ and _____ required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments. Service design includes the following processes: _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, and _____.
|Service design includes the design of the services, governing practices, processes and policies required to realize the service provider’s strategy and to facilitate the introduction of services into supported environments. Service design includes the following processes: design coordination, service catalog management, service level management, availability management, capacity management, IT service continuity management, information security management, and supplier management.
}}
{{review question
|The value service design provides to the business is _____.
|The value service design provides to the business is efficient services that match business requirements of capacity, continuity, availability, security, and functionality at an affordable cost.
}}
{{review question
|People are _____.
|People are assets of the organization who help to deliver an IT service through their abilities to carry out activities.
}}
{{review question
|Processes are _____. A process takes one or more defined inputs and turns them into defined outputs. It may include any of the roles, responsibilities, tools and management controls required to reliably deliver the outputs. A process may define _____ if they are needed.
|Processes are structured sets of activities designed to accomplish a specific objective. A process takes one or more defined inputs and turns them into defined outputs. It may include any of the roles, responsibilities, tools and management controls required to reliably deliver the outputs. A process may define policies, standards, guidelines, activities and work instructions if they are needed.
}}
{{review question
|Products are _____.
|Products are items produced or purchased, and distinct from services that are provided.
}}
{{review question
|Partners form _____. The IT service provider should have a partnership with _____.
|Partners form a relationship that involves working closely together for common goals or mutual benefit. The IT service provider should have a partnership with the business and with third parties who are critical to the delivery of IT services.
}}
{{review question
|The five major aspects of service design are _____, _____, _____, _____, and _____.
|The five major aspects of service design are service solutions for new or changed services, management information systems and tools, technology architectures and management architectures, the processes required, and measurement methods and metrics.
}}
{{review question
|Service level management (SLM) is the service design process responsible for _____. It is responsible for ensuring that all _____, _____ and _____ are appropriate for the agreed service level targets. Service level management _____, _____, and _____.
|Service level management (SLM) is the service design process responsible for negotiating achievable service level agreements and ensuring that these are met. It is responsible for ensuring that all IT service management processes, operational level agreements and underpinning contracts are appropriate for the agreed service level targets. Service level management monitors and reports on service levels, holds regular service reviews with customers, and identifies required improvements.
}}
{{review question
|A service level agreement (SLA) is an agreement between _____ and _____ which describes _____, documents _____, and specifies _____. A single agreement may cover multiple IT services or multiple customers.
|A service level agreement (SLA) is an agreement between an IT service provider and a customer which describes the IT service, documents service level targets, and specifies the responsibilities of the IT service provider and the customer. A single agreement may cover multiple IT services or multiple customers.
}}
{{review question
|Service level agreements may be _____-based, _____-based, or _____. A _____ SLA includes a corporate level for the organization, a customer level for the customer, and a service level for each service covered by the agreement.
|Service level agreements may be service-based, customer-based, or multi-level. A multi-level SLA includes a corporate level for the organization, a customer level for the customer, and a service level for each service covered by the agreement.
}}
{{review question
|Service level requirements (SLRs) are _____. Service level requirements are based on _____ and used to negotiate _____.
|Service level requirements (SLRs) are customer requirements for an aspect of an IT service. Service level requirements are based on business objectives and used to negotiate agreed service level targets.
}}
{{review question
|An SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart is used to _____. A SLAM chart is typically color-coded to show _____ during each of the previous 12 months.
|An SLA monitoring (SLAM) chart is used to help monitor and report achievements against service level targets. A SLAM chart is typically color-coded to show whether each agreed service level target has been met, missed or nearly missed during each of the previous 12 months.
}}
{{review question
|A service review meeting should be held with customers _____ to review _____, _____, _____, _____, etc.
|A service review meeting should be held with customers monthly or quarterly to review any major incidents, service reports, improvement plans, changes anticipated, etc.
}}
{{review question
|Service improvement plan (SIP) is a formal plan to implement improvements to a _____ or _____.
|Service improvement plan (SIP) is a formal plan to implement improvements to a process or IT service.
}}
{{review question
|Business relationship management (BRM) is the service strategy process responsible for _____. Business relationship management identifies _____ and ensures that the service provider is able to _____. This process has strong links with service level management.
|Business relationship management (BRM) is the service strategy process responsible for maintaining a positive relationship with customers. Business relationship management identifies customer needs and ensures that the service provider is able to meet these needs with an appropriate catalog of services. This process has strong links with service level management.
}}
{{review question
|Service catalog management is the process responsible for _____ and for ensuring that it is _____.
|Service catalog management is the process responsible for providing and maintaining the service catalog and for ensuring that it is available to those who are authorized to access it.
}}
{{review question
|Availability management is the process responsible for _____. Availability management _____ all aspects of the availability of IT services, and ensures that _____ are appropriate for the agreed service level targets for availability.
|Availability management is the process responsible for ensuring that IT services meet the current and future availability needs of the business in a cost-effective and timely manner. Availability management defines, analyses, plans, measures and improves all aspects of the availability of IT services, and ensures that all IT infrastructures, processes, tools, roles etc. are appropriate for the agreed service level targets for availability.
}}
{{review question
|Service availability is the _____.
|Service availability is the ability of an IT service to perform its agreed function when required.
}}
{{review question
|Component availability is the _____.
|Component availability is the ability of a configuration item to perform its agreed function when required.
}}
{{review question
|Reliability is a measure of _____, usually measured as _____.
|Reliability is a measure of how long an IT service or other configuration item can perform its agreed function without interruption, usually measured as MTBF or MTBSI.
}}
{{review question
|Maintainability is a measure of _____, often measured and reported as _____.
|Maintainability is a measure of how quickly and effectively an IT service or other configuration item can be restored to normal working after a failure, often measured and reported as MTRS.
}}
{{review question
|Serviceability is the ability of _____ to meet the terms of its contract. This contract will include _____, _____ and _____ for a configuration item.
|Serviceability is the ability of a third-party supplier to meet the terms of its contract. This contract will include agreed levels of reliability, maintainability and availability for a configuration item.
}}
{{review question
|Vital business functions (VBF) is _____.
|Vital business functions (VBF) is part of a business process that is critical to the success of the business.
}}
{{review question
|Information security management (ISM) is the process responsible for ensuring that the _____, _____ and _____ of an organization’s assets, information, data and IT services match the agreed needs of the business. Information security management supports business security and has a wider scope than that of the IT service provider, and includes _____ for the entire organization.
|Information security management (ISM) is the process responsible for ensuring that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of an organization’s assets, information, data and IT services match the agreed needs of the business. Information security management supports business security and has a wider scope than that of the IT service provider, and includes handling of paper, building access, phone calls etc. for the entire organization.
}}
{{review question
|Information security policy is the policy that governs _____.
|Information security policy is the policy that governs the organization’s approach to information security management.
}}
{{review question
|Supplier management is the process responsible for _____, _____, and _____.
|Supplier management is the process responsible for obtaining value for money from suppliers, ensuring that all contracts and agreements with suppliers support the needs of the business, and that all suppliers meet their contractual commitments.
}}
{{review question
|Suppliers are categorized based on _____ and _____. Strategic suppliers are _____, with _____. Tactical suppliers are _____ and _____. Operational suppliers are either _____ or _____. Commodity suppliers are both _____ and _____.
|Suppliers are categorized based on value and risk. Strategic suppliers are high value, with a high risk of impact for negative performance. Tactical suppliers are medium value and medium risk. Operational suppliers are either low value or low risk. Commodity suppliers are both low value and low risk.
}}
{{review question
|Capacity management is the process responsible for ensuring that _____. Capacity management considers _____, and is concerned with meeting _____. Capacity management includes three sub-processes: _____, _____, and _____.
|Capacity management is the process responsible for ensuring that the capacity of IT services and the IT infrastructure is able to meet agreed capacity- and performance-related requirements in a cost-effective and timely manner. Capacity management considers all resources required to deliver an IT service, and is concerned with meeting both the current and future capacity and performance needs of the business. Capacity management includes three sub-processes: business capacity management, service capacity management, and component capacity management.
}}
{{review question
|Capacity plan is _____. The plan contains _____, and _____. The plan also contains _____.
|Capacity plan is a plan used to manage the resources required to deliver IT services. The plan contains details of current and historic usage of IT services and components, and any issues that need to be addressed (including related improvement activities). The plan also contains scenarios for different predictions of business demand and costed options to deliver the agreed service level targets.
}}
{{review question
|Business capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for _____.
|Business capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding future business requirements for use in the capacity plan.
}}
{{review question
|Service capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for _____. Information on _____ and _____ are collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.
|Service capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the performance and capacity of IT services. Information on the resources used by each IT service and the pattern of usage over time are collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.
}}
{{review question
|Component capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for _____. Data is collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.
|Component capacity management is the sub-process of capacity management responsible for understanding the capacity, utilization and performance of configuration items. Data is collected, recorded and analyzed for use in the capacity plan.
}}
{{review question
|IT service continuity management is the process responsible for _____. IT service continuity management ensures that _____, by _____ and _____. IT service continuity management supports business continuity management.
|IT service continuity management is the process responsible for managing risks that could seriously affect IT services. IT service continuity management ensures that the IT service provider can always provide minimum agreed service levels, by reducing the risk to an acceptable level and planning for the recovery of IT services. IT service continuity management supports business continuity management.
}}
{{review question
|Business impact analysis (BIA) is _____. These dependencies may include _____. Business impact analysis defines _____. These requirements include _____.
|Business impact analysis (BIA) is the activity in business continuity management that identifies vital business functions and their dependencies. These dependencies may include suppliers, people, other business processes, IT services etc. Business impact analysis defines the recovery requirements for IT services. These requirements include recovery time objectives, recovery point objectives and minimum service level targets for each IT service.
}}
{{review question
|Risk assessment is the initial steps of risk management: _____, _____, and _____. Risk assessment can be quantitative (based on numerical data) or qualitative.
|Risk assessment is the initial steps of risk management: analyzing the value of assets to the business, identifying threats to those assets, and evaluating how vulnerable each asset is to those threats. Risk assessment can be quantitative (based on numerical data) or qualitative.
}}
{{review question
|Design coordination is the process responsible for _____. Design coordination ensures _____.
|Design coordination is the process responsible for coordinating all service design activities, processes and resources. Design coordination ensures the consistent and effective design of new or changed IT services, service management information systems, architectures, technology, processes, information and metrics.
}}
{{review question
|Availability is the ability of an IT service or other configuration item to _____. Availability is determined by _____. Availability is usually calculated as a percentage. This calculation is often based on _____ and _____, and it is best practice to calculate availability of an IT service using _____.
|Availability is the ability of an IT service or other configuration item to perform its agreed function when required. Availability is determined by reliability, maintainability, serviceability, performance and security. Availability is usually calculated as a percentage. This calculation is often based on agreed service time and downtime, and it is best practice to calculate availability of an IT service using measurements of the business output.
}}
{{review question
|Operational level agreement (OLA) is an agreement between _____ and _____.
|Operational level agreement (OLA) is an agreement between an IT service provider and another part of the same organization.
}}
{{review question
|Service catalog (both two-view and three-view types) is _____, including those available for deployment. The service catalog is part of the service portfolio and contains information about two types of IT service: _____ that are visible to the business; and _____ required by the service provider to deliver _____.
|Service catalog (both two-view and three-view types) is a database or structured document with information about all live IT services, including those available for deployment. The service catalog is part of the service portfolio and contains information about two types of IT service: customer-facing services that are visible to the business; and supporting services required by the service provider to deliver customer-facing services.
}}
{{review question
|A service design package is document(s) defining all _____ through each stage of its lifecycle. A service design package is produced for _____.
|A service design package is document(s) defining all aspects of an IT service and its requirements through each stage of its lifecycle. A service design package is produced for each new IT service, major change or IT service retirement.
}}
{{review question
|An underpinning contract is a contract between _____ and _____. The _____ provides goods or services that support _____. The underpinning contract defines _____.
|An underpinning contract is a contract between an IT service provider and a third party. The third party provides goods or services that support delivery of an IT service to a customer. The underpinning contract defines targets and responsibilities that are required to meet agreed service level targets in one or more service level agreements.
}}
{{review end}}
== Assessments ==
* Flashcards: [http://quizlet.com/41463751 Quizlet: IT Service Management - Service Design]
* Quiz: [http://quizlet.com/41463751/test?mult_choice=on&prompt-with=1&limit=10 Quizlet: IT Service Management - Service Design]
== See Also ==
* [http://www.bmc.com/guides/itil-service-design.html BMC: ITIL Service Design]
* [http://wiki.en.it-processmaps.com/index.php/ITIL_Service_Design IT Process Maps: ITIL Service Design]
* [http://thoughtrock.com/blogs/itil-2011-refresh-business-relationship-management-brm Thought Rock: Business Relationship Management (BRM)]
* [https://www.thinkhdi.com/~/media/HDICorp/Files/White-Papers/whtppr-0412-slm-making-it-work-hornbill.pdf Think HDI: Service Level Management (SLM)]
== References ==
{{DEFAULTSORT:{{SUBPAGENAME}}}}
[[Category:IT Service Management]]
{{Hide|{{Lesson|theme=14}}}}
{{Hide|{{Template:100%done|theme=14}}}}
ITIL Translated Glossaries content is copyright © AXELOS Limited 2011. All rights reserved. Material is reproduced with the permission of AXELOS.
{{reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
l0io5xjxtjp1yn3o2ykg21nqi5nz0z8
Computer Skills/Basic/Hardware
0
158061
2805567
2362343
2026-04-19T21:50:14Z
SunKissedMocha
3067192
Updated broken links, removed many activities as they are all included in the first course. Feel free to add them back, I just felt like they were bloat.
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Basic hardware includes the computer case, the display, the keyboard, mouse, cables, and connectors.
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for basic hardware include:<ref>[http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/forms/pdf/icas/subjects/computer-skills-framework.pdf University of New South Wales: Computer Skills Assessment Framework]</ref>
* Identify component parts: cables, etc
== Multimedia ==
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLgTnkw558w YouTube: Computer Basics - Basic Parts of a Computer]
== Activities ==
# Complete the tutorial [https://www.learnfree.org/series/computer-basics Getting to Know Computers]. Make sure to complete the quiz at the end of the course.
# Learn more about [https://red-dot-geek.com/basic-computer-parts-functions/ Basic Computer Components]. A Computers internal architectural design comes in different types and sizes, but the basic structure remains same of all computer systems.
#Learn about the [https://artoftesting.com/block-diagram-of-computer Block Diagram of Computer]. A computer can perform major computer operations or functions irrespective of their size and make.
#Learn about other [https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-science-fundamentals/types-of-computers/ Types of Computers]. There are several other kinds of computers that may interest you.
== Key Terms ==
;cable
:Two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted, or braided together to form a single assembly.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Cable]]</ref>
;computer case
:The enclosure that contains most of the components of a computer (usually excluding the display, keyboard and mouse).<ref>[[Wikipedia: Computer case]]</ref>
;display
:An output device for presentation of information in visual form.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Display device]]</ref>
;keyboard
:A typewriter-style device, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Computer keyboard]]</ref>
;laptop
:A portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor, suitable for mobile use. They are also sometimes called notebook computers or notebooks.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Laptop]]</ref>
;mouse
:A pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Mouse (computing)]]</ref>
;tablet
:A mobile computer with display, circuitry and battery in a single unit.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Tablet computer]]</ref>
== See Also ==
* [[../../Intermediate/Hardware]]
* [[../../Advanced/Hardware]]
* [[../../Proficient/Hardware]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
{{CourseCat}}
[[Category:Computer Skills]]
[[Category:Computer hardware]]
[[Category:Completed resources]]
8m2pmqt10xt4jtiio03ro1ubo4644nz
Computer Skills/Basic/Software Concepts
0
158068
2805568
2066696
2026-04-19T22:04:05Z
SunKissedMocha
3067192
Fixed broken links, included a new tutorial, and expanded on what the tutorial will help with.
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Basic software concepts include operating systems and applications.
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for basic software concepts include:<ref>[http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/forms/pdf/icas/subjects/computer-skills-framework.pdf University of New South Wales: Computer Skills Assessment Framework]</ref>
* Distinguish what is software / hardware
* Understand menu bars; etc
* Understand basic terminology: file; application
* Understand purpose of backup
== Multimedia ==
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gMOYZoMtEs YouTube: Computer Basics: Understanding Applications]
== Activities ==
# Complete the tutorial [https://www.learnfree.org/series/basic-computer-skills LearnFree.org Basic Computer Skills]. This tutorial will teach you how to set up, use, and customize software, while reviewing previously learned concepts.
# Learn how to [https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/your-future-self-will-thank-you-beginners-guide-to-backing-up-your-pc Back Up Your Files]. Create a cloud backup or a physical backup of your important files.
== Key Terms ==
;application
:Computer software that causes a computer to perform useful tasks beyond the running of the computer itself.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Application software]]</ref>
;backup
:Refers to the copying and archiving of computer data so it may be used to restore the original after a data loss event.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Backup]]</ref>
;browser
:A software application for retrieving, presenting and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Web browser]]</ref>
;file
:A resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Computer file]]</ref>
;word processor
:A software application for composing, editing, formatting and sometimes printing of any sort of written material.<ref>[[Wikipedia: Word processor]]</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
{{CourseCat}}
[[Category:Computer Skills]]
[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:Completed resources]]
qjsjhn0zzd6e9m69m99tkezz5cq2kzf
Computer Skills/Basic/Word Processing
0
158766
2805569
2066688
2026-04-19T22:06:34Z
SunKissedMocha
3067192
changed wording
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Basic word processing operations include editing and saving files, using the clipboard, recognizing user interface features, spell check, and printing files.
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for basic word processing concepts include:<ref>[http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/forms/pdf/icas/subjects/computer-skills-framework.pdf University of New South Wales: Computer Skills Assessment Framework]</ref>
* Create a new document: enter text; delete; save; save as
* Use basic edit features: cut; copy; paste
* Identify features: tool bar; icons; cursor
* Use dictionary; spell check
* Operate print; print preview
== Multimedia ==
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiSvhEXeV7c YouTube: Word 2010: Environment]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ1tsqriGfE YouTube: Word 2010: Creating Documents]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i11UCEEEdY YouTube: Word 2010: Text Basics]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtYZqPnLkok YouTube: Word 2010: Saving]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viOR45_Sdk4 YouTube: Word 2010: Page Layout]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ael8Vkz4lhA YouTube: Word 2010: Spelling and Grammar]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyZYbMlXGkc YouTube: Word 2010: Printing]
== Activities ==
These activities may be completed using any word processing application (Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, Google Document, Apple Pages, etc.):
# Start your word processing application. It should automatically open with a new, blank document.
# Enter two paragraphs of text in your new document. You can write about the user interface features you see (toolbar, icons, menus, status bar, scroll bars, etc.) and where they are located.
# Save your document.
# Copy the first paragraph and paste it at the end of the document, creating a third paragraph.
# Delete the duplicate third paragraph.
# Use Spell Check to verify and correct spelling for your document.
# Use Print Preview to see the page layout for your document.
# If a printer is available, print your document.
# Use Save As to save your document with a new name.
== See Also ==
* [[Computer Skills/Intermediate/Word Processing]]
* [[Computer Skills/Advanced/Word Processing]]
* [[Computer Skills/Proficient/Word Processing]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
{{CourseCat}}
[[Category:Computer Skills]]
[[Category:Word processing]]
[[Category:Completed resources]]
6jixkxrxyrx81dn21zixz0rb7r47ufe
Computer Skills/Basic/Formatting
0
158767
2805570
2033399
2026-04-19T22:12:59Z
SunKissedMocha
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Simple formatting includes fonts, font size, font style, font color, and text alignment.
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for simple formatting include:<ref>[http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/forms/pdf/icas/subjects/computer-skills-framework.pdf University of New South Wales: Computer Skills Assessment Framework]</ref>
* Apply basic formatting: font; font size; font style; color; align text
== Multimedia ==
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RSrSNQZj9A YouTube: Word 2010: Text Formatting]
== Activities ==
These activities may be completed using any word processing application (Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs, Apple Pages, etc.):
# Start your word processing application and open a new, blank document.
# Enter two paragraphs of text in your new document. You can write about the formatting features you see (font, font size, font style; color, text alignment, etc.) and where they are located.
# Save your document.
# Add a heading at the top of your document labeled 'Simple Formatting'.
# Change the font for the heading to a sans-serif font (Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Sans, etc.).
# Change the font for the body paragraphs to a serif font (Cambria, Times, Times New Roman, Serif, etc.).
# Change the font size for the heading to 18 point.
# Change the font size for the body paragraphs to 12 point.
# Change the heading font style to bold and italic.
# Change the heading font color to blue.
# Change the heading text alignment to centered.
# Change the body paragraphs text alignment to justified.
# Save your document.
== See Also ==
* [[Computer Skills/Intermediate/Formatting]]
* [[Computer Skills/Advanced/Formatting]]
* [[Computer Skills/Proficient/Formatting]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
{{CourseCat}}
[[Category:Computer Skills]]
[[Category:Word processing]]
[[Category:Completed resources]]
plqpb2438ytndvj41vzwwdqw4poaix8
Computer Skills/Basic/Presentations
0
158778
2805574
2128372
2026-04-20T00:38:48Z
SunKissedMocha
3067192
Updated broken links, added a link to a more in depth tutorial underneath the activity if students want to learn more. maybe it should be placed under further readings, unsure at this point.
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Simple presentations includes creating a simple slideshow.
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for simple formatting include:<ref>[http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/forms/pdf/icas/subjects/computer-skills-framework.pdf University of New South Wales: Computer Skills Assessment Framework]</ref>
* Create simple PowerPoint / Google Slides presentation.
== Multimedia ==
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6pg4nZS6fA PowerPoint: Getting Started]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX3vRazm4fw PowerPoint: Creating and Opening Presentations]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9RL0Lk5cmw PowerPoint: Text Basics]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oP6UeQNXKg PowerPoint 2016: Inserting Pictures]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gYShFl6i94 PowerPoint: Applying Themes]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shZEeHwWbpE PowerPoint: Checking Spelling and Grammar]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6904g24ElmM PowerPoint 2016: Saving Presentations]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-2oM3AGHQM PowerPoint: Presenting]
== Activities ==
These activities may be completed using any presentation application (Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress, Google Slides, Apple Keynote, etc.):
# Start your presentation application. It should automatically open with a new, blank presentation.
# Add a title and your name. Title the presentation 'Presentations'.
# Add a new slide. Title the slide 'Text'. Add text that describes the text options available in your presentation application.
# Add a new slide. Title the slide 'Images'. Add an image to the slide.
# Select a theme for your presentation. Apply the theme to all slides.
# Check spelling for your presentation.
# Save your presentation.
# Practice presenting your presentation.
# Print your presentation.
If you would like to learn more about how to create a more technical PowerPoint presentation that stands out, LearnFree has an extensive [https://www.learnfree.org/series/powerpoint-2016 PowerPoint 2016 tutorial].
== Opensource Alternatives ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOv2Pg1rJKU&list=PLy7Kah3WzqrHun-wvFV7hGO-Tyeh2w686 LibreOffice Impress]<ref>LibreOffice Impress (01) – Introduction to Impress (2016) by TheFrugalComputerGuy - Youtube Video - URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOv2Pg1rJKU&list=PLy7Kah3WzqrHun-wvFV7hGO-Tyeh2w686 (accessed 2020/03/10)</ref>
== See Also ==
* [[Computer Skills/Intermediate/Presentations]]
* [[Computer Skills/Advanced/Presentations]]
* [[Computer Skills/Proficient/Presentations]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
{{CourseCat}}
[[Category:Computer Skills]]
[[Category:Presentations]]
[[Category:Completed resources]]
49v0eq5jsf5ly85x8ai97ut5yjook0j
2805575
2805574
2026-04-20T00:44:13Z
SunKissedMocha
3067192
/* Multimedia */ added video giving instructions on how to print
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{{:{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Sidebar}}
Simple presentations includes creating a simple slideshow.
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for simple formatting include:<ref>[http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/forms/pdf/icas/subjects/computer-skills-framework.pdf University of New South Wales: Computer Skills Assessment Framework]</ref>
* Create simple PowerPoint / Google Slides presentation.
== Multimedia ==
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6pg4nZS6fA PowerPoint: Getting Started]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX3vRazm4fw PowerPoint: Creating and Opening Presentations]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9RL0Lk5cmw PowerPoint: Text Basics]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oP6UeQNXKg PowerPoint 2016: Inserting Pictures]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gYShFl6i94 PowerPoint: Applying Themes]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shZEeHwWbpE PowerPoint: Checking Spelling and Grammar]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6904g24ElmM PowerPoint 2016: Saving Presentations]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-2oM3AGHQM PowerPoint: Presenting]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzuHplbKD9A PowerPoint: Printing]
== Activities ==
These activities may be completed using any presentation application (Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress, Google Slides, Apple Keynote, etc.):
# Start your presentation application. It should automatically open with a new, blank presentation.
# Add a title and your name. Title the presentation 'Presentations'.
# Add a new slide. Title the slide 'Text'. Add text that describes the text options available in your presentation application.
# Add a new slide. Title the slide 'Images'. Add an image to the slide.
# Select a theme for your presentation. Apply the theme to all slides.
# Check spelling for your presentation.
# Save your presentation.
# Practice presenting your presentation.
# Print your presentation.
If you would like to learn more about how to create a more technical PowerPoint presentation that stands out, LearnFree has an extensive [https://www.learnfree.org/series/powerpoint-2016 PowerPoint 2016 tutorial].
== Opensource Alternatives ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOv2Pg1rJKU&list=PLy7Kah3WzqrHun-wvFV7hGO-Tyeh2w686 LibreOffice Impress]<ref>LibreOffice Impress (01) – Introduction to Impress (2016) by TheFrugalComputerGuy - Youtube Video - URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOv2Pg1rJKU&list=PLy7Kah3WzqrHun-wvFV7hGO-Tyeh2w686 (accessed 2020/03/10)</ref>
== See Also ==
* [[Computer Skills/Intermediate/Presentations]]
* [[Computer Skills/Advanced/Presentations]]
* [[Computer Skills/Proficient/Presentations]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
{{CourseCat}}
[[Category:Computer Skills]]
[[Category:Presentations]]
[[Category:Completed resources]]
d605yob4702c6n70jc1fzzmqsb8nhah
Computer Skills/Basic/Email
0
158783
2805561
2719766
2026-04-19T21:11:37Z
SunKissedMocha
3067192
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{{:{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Sidebar}}
Email fundamentals include sending, receiving and replying to email.
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for simple formatting include:<ref>[http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/forms/pdf/icas/subjects/computer-skills-framework.pdf University of New South Wales: Computer Skills Assessment Framework]</ref>
* Send/receive/reply to email
== Multimedia ==
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmKLfvNILNc YouTube: Gmail: Sending Email with Gmail]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH0BGLfQ9SM YouTube: Gmail: Responding to Email with Gmail]
== Activities ==
# Complete the tutorial [https://www.learnfree.org/series/gmail LearnFree: Gmail].
# If you don't already have an email account, consider signing up for a Google Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, or Yahoo! Mail account.
# Try using your email account to send an email message.
# Reply to an email message you receive from someone else.
# Review the [[Email Checklist]] for additional email best practices.
== See Also ==
* [[../../Intermediate/Email]]
* [[../../Advanced/Email]]
* [[../../Proficient/Email]]
* [[Internet Fundamentals/Email]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
{{CourseCat}}
[[Category:Computer Skills]]
[[Category:Email]]
[[Category:Completed resources]]
i2lxx82nr9szwq3sawmybpkz3qwi38o
2805565
2805561
2026-04-19T21:32:53Z
SunKissedMocha
3067192
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text/x-wiki
{{:{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Sidebar}}
Email fundamentals include sending, receiving and replying to email.
== Objectives and Skills ==
Objectives and skills for simple formatting include:<ref>[http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/forms/pdf/icas/subjects/computer-skills-framework.pdf University of New South Wales: Computer Skills Assessment Framework]</ref>
* Send/receive/reply to email
== Multimedia ==
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmKLfvNILNc YouTube: Gmail: Sending Email with Gmail]
# [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH0BGLfQ9SM YouTube: Gmail: Responding to Email with Gmail]
== Activities ==
# Complete the tutorial [https://www.learnfree.org/series/gmail LearnFree: Gmail].
# If you don't already have an email account, sign up for a Google Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, or Yahoo! Mail account.
# Try using your email account to send an email message.
# Reply to an email message you receive from someone else.
# Review the [[Email Checklist]] for additional email best practices.
== See Also ==
* [[../../Intermediate/Email]]
* [[../../Advanced/Email]]
* [[../../Proficient/Email]]
* [[Internet Fundamentals/Email]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{subpage navbar}}
{{CourseCat}}
[[Category:Computer Skills]]
[[Category:Email]]
[[Category:Completed resources]]
h68xlw07ng4u8keugzlxh6qoo6u8bkm
Commons/Examples for health
0
166626
2805555
2396812
2026-04-19T20:45:25Z
Sikander
1209981
([[c:GR|GR]]) [[c:COM:FR|File renamed]]: [[File:Kinesiotaping.JPG]] → [[File:Kinesio taping on neck.jpg]] descriptive and extension fix
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===Nursing===
<gallery>
Malaria treatment in Angola (5686571327).jpg
DenModerløse.jpg
Hospital at Scutari 2.jpg
The Nurse Practitioner Will See You Now.jpg
Titelillustration des Buches- Der ärztliche Ratgeber in Wort und Bild.jpg
Two nurses on board hospital ship TSS ORANJE II, June 1941.jpg
Heartbeat.jpg
The Clinquant of the Future.jpg
Nurse poses with cancer patient.jpg
Rating Badge HM.jpg
Manometer1.jpg
</gallery>
===Midwifery===
<gallery>
Antoin Sevruguin 24 Mother nursing her child.jpg
Paul Hoecker-Morgenstimmung.jpg
Newtown Baby Clinic, 1914.jpg
Baby met navelstreng Baby with unbilical cord.jpg
Nieuwjaarskinderen Born on New Year's Day.jpg
Unidentified baby lying in a hollowed out pumpkin part of a mixed selection of lantern slides and negatives from John Flynn's teaching days in Gippsland, and early AIM Australian Inland Mission .jpg
The Nurseling.jpg
1938WPA.3f05325v -- Nurse the Baby Your Protection Against Trouble.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-P0101-0010, Berlin, Charité, Frauenklinik, Wöchnerinstation.jpg
Jordmor jim- oslo.jpeg
Sick baby with nurses.jpg
</gallery>
===Public Health===
<gallery>
A theatre café in Auckland, 1913.jpg
Human Skeleton.jpg
USPosterFoodIsAWeapon.jpg
Polio vaccine poster.jpg
Lose weight now.jpg
Pneumonia strikes like a man eating shark.jpg
Bhaktapur Puits.JPG
Safer sex kit.jpg
Child being vaccinated in Chad.jpg
No smoking means everybody^ - NARA - 535261.jpg
"Learn to keep your family strong & healthy Join a Red Cross nutrition class" - NARA - 514847.jpg
</gallery>
===Social Work===
<gallery>
Awareness prog.jpg
Breathoflife emw.jpg
Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - Pacific Partnership 2012 visits Vietnam. (1).jpg
Relief1.png
Special central assistance to tribal sub plan.jpg
Noun project 620.svg
MontrealSoupKitchen1931.jpg
US Navy 031120-C-0000T-001 Sailors assigned to USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) assist local workers in digging a foundation for a new school building at Doi Lau Hamlet Kindergarten.jpg
I Told My Therapist About You Embroidery Hoop Art.jpg
Social Work-Talk.jpg
</gallery>
===Speech Pathology===
<gallery>
Speech balloon.svg
</gallery>
===Nutrition and dietetics===
<gallery>
Milch-Jogurt-Früchte.jpg
Trinkwasser-Wasserhahn.jpg
Medicine Drug Pills on Plate.png
Tasty Food Abundance in Healthy Europe.png
Lemons.jpg
Popcorn02.jpg
Cucumber1.jpg
Nutrition-pyramid.jpg
Pyramide alimentaire.jpg
</gallery>
===Physiotherapy===
<gallery>
Portrait of an articulated skeleton on a bentwood chair.jpg
GrastonTechnique shoulder-treat.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 102-07750, Berlin, Studentinnen beim Turnen.jpg
Kinesio taping on neck.jpg
Fisioterapeuta.jpg
KH St Elisabeth RV 2013 Physiotherapie.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13308, Kindergymnastik.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-E0612-0001-005, Rostock, Südstadt-Krankenhaus, Physiotherapie.jpg
GreekGravityTraction.png
Schwanenhalsring.jpg
</gallery>
===Exercise===
<gallery>
Diving in, under summer skies.jpg
Women's hurdles race taking place at Sydney Sports Ground, New South Wales, March 1931..jpg
Acro Yoga Flash Mob.jpg
Are they spelling out Help? (4929235072).jpg
Lingiaden 1949.gif
Two views of local Extension leaders drilling in physical exercise in middies and bloomers, ....jpg
1800-jumprope-pinup-Sophia-Western.jpg
Pratiquante de haltérophilie (CrossFit).jpg
Phaaf.jpg
Spinning (2).jpg
Exercising on the Beach (3084038091).jpg
</gallery>
===Occupational Therapy===
<gallery>
Physical Therapists at work.jpg
US Navy 100306-N-5319A-035 Ten-year-old Joseph Camano performs stretching exercises before a routine physical therapy session with Occupational Therapist Judy Anderson at the Diane Epplein ^ Assoc. Pediatric Therapy facility.jpg
Camisetoterapia corrected.jpg
Amputees with prosthetic legs exercising.jpg
Occupational Therapy session.jpg
Therapy dog.jpg
Portrait of Occupational Therapy volunteer Melanie Glapa and student George Hage at the physiotherapy ward at the National Referral Hospital, Honiara..jpg
Erin Kresenthal, an Australian Volunteer who is working as an Occupational Therapy Adviser talks to a patient about their therapay at the Cheshire Homes in Matsapa, Swaziland on the 10th June, 2009..jpg
OccTherapy.jpg
US Navy 030409-N-0000W-001 Navy Occupational Therapist Lt. Maria Barefield (right) provides hand care for a family member in the Physical Therapy Department .jpg
</gallery>
===Prosthetics and Orthotics===
<gallery>
4926503068 c65a15459f bBéquilles2.jpg
LisaBufanoOrangeQueenAnneTableLegProstheses.jpg
Iron artificial arm, 1560-1600. (9663806794).jpg
Physiotherapy now, next stop - school (6301592477).jpg
Soldiers on peg legs and canes and in wheelchair c. 1800.jpg
Prothesenwerkstatt - CH-BAR - 3240223.tif
US Navy 101112-N-7214P-006 A variety of custom carbon technology prosthetic feet are made in the prosthetic laboratory at Naval Medical Center San .jpg
A member of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST) rounds first base during a double header softball game against the Hickam Force and Hickam Chiefs teams 130108-F-ZB240-696.jpg
After Jheronimus Bosch (?) Cripples.jpg
Orthopaedic appliances artificial limbs.jpg
Orthotics.jpg
AFOspectrum.jpg
</gallery>
===Orthoptics===
<gallery>
My eye.jpg
Iris - left eye of a girl.jpg
EyeTestPoster.jpg
Geraet beim Optiker.jpg
George Mayerle test chart (8615706439).jpg
Eye Examinations (2734723014).jpg
Eye Tests (2733890581) (2).jpg
Eielson eye exam.JPG
Eye examinations table in Třebíč, Třebíč District.jpg
Queensland State Archives 2828 Eye testing with the School Health Services October 1946.png
Eye examination in the field.jpg
Eye exam.jpg
</gallery>
===Podiatry===
<gallery>
Footx.jpg
Isaack Koedijck-barber-surgeon-tending-a-peasants-foot.jpg
Footsies.jpg
Example insole pressure device.jpg
Foot.png
Nuremberg chronicles - Strange People - Umbrella Foot (XIIr).jpg
Füße mit Zehen.JPG
Dreidimensionales Modell der Anatomie eines menschlichen Fusses im Schuh.JPG
Tiny foot.jpg
Foot chart1.png
</gallery>
===Dentistry and Oral Health===
<gallery>
Kindergarten, Stanfield AZ.jpg
GWashingtonsteethLOC.jpg
Keep your teeth clean (LOC).jpg
Dentistry.jpg
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Tanden-beitelen Mentawai-eilanden TMnr 10004239.jpg
Dentist.2.jpg
TotaleProthese.JPG
Modelo dental.JPG
Medieval dentistry.jpg
06-10-06smile.jpg
06-10-06centralincisors.jpg
US Navy 100812-N-3589B-028 Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Joseph Smith performs a pre-surgery check on a patient.jpg
</gallery>
[[Category:Health images]]
8h1j20gdncw2uymy1cna3tl0f82wiwx
Wikiversity:Curators
4
204760
2805560
2800651
2026-04-19T21:06:48Z
Codename Noreste
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{{Proposed policy|WV:CUR}}
A Wikiversity '''curator''' is a user who has rights to manage content on Wikiversity, including [[#Deletion of pages|delete]], [[Wikiversity:Rollback|rollback]], [[Wikiversity:Import|import]] from other wikis, and [[#Edit and move protection of pages|protect]] pages.
== How does one become a curator? ==
{{shortcut|WV:CUR/HOW}}
Any [[Wikiversity:Who are Wikiversity participants?|Wikiversity participant]] willing to do a lot of [[#What can curators do?|dull and boring work]] for the community can become a curator. If you have a good editing record, then you are likely to be trusted and granted the privileges and responsibilities of curatorship. If you are still interested in being a curator, here is the process:
{| style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1" cellpadding="4"
| style="padding: 10px; text-align: center" | I
|
<div id="Request">
;Request
</div>
You must request or be nominated for curatorship at [[Wikiversity:Candidates for Curatorship]]. State your reasons for seeking this position and in what areas you are or would like to be active. You may also refer to your contributions and indicate whether you have similar responsibilities at other projects.
|-
| style="padding: 10px; text-align: center" | II
|
<div id="Mentorship">
;Mentorship
</div>
[[Wikiversity:List of custodian mentors|Custodian mentors]] are expected to guide and advise you on the appropriate use of curator privileges in accordance with established policy and community consensus. If any experienced custodian agrees to mentor you and you agree to their mentorship, then you will be approved as a curator. If you have any questions or concerns, you should contact your mentor(s) for guidance and advice. If you or your mentor terminate the mentorship agreement, you will have 48 hours to find a new mentor. Otherwise, your mentor may remove curator privileges after 48 hours without any further notice or community discussion.
|}
== What can curators do? ==
{{shortcut|WV:CUR/WHAT}}
=== Deletion of pages ===
{{see also|Wikiversity:Deletions}}
[[File:Delete and Protect buttons.png|200px|right]] {{shortcut|WV:CUR/D}}
Curators can delete pages including images, categories, templates, and so on. Deletion is subject to [[Wikiversity:Policies|policy]]. Deletion requests may be submitted by any user at [[Wikiversity:Requests for Deletion]].
Deleting a page does not actually remove it from the database. It is merely invisible to non-custodians and can be restored at request, which may be submitted at [[Wikiversity:Requests for Deletion]]. Page deletions and restorations can be monitored by viewing the [[Special:Log/delete|deletion log]]. Curators may delete pages, but they do not have undelete rights.
Before deleting a page, you are encouraged to read: [[Wikiversity:Welcome templates]].
=== Edit and move protection of pages ===
{{See also|Wikiversity:Page protection}}
Curators can [[Wikiversity:Page protection|protect pages]] to prevent editing. There are two types of page protection: semi-protection, which prevents anonymous and new users from editing, and full protection, which prevents all non-custodians and non-curators from editing. A page can also be protected to prevent moving. Page protection can be lifted by any custodian or curator upon request at [[Wikiversity:Request custodian action]]. Page protections and unprotections can be monitored by viewing the [[Special:Log/protect|protection log]].
=== Rollback ===
{{see also|Wikiversity:Rollback}}
[[Image:Rollback button.png|thumb|300px|Rollback button]]
Curators have a ''[[Wikiversity:Rollback|rollback tool]]'' to revert the last change or group of changes made to a page by the same user. There is no option to provide an edit summary when using this tool. Instead, a summary such as "{{int:Revertpage}}" will be used automatically. This tool is primarily used to respond to obvious vandalism. For other edit reversions, the rollback button should not be used and a good edit summary should be provided.
=== Import ===
{{see also|Wikiversity:Import}}
Curators have access to the [[Special:Import|import tool]], to bring materials from Wikipedia, Wikibooks, Beta Wikiversity, Wikiquote, and Wikisource.
== What can't curators do? ==
Curators can't block users or change user rights. These actions require [[Wikiversity:Custodianship|Custodianship]] and [[Wikiversity:Bureaucratship|Bureaucratship]] respectively.
== How are curators expected to act? ==
{{shortcut|WV:CUR/E}}
Curators are supposed to follow the same principles as every other user, including [[Wikiversity:Civility|being civil]], [[Wikiversity:Assume Good Faith|assuming good faith]], and understanding [[Wikiversity:What is Wikiversity?|what Wikiversity is]]. They are expected to act professionally, and to respect policy and [[Wikiversity:Consensus|community consensus]].
==Problems with Curators==
{{shortcut|WV:CUR/P}}
If you have a question about an action (page deletion, page protection, violation of Wikiversity policy or some other action that does serious damage to the project) by a Wikiversity curator, the first thing to do is leave a message on that curator's user discussion page. Curators should always be able to explain how their actions support the Wikiversity project. If you did not get a satisfactory answer after a discussion with the curator, follow up with their mentor. Actions of a curator are ultimately the responsibility of their mentor(s). Any custodian may remove a curator's rights, but first try to resolve all curator problems by discussion. Post a request at [[Wikiversity:Request custodian action]] if discussion does not successfully resolve the issue.
== Notes ==
{{shortcut|WV:CUR/N}}
* Curatorship is a responsibility, not a right. While everyone is encouraged to apply for curatorship, the position is not suited for everyone. Please also note that in all instances not listed above, curators have no more power or weight than other users. "Curatorship is not a big deal."
* Curators should set their "user preferences" so as to provide for email contacts from other Wikiversity participants. If you do not use email, then you must make yourself easily available by some other means such as [[Wikiversity:Chat|IRC chat]].
* The maximum time period of inactivity <u>without community review</u> for curators is two years (consistent with the [[:meta:Category:Global policies|global policy]] described at [[meta:Admin activity review|Admin activity review]] which applies for [[Wikiversity:Custodianship#Notes|Custodians]] and [[Wikiversity:Bureaucratship|Bureaucrats]]). After that time, a custodian will remove the rights.
== Useful reads for curators ==
===Wikiversity===
* [[Wikiversity:No shrines for vandals]]
* [[Wikiversity:Policies]]
* [[How to be a Wikimedia sysop/Wikiversity]]
===MediaWiki/Wikimedia===
* [[How to be a Wikimedia sysop]]
* [[b:MediaWiki Administrator's Handbook|MediaWiki Administrator's Handbook]]
==See also==
* [[Special:ListUsers/curator|List of current Wikiversity curators]]
* [[Wikiversity:Bureaucratship]]
* [[Wikiversity:Custodianship]]
* [[Wikiversity:Support staff|Wikiversity:Staff]]
[[Category:Wikiversity administration]]
[[Category:Wikiversity custodianship]]
[[Category:Wikiversity user roles]]
huflzoij3icw7dso1fbtelsgenkw10g
School:Language Studies/Divisions
100
220181
2805571
2762668
2026-04-19T22:59:13Z
SGrant
3067399
One spelling mistake.
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The Wikiversity School of Languages Studies comprises four main divisions: '''languages''', '''linguistics''', '''plurilingual education''' and '''literature'''. The Languages Division, called [[Portal:Wikilang|Wikilang]], aims at studying and teaching [[Portal:Wikilang/List of languages|all languages]], including [[Extinct languages|dead]] and [[constructed languages]]. The [[Portal:Linguistics|Linguistics Division]] studies the structure of languages and their development. The [[Portal:Plurilingual education|Plurilingual education]] portal is dedicated to plurilingualism and the plurilingual pedagogy. The [[Portal:Literature|Literature Division]] studies and analyses the written works in different languages. Sometimes the studies of ancient languages are part of the [[School:Classics|School of Classics]] that studies the ancient world, but the learning resources about ancient languages will also be listed under Wikilang for easy referencing.
{{MultiCol}}
{{center top}}
'''[[Portal:Wikilang]]'''<br>the central portal to learn and discover languages on Wikiversity
{{center bottom}}
{{ColBreak}}
{{center top}}
'''[[Portal:Linguistics]]'''<br>the central guide to Wikiversity resources that are about linguistics
{{center bottom}}
{{ColBreak}}
{{center top}}
'''[[Portal:Plurilingual education]]'''<br>the central portal to learn what is plurilingualism and plurilingual language pedagogy on Wikiversity
{{center bottom}}
{{ColBreak}}
{{center top}}
'''[[Portal:Literature]]'''<br>the starting point to all Wikiversity resources about literature in different languages
{{center bottom}}
{{EndMultiCol}}
rfr4niiz87ucvxjcno2h41z5z88yc0o
Talk:WikiJournal of Humanities/Editors
1
228878
2805556
2805391
2026-04-19T20:54:35Z
PatrykPTomaszewski
3052635
/* Editorial board application of Patryk P. Tomaszewski */ Reply
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<noinclude>
{{WikiJournal editorial application top
|archive box = {{Archive box|[[/Archive 2017]]
<br>[[/Archive 2018]]
<br>[[/Archive 2019]]
<br>[[/Archive 2020]]
<br>[[/Archive 2022]]
<br>[[/Archive 2023]]
}}
}}
</noinclude>
==Editorial board application of Hernan Perez Molano==
{{WikiJournal editor application submitted
| position =Editorial board
| name =Hernan Perez Molano
| qualifications =PHD in Political science, Master in Ethnomusicology
| link =https://es.linkedin.com/in/hernan-p%C3%A9rez-molano-918252a1
| areas_of_expertise =Peacebuilding, social innovation, political science, ethnomusicology
| professional_experience =Doctor of Political Science, Administration, and International Relations, from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), trained in ethnographic, sociological, and anthropological techniques (Master's in Musicology, specializing in Ethnomusicology) at the Sorbonne University (France). His research, entitled "Obstacles and Resistances in the Construction of Alternative Peace: Comparative Ethnographies of the Reintegration of Former Combatants in Colinas, Guaviare, and Icononzo, Tolima," describes the construction of peace at the local level from the perspective of local social innovation ecosystems, based on a multi-sited ethnography (2019-2023).
:Coordinator of the Social Innovation Program (2015-2020) at the Research and Extension Office of the National University of Colombia, Bogotá campus. He has experience in supporting academia in formulating and implementing social innovation projects, utilizing participatory methodologies, design thinking, and fostering creative capacity in the context of community youth processes, as well as in communication and culture for peacebuilding. He was a former member of the formulating team, facilitator, and coordinator of the Innovation Laboratory for Peace (Trust for the Americas - National University of Colombia), and the Spaces of Re-cognition for Peace project of the Academic Vice-Rectory of the National University of Colombia.
| publishing_experience =
| open_experience =Official for the Education program of Wikimedia Colombia
| policy_confirm =I confirm that I will act in accordance with the policies of the WikiJournal of Humanities. [[User:HerPerezM|HerPerezM]] ([[User talk:HerPerezM|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/HerPerezM|contribs]]) 21:42, 20 July 2023 (UTC)
}}
* I approached him at EduWiki Conference to discuss WikiJournal and potential collaboration. I fully support his application to join the editorial board. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 03:47, 21 July 2023 (UTC)
* [[File:Symbol support vote.svg|14px]]I support this application for editor. [[User:Smvital|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">Smvital</span></b>]][[User talk:Smvital|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 10:46, 1 August 2023 (UTC)
* '''support''' - It's also a support from me. Very useful professional bacckground, and experience with Wikimedia Colombia's educaction programme is definitely a bonus. [[User:Evolution and evolvability|T.Shafee(Evo﹠Evo)]]<sup>[[User talk:Evolution and evolvability|talk]]</sup> 10:45, 28 August 2023 (UTC)
* I support this application. I agree; his area of study and experience will make him very suitable. [[User:Fransplace|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">Fransplace</span></b>]][[User talk:Fransplace|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 20:01, 10 September 2023 (UTC)
*'''Support''', of course. Hopefully, you'll have more time than I to help (I sadly overestimated my amount of time for this year...). --[[User:Piotrus|Piotrus]] ([[User talk:Piotrus|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Piotrus|contribs]]) 08:05, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
* '''support''' [[User:Rwatson1955|Rwatson1955]] ([[User talk:Rwatson1955|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Rwatson1955|contribs]]) 12:18, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
* '''support''' - a very welcome addition to the WikiJ Hum Team --[[User:Mstefan|Mstefan]] ([[User talk:Mstefan|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Mstefan|contribs]]) 12:48, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
'''Result: Accepted into the editorial board.'''
: [[WikiJournal User Group/Editorial guidelines#Adding editorial board members|Next steps]] (add <code>DONE</code> or <code><nowiki>{{Done}}</nowiki></code> after someone has performed the task):
# [[{{ROOTPAGENAMEE}}/Editorial_guidelines/Message_templates#Onboarding_a_new_board_member|Send a welcome message and confirm their preferred email address]] (usually in their provided website link, else via [[Special:EmailUser]])
{{clickable button 2|Onboarding email template|url=https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/{{ROOTPAGENAMEE}}/Editorial_guidelines/Message_templates#Onboarding_a_new_board_member}}
# Copy their information over to [[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Editorial board|editorial board page]] using the {{tlx|WikiJournal editor summary}} template
# Add their name and start data to the [d:{{WJQboard|default=Q75674277}} relevant editorial board] on wikidata
# Direct-add them to the {{WJX}}board mailing list ([https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer#!managemembers/{{WJX}}board/add via this link]) which will grant them access to the private page only visible to board members
# Welcome them at the {{#if:|wjm|WJM}}board mailing list so that they are informed
# Finally, move the application to [[Talk:{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Editors/Archive_{{CURRENTYEAR}}|this year's archive page]]
[[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 06:31, 6 November 2023 (UTC)
==Editorial board application of Lihao Gan==
{{WikiJournal editor application submitted
| position =Editorial board
| name =Lihao Gan
| qualifications =PHD.Professor
| link =https://faculty.ecnu.edu.cn/_s11/glh_en/main.psp
| areas_of_expertise =Epistemology,Communication Studies,Media Discourse Analysis,Rhetoric
| professional_experience =Gan Lihao (born October 1977) is a professor and doctoral supervisor at East China Normal University. He is a distinguished talent of the Pujiang Talent Program in Shanghai. He has also served as a visiting scholar in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley. Additionally, he holds the position of Deputy Director at the National Discourse Ecology Research Center and serves as an executive member of the Chinese Rhetoric Society, a council member of the Shanghai Language Society, and a committee member of the Audiovisual Communication branch of the Chinese Association for the History of Journalism and Communication.
| publishing_experience =Gan Lihao is known for his pioneering contributions to the fields of "Life Rhetoric" and "Behavioral Dramatism Theory." His research primarily revolves around human communication discourse, aiming to promote individual growth, harmonious family dynamics, intercommunication among domestic communities, and international dialogues within the context of the human community's shared destiny and peaceful development. He focuses on three main research directions: family education discourse analysis based on empathetic rhetoric, discourse research on national governance rooted in speech acts, and global knowledge discourse analysis centered around digital communities.
Gan Lihao has authored several significant works, including "Contrastive Structures Under the Influence of Spatial Dynamics," "Communication Rhetoric: Theory, Methods, and Case Studies," "Reshaping China's National Image and Wikipedia Knowledge Discourse Research," and "Political Science on Wikipedia" (in progress).
| open_experience =wikipedia editor,wikipedia researcher
| policy_confirm =I confirm that I will act in accordance with the policies of the WikiJournal of Humanities. [[User:Ganlihao|Ganlihao]] ([[User talk:Ganlihao|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ganlihao|contribs]]) 06:30, 4 September 2023 (UTC)
}}
* This editor approached us at the Wikimania Singapore event and we discussed how we need experts in humanities to contribute and assist with reviewing the backlogged submissions. He expressed an interest after seeing our poster at Wikimania. He led a team of researchers from China to investigate and publish research articles about Wikipedia. As such, his professional, publishing and open experiences are quite extensive. Since he primarily publishes in Chinese language, I suggested that he initially apply for associate editor position to familiarize himself with publishing and communicating in English to gain confidence in this area. I fully {{support}} his application. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 03:52, 7 September 2023 (UTC)
* I support this application and agree an associate editor position will be best to begin with. [[User:Fransplace|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">Fransplace</span></b>]][[User talk:Fransplace|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 20:05, 10 September 2023 (UTC)
*'''Support''', of course. Hopefully, you'll have more time than I to help (I sadly overestimated my amount of time for this year...). --[[User:Piotrus|Piotrus]] ([[User talk:Piotrus|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Piotrus|contribs]]) 08:06, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
* '''support''' [[User:Rwatson1955|Rwatson1955]] ([[User talk:Rwatson1955|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Rwatson1955|contribs]]) 12:19, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
* '''support''' Gan Lihao coming on as an associate editor, but we should also decide on a clear idea of what the process would be (timeline/criteria) to move them (or any other associate editor in a similar situation) to full editor --[[User:Mstefan|Mstefan]] ([[User talk:Mstefan|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Mstefan|contribs]]) 12:52, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
*:Good point. I think we will "cross that bridge" and evaluate once we see the [[WikiJournal of Humanities/Potential upcoming articles|backlog submissions]] getting chipped away by the newly recruited editors and associate editor. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 03:11, 18 September 2023 (UTC)
'''Result: Accepted into the editorial board.'''
: [[WikiJournal User Group/Editorial guidelines#Adding editorial board members|Next steps]] (add <code>DONE</code> or <code><nowiki>{{Done}}</nowiki></code> after someone has performed the task):
# [[{{ROOTPAGENAMEE}}/Editorial_guidelines/Message_templates#Onboarding_a_new_board_member|Send a welcome message and confirm their preferred email address]] (usually in their provided website link, else via [[Special:EmailUser]])
{{clickable button 2|Onboarding email template|url=https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/{{ROOTPAGENAMEE}}/Editorial_guidelines/Message_templates#Onboarding_a_new_board_member}}
# Copy their information over to [[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Editorial board|editorial board page]] using the {{tlx|WikiJournal editor summary}} template
# Add their name and start data to the [d:{{WJQboard|default=Q75674277}} relevant editorial board] on wikidata
# Direct-add them to the {{WJX}}board mailing list ([https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer#!managemembers/{{WJX}}board/add via this link]) which will grant them access to the private page only visible to board members
# Welcome them at the {{#if:|wjm|WJM}}board mailing list so that they are informed
# Finally, move the application to [[Talk:{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Editors/Archive_{{CURRENTYEAR}}|this year's archive page]]
[[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 06:31, 6 November 2023 (UTC)
==Editorial board application of Laura G. Campo==
{{WikiJournal editor application submitted
| position =Editorial board
| name =Laura G. Campo
| qualifications =Bachelor Degree in Literature, Especialized in Edition
| link =https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-giselle-campo-sepulveda/
| areas_of_expertise =Literature, Education, Humanities
| professional_experience =Literary analyst specializing in text editing. My career has been focused on the editing and proofreading of technical and literary documents. I also have experience accompanying research projects on journalism, literature, art and cultural articles.
| publishing_experience =Journal editorial coordinator, Editorial assistant, Content creator,Copyeditor, Proofreader.
| open_experience =Currently I coordinate the editorial production of the Universidad Pedagogica Nacional's (Colombia) scientistic journals
| policy_confirm =I confirm that I will act in accordance with the policies of the WikiJournal of Humanities. [[User:LaGCampo|LaGCampo]] ([[User talk:LaGCampo|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/LaGCampo|contribs]]) 13:39, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
}}
* I met Laura while presenting WikiJournal during Open Access week in Colombia. I '''support''' her application given her expertise in journal administration. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 06:29, 6 November 2023 (UTC)
* I support this application. [[User:Fransplace|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">Fransplace</span></b>]][[User talk:Fransplace|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 21:27, 10 January 2024 (UTC)
* Laura is highly qualified, I support this application.[[User:Jacknunn|Jacknunn]] ([[User talk:Jacknunn|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Jacknunn|contribs]]) 10:13, 31 January 2024 (UTC)
* I support, looks like an ideal addition [[User:Rwatson1955|Rwatson1955]] ([[User talk:Rwatson1955|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Rwatson1955|contribs]]) 07:20, 2 February 2024 (UTC)
* Sure, particularly given OhanaUnited met them in person. --[[User:Piotrus|Piotrus]] ([[User talk:Piotrus|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Piotrus|contribs]]) 05:53, 5 December 2024 (UTC)
* It's a support from me as well.[[User:Evolution and evolvability|T.Shafee(Evo﹠Evo)]]<sup>[[User talk:Evolution and evolvability|talk]]</sup> 02:41, 9 January 2025 (UTC)
==Associate editor application of Taofeeq Idowu ABDULKAREEM==
{{WikiJournal editor application submitted
| position =Associate editor
| name = Taofeeq Idowu ABDULKAREEM
| qualifications = B.A History and International Studies; Member of Historical Society of Nigeria; Founder and Writer for Taofeeq’s Exposure
| link =
https://www.linkedin.com/in/taofeeq-idowu-abdulkareem-mhsn-b3479a1b2
| areas_of_expertise = History and International Studies
| professional_experience = His professional experience can be found in Research, Content writing and Proofreading. He has made series of research in different historical events among which were titled " 'The Great Wall of China', 'The first Nigeria’s National Anthem', 'India’s great voyage to the Mars' " among others.
He made a pioneer work on a topic he used for his undergraduate project research titled "Change and Continuity in Sociopolitical Role of Women in Owo, 1900-1970". This significant work was a culmination of historical research and historical analysis which would be used for further reference in the subject matter.
He was appointed as the Project Coordinator for the Undergraduate Project Research because of his resourcefulness in research and editing. During the period, he coordinated over 30 co-supervises and helped a lot of them with the research and also editing. This makes the Supervisor work much more easier.
As a member of University of Ilorin Model United Nations, he has made numerous research on International happenings and International relations
| publishing_experience = He is a content writer, content editor, researcher, proofreader.
He was a member of the Editorial team of the 2023 Journal of the National Association of Ondo State Students, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; He was the Assistant Director of Research and Editorial of the Alternative Dispute Resolution, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; He was an astute writer and editor for Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
He provided proofreading assistance for his Long Essay Undergraduate research Supervisor, thereby successfully proofread over 20 undergraduate Project Researches suitable for publication.
His experience can also be found in helping editing articles that are suitable and professional for publish
| open_experience = He is having over 3 years of experience in Wikimedia. He is keen interested individual in open source as he is more interested in people accessing information. He was the Vice President, Training and Development for Wikimedia Fan Club, University of Ilorin where he trained a lot of members on editing on Wikipedia and various other Sibling projects. He led Wikimedia Awareness in Ogbomosho Project where series of people were trained. He had also co-facilitated series of Projects among which are Wikimedia Promotion in Akure, Wikimedia Promotion in Lead City University, Wiki and Health Articles in Nigeria among other projects
| policy_confirm = I confirm that I will act in accordance with the policies of the WikiJournal of Humanities. [[User:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|Taofeeq Abdulkareem]] ([[User talk:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Taofeeq Abdulkareem|contribs]]) 09:05, 11 September 2024 (UTC)
}}
* {{ping|Taofeeq Abdulkareem}} Sorry for the delay, I recently found time to review your application. You definitely have sufficient level of professional and open experience (as demonstrated in your contribution activities on wiki). I would like to know more about your publishing experience. Can you tell me more, such as providing links to your published works? Do you have a list of your publications? [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 03:46, 14 October 2024 (UTC)
*:@[[User:OhanaUnited|OhanaUnited]] Thanks for the review and kind comments.
*:Kindly find attached below the list of Publications:
*:# Change and Continuity in Socio-political Role of Women in Owo, 1900-1970
*:# The Great Wall of China
*:# The First Nigeria's National Anthem
*:# India's great voyage to the Mars
*:# 60 Years Journey of Nigeria's Independence
*:Links to the Publications respectively:
*:* https://drive.google.com/file/d/16c8WDHbArhFit9-p8isLMJ9CzgKklzBp/view?usp=drivesdk
*:* https://taofeeqexposure.wordpress.com/2020/07/09/the-great-wall-of-china/
*:* https://taofeeqexposure.wordpress.com/2020/07/11/the-first-nigeria-national-anthem/
*:* https://taofeeqexposure.wordpress.com/2020/08/16/indiathe-pride-of-asia-the-great-journey-to-mars/
*:* https://taofeeqexposure.wordpress.com/2020/10/01/60-years-journey-of-nigerias-independence/
*:[[User:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|Taofeeq Abdulkareem]] ([[User talk:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Taofeeq Abdulkareem|contribs]]) 12:09, 16 October 2024 (UTC)
*::@[[User:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|Taofeeq Abdulkareem]] Thank you. Blog posts are not what I considered as publishing experience. Other than the undergraduate thesis, do you have any examples of publishing in a peer-reviewed journal article or book chapter? [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 16:20, 24 October 2024 (UTC)
*:::Thank you for your prompt response. I appreciate your feedback and understand your concerns regarding my publishing experience. While my publication record in peer-reviewed journals may be limited, I would like to highlight my research experience in significant aspects of humanities, including [cultural studies, historical analysis, among others aspects]. Although blog posts may not be traditional publications, they demonstrate my ability to make research and communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences.
*:::Beyond publishing, I've developed valuable skills through Undergraduate thesis research, Editing and proofreading for others, Research assistance in humanities topics.
*:::I bring strong research foundation in humanities, excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, ability to communicate complex ideas engagingly, experience working with diverse authors and topics, passion for promoting high-quality humanities research. I am eager to leverage these skills to support Wikimedia Journal's mission. I understand the importance of peer-reviewed publications and commit to further developing my expertise.
*:::I would appreciate consideration of my application, recognizing the diverse experiences and skills I bring. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response. [[User:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|Taofeeq Abdulkareem]] ([[User talk:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Taofeeq Abdulkareem|contribs]]) 09:40, 27 October 2024 (UTC)
*::::I am '''support'''ive of your associate editor application, contingent on mentorship from board members, to help you gain experience around the publishing area. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 18:54, 14 November 2024 (UTC)
*:::::Thank you for your prompt and warm response. I am thrilled to join the team and contribute to the Humanities journal. As a passionate, ambitious, and evolving individual, I am committed to continuous learning, growth, and development.
*:::::I would greatly appreciate mentorship from the board members to enhance my publishing knowledge and skills. I am eager to apply these skills in my role and contribute meaningfully to the team's growth and success.
*:::::I look forward to the next steps and onboarding process, I am delighted to be part of this team and make a positive impact. [[User:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|Taofeeq Abdulkareem]] ([[User talk:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Taofeeq Abdulkareem|contribs]]) 20:25, 14 November 2024 (UTC)
*::::::Please wait for other editorial board members to review and comment on your application. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 21:44, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
*::::::: Support! [[User:Fransplace|Fransplace]] ([[User talk:Fransplace|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Fransplace|contribs]]) 23:04, 26 March 2025 (UTC)
*'''Support'''. Having read the above, welcome aboard. --[[User:Piotrus|Piotrus]] ([[User talk:Piotrus|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Piotrus|contribs]]) 05:54, 5 December 2024 (UTC)
*{{Support}}.Wikimedia and other editorial experience is very good [[User:Rwatson1955|Rwatson1955]] ([[User talk:Rwatson1955|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Rwatson1955|contribs]]) 14:22, 2 January 2025 (UTC)
{{re|Taofeeq Abdulkareem}} My apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I have spoken with the editor-in-chief for WikiJournal of Humanities and as she [https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=Talk%3AWikiJournal_of_Humanities%2FEditors&diff=2708834&oldid=2695018 has indicated] your support for the associate editor application, I am pleased to admit you to the WikiJournal of Humanities editorial board.
'''Result: Accepted into the editorial board as associate editor.'''
: [[WikiJournal User Group/Editorial guidelines#Adding editorial board members|Next steps]] (add <code>DONE</code> or <code><nowiki>{{Done}}</nowiki></code> after someone has performed the task):
# [[{{ROOTPAGENAMEE}}/Editorial_guidelines/Message_templates#Onboarding_a_new_board_member|Send a welcome message and confirm their preferred email address]] (usually in their provided website link, else via [[Special:EmailUser]])
{{clickable button 2|Onboarding email template|url=https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/{{ROOTPAGENAMEE}}/Editorial_guidelines/Message_templates#Onboarding_a_new_board_member}}
# Copy their information over to [[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Editorial board|editorial board page]] using the {{tlx|WikiJournal editor summary}} template
# Add their name and start data to the [d:{{WJQboard|default=Q75674277}} relevant editorial board] on wikidata
# {{done}} Direct-add them to the {{WJX}}board mailing list ([https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer#!managemembers/{{WJX}}board/add via this link]) which will grant them access to the private page only visible to board members
# Welcome them at the {{#if:|wjm|WJM}}board mailing list so that they are informed
# Finally, move the application to [[Talk:{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Editors/Archive_{{CURRENTYEAR}}|this year's archive page]]
[[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 20:22, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
:Thanks for swift and positive response.
:Looking forward to working with the team and making amazing contributions while also playing active part in the progress and development of the Board.
:I will like to thank you once for considering my application.
:I am pleased to be part of the team. Looking forward to the next steps of the onboarding process.
:Kind regards,
:Taofeeq Idowu ABDULKAREEM [[User:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|Taofeeq Abdulkareem]] ([[User talk:Taofeeq Abdulkareem|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Taofeeq Abdulkareem|contribs]]) 20:57, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
==Associate editor application of Sideeq Abubakar Galadima==
{{WikiJournal editor application submitted
| position =Associate editor
| name =Sideeq Abubakar Galadima
| qualifications =B.A. History and International Studies
| link =
| areas_of_expertise =History, Diplomacy, Planning and Management
| professional_experience =His professional experience is deeply rooted in his academic background in History and International Studies, which has familiarized him with the intricacies of objective research, writing, and reportage. His expertise in these areas was further strengthened by his active engagement in news and report writing as a member of the Union of Campus Journalists during his undergraduate studies. Additionally, his experience as a Wikimedia editor has honed his proofreading skills.
As an event planner, he has developed exceptional attention to detail, which has become an integral part of his skillset. Notably, his pioneering research work, titled "Colonialism and the Continuity of Ilorin Cultural Heritage, 1900-1960," demonstrates his ability to conduct in-depth historical analysis and research. This work will undoubtedly serve as a valuable reference for future studies in related fields, such as cultural diplomacy.
| publishing_experience =He's a researcher, news and reports writer, content editor, proofreader
| open_experience =He possesses over three years of experience in Wikimedia, driven by a strong interest in open-source initiatives. Notably, he served as the Special Duties Officer for the Wikimedia Fan Club at the University of Ilorin, where he played a pivotal role in facilitating and training sessions on Wikipedia and its sister projects, as well as co-facilitating workshops, including "Wiki and Health Articles in Nigeria" and "Wikimedia Awareness in Ogbomosho". Through these endeavors, He demonstrated his expertise in promoting open-source knowledge sharing and community engagement. His experience and commitment to Wikimedia's mission have equipped him with a unique skill set, poised to contribute to future initiatives.
| policy_confirm =I confirm that I will act in accordance with the policies of the WikiJournal of Humanities. [[User:Albakry028|Albakry028]] ([[User talk:Albakry028|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Albakry028|contribs]]) 17:54, 11 September 2024 (UTC)
}}
* I really appreciate Sideeq's Wikipedia contributions to topics in Africa. It sounds like the highest degree earned is B.A., and no journal editor experience? I think normally we expect a PhD and some academic journal experience. Also it would be good to have a link to the ""Colonialism and the Continuity of Ilorin Cultural Heritage, 1900-1960", which I wasn't able to find. [[User:Aoholcombe|Aoholcombe]] ([[User talk:Aoholcombe|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Aoholcombe|contribs]]) 23:25, 2 October 2024 (UTC)
*:I agree with your comment. I wasn't able to find this applicant's published work list and I am hesitant with professional experience even for applying as an associate editor position. While the applicant has some experience with open access, the activity was sporadic. However, I think it may be beneficial to have additional volunteers to support this journal that deals with the administrative side of things and less reliant on professional and publishing experiences' side of the journal. @[[User:Albakry028|Albakry028]], in case you didn't see the previous comment, can you provide us with more information? [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 03:55, 14 October 2024 (UTC)
*:Thank you for acknowledging my contributions to African topics on Wikipedia. I appreciate your recognition of my efforts.
Regarding your inquiries, I would like to clarify that my highest educational attainment is a Bachelor of Arts degree. Nevertheless, my editorial expertise has enabled me to assist colleagues with their research projects, leveraging my skills in research and academic writing.
I understand and respect the standard expectations associated with academic roles. However, I was entrusted with this responsibility due to my demonstrated expertise.
Regarding my research work, I am pleased to share the link to my project: "Colonialism and the Continuity of Ilorin Cultural Heritage, 1900-1960."
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bxysalU-AT7JakWfJCFxeWqwpFCz_C7s/view?usp=drivesdk
@[[User:Aoholcombe|Aoholcombe]] @[[User:OhanaUnited|OhanaUnited]] [[User:Albakry028|Albakry028]] ([[User talk:Albakry028|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Albakry028|contribs]]) 13:50, 16 October 2024 (UTC)
:@[[User:Albakry028|Albakry028]] Thanks very much for providing your writing example. Do you have any publishing experience? We are looking for something beyond undergraduate thesis (for example, peer-reviewed journal article or book chapters). I am trained as a scientist and therefore will need more information to assess an applicant's suitability in applying for a humanities position. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 16:18, 24 October 2024 (UTC)
:Although my publishing experience is limited to my undergraduate thesis, I'm confident in my potential. I bring transferable skills: research expertise, writing proficiency, adaptability, analytical thinking and effective communication. I'm eager to apply research methodology perspectives to humanities contexts, quickly learn and adapt. I'm poised to contribute innovatively through interdisciplinary research, engaging teaching methods and collaborative projects. I appreciate your consideration of potential over conventional metrics. [[User:Albakry028|Albakry028]] ([[User talk:Albakry028|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Albakry028|contribs]]) 13:38, 25 October 2024 (UTC)
::I am happy to '''support''' your associate editor application, contingent on board members' availability, to mentor you to gain experience around the publishing area. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 18:55, 14 November 2024 (UTC)
:::Thank you for your kind and supportive message. I am thrilled to join the team and grateful for the opportunity to work alongside experienced board members. I am eager to benefit from their mentorship and expertise, which will undoubtedly enhance my skills and knowledge in the publishing field.
:::As a dedicated and passionate individual, I am committed to contributing to the humanities journal and supporting its growth. I am excited to embark on this journey and engage in meaningful discussions as a team member.
:::I look forward to the next steps and onboarding process. [[User:Albakry028|Albakry028]] ([[User talk:Albakry028|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Albakry028|contribs]]) 20:44, 14 November 2024 (UTC)
::::Please wait for other editorial board members to review and comment on your application. [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 21:38, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
::::: I support --[[User:Fransplace|Fransplace]] ([[User talk:Fransplace|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Fransplace|contribs]]) 23:12, 26 March 2025 (UTC)
*'''Support'''. Having read the above, welcome aboard. --[[User:Piotrus|Piotrus]] ([[User talk:Piotrus|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Piotrus|contribs]]) 05:56, 5 December 2024 (UTC)
*{{Support}}.Wikimedia experience is positive [[User:Rwatson1955|Rwatson1955]] ([[User talk:Rwatson1955|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Rwatson1955|contribs]]) 14:23, 2 January 2025 (UTC)
{{re|Kamoranesi90}} My apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I have recently spoken with the editor-in-chief for WikiJournal of Humanities about editor applications. As she has [https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:WikiJournal_of_Humanities/Editors&diff=next&oldid=2708834 indicated her support] for your associate editor application, I am pleased to accept you into the board.
'''Result: Accepted into the editorial board as associate editor.'''
: [[WikiJournal User Group/Editorial guidelines#Adding editorial board members|Next steps]] (add <code>DONE</code> or <code><nowiki>{{Done}}</nowiki></code> after someone has performed the task):
# [[{{ROOTPAGENAMEE}}/Editorial_guidelines/Message_templates#Onboarding_a_new_board_member|Send a welcome message and confirm their preferred email address]] (usually in their provided website link, else via [[Special:EmailUser]])
{{clickable button 2|Onboarding email template|url=https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/{{ROOTPAGENAMEE}}/Editorial_guidelines/Message_templates#Onboarding_a_new_board_member}}
# Copy their information over to [[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Editorial board|editorial board page]] using the {{tlx|WikiJournal editor summary}} template
# Add their name and start data to the [d:{{WJQboard|default=Q75674277}} relevant editorial board] on wikidata
# {{done}} Direct-add them to the {{WJX}}board mailing list ([https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer#!managemembers/{{WJX}}board/add via this link]) which will grant them access to the private page only visible to board members
# Welcome them at the {{#if:|wjm|WJM}}board mailing list so that they are informed
# Finally, move the application to [[Talk:{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Editors/Archive_{{CURRENTYEAR}}|this year's archive page]]
[[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 20:26, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
:Thank you for the opportunity to join the editorial board. I sincerely appreciate the consideration of my application and assure you that I am committed to making a meaningful impact. I look forward to collaborating with the team and contributing to the journal’s growth and success. [[User:Albakry028|Albakry028]] ([[User talk:Albakry028|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Albakry028|contribs]]) 21:13, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
==Editorial board application of Gauthami Penakalapati==
{{WikiJournal editor application submitted
| position =Editorial board
| name =Gauthami Penakalapati
| qualifications =PhD, MPH, BS
| link =https://gauthamip.com/
| areas_of_expertise =global health, global development, gender and development, adolescents and development, evidence synthesis methodologies
| professional_experience =I am an interdisciplinary social science researcher and development strategist with expertise in gender equity, adolescent well-being, and a climate-just transition. My research intersects global development, feminist philosophy, public health, science & technology studies, and geography. At UC Berkeley, I've taught undergraduate social science courses including "Gender & Environment," "Energy & Society," and "Introduction to Global Health." At the graduate level, I've taught courses on research and intervention trial design. My global development experience early in my career motivated my interest in epistemic justice and global development ethics. I designed lectures exploring the colonial underpinnings of global development and imagine anti-colonial approaches to science.
| publishing_experience =peer-reviewer for PLoS Global Health
| open_experience =I'm looking to get more involved in open knowledge projects. This has been a long standing interest of mine, and I'd love the chance to participate and engage with the community.
| policy_confirm =I confirm that I will act in accordance with the policies of the WikiJournal of Humanities. [[User:Gauthamip|Gauthamip]] ([[User talk:Gauthamip|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Gauthamip|contribs]]) 21:22, 29 September 2025 (UTC)
[[User:Gauthamip|Gauthamip]] ([[User talk:Gauthamip|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Gauthamip|contribs]]) 21:22, 29 September 2025 (UTC) = gauthamip 14:22 29 September 2025 (UTC -07:00)
}}
: Thanks for your application [[User:Gauthamip|Gauthamip]]. Do you have experience handling reviews (e.g. identifying and contacting potential peer reviewers) in editorial boards? [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 14:26, 31 October 2025 (UTC)
==Editorial board application of Patryk P. Tomaszewski==
{{WikiJournal editor application submitted
| position =Editorial board
| name =Patryk P. Tomaszewski
| qualifications =Ph.D.; M.Phil.; M.A.
| link =www.patryktomaszewski.com
| areas_of_expertise =history of art, modern European cultural and political history, exhibition history, visual culture of Central and Eastern Europe
| professional_experience =Historian of art and visual culture specializing in twentieth-century Europe. I have written and presented on the Russian avant-gardes; interwar art in Central and Eastern Europe; Socialist Realism and state-directed cultural production across the former Eastern Bloc; and the transnational circulation of art between East and West during the Cold War. Previously held a Joan Tisch Teaching Fellowship at the Whitney Museum of American Art. I teach art history surveys at Fordham University. I served as peer reviewer for ''Latin American Jewish Studies'' and ''The Proceedings of the National Library of Latvia''.
| publishing_experience =I recently published a peer-reviewed article in ''Curator: The Museum Journal'' and contributed a chapter to a scholarly edited volume by Muzeum Sztuki in Łódź. I also published catalogue essays with Skira Editore and the Kosciuszko Foundation. Online publications include a research article for ''post. Notes on Art in a Global Context'' (Museum of Modern Art) and multiple exhibition reviews for ''ArtMargins Online'', among others.
| open_experience =Familiar with Wikipedia's editorial standards, sourcing policies, and content review processes. Interested in contributing to open-access scholarship in the humanities.
| policy_confirm =I confirm that I will act in accordance with the policies of the WikiJournal of Humanities. [[User:PatrykPTomaszewski|PatrykPTomaszewski]] ([[User talk:PatrykPTomaszewski|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PatrykPTomaszewski|contribs]]) 01:25, 18 February 2026 (UTC)
}}
: Thank you for your application {{u|PatrykPTomaszewski}}. I have a question about your open experience. You wrote that you're {{tq|Familiar with Wikipedia's editorial standards, sourcing policies, and content review processes}} yet your account has no other edit aside from filling out this application. Can you elaborate on your open experience? Do you have an alternative wiki account? [[User:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: #0000FF;">OhanaUnited</span></b>]][[User talk:OhanaUnited|<b><span style="color: green;"><sup>Talk page</sup></span></b>]] 20:22, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
::@[[User:OhanaUnited|OhanaUnited]] Thank you for the question. I maintain a long-standing account on English Wikipedia under a different username, where I have contributed several thousand edits, including multiple GAs. I keep that account separate from my professional identity for privacy reasons. I am happy to disclose the account name privately to you or the editor-in-chief if that would be helpful for verification. [[User:PatrykPTomaszewski|PatrykPTomaszewski]] ([[User talk:PatrykPTomaszewski|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/PatrykPTomaszewski|contribs]]) 20:54, 19 April 2026 (UTC)
3r9p489tctcjsxccy0qj0l0dt0iu7lt
Digital Media Concepts/Basics on Filmaking
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ShakespeareFan00
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== Filmmaking ==
[[wikipedia:Filmmaking|Filmmaking]] is basically the process of making a film (video or movie clip on its digital version), it may classify by feature film, short film, documentary film (that could be sub-classified as feature film and short film), and animation. involve a theatrical performance in the case of a proper research on a specific theme if is a documentary. Film stands for photography because of the use of photography film, the first attempts of films were [[wikipedia:Photogram|photograms]] that is a sequence of
[[File:Muybridge race horse animated.gif|200px|left|thumb|Muybridge race horse animated]]
[[File:Adrien Tournachon, revolving self portrait.gif|thumb|Adrien Tournachon, revolving self portrait]]
[[Image:Adrien Tournachon, revolving self portrait.gif|200px|left|thumb|Adrien Tournachon, revolving self portrait.gif]]
<br style="clear: both;">
== Geners ==
== Stages of Production ==
=== Pre-Production ===
=== Production ===
=== Post-Production ===
== Camera Shoot Types ==
== Editing ==
== Bibliography or Further Reading ==
== History ==
== Software or Hardware ==
== External Links ==
<nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinematography</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_film</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_Picture_Association_of_America</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmmaking_technique_of_Luis_Bu%C3%B1uel</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmmaking_technique_of_Akira_Kurosawa</nowiki>
<nowiki>http://www.filmsite.org/filmgenres.html</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://www.filmsite.org/subgenres2.html</nowiki>
<nowiki>http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activity/filmmaking-101.html</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/filmmaking-101-camera-shot-types</nowiki>
<nowiki>http://www.thewildclassroom.com/wildfilmschool/gettingstarted/camerashots.html</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://www.indiewire.com/2013/02/10-basic-things-indie-filmmakers-need-to-know-about-digital-cinematography-before-shooting-40787/</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videography</nowiki>
<nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmmaking</nowiki>
== References ==
[[Category:Digital Media Concepts]]
n6jgdlno9g9cd2set93u5jydtdoekam
Korean/Words/page
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noinclude>{{../pageHead}}</noinclude>
== (untitled) ==
{{mono div|
; Roman: '' ''
; Alias:
; Older: <s></s> ('' '')
; Hanja:
; Noun <ref> https://ko.dict.naver.com/#/search?query= </ref> <ref>https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ </ref>
#
#:
}}
; Compounds
; Relatives
; Comparatives
{| align=center
|
{| class=wikitable
! From [[wikt:|'' '' #Translations]]
|- valign=top
|
; Nordic
* Danish:
* Icelandic:
* Norwegian:
* Swedish:
; Germanic
* Dutch:
* English:
* German:
; Latinic
* French:
* Italian:
* Latin:
* Portuguese:
* Spanish:
|}
|}
<gallery class="center">
File: |
File: |
File: |
</gallery>
; See also
* [[../ | ]]
hxw9b76edztrkea5czdkaevvspuq114
MALT1
0
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Bot: Fixing double redirect to [[WikiJournal of Science/MALT1]]
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#REDIRECT [[WikiJournal of Science/MALT1]]
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African Arthropods/Encyrtidae
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Alandmanson
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/* Encyrtidae - genera */
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There are more than 640 described species of Afrotropical Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. More than 380 of these species have been found in South Africa.
==Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae==
In macro photographs, encyrtids are often recognizable using these features:<br>
# Large mesopleuron, usually covering more than half of the thorax (mesosoma) in side view.
# Mid coxae join the thorax near the middle of the mesopleuron.
# Mesoscutum transverse (width greater than length), and generally not segmented by notauli.
# The axillae are usually visible as triangles with two long sides, one adjacent to the mesoscutum and the other adjacent to the scutellum; the short side of the triangle is adjacent to the base of the forewing. The axillae touch, or nearly touch, medially; appearing as wedges between the mesoscutum and the scutellum.
# Cercal plates (at the base of the cercal bristles) are advanced; rather than being near the posterior tip of the metasoma (abdomen); they are usually within the anterior (front) two-thirds of the metasoma.
#In Encyrtidae with fully developed wings, the marginal vein of the forewing is usually shorter than stigmal vein; there is also an oblique band on the forewing that lacks setae (a linea calva).
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Encyrtidae lateral view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorsal view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorso-lateral view with annotations.jpg
Forewing of Anagyrus minipedicellus from Malaysia Fig7 Zu et al 2018.jpg
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae - genera ==
An illustrated key to the encyrtid genera of the Afrotropics was published in 1979.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>. This key has been updated [[African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key|'''here''']] to include some taxonomic changes and images with appropriate [[Creative Commons]] licenses.
Many encyrtid genera are difficult to identify from photographs, but some are more recognizable. The photographs in the gallery below show some of the more recognizable ones. Please note that identifications of any chalcidoid wasps from photographs are difficult, and all should be treated with some doubt, unless the specimen was collected and details checked with a microscope.
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Anicetus iNat 180762161 d.jpg|''Anicetus'' sp.
Aenasius 2019 08 25 9691.jpg|''Aenasius'' sp.
Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|''Apoleptomastix'' sp.
Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|''Callipteroma sexguttata''
Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 04.jpg|''Cheiloneurus'' sp.
Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|''Homalotylus'' sp.
Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|''Tachinaephagus'' sp.
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae for biological control of crop pests ==
Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of scale insects, some of which are pests that reduce productivity of agricultural crops across the world. Many scale insects have spread to countries where they have few natural enemies; in these cases, the introduction and spread of their wasp parasitoids can be used as a form of biological control to reduce their economic impact.<ref name=Kapranas2015>Kapranas, A., & Tena, A. (2015). Encyrtid parasitoids of soft scale insects: Biology, behavior, and their use in biological control. Annual Review of Entomology, 60, 195-211. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021053</ref><ref name=Legner2024>Legner, E. F., Economic gains & analysis of success in biological pest control. University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/identify/museum5.htm (accessed 10 March 2024)</ref>
<br>
==Links==
[http://African%20Arthropods/Afrotropical%20Encyrtidae%20Key Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae]<br>
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/index.htm WaspWeb: Encyrtid wasps of the Afrotropical Region]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Encyrtidae]]
mcy5l52ibm8plu2q7gc5apa9328z4g1
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Alandmanson
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/* Encyrtidae - genera */
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text/x-wiki
There are more than 640 described species of Afrotropical Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. More than 380 of these species have been found in South Africa.
==Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae==
In macro photographs, encyrtids are often recognizable using these features:<br>
# Large mesopleuron, usually covering more than half of the thorax (mesosoma) in side view.
# Mid coxae join the thorax near the middle of the mesopleuron.
# Mesoscutum transverse (width greater than length), and generally not segmented by notauli.
# The axillae are usually visible as triangles with two long sides, one adjacent to the mesoscutum and the other adjacent to the scutellum; the short side of the triangle is adjacent to the base of the forewing. The axillae touch, or nearly touch, medially; appearing as wedges between the mesoscutum and the scutellum.
# Cercal plates (at the base of the cercal bristles) are advanced; rather than being near the posterior tip of the metasoma (abdomen); they are usually within the anterior (front) two-thirds of the metasoma.
#In Encyrtidae with fully developed wings, the marginal vein of the forewing is usually shorter than stigmal vein; there is also an oblique band on the forewing that lacks setae (a linea calva).
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Encyrtidae lateral view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorsal view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorso-lateral view with annotations.jpg
Forewing of Anagyrus minipedicellus from Malaysia Fig7 Zu et al 2018.jpg
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae - genera ==
An illustrated key to the encyrtid genera of the Afrotropics was published in 1979.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>. This key has been updated [[African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key|'''here''']] to include some taxonomic changes and images with appropriate [[Creative Commons]] licenses.
Many encyrtid genera are difficult to identify from photographs, but some are more recognizable. The photographs in the gallery below show some of the more recognizable ones. Please note that identifications of any chalcidoid wasps from photographs are difficult, and all should be treated with some doubt, unless the specimen was collected and details checked with a microscope.
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Anicetus iNat 180762161 d.jpg|''Anicetus'' sp.
Aenasius 2019 08 25 9691.jpg|''Aenasius'' sp.
Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|''Apoleptomastix'' sp.
Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|''Callipteroma sexguttata''
Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 04.jpg|''Cheiloneurus'' sp.
Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|''Diversinervus'' sp.
Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|''Homalotylus'' sp.
Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|''Tachinaephagus'' sp.
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae for biological control of crop pests ==
Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of scale insects, some of which are pests that reduce productivity of agricultural crops across the world. Many scale insects have spread to countries where they have few natural enemies; in these cases, the introduction and spread of their wasp parasitoids can be used as a form of biological control to reduce their economic impact.<ref name=Kapranas2015>Kapranas, A., & Tena, A. (2015). Encyrtid parasitoids of soft scale insects: Biology, behavior, and their use in biological control. Annual Review of Entomology, 60, 195-211. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021053</ref><ref name=Legner2024>Legner, E. F., Economic gains & analysis of success in biological pest control. University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/identify/museum5.htm (accessed 10 March 2024)</ref>
<br>
==Links==
[http://African%20Arthropods/Afrotropical%20Encyrtidae%20Key Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae]<br>
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/index.htm WaspWeb: Encyrtid wasps of the Afrotropical Region]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Encyrtidae]]
03tat34r6at9fj2ni28irby0vb3f32d
2805530
2805529
2026-04-19T15:45:12Z
Alandmanson
1669821
/* Encyrtidae - genera */
2805530
wikitext
text/x-wiki
There are more than 640 described species of Afrotropical Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. More than 380 of these species have been found in South Africa.
==Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae==
In macro photographs, encyrtids are often recognizable using these features:<br>
# Large mesopleuron, usually covering more than half of the thorax (mesosoma) in side view.
# Mid coxae join the thorax near the middle of the mesopleuron.
# Mesoscutum transverse (width greater than length), and generally not segmented by notauli.
# The axillae are usually visible as triangles with two long sides, one adjacent to the mesoscutum and the other adjacent to the scutellum; the short side of the triangle is adjacent to the base of the forewing. The axillae touch, or nearly touch, medially; appearing as wedges between the mesoscutum and the scutellum.
# Cercal plates (at the base of the cercal bristles) are advanced; rather than being near the posterior tip of the metasoma (abdomen); they are usually within the anterior (front) two-thirds of the metasoma.
#In Encyrtidae with fully developed wings, the marginal vein of the forewing is usually shorter than stigmal vein; there is also an oblique band on the forewing that lacks setae (a linea calva).
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Encyrtidae lateral view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorsal view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorso-lateral view with annotations.jpg
Forewing of Anagyrus minipedicellus from Malaysia Fig7 Zu et al 2018.jpg
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae - genera ==
An illustrated key to the encyrtid genera of the Afrotropics was published in 1979.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>. This key has been updated [[African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key|'''here''']] to include some taxonomic changes and images with appropriate [[Creative Commons]] licenses.
Many encyrtid genera are difficult to identify from photographs, but some are more recognizable. The photographs in the gallery below show some of the more recognizable ones. Please note that identifications of any chalcidoid wasps from photographs are difficult, and all should be treated with some doubt, unless the specimen was collected and details checked with a microscope.
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Anicetus iNat 180762161 d.jpg|''Anicetus'' sp.
Aenasius 2019 08 25 9691.jpg|''Aenasius'' sp.
Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|''Apoleptomastix'' sp.
Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|''Callipteroma sexguttata''
Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 04.jpg|''Cheiloneurus'' sp.
Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|''Diversinervus'' sp.
Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|''Homalotylus'' sp.
Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|''Microterys'' sp.
Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|''Neocladia'' sp.
Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|''Tachinaephagus'' sp.
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae for biological control of crop pests ==
Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of scale insects, some of which are pests that reduce productivity of agricultural crops across the world. Many scale insects have spread to countries where they have few natural enemies; in these cases, the introduction and spread of their wasp parasitoids can be used as a form of biological control to reduce their economic impact.<ref name=Kapranas2015>Kapranas, A., & Tena, A. (2015). Encyrtid parasitoids of soft scale insects: Biology, behavior, and their use in biological control. Annual Review of Entomology, 60, 195-211. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021053</ref><ref name=Legner2024>Legner, E. F., Economic gains & analysis of success in biological pest control. University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/identify/museum5.htm (accessed 10 March 2024)</ref>
<br>
==Links==
[http://African%20Arthropods/Afrotropical%20Encyrtidae%20Key Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae]<br>
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/index.htm WaspWeb: Encyrtid wasps of the Afrotropical Region]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Encyrtidae]]
6tevrmsf02kyivb0108kzaoc39rt4lr
2805531
2805530
2026-04-19T15:48:26Z
Alandmanson
1669821
/* Encyrtidae - genera */
2805531
wikitext
text/x-wiki
There are more than 640 described species of Afrotropical Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. More than 380 of these species have been found in South Africa.
==Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae==
In macro photographs, encyrtids are often recognizable using these features:<br>
# Large mesopleuron, usually covering more than half of the thorax (mesosoma) in side view.
# Mid coxae join the thorax near the middle of the mesopleuron.
# Mesoscutum transverse (width greater than length), and generally not segmented by notauli.
# The axillae are usually visible as triangles with two long sides, one adjacent to the mesoscutum and the other adjacent to the scutellum; the short side of the triangle is adjacent to the base of the forewing. The axillae touch, or nearly touch, medially; appearing as wedges between the mesoscutum and the scutellum.
# Cercal plates (at the base of the cercal bristles) are advanced; rather than being near the posterior tip of the metasoma (abdomen); they are usually within the anterior (front) two-thirds of the metasoma.
#In Encyrtidae with fully developed wings, the marginal vein of the forewing is usually shorter than stigmal vein; there is also an oblique band on the forewing that lacks setae (a linea calva).
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Encyrtidae lateral view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorsal view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorso-lateral view with annotations.jpg
Forewing of Anagyrus minipedicellus from Malaysia Fig7 Zu et al 2018.jpg
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae - genera ==
An illustrated key to the encyrtid genera of the Afrotropics was published in 1979.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>. This key has been updated [[African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key|'''here''']] to include some taxonomic changes and images with appropriate [[Creative Commons]] licenses.
Many encyrtid genera are difficult to identify from photographs, but some are more recognizable. The photographs in the gallery below show some of the more recognizable ones. Please note that identifications of any chalcidoid wasps from photographs are difficult, and all should be treated with some doubt, unless the specimen was collected and details checked with a microscope.
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Anicetus iNat 180762161 d.jpg|''Anicetus'' sp.
Aenasius 2019 08 25 9691.jpg|''Aenasius'' sp.
Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|''Apoleptomastix'' sp.
Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|''Callipteroma sexguttata''
Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 04.jpg|''Cheiloneurus'' sp.
Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|''Diversinervus'' sp.
Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|''Homalotylus'' sp.
Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|''Microterys'' sp.
Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|''Neocladia'' sp.
Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg|''Pentelicus'' sp.
Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|''Tachinaephagus'' sp.
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae for biological control of crop pests ==
Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of scale insects, some of which are pests that reduce productivity of agricultural crops across the world. Many scale insects have spread to countries where they have few natural enemies; in these cases, the introduction and spread of their wasp parasitoids can be used as a form of biological control to reduce their economic impact.<ref name=Kapranas2015>Kapranas, A., & Tena, A. (2015). Encyrtid parasitoids of soft scale insects: Biology, behavior, and their use in biological control. Annual Review of Entomology, 60, 195-211. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021053</ref><ref name=Legner2024>Legner, E. F., Economic gains & analysis of success in biological pest control. University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/identify/museum5.htm (accessed 10 March 2024)</ref>
<br>
==Links==
[http://African%20Arthropods/Afrotropical%20Encyrtidae%20Key Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae]<br>
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/index.htm WaspWeb: Encyrtid wasps of the Afrotropical Region]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Encyrtidae]]
qvyrsi6xto7kp1junqz040c18boc0lq
2805532
2805531
2026-04-19T15:52:42Z
Alandmanson
1669821
/* Encyrtidae - genera */
2805532
wikitext
text/x-wiki
There are more than 640 described species of Afrotropical Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. More than 380 of these species have been found in South Africa.
==Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae==
In macro photographs, encyrtids are often recognizable using these features:<br>
# Large mesopleuron, usually covering more than half of the thorax (mesosoma) in side view.
# Mid coxae join the thorax near the middle of the mesopleuron.
# Mesoscutum transverse (width greater than length), and generally not segmented by notauli.
# The axillae are usually visible as triangles with two long sides, one adjacent to the mesoscutum and the other adjacent to the scutellum; the short side of the triangle is adjacent to the base of the forewing. The axillae touch, or nearly touch, medially; appearing as wedges between the mesoscutum and the scutellum.
# Cercal plates (at the base of the cercal bristles) are advanced; rather than being near the posterior tip of the metasoma (abdomen); they are usually within the anterior (front) two-thirds of the metasoma.
#In Encyrtidae with fully developed wings, the marginal vein of the forewing is usually shorter than stigmal vein; there is also an oblique band on the forewing that lacks setae (a linea calva).
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Encyrtidae lateral view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorsal view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorso-lateral view with annotations.jpg
Forewing of Anagyrus minipedicellus from Malaysia Fig7 Zu et al 2018.jpg
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae - genera ==
An illustrated key to the encyrtid genera of the Afrotropics was published in 1979.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>. This key has been updated [[African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key|'''here''']] to include some taxonomic changes and images with appropriate [[Creative Commons]] licenses.
Many encyrtid genera are difficult to identify from photographs, but some are more recognizable. The photographs in the gallery below show some of the more recognizable ones. Please note that identifications of any chalcidoid wasps from photographs are difficult, and all should be treated with some doubt, unless the specimen was collected and details checked with a microscope.
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Anicetus iNat 180762161 d.jpg|''Anicetus'' sp.
Aenasius 2019 08 25 9691.jpg|''Aenasius'' sp.
Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|''Apoleptomastix'' sp.
Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|''Callipteroma sexguttata''
Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|''Cerchysius'' sp.
Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 04.jpg|''Cheiloneurus'' sp.
Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|''Cryptanusia'' sp.
Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|''Diversinervus'' sp.
Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|''Homalotylus'' sp.
Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|''Microterys'' sp.
Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|''Neocladia'' sp.
Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg|''Pentelicus'' sp.
Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|''Tachinaephagus'' sp.
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae for biological control of crop pests ==
Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of scale insects, some of which are pests that reduce productivity of agricultural crops across the world. Many scale insects have spread to countries where they have few natural enemies; in these cases, the introduction and spread of their wasp parasitoids can be used as a form of biological control to reduce their economic impact.<ref name=Kapranas2015>Kapranas, A., & Tena, A. (2015). Encyrtid parasitoids of soft scale insects: Biology, behavior, and their use in biological control. Annual Review of Entomology, 60, 195-211. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021053</ref><ref name=Legner2024>Legner, E. F., Economic gains & analysis of success in biological pest control. University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/identify/museum5.htm (accessed 10 March 2024)</ref>
<br>
==Links==
[http://African%20Arthropods/Afrotropical%20Encyrtidae%20Key Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae]<br>
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/index.htm WaspWeb: Encyrtid wasps of the Afrotropical Region]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Encyrtidae]]
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2805534
2805532
2026-04-19T16:05:56Z
Alandmanson
1669821
/* Encyrtidae - genera */
2805534
wikitext
text/x-wiki
There are more than 640 described species of Afrotropical Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. More than 380 of these species have been found in South Africa.
==Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae==
In macro photographs, encyrtids are often recognizable using these features:<br>
# Large mesopleuron, usually covering more than half of the thorax (mesosoma) in side view.
# Mid coxae join the thorax near the middle of the mesopleuron.
# Mesoscutum transverse (width greater than length), and generally not segmented by notauli.
# The axillae are usually visible as triangles with two long sides, one adjacent to the mesoscutum and the other adjacent to the scutellum; the short side of the triangle is adjacent to the base of the forewing. The axillae touch, or nearly touch, medially; appearing as wedges between the mesoscutum and the scutellum.
# Cercal plates (at the base of the cercal bristles) are advanced; rather than being near the posterior tip of the metasoma (abdomen); they are usually within the anterior (front) two-thirds of the metasoma.
#In Encyrtidae with fully developed wings, the marginal vein of the forewing is usually shorter than stigmal vein; there is also an oblique band on the forewing that lacks setae (a linea calva).
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Encyrtidae lateral view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorsal view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorso-lateral view with annotations.jpg
Forewing of Anagyrus minipedicellus from Malaysia Fig7 Zu et al 2018.jpg
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae - genera ==
An illustrated key to the encyrtid genera of the Afrotropics was published in 1979.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>. This key has been updated [[African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key|'''here''']] to include some taxonomic changes and images with appropriate [[Creative Commons]] licenses.
Many encyrtid genera are difficult to identify from photographs, but some are more recognizable. The photographs in the gallery below show some of the more recognizable ones. Please note that identifications of any chalcidoid wasps from photographs are difficult, and all should be treated with some doubt, unless the specimen was collected and details checked with a microscope.
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Anicetus iNat 180762161 d.jpg|''Anicetus'' sp.
Aenasius 2019 08 25 9691.jpg|''Aenasius'' sp.
Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|''Apoleptomastix'' sp.
Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|''Callipteroma sexguttata''
Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|''Cerchysius'' sp.
Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 04.jpg|''Cheiloneurus'' sp.
Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|''Cryptanusia'' sp.
Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|''Diversinervus'' sp.
Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|''Homalotylus'' sp.
Leptomastix inaturalist 256980040.jpg|''Leptomastix'' sp.
Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|''Microterys'' sp.
Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|''Neocladia'' sp.
Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg|''Pentelicus'' sp.
Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|''Tachinaephagus'' sp.
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae for biological control of crop pests ==
Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of scale insects, some of which are pests that reduce productivity of agricultural crops across the world. Many scale insects have spread to countries where they have few natural enemies; in these cases, the introduction and spread of their wasp parasitoids can be used as a form of biological control to reduce their economic impact.<ref name=Kapranas2015>Kapranas, A., & Tena, A. (2015). Encyrtid parasitoids of soft scale insects: Biology, behavior, and their use in biological control. Annual Review of Entomology, 60, 195-211. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021053</ref><ref name=Legner2024>Legner, E. F., Economic gains & analysis of success in biological pest control. University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/identify/museum5.htm (accessed 10 March 2024)</ref>
<br>
==Links==
[http://African%20Arthropods/Afrotropical%20Encyrtidae%20Key Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae]<br>
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/index.htm WaspWeb: Encyrtid wasps of the Afrotropical Region]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Encyrtidae]]
fsij7pn5nahwz94oae9mt607uh8dfyo
2805535
2805534
2026-04-19T16:18:27Z
Alandmanson
1669821
/* Encyrtidae - genera */
2805535
wikitext
text/x-wiki
There are more than 640 described species of Afrotropical Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. More than 380 of these species have been found in South Africa.
==Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae==
In macro photographs, encyrtids are often recognizable using these features:<br>
# Large mesopleuron, usually covering more than half of the thorax (mesosoma) in side view.
# Mid coxae join the thorax near the middle of the mesopleuron.
# Mesoscutum transverse (width greater than length), and generally not segmented by notauli.
# The axillae are usually visible as triangles with two long sides, one adjacent to the mesoscutum and the other adjacent to the scutellum; the short side of the triangle is adjacent to the base of the forewing. The axillae touch, or nearly touch, medially; appearing as wedges between the mesoscutum and the scutellum.
# Cercal plates (at the base of the cercal bristles) are advanced; rather than being near the posterior tip of the metasoma (abdomen); they are usually within the anterior (front) two-thirds of the metasoma.
#In Encyrtidae with fully developed wings, the marginal vein of the forewing is usually shorter than stigmal vein; there is also an oblique band on the forewing that lacks setae (a linea calva).
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Encyrtidae lateral view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorsal view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorso-lateral view with annotations.jpg
Forewing of Anagyrus minipedicellus from Malaysia Fig7 Zu et al 2018.jpg
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae - genera ==
An illustrated key to the encyrtid genera of the Afrotropics was published in 1979.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>. This key has been updated [[African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key|'''here''']] to include some taxonomic changes and images with appropriate [[Creative Commons]] licenses.
Many encyrtid genera are difficult to identify from photographs, but some are more recognizable. The photographs in the gallery below show some of the more recognizable ones. Please note that identifications of any chalcidoid wasps from photographs are difficult, and all should be treated with some doubt, unless the specimen was collected and details checked with a microscope.
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Anicetus iNat 180762161 d.jpg|''Anicetus'' sp.
Aenasius 2019 08 25 9691.jpg|''Aenasius'' sp.
Anagyrus inaturalist 205249827.jpg|''Anagyrus'' sp.
Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|''Apoleptomastix'' sp.
Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|''Callipteroma sexguttata''
Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|''Cerchysius'' sp.
Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 04.jpg|''Cheiloneurus'' sp.
Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|''Cryptanusia'' sp.
Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|''Diversinervus'' sp.
Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|''Homalotylus'' sp.
Leptomastix inaturalist 256980040.jpg|''Leptomastix'' sp.
Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|''Microterys'' sp.
Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|''Neocladia'' sp.
Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg|''Pentelicus'' sp.
Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|''Tachinaephagus'' sp.
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae for biological control of crop pests ==
Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of scale insects, some of which are pests that reduce productivity of agricultural crops across the world. Many scale insects have spread to countries where they have few natural enemies; in these cases, the introduction and spread of their wasp parasitoids can be used as a form of biological control to reduce their economic impact.<ref name=Kapranas2015>Kapranas, A., & Tena, A. (2015). Encyrtid parasitoids of soft scale insects: Biology, behavior, and their use in biological control. Annual Review of Entomology, 60, 195-211. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021053</ref><ref name=Legner2024>Legner, E. F., Economic gains & analysis of success in biological pest control. University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/identify/museum5.htm (accessed 10 March 2024)</ref>
<br>
==Links==
[http://African%20Arthropods/Afrotropical%20Encyrtidae%20Key Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae]<br>
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/index.htm WaspWeb: Encyrtid wasps of the Afrotropical Region]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Encyrtidae]]
d5biaf8fk8ml4xw3ji6oatl9yynigd6
2805536
2805535
2026-04-19T16:24:32Z
Alandmanson
1669821
/* Encyrtidae - genera */
2805536
wikitext
text/x-wiki
There are more than 640 described species of Afrotropical Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. More than 380 of these species have been found in South Africa.
==Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae==
In macro photographs, encyrtids are often recognizable using these features:<br>
# Large mesopleuron, usually covering more than half of the thorax (mesosoma) in side view.
# Mid coxae join the thorax near the middle of the mesopleuron.
# Mesoscutum transverse (width greater than length), and generally not segmented by notauli.
# The axillae are usually visible as triangles with two long sides, one adjacent to the mesoscutum and the other adjacent to the scutellum; the short side of the triangle is adjacent to the base of the forewing. The axillae touch, or nearly touch, medially; appearing as wedges between the mesoscutum and the scutellum.
# Cercal plates (at the base of the cercal bristles) are advanced; rather than being near the posterior tip of the metasoma (abdomen); they are usually within the anterior (front) two-thirds of the metasoma.
#In Encyrtidae with fully developed wings, the marginal vein of the forewing is usually shorter than stigmal vein; there is also an oblique band on the forewing that lacks setae (a linea calva).
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Encyrtidae lateral view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorsal view with annotations.jpg
Encyrtidae dorso-lateral view with annotations.jpg
Forewing of Anagyrus minipedicellus from Malaysia Fig7 Zu et al 2018.jpg
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae - genera ==
An illustrated key to the encyrtid genera of the Afrotropics was published in 1979.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>. This key has been updated [[African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key|'''here''']] to include some taxonomic changes and images with appropriate [[Creative Commons]] licenses.
Many encyrtid genera are difficult to identify from photographs, but some are more recognizable. The photographs in the gallery below show some of the more recognizable ones. Please note that identifications of any chalcidoid wasps from photographs are difficult, and all should be treated with some doubt, unless the specimen was collected and details checked with a microscope.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200>
Anicetus iNat 180762161 d.jpg|''Anicetus'' sp.
Aenasius 2019 08 25 9691.jpg|''Aenasius'' sp.
Anagyrus inaturalist 205249827.jpg|''Anagyrus'' sp.
Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|''Apoleptomastix'' sp.
Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|''Callipteroma sexguttata''
Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|''Cerchysius'' sp.
Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 04.jpg|''Cheiloneurus'' sp.
Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|''Cryptanusia'' sp.
Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|''Diversinervus'' sp.
Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|''Homalotylus'' sp.
Leptomastix inaturalist 256980040.jpg|''Leptomastix'' sp.
Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|''Microterys'' sp.
Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|''Neocladia'' sp.
Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg|''Pentelicus'' sp.
Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|''Tachinaephagus'' sp.
</gallery>
== Encyrtidae for biological control of crop pests ==
Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of scale insects, some of which are pests that reduce productivity of agricultural crops across the world. Many scale insects have spread to countries where they have few natural enemies; in these cases, the introduction and spread of their wasp parasitoids can be used as a form of biological control to reduce their economic impact.<ref name=Kapranas2015>Kapranas, A., & Tena, A. (2015). Encyrtid parasitoids of soft scale insects: Biology, behavior, and their use in biological control. Annual Review of Entomology, 60, 195-211. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021053</ref><ref name=Legner2024>Legner, E. F., Economic gains & analysis of success in biological pest control. University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/identify/museum5.htm (accessed 10 March 2024)</ref>
<br>
==Links==
[http://African%20Arthropods/Afrotropical%20Encyrtidae%20Key Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae]<br>
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/index.htm WaspWeb: Encyrtid wasps of the Afrotropical Region]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Encyrtidae]]
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African Arthropods/Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key
0
304031
2805626
2805524
2026-04-20T10:36:13Z
Alandmanson
1669821
/* 31 (Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate) */
2805626
wikitext
text/x-wiki
Encyrtidae is a large family of parasitic wasps in the Superfamily [[w:Chalcidoidea|Chalcidoidea]]. There are more than 640 described species of [[w:Afrotropical|Afrotropical]] Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of [[w:scale insect|scale insect]]s, some of which are pests that reduce the productivity of agricultural crops across the world.<br>
=Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae=
This key is based on this paper: '''Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979).''' A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref> The Universal Chalcidoidea Database<ref name=Noyes2019/>, WaspWeb<ref name=vanNoort2024>van Noort, S. 2024. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Classification/index.htm (accessed 2023-2024).</ref>, and other on-line sources were used to add details.
==1 Encyrtidae ==
[[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|'''Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae''']] include: mesopleuron very enlarged; mid coxae level with middle of mesopleuron in side view; cercal plates advanced; linea calva distinct; mesoscutum transverse and without distinct notauli.<ref name=Pitkin2004>Pitkin, B.R. (2004) Notes on families: Encyrtidae. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/encyrtidae.html www.nhm.ac.uk]</ref> There are illustrations of these features on another [[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|page of the '''African Arthropods project''']].<br>
1a Tarsi with four segments ........ 2<br>
1b Tarsi with five segments ........ 3
==2 Tarsi with four segments==
*Marginal cilia of forewing very long (fig. 2 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); axillae indistinct (fig. 3 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb]); funicle with five or six segments -
**'''''Anthemus''''' <small>HOWARD, 1896</small>
***22 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species.
***Photos: [http://ponent.atspace.org/fauna/ins/fam/encyrtidae/anthemus_hab.htm Ponent, Catalonia]
***Paper: Prinsloo, G. L., & Neser, O. C. (1989). A revision of the genus Anthemus Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in the Afrotropical region. Revue de Zoologie Africaine, 103(1), 51-72.
*Marginal cilia of forewing short (cf. fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the longest cilia never much longer than the setae on the submarginal vein; axillae are distinct and meet medially; funicle with two to four segments - [[File:Mercet 1921 7 Arrenophagus parasite in Alacaspis rosae p54.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' before emergence from scale host, Spain.]][[File:Mercet 1921 6 Arrhenophagus chionaspidis female antenna p53.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' female antenna]]
**'''''Arrhenophagus''''' <small>AURIVILLIUS, 1888</small>
***Photos: [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/media.dsml?IMAGENO=chalc071&VALGENUS=Arrhenophagus&VALSPECIES=albitibiae&isVideo= Universal Chalcidoidea Database] [https://takagi.tenteki.org/%E5%A4%A9%E6%95%B5%E5%9B%B3%E9%91%912/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A9.htm takagi.tenteki]
***Papers: [https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/view/129680 '''Suh S-J. 2021.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Prunus salicina Lindl. (Rosales: Rosaceae) in South Korea. Insecta Mundi 0885: 1–5.] [http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3697168 '''Suh, Soo-Jung, 2018.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reared from Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in the Republic of Korea, Insecta Mundi 612, pp. 1-6 : 3-4] [https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.19.3.110 '''Muniappan, R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012). Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114., R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012).''' Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114.]
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' (worldwide)
==3 Tarsi five-segmented==
*3a Forewing without stigmal, marginal or postmarginal veins, with an infuscated patch (fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); on the head, the scrobes are moderately deep, in the shape of aninverted V, their confluence is separated medially by a membranous joint that extends to the front of the vertex; a similar membrane runs transversely between the eyes where the fronto-vertex adjoins the face (fig. 5 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and figs 1, 13, 20, 24 of Annecke & Mynhardt (1974)<ref name=AnneckeMynhardt1974>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M.J., 1974. On some new and described species of arrhenophagine Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 37(1), pp.35-47. [https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 DOI] [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 PDF]</ref>) -
**'''''Arrhenophagoidea''''' <small>Girault, 1915</small><br>
***''Arrhenophagoidea'' and ''Arrhenophagus'' are morphologically similar, except that the tarsi are four-segmented in ''Arrhenophagus'' and five-segmented in ''Arrhenophagoidea''. Species of both genera are very small (body length about 0.5 mm).
***Four Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagoidea chaetacmae'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea neseri'' Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea rolaspidis'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea sierra'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
*3b Forewing venation partly or well-developed; head without membranous features above the scrobes ........ 4
===4 (Fore wing venation at least partly developed; head without membranous interruptions)===
*4a Posterior margin of mesosetum with two round projections, each fitting into an indentation in anterior margin of axillae (fig. 6 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); forewing with marginal cilia unusually long along caudal wing margin (fig. 7 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); egg parasitoids of Tettigometridae -
**'''''Psyllechthrus''''' <small>GHESQUIERE, 1958</small>
***A single species, ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' is known - from Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.<ref name=Noyes2019>Noyes, J.S. 2019. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. The Natural History Museum, London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/index.dsml</ref>
***''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' has been reared from the eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'', which is thought to be its only host.<ref name=Prinsloo1985>Prinsloo, G.L. 1985, Afrotropical Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): new records and notes. Journal of Natural History 19:281</ref>
***Photographs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'' eggs with tiny wasps that are probably ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'': [http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/bugs/tettigometridae/hilda_patruelis.htm] and [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180134054]
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 a.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus''
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 c.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' on eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis''.
</gallery>
*4b Margin of mesoseutum without two round projections fitting into indentations in the anterior margin of the axillae; marginal cilia of forewing not unusually long; not parasites of Tettigometridae ........ 5
===5 (Posterior margin of mesoscutum without two round projections fitting into the anterior margin of axillae, forewing with marginal cilia not unusually long)===
*5a Fore femur and tibia greatly swollen, the apex of the latter with two blunt spines in addition to the strigil; antenna eleven-segmented, the segments of pedicel, funicle and club similar in shape; head and body hardly encyrtiform (fig. 9 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)
**'''''Sanghalia''''' <small>RISBEC, 1955</small>
***A single species from Congo, ''Sanghalia kerandeli''
*5b Fore femur and tibia at most slightly swollen, the latter without spines; antenna otherwise, usually clavate................6
===6 (Fore femur and tibia not greatly swollen, fore tibia without spines)===
*6a Funicle with less than six segments........ 7
*6b Funicle with six or seven segments........ 16
==7 Funicle with less than six segments==
*7a Antenna (fig. 10 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extensively flattened and expanded - both scape and flagellum leaf-like; the club is not segmented; the funicle has three to five transverse segments; Pseudococeid parasitoids -[[File:Zaplatycerus fullawayi Timberlake 1925 Plate IX Fig. 1.jpg|thumb|''Zaplatycerus fullawayi''; A. female antenna; B. Male antenna; C. Female mandible frontal view]]
**'''''Zaplatycerus''''' Timberlake, 1925
***Synonyms include: ''Tropidophryne'' Compere, 1931; ''Neoplatycerus'' Subba Rao, 1965; ''Avernes'' Noyes et Woolley, 1994; ''Assamencyrtus'' Singh, 2006.<ref name=Trjapitzin2018>Trjapitzin, V. A. (2018). A Review of the Encyrtid-Wasp Genus ''Zaplatycerus'' Timberlake, 1925 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) of the World Fauna, Parasitoids of Mealybugs (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae). Entomological Review, 98, 787-792.</ref>
***16 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and images of ''Zaplatycerus notialis'' on [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271666428 Researchgate]
Afrotropical species
*7b Antenna not extensively flattened, but the scape may be expanded ventrally........ 8
===8 (Antenna not extensively flattened; scape may be expanded)===
*8a Funicle with four segments ........ 9
*8b Funicle with five segments ........ 10
===9 (Funicle with four segments)===
*9a Apex of scutellum with two lamelliform (flattened) setae (cf. figs 27 & 28 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>, and ''Habrolepis'', 38b below); forewing distinctly darkened, patterned; body flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of armored scale insects -
**'''''Caenohomalopoda''''' Tachikawa, 1979
***11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Caenohomalopoda shikokuensis'' a parasitoid of armored scales, ''Froggattiella penicillata'', ''Odonaspis'' spp. (South Africa)
****Description and figures - [https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf Tachikawa, 1956]<ref name=Tachikawa1956>Tachikawa, T. (1956). Description of a new species of the genus Pseudhomalopoda Cirault from Japan, with a list of the known species and their hosts of the Habrolepis-like genera (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Insecta matsumurana, 20(3-4), 90-96. https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf</ref>
*9b Scutellum without scale-like setae; forewing transparent; body not flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of bees -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Two Afrotropical species: ''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'', is known from South Africa; and ''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is known from Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda and is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and figures - [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3102 Annecke, 1968]<ref name=Annecke1968>Annecke, D. P. (1968). Records and Descriptions of African Encyrtidae-4 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 31(2), 249-264.</ref>
===10 (Funicle with five segments)===
*10a Antennal club not divided (a single segment) -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
*** 30 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Trechnites angolensis'' associated with the legume ''Isoberlinia'' sp. (Angola)
****''Trechnites manaliensis'' a parasitoid of ''Euphyllura eastopi'', ''Euphyllura longiciliata'', ''Psylla hyalina'' (South Africa)
****''Trechnites morulus'' associated with ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
*10b The antennal club has two or three segments ........ 11
===11 (Antennal club with two or three segments)===
*11a Antennal club with two segments. (Maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented; mandible tridentate (fig. 11 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the upper tooth retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae) - [[File:Pseudectroma europaeum Fauna ibérica p192 Fig.65.jpg|thumb|Female ''Pseudectroma europaeum'', Spain]]
**'''''Pseudectroma''''' Girault , 1915
***''Timberlakia'' Mercet, 1925 is a synonym<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***16 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species: ''Pseudectroma cussoniae'' (Madagascar), ''Pseudectroma gilvum'' (South Africa), ''Pseudectroma signatum'' (Israel, South Africa)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Parasitoids - hosts include soft scales (Coccidae) and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*11b Club with three segments ........ 12
===12 (Antennal club with three segments)===
*12a Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma -
**'''''Acerophagus''''' Smith, 1880
***''Pseudaphycus'' is a synonym of ''Acerophagus'' (see 13 below).
***''Acerophagus'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).
***iNaturalist has images of ''Acerophagus'' (CC-BY-NC).<ref name=iNatAcerophagus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250166 ''Acerophagus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
*12b Ovipositor not distinctly protruding from the end of the metasoma ........ 14
===13 (Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma - ''Acerophagus'')===
*13a Antennal club white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with a white antennal club (described as ''Pseudaphycus'') include ''A. angelicus'', ''A. dysmicocci'', ''A. ferrisianae'', ''A. maculipennis'', ''A. mundus'', ''A. notativentris '', ''A. perdignus'', ''A. prosopidis''.
*13b Antennal club not white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with two segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with an antennal club that is not white (described as ''Acerophagus'') include ''A. coccois'', ''A. pallidus''.
===14 (Ovipositor not protruding or just protruding)===
*14a Mandible with two teeth; maxillary palpi each have two segments, the labial not segmented; paratergites present; Male antenna ramose, rami on funicle segments I-IV -
**'''''Tetracnemoidea''''' Howard, 1898
***''Tetracnemoidea'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Afrotropical species:
****''T. brevicornis'' (Girault) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
****''T. coffeicola'' (Kerrich) (Kenya, Uganda)
****''T. peregrina'' (Compere) (Worldwide; Ghana, South Africa in Afrotropics)
****''T. sydneyensis'' (Timberlake) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
*14b Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs ................15
===15 (Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs)===
*15a Head and body dark brown to blackish-brown, non-metallic except for frontovertex which may have a very slight metallic tinge; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Afrotropical species:
****''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'' (South Africa); and
****''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini) (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*15b Head and body predominantly black, the scutellum brilliant metallic green in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
==16 Funicle with six or seven segments==
*16a Hind tibia foliaceously flattened (fig. 12 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 17
*16b Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened................ 18
===17 (Hind tibia foliaceously flattened)===
*17a Antennal club three-segmented or not segmented; parasitoids of Aphrophoridae and Cicadellidae. Male antenna may have six rami (fig. 14 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|thumb|''Neocladia'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Neocladia''''' Perkins, 1906
***''Carabunia'' Waterston, 1928 is a synonym of ''Neocladia''<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***iNaturalist has images of ''Neocladia''.<ref name=iNatNeocladia>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/253254 ''Neocladia'' photographs on iNaturalist (including some CC-BY)</ref>
***Afrotropical species:<ref name=Noyes2019/>
****''Neocladia gigantica'' is a parasitoid of ''Ptyelus flavescens'', the Yellow Raintree Spittlebug (Uganda).
****''Neocladia senegalensis'' (Senegal, South Africa).
****''Neocladia tibialis'' is a parasitoid of ''Batrachomorphus capeneri'', a leafhopper (South Africa).
===18 (Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened)===
*18a Wings markedly reduced ................19
*18b Wings not greatly reduced ............. 25
==19 Wings markedly reduced==
*19a Scutellum with a flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), in profile this flange shows as a thin, flat, caudal projection of the apex of scutellum................20
*19b Scutellum without a flange................21
===20 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a flange or lamella)===
*20a Mandible with two acute teeth; parasitoids of bees - [[File:Ericydnus inat 170283716 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Spain]]
**'''''Ericydnus''''' Walker, 1837
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
*20b Mandible with three teeth; parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus bicolor Fauna ibérica Ricardo García Mercet 1921.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus bicolor'', Spain]]
**'''''Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
***20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
***Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' (Risbec) is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' species (Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' Risbec is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Pulvinaria'' species (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' Ghesquiere is a parasitoid of the moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' (Risbec) has been associated with rice plants (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===21 (Wings reduced, scutellum without a flange)===
*21a Antenna nine-segmented, the club not segmented; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Male antenna six-segmented, segments II - V each with a ramus -
**'''''Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
***iNaturalist has images of ''Tetracnemus''.<ref name=iNatTetracnemus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250503 ''Tetracnemus'' photographs on iNaturalist (some CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus bifasciatellus'' (Mercet) (South Africa)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (Ethiopia)
*21b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in Pseudococcidae................22
===22 (Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments)===
*22a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft........................23
*22b Scutellar tuft of bristles absent........ 24
===23 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles)===
*23a Mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); gonostyli (3rd valvulae) absent -
**'''''Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
***96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Gascardia'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of Hemiptera including Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of ''Sahlbergella'' species (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' and ''Saissetia'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of ''Gascardia'' and ''Tachardina'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' ((Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' (Cameroon, Gabon)
*23b Mandible tridentate; gonostyli present - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250172 ''Diversinervus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus'' species (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', and ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
===24 (Wings reduced, scutellar tuft of bristles absent)===
*24a Apterous, or wings represented by a stub -
**'''''Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species:
****Many pics of winged species on iNaturalist (but not Afrotropical and not apterous)
*24b Fore wing reduced in size, but with venation distinct (fig. 17 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran.]]
**'''''Neococcidencyrtus''''' Compere, 1928
***20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' (Madagascar)
****''Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' (Cameroon)
****''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of ''Furchadaspis zamiae'', cycad scale (South Africa) Fig. 5. in https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343006453
****''Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****''Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' (South Africa)
==25 Wings not greatly reduced==
*25a Dorsum of scutellum with a longitudinal, inconspicuous, median keel - [[File:Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg |thumb|''Pentelicus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Pentelicus''''' Howard, 1895
***Head and thorax pitted; antennal club three-segmented, obliquely truncate apically.
***10 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
*25b Scutellum without a median keel................26
===26 (Scutellum without a median keel)===
*26a Head with a horn-like protuberance jutting from middle of face just below antennal Insertions - [[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti Fauna iberica (1921).jpg|thumb|Male ''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'']][[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti, head, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'', lateral view of head]]
**'''''Paratetracnemoidea''''' Girault , 1915
***''Rhinoencyrtus'' Mercet, 1918 is a synonym of ''Paratetracnemoidea''
***Photos at https://www.waspweb.org/chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Encyrtinae/Paratetracnemoidea/index.htm
***5 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Paratetracnemoidea breviventris'' - no associates known (Tanzania)
****''Paratetracnemoidea cornis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'' - no associates known (Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan)
*26b Head without facial protuberance................ 27
===27 (Head without facial protuberance)===
*27a Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin (figs 18- 22 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein never reaching cephalic edge of wing................28
*27b Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform (figs 34, 63, 82, 89 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................32
==28 Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin==
*28a Anterior margin of frontovertex produced to form a prominent ridge that overhangs upper limits of scrobes; mandibles diminutive -
**''''' Amira ''''' Girault , 1913
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Amira durantae'' is a parasitoid of spiders ''Nephila inaurata'' and ''Nephila madagascarensis'' (Madagascar)
*28b Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large, well developed........ 29
===29 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large)===
*29a Antennal scrobes sulcate, impressed on face as an inverted V, their lateral margins sharply angled (fig. 23 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Male and female antennae identical in shape and segmentation; parasitic in Aclerdidae -
**''''' Allencyrtus ''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide - Afrotropical:
****''Allencyrtus monomorphus'' is a parasitoid of an Aclerdid scale, ''Rhodesaclerda'' sp. (South Africa)
****Description of genus and species: Annecke & Mynhardt (1973) [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]<ref name=>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M. J. (1973). New and Iittle known African Encyrtidae, with descriptions of two new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 36(2), 211-28. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]</ref>
*29b Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins ....... 30
===30 (Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins)===
*30a Antennal club three-segmented; mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 24 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae and Stictococcidae -[[File:Aethognathus afer female Silvestri 1915 with inset.jpg|thumb|''Aethognathus afer'', female; inset shows detail of stigmal and postmarginal veins]]
**''''' Aethognathus ''''' Silvestri, 1915
***5 species worldwide; all Afrotropical:
****''Aethognathus afer'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus diversiseta'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Benin, Ghana)
****''Aethognathus bicolor'' is a parasitoid of the scale ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Uganda)
****''Aethognathus cavilabris'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia''and ''Stictococcus'' spp. (Congo, Uganda)
****''Aethognathus khryzhanovskyi'' - no associates known (Equatorial Guinea)
****''Aethognathus unicolor'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus gowdeyi'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Nigeria, Uganda)
*30b Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate; not parasitic in scale insects........ 31
===31 (Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate)===
*31a Frontovertex and face with large pits, each with a strong metallic lustre; antennal scape (fig. 25 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) strongly expanded ventrally; parasitic in eggs of spiders and/or planthoppers
**''''' Proleurocerus ''''' Ferriere, 1935
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Proleurocerus clavatus'' - no associates known (Zimbabwe)
****''Proleurocerus zululandiae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*31b Frontovertex at most finely punctate, non-metallic; antennal scape at most slightly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Neuroptera nymphs - [[File:Isodromus iNat 147864868.jpg |thumb|''Isodromus'' sp., Mexico.]][[File:Isodromus vinulus, male, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Isodromus vinulus'', a parasitic wasp in the family Encyrtidae; male]]
**''''' Isodromus''''' Howard, 1887
*** 26 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Isodromus timberlakei'' is a parasitoid of a ''Chrysopa'' species (South Africa)
==32 Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform; or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing==
*32a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft................ 33
*32b Scutellum without a tuft of bristles, the setae recumbent, except for one subapical pair which is sometimes present................37
==33 Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles==
*33a Head elongate in dorsal view, longer than wide or almost so, the greater part of each eye placed dorsally; mesoscutum (fig. 26 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually with a tuft of coarse bristles, but this tuft lacking in some species - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus/>
*** 12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes floridensis'', ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia coffeae'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a wide range of coccid scales (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus'' spp. (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*33b Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles................34
===34 (Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles)===
*34a Antenna enlarged, flattened, the club two-segmented, very large, almost as long as entire funicle; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Head and body generally smooth and polished, brilliantly metallic in colour -
**''''' Chrysoplatycerus''''' Ashmead, 1889
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysoplatycerus splendens'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs, ''Dysmicoccus'' spp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Formicococcus njalensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Ghana, South Africa)
*34b Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented; mandibles not bidentate; not parasitic in mealybugs................ 35
===35 (Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented)===
*35a Mandible edentate (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), broadly rounded apically; gonostyli absent; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Encyrtus aurantii iNat 132121027 d.jpg|thumb|''Encyrtus aurantii'', Italy.]][[File:Encyrtus infelix iNat 159262263 a.jpg |thumb|''Encyrtus infelix'', New Zealand.]]
**''''' Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
*** 96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of many different Hemiptera from Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of plant bugs, ''Sahlbergella'' spp., Miridae (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp., ''Saissetia'' sp. (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus'', ''Lichtensia'', ''Pulvinaria'', ''Saissetia'', ''Saissetia oleae'', and ''Udinia'' species. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' - no associates known (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Gascardia madagascariensis'', ''Lecanium hemisphaericum'', ''Protopulvinaria pyriformis'', ''Pulvinaria innumerabilis'', ''Pulvinaria urbicola'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'', and lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' spp. on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria delottoi'' spp., ''Pulvinariella'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon)
*35b Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids................36
===36 (Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids)===
*36a Ovipositor not or only slightly exserted at apex of metasoma - [[File:Cheiloneurus iNat 90442164 a.jpg|thumb|Male ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., USA]] [[File:Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 02.jpg|thumb|Female ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cheiloneurus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 152 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Cheiloneurus afer'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Pulvinarisca jacksoni'' (Ghana)
****''Cheiloneurus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Ceroplastes mimosae'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Sudan)
****''Cheiloneurus caesar'' is a hyperparasitoid of ''Dryinus orophilus'' in a delphacid planthopper (Mozambique)
****''Cheiloneurus carinatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. and mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus chiaromontei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus cyanonotus'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus flaminius'' and Eulophidae ''Tetrastichus'' sp. in a variety of beetles, flies and Hemiptera (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe)
****''Cheiloneurus elegans'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'' and Platygastridae ''Platygaster zosine'' in a variety of cecidomyiid midges, scales and mealybugs (Nigeria)
****''Cheiloneurus flavoscutatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from mealybugs ''Adelosoma phragmitidis'', ''Chaetococcus phragmitis'' (Ethiopia)
****''Cheiloneurus gonatopodis'' is a hyperparasitoid of pincer wasps ''Echthrodelphax'' sp., ''Pseudogonatopoides mauritianus'', ''Pseudogonatopus'' spp., ''Richardsidryinus'' sp. in delphacid planthoppers on sugar cane (Madagascar, Mauritius)
****''Cheiloneurus kuisebi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a mealybug ''Phenacoccus manihoti'' on cassava (Namibia)
****''Cheiloneurus leptulus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a ''Ceratina'' bee (Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus liorhipnusi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a lady beetle ''Chnootriba similis'', and a scentless plant bug ''Corizus hyalinus'' (Kenya, Senegal)
****''Cheiloneurus metallicus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Cheiloneurus obscurus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Gascardia brevicauda'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus orbitalis'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from an encyrtid ''Homalotylus'' sp., the coccid scale ''Saissetia oleae'' and green lacewings ''Chrysopa'' sp., ''Mallada handschini'', ''Suarius squamosa'' on citrus (South Africa)
*36b Ovipositor protruding strongly, by about one-half length of metasoma. Metasoma usually truncate apically - [[File:Prochiloneurus bolivari, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus bolivari'', female, Spain.]][[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus'' spp., ''Leptomastix'' spp., Pteromalidae ''Metastenus'' sp., lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****''Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' sp., ''Blepyrus insularis'', ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Leptomastix flava'', Coccidae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****''Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Coccidae ''Lecanium viride'', Margarodidae ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'', and Pseudococcidae ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'', Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Margarodidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
==37 Scutellum without a tuft of bristles==
*37a Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae (figs 27, 28)........ 38
*37b Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae........ 39
===38 (Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*38a Antenna (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) broadened and flattened, the funicle segments strongly transverse; eyes margined dorsally with white; fronto-occipital margin of head without a pair of lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] -
**''''' Comperiella ''''' Howard, 1906
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250283 iNaturalist]
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella bifasciata'' is a parasitoid of many Diaspididae, and the coccid ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., ''Aleurodicus destructor'', ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*38b Antenna not broadened and flattened; eyes not margined with white; fronto-occipital margin with a pair of small lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis ''''' Foerster, 1856
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/376512 iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of pit scale insects ''Asterodiaspis'' spp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scale insects ''Didesmococcus'' sp., armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', mealybugs ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and moths ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus elaeidis'', ''Aspidiotus oppugnatus'' (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius articulatus'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===39 (Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*39a Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion (figs 30, 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) in its apical one-third, this expansion usually bearing a single strong seta........ 40
*39b Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion................43
===40 (Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion in its apical one-third)===
*40a Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes (fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally................41
*40b Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally................42
===41 (Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes; antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally)===
*41a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 31 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing with a characteristic pattern of radiating dark bands (fig. 32 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black with strong metallic refringence; presumed hyperparasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Cerapterocerus mirabilis, female.jpg|thumb|''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'', female, Spain]][[File:Cerapterocerus celadus inat 194830169 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Cerapterocerus celadus'', France]]
**''''' Cerapterocerus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250477-Cerapterocerus iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'' is probably a hyperparasitoid of encyrtid wasps in scale insects (South Africa)
*41b Antenna not broadened and flattened except for scape (fig. 33 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing (fig. 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) infuscated, but without distinct patterns as above; head and body dominantly brownish, without strong metallic refringence; primary parasitoids of Asterolecaniidae (pit scales). Head as in fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Mayrencyrtus''''' Hincks, 1944
*** 6 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database
===42 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally)===
*42a Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci (fig. 36 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); maxillary and labial palpi each two-segmented; paratergites present; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Coccidoxenoides perminutus Fernandes 2016 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'', Brazil]]
**'''''Coccidoxenoides''''' Girault, 1915
***'' Pauridia'' Timberlake, 1919 is a synonym of ''Coccidoxenoides'' (a monotypic genus)
****''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'' Girault, 1915 is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Allococcus quaestius'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Phenacoccus madeirensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Planococcus citri'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. and armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus nerii'', ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chionaspis striata'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa)
*42b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; paratergites absent; parasitic in Diaspididae -[[File:Tyndarichus melanacis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Tyndarichus melanacis'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Tyndarichus''''' Howard, 1910
***''Protyndarichus combretae'', ''P. orarius'', ''P. prolatus'', ''P. sparnus'' are a synonyms of the ''Tyndarichus'' species below.
*** 24 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Tyndarichus combretae'' no known associates (Senegal)
****''Tyndarichus orarius'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Idiosaissetia peringueyi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus prolatus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Ceroplastes elytropappi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus sparnus'' is a parasitoid of Lecanodiaspididae, ''Lecanodiaspis tarsalis'' (South Africa)
===43 (Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion)===
*43a Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae ................ 120
*43b Mandible never with only two pointed teeth ........ 44
===44 (Mandible never with only two pointed teeth)===
*44a Entire fore wing, or part of it, distinctly [[wikt:infuscate|infuscated]] (with a dark tinge), the infuscation rarely restricted to an area beneath the venation ........ 45
*44b Fore wing entirely [[w:hyaline|hyaline]] (translucent or transparent), or very faintly and inconspicuously infuscated, the infuscation then usually only visible if wing held against a white background ........ 73
==45 Fore wing, or part of it, distinctly infuscated==
*45a Fore wing with a conspicuous incision in cephalic wing margin at distal end of submarginal vein (fig. 40 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Eugahania''''' Mercet, 1926
*** 10 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database.<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*45b Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin ................46
===46 Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin===
*46a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat [[wikt:caudal|caudal]] projection of the scutellum................47
*46b Scutellum without a marginal flange, the posterior margin rarely forming a very short lip........ 49
===47 Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella===
*47a Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] absent; [[wikt:clava|club]] large, much longer than the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; parasitic in Lepidoptera eggs. Antenna as in fig. 41 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Hesperencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1971
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hesperencyrtus lycoenephila'' is a parasitoid of lycaenid butterflies ''Deodorix antalus'', ''Deudorix antalus'', ''Lampides boeticus'' (Senegal)
*47b Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] not white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] present; [[wikt:clava|club]] about as long as the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; not parasitic in Lepidoptera........ 48
===48 Antennal club not white; club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together===
*48a Frontovertex and face with numerous large pits, each brilliantly metallic green in colour - [[File:Discodes arizonensis Smithsonian Institution 2019 CC-BY BOLD CCDB-34079-D12.jpg|thumb|''Discodes arizonensis'', New Mexico, United States]]
**''''' Discodes''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 44 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Discodes discors'' is a parasitoid of felt scales ''Eriococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Discodes melas'' - no associates known (Namibia)
*48b Head at most with fine punctations. Orange-brown to dark brown, rarely black, species, at most weakly refringent; fore wing strongly and uniformly infuscated from base to near apex; usually parasitic in Pulvinaria spp. on grasses - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus monawari, female, dorsal view.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus monawari'', India]]
**''''' Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp.(Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinariai'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp. (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' is a parasitoid of a moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' is a parasitoid associated with rice ''Oryza sativa'' (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===49 Scutellum without a marginal flange===
*49a Stigmal vein of fore wing placed almost at right angle to postmarginal vein (fig. 42 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Fore wing infuscated with contrasting hyaline patches as in fig. 42<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; parasitic in Lacciferidae and Coccidae -
**''''' Ruandella''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 4 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Ruandella capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella stigmosa'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella tertia'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella testacea'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (Rwanda, South Africa)
*49b Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much less than 90 degrees ........ 50
===50 Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much smaller than right angle===
*50a Mandible with four teeth (fig. 43 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Body somewhat flattened dorsoventrally; head subtriangular in lateral view, the face a little inflexed; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Adelencyrtus inat 31626163.jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Adelencyrtus Cipola 2022 EntomoBrasilis 15 e1003 CC-BY.jpg|thumb|Female ''Adelencyrtus'' sp., Brazil]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*50b Mandibles do not have four teeth ........ 51
===51 (Mandibles do not have four teeth)===
*51a Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically................52
*51b Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically................55
===52 Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically===
*52a Antennal club three-segmented; not parasitic in Coleoptera........ 53
*52b Antennal club not segmented, rarely with faint traces of one or two septa on one side of the club; parasitic in Coleoptera........ 54
===53 Antennal club three-segmented===
*53a Antennal scape expanded ventrally (fig. 44 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); hcad and body strongly metallic in colour, the head and thorax usually covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta Annecke'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*53b Antennal scape not or only slightly expanded ventrally (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body without metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===54 Antennal club not segmented; parasitic in Coleoptera===
*54a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); basal one-half or so of tegulae white; antennal scape slender, subcylindrical; primary parasitoids of Coccinellidae -[[File:Homalotylus flaminius, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus flaminius'', female]][[File:Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Homalotylus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 68 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotylus africanus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Exochomus concavus'', ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lindorus lophanthae'', ''Scymnus ornatulus'' (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa)
****''Homalotylus eytelweinii'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes sexmaculata'', ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Rodolia'' spp. (Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus flaminius'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adalia'' spp., ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Brumus suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes'' spp., ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella'' spp., ''Coleomegilla maculata'', ''Cycloneda'' spp., ''Epilachna chrysomelina'', ''Eriopis connexa'', ''Exochomus'' spp., ''Harmonia'' spp., ''Henosepilachna bifasciata'', ''Hippodamia'' spp., ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lioadala flavomaculata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Neomysia oblongoguttata'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Orcus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Platynaspis'' sp., ''Rodolia'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Thea vigintiduopunctata'', ''Verania frenata'', leaf beetles ''Galeruca calmariensis'', coccid scale insects ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Saissetia oleae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Planococcus citri'', ''Pseudococcus citri'' (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo)
****''Homalotylus hemipterinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Chilomenes'' sp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Cycloneda sanguinea'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Orcus'' sp., stink bugs ''Cantheconidia furcellata'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Pseudococcus'' sp., gelechiid moths ''Aproaerema modicella'' (Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus quaylei'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Nephus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Sidis'' sp., coccid scales ''Eulecanium persicae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Phenacoccus herreni'', ''Planococcus''; spp. (Gabon, Mauritania)
****''Homalotylus vicinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis marmottani'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Nephus vetustus'', ''Scymnus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar)
*54b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; tegula not white; scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Discolomatidae - [[File:Homalotyloidea dahlbomii, female.jpg|thumb|''Homalotyloidea dahlbomii'', female, Spain]]
**''''' Homalotyloidea''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotyloidea africana'' is a parasitoid of beetles ''Notiophygus piger'' (South Africa)
===55 Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically===
*55a Body flattened dorsoventrally, the dorsum of head and thorax almost flat. Parasitic in Diaspididae........ 56
*55b Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax more or less convex........ 57
===56 Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax convex===
*56a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); frontovertex with two narrow whitish bands, one each extending along the dorsal eye margins. Fore wing boldly marked -[[File:Cain2565.jpg|thumb| ''Comperiella bifasciata'']]
**''''' Comperiella''''' Howard, 1906
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Affirmaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''[[w:Comperiella bifasciata|Comperiella bifasciata]]'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'', ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Clavaspis'' sp., ''Diaspidiotus gigas'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Dynaspidiotus abietis'', ''Hemiberlesia'' spp., ''Lindingaspis fusca'', ''Morganella longispina'', ''Nuculaspis abietis'', ''Parlatoria pergandii'', ''Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis'', ''Pseudaulacaspis'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus'' spp., ''Temnaspidiotus destructor'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'', coccid scale insects ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., whiteflies ''Aleurodicus destructor'', wax scale insects ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*56b Antenna not broadened and flattened; frontovertex without pale bands - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', pit scales, ''Asterodiaspis'' sp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scales ''Didesmococcus'' sp., mealybugs, ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and a moth, ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus aonidum'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius celastri'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' spp. (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===57 Body not flattened, head and thorax convex===
*57a Antenna foliaceously flattened (fig. 47 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); junction of frontovertex and face carinate or at least acutely angled and grooved........ 58
*57b Antenna not flattened except for scape which may be expanded ventrally; head without a facial carina................60
===58 Antenna flattened, junction of frontovertex and face carinate or acutely angled and grooved===
*58a Frontovertex terminating anteriorly at a transverse groove (fig. 48 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) containing dense, recumbent, silvery-white setae -
**''''' Anasemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anasemion inutile'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*58b Junction of frontovertex and face lacking a transverse row of dense setae - [[File:Anicetus iNat 180762161 g.jpg|thumb|''Anicetus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Anicetus''''' Howard, 1896
***''Paraceraptrocerus'' is a synonym of ''Anicetus''. In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''
*** 52 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anicetus abyssinicus '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (Eritrea)
****'' Anicetus africanus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Egypt, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus anneckei '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus aquilus '' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus austrinus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus calidus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. and ''Gascardia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus clivus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus communis'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus longulus'', ''Gascardia'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus fotsyae'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Anicetus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes bipartitus'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus graminosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus italicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus elongatus'', felt scales ''Gossyparia spuria'' (Zimbabwe)
****'' Anicetus nyasicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Malawi, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia rustica'', ''Lichtensia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parvus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Anicetus pattersoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes personatus'', ''Vinsonia personata'' (Ghana)
****'' Anicetus russeus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus sepis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus taylori'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
===59 ''Paraceraptrocerus''===
*In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''. However, ''Paraceraptrocerus'' is now regarded as a synonym of ''Anicetus'', making this step redundant.
===60 (Antenna not flattened although the scape may be expanded ventrally; no facial carina)===
*60a Ovipositor protruding strongly (fig. 49 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) at apex of metasoma by about one half length of metasoma........ 61
*60b Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted; if strongly protruded (rare), then antennal scrobes sulcate, or mandible slender, tridentate, the upper tooth retracted (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 62
===61 (Ovipositor protruding strongly)===
*61a Head with numerous setigerous pits; fore wing with a single pale cross-band beyond venation; body robust, black in colour; parasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Lombitsikala''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lombitsikala coccidivora'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia madagascariensis'' (Madagascar)
*61b Head at most with minute, indistinct punctations; fore wing without hyaline cross-bands; body more or less slender, usually generally yellowish to brownish; probably hyperparasitoids, usually in mealybugs - [[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****'' Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Atrococcus'' sp., ''Dysmicoccus multivorus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Heliococcus bohemicus'', ''Heterococcopsis opertus'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Peliococcus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Puto pilosellae'', ''Spinococcus calluneti'', ''Trionymus'' spp., coccid scales ''Rhizopulvinaria armeniaca'', felt scales ''Acanthococcus desertus'', ''Eriococcus insignis'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****'' Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Lecanium viride'', margarodid scales ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****'' Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Centrococcus'' spp., ''Coccidohystrix'' spp., ''Dysmicoccus'' sp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp., ''Oxyacanthus chrysocomae'', ''Paracoccus'' sp., ''Peliococcus mesasiaticus'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' spp., ''Trabutina crassispinosa'', ''Trabutina leonardii'', armored scale insects ''Chionaspis'' sp., felt scales ''Eriococcus stenoclini'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
===62 (Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted)===
*62a Antennal scape long and slender, at most slightly expanded ventrally........ 63
*62b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded, less than three times as long as its greatest width................70
==63 Antennal scape long and slender==
*63a Fore wing with marginal vein several times longer than stigmal (fig. 51 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal club with four segments, visible only in cleared slide·mounted specimens (fig. 52 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -[[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, Spain.]][[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, lateral view]]
**''''' Metaphaenodiscus''''' Mercet, 1921
*** Host species generally unknown, except for ''Metaphaenodiscus umbilicatus'' (Australia) which is known to be a parasitoid of a mealy bug.
*** 10 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Metaphaenodiscus aethiops'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus capensis'', associated with ''Protea aurea'' (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus watshami'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
*63b Marginal vein of fore wing shorter than, or subequal to stigmal vein; club with fewer than four segments................64
===64 (Marginal vein shorter than stigmal vein; antennal club with less than four segments)===
*64a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53 and 54 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), impressed on face as two deep furrows, their lateral margins acutely angled, at least in their basal one-half or so, converging, sometimes confluent dorsally to form an inverted V-shaped impression on face........ 65
*64b Antennal scrobes otherwise................66
===65 (Antennal scrobes impressed on face as two deep furrows)===
*65a Antennal club not longer than the distal funicle segments together; frontovertex more or less pitted; mandible with two teeth and a broad truncation (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
*65b Antennal club much longer than the distal three funicle segments together; frontovertex without pits or punctations; mandible with three teeth and a truncation (fig. 56 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Parasitic in Lacciferidae. Male antenna with two smaIl funicle segments and a large, unsegmented banana shaped club (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
===66 (Antennal scrobes not deeply impressed)===
*66a Mandible with three distinct teeth, the upper one sometimes retracted ................ 67
*66b Mandible otherwise ................ 68
===67 (Mandible with three distinct teeth)===
*67a Antenna (fig. 58 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) slender, not clavate, the funicle segments each longer than wide, the pedicel and funicle subcqual in length; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Hadrencyrtus''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Hadrencyrtus cirritus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Distichlicoccus'' sp. (South Africa)
*67b Antenna (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) clavate, not particularly slender, the basal funicle segment plainly wider than long, small, much shorter than pedicel; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===68 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth)===
*68a Mandible with a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation (fig. 59 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); ovipositor with gonostyli absent; parasitic in Membracidae - [[File:Prionomastix biharensis - Female 01.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prionomastix biharensis'', Bihar, India.]]
**''''' Prionomastix''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 30 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prionomastix africana'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix capeneri'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Beaufortiana viridis'', ''Leprechaunus cristatus'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix congoensis'' - no associates known (Rwanda)
****'' Prionomastix montana'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Dukeobelus simplex'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix myartsevae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix siccarius'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Gongroneura fasciata'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix wonjeae'' is a parasitoid of leafhoppers ''Coloborrhis corticina'' (Cameroon)
*68b Mandible otherwise; gonostyli present; not parasitic in Membracidae................69
===69 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth, or a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation)===
*69a Antennal club large, about as long as entire funicle; integument of head and thorax heavily sclerotized, strongly and intricately sculptured with raised, irregular ridges; probably parasitic in Lacciferidae. Fore wing with areas of very coarse discal setae (fig. 60 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
** '''Coccopilatus''' Annecke, 1963
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Coccopilatus judithae'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
*69b Antennal club shorter than funicle; sculpture of head and thorax mostly cellulite-reticulate; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran]]
**'' ' '' Neococcidencyrtus Compere, 1928
*** 20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****'' Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Furchadaspis zamiae'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
==70 Antennal scape expanded==
*70a Antenna with all funicle segments transverse (fig. 61 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); club very large, longer than entire funicle; paratergitcs present; frontovertex pitted; parasitic in mealybugs - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9470.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus citri'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast)
****'' Aenasius advena'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp. ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp. (Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' sp. (Afrotropical)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus celtis'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'' (Ghana)
70b Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; paratergites absent; frontovertex at most with fine punctations; not parasitic in mealybugs ................ 71
===71 (Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; frontovertex not markedly pitted)===
*71a Head and thoracic dorsum largely metallic blue-green or cupreous, covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella'' sp., ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*71b Head and body generally yellowish to brownish, without any metallic refringence or white setae; parasitic in Coccoidea ................ 72
===72 (Head and body yellowish to brownish, not metallic, no white setae)===
*72a Antennal club longer than distal three funicle segments together, usually much wider than funicle segment VI; if rarely shorter, then distal four funicle segments white - [[File:Metaphycus inat 5003180 c.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*72b Club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together, at most a little wider than distal funicle segment; funicle with at most distal three segments white - [[File:Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|thumb|''Microterys'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Microterys nietneri female.jpg|thumb|Female ''Microterys nietneri'', New Zealand]]
**'''''Microterys''''' Thomson, 1876
*** 228 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Microterys africa'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardia decorella'' (Uganda)
****'' Microterys anneckei'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Filippia'' sp., ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys bizanensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceronema'' sp., ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia cuneiformis'' (Eritrea)
****'' Microterys capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys ceroplastae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes destructor'' (Kenya)
****'' Microterys clauseni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Metaceronema japonica'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys haroldi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Messinea plana'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys kenyaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Lecanium oleae'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Microterys nanus'' is a parasitoid of cerococcid scales ''Cerococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys nicholsoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Ceroplastes destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Microterys nietneri'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Chloropulvinaria'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp., ''Eucalymnatus tessellatus'', ''Lecanium'' spp., ''Maacoccus piperis'', ''Parasaissetia'' spp., ''Parasaissetia oleae'', ''Parthenolecanium'' spp., ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Protopulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Saissetia'' spp., ''Sphaerolecanium prunastri'', armored scales ''Hemichionaspis theae'', ''Pinnaspis theae'', mealybugs ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys speciosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp. (South Africa)
== 73 Fore wing entirely hyaline, or faintly infuscated (any infuscation only visible against a pale background; from 44)==
* 73a Gonostyli exserted at apex of metasoma, the exserted parts laterally compressed, usually more or less rounded apically in lateral view........ 74
* 73b Gonostyli, if protruding at apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally, usually having the appearance of two slender, sharp stylets................78
== 74 Gonostyli extend beyond apex of metasoma, laterally compressed and rounded apically ==
* 74a Scutellum entirely or partly shiny, with a polished appearance, without differentiated sculptural cells; mandibles exceptionally large (fig. 62 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>)........ 75
* 74b Scutellum dorsally sculptured, not smooth and polished; mandibles normal................76
=== 75 Scutellum shiny; mandibles large===
* 75a Postmarginal vein (fig. 63 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing shorter than marginal, not reaching to a level near apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc largely devoid of setae; parasitic in Coleoptera - [[File:Cerchysiella inat 104244416.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysiella'' sp., United States]]
**''''' Cerchysiella''''' Girault, 1914
***''Zeteticontus'' Silvestri, 1915 is a synonym of ''Cerchysiella''.
*** 36 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysiella abilis'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Cerchysiella neodypsisae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Cerchysiella punctiscutellum'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****''Cerchysiella utilis'' (Noyes) (5)
****''Cerchysiella xanthopus'' (Masi) (1)
* 75b Postmarginal vein of fore wing subequal to or longer than marginal, reaching to about the level of apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc evenly and densely setose; parasitic in Diptera - [[File:Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|thumb|''Tachinaephagus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Tachinaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 11 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Tachinaephagus congoensis'' Subba Rao (1)
****''Tachinaephagus stomoxicida'' Subba Rao (3)
****''Tachinaephagus zealandicus'' Ashmead (6)
=== 76 Scutellum sculptured, not smooth; mandibles not large ===
* 76a Antennal funicle and club white in colour; antennal scape expanded ventrally, the funicle segments all wider than long; parasitic in Coleoptera. Head with membranous interruptions of sclerotized integument as in fig. 64 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Chrysomelechthrus''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysomelechthrus descampsi'' (Risbec) (3)
* 76b Antennal funicle and club dark in colour; scape slender, subcylindrical, the funicle with at least basal four or five segments longer than wide; parasitic in Diptera........ 77
=== 77 Antennal funicle and club dark; scape slender, subcylindrical; funicle with more than three segments longer than wide ===
* 77a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; pedicel shorter than, to about as long as, basal funicle segment; clypeal margin not crenulate - [[File:Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cerchysius''''' Westwood, 1832
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysius kilimanjarensis'' Kerrich (1)
****''Cerchysius ugandensis'' Kerrich (4)
* 77b Head and body without metallic lustre; pedicel plainly longer than basal funicle segment; clypeal margin with crenulae -
**''''' Coccidoctonus''''' Crawford, 1912
***''Xyphigaster'' Risbec, 1954 is a synonym of '' Coccidoctonus''
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidoctonus pseudococci'' (Risbec) (9)
== 78 If gonostyli protrude from apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally ==
* 78a Head, in frontal view, with eyes large, extending almost to mouth margin, the genae very short. Head and body metallic green in colour, the tegulae partly white; male antenna with four rami, borne on the first four funicle segments; parasitic in Lepidoptera - [[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus male antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Male antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]][[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus female antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Feale antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]]
**''''' Parablastothrix''''' Mercet, 1917
*** 16 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
****No Afrotropical records in UCD?
* 78b Genae much longer, usually plainly more than one-third longest diameter of eye in frontal view........ 79
=== 79 In frontal view genae more than one-third longest diameter of eye ===
* 79a Mandible with four teeth (figs 43, 65 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 80
* 79b Mandible otherwise................81
=== 80 Mandible with four teeth ===
* 80a Scutellum longitudinally striate (fig. 66 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); dorsum of thorax gently convex, the thorax not dorsoventrally compressed - [[File:Lamennaisia ambigua male p284.jpg|thumb|''Lamennaisia ambigua'', male]]
**''''' Lamennaisia''''' Girault, 1922
***''Mercetencyrtus'' Trjapitzin, 1963 is a synonym of ''Lamennaisia''
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lamennaisia nobilis'' (Nees) (South Africa)
* 80b Scutellum largely cellulate-reticulate, not giving the surface a striated effect; body some what flattened dorsoventrally, the thoracic dorsum flat or almost so - [[File:Adelencyrtus - Japoshvili, G. and Soethof, R. (2022).jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
=== 81 Mandible does not have four teeth ===
* 81a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (cf. fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 82
* 81b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci........ 83
=== 82 Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci===
* 82a Antenna (fig. 67 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, the scape subcylindrical, the funicle segments all longer than wide; paratergites present; body entirely black, or black with metasoma yellowish, the latter laterally margined with blackish-brown; head and thorax with a metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Charitopus fulviventris male Fig. 218 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Male ''Charitopus fulviventris'']][[File:Charitopus fulviventris female Fig. 220 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Female ''Charitopus fulviventris'']]
**''''' Charitopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Charitopus fulviventris'' - no associates known (South Africa)
* 82b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, the funicle segments not all longer than wide (fig. 68 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); paratergites absent; head and body without a metallic refringence, usually yellowish to brownish in colour; parasitic in Coccoidea other than Pseudococcidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
=== 83 Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci===
* 83a Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, more than three times as long as its greatest width........ 84
* 83b Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide........ 117
== 84 Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, much longer than wide==
* 84a Antennal sockets placed high on face (fig. 69 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), their lower limits at or above lower eye level. Body black in colour, the frontovertex and face more or less pitted; antennal scrobes usually sulcate; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Bothriophryne''''' Compere, 1937
*** 8 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriophryne acaciae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Bothriophryne ceroplastae'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne dispar'' Compere (2)
****''Bothriophryne fuscicornis'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne purpurascens'' Compere (3)
****''Bothriophryne velata'' Prinsloo and Annecke (2)
* 84b Antennal scrobes placed lower on face, their lower limits well below lower eye level, sometimes almost at mouth margin........ 85
=== 85 Antennal scrobes are low on face, lower limits well below bottom of eye===
* 85a Antennal club white........ 86
* 85b Antennal club not white........ 87
=== 86 Antennal club white===
* 86a Head and thorax brilliant metallic green in colour; antennal club strongly obliquely truncate apically; mandible (fig. 70 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a broad truncation; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
* 86b Head and body without metallic refringence; club rounded apically; mandible (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three slender teeth, the dorsal one somewhat retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 87 Antennal club not white===
* 87a Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented. Polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae................88
* 87b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented................89
=== 88 Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented===
* 88a Antennal club obliquely truncate from near base (fig. 71 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein of fore wing short, shorter than stigmal - [[File:Copidosoma varicorne female.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma varicorne'', female]][[File:202101 Copidosoma floridanum attack.svg|thumb|''Copidosoma floridanum'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma''
*** See also step 109 below
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' is a parasitoid of Lepidoptera (Cape Verde Islands, Ivory Coast, Senegal)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 88b Antennal club rounded or more or less squarely truncate at apex (fig. 72 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein (fig. 73 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) unsually long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal vein - [[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig143.jpg|thumb|Female ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'']][[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig145.jpg|thumb|Postmarginal and stigmal veins, ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'' female fore-wing.]]
**''''' Ageniaspis''''' Dahlbom, 1857
*** 21 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ageniaspis citricola'' Logvinovskaya (1)
****''Ageniaspis primus'' Prinsloo (1)
=== 89 Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented===
* 89a Mandible (fig. 74 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three distinct teeth and a straight dorsal truncation. Parasitic in Lacciferidae........ 90
* 89b Mandible otherwise........ 91
=== 90 ===
* 90a Abdomen with two interrupted rows of gland-like structures (fig. 75 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), one each on tergum II and VII, head and thorax with rather strong metallic refringence -
**''''' Adencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 3 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Adencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus pictus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 90b Abdomen without gland-like structures; head and body at most very slightly metallic in parts. Male antenna (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two small, transverse funicle segments and a long, unsegmented banana-shaped club -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 91 ===
* 91a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53, 54, 76), their lateral margins sharply angled, usually impressed on face as an inverted V........ 92
* 91b Scrobes otherwise........ 94
=== 92 ===
* 92a Gonostyli very short and broad (fig. 77 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), subtriangular, densely covered with short, spine-like setae. Body black in colour; male antenna ten-segmented, the club two-segmented; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**'''''Laccacida''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Laccacida lacunata'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
* 92b Gonostyli otherwise: elongate and slender, not densely covered with spine-like setae. Antenna of male nine-segmented, the club not segmented........ 93
=== 93 ===
* 93a Mandible (fig. 78 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three teeth; frontovertex with fine punctations; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 93b Mandible (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; frontovertex with large punctations or with pits; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
=== 94 ===
* 94a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments........ 95
* 94b Antennal funicle unicolorous or almost so........ 97
=== 95 ===
* 95a Body yellowish to brownish, without a metallic tinge; antennal club rounded apically; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
* 95b Body black, in parts with weak to strong metallic refringence; antennal club obliquely or transversely truncate apically; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 96
=== 96 ===
* 96a Mandible with three distinct teeth; antennal club (fig. 79 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) transversely truncate apically; marginal vein punctiform (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); polyembryonic parasitoids in larvae of Lepidoptera -
**'''''Paralitomastix''''' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '''''Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844 (see step 88)
* 96b Mandible with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; antennal club (fig. 81 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; marginal vein of fore wing (fig. 82 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) well developed; hyperparasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Tremblaya''''' Trjapitzin, 1985
*** ''Silvestria'' Trjapitzin, 1972 is a synonym of ''Tremblaya''
*** 5 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Tremblaya ceroplastae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Tremblaya coffeicola'' Noyes (1)
****''Tremblaya minor'' (Silvestri) (6)
****''Tremblaya oleae'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Tremblaya palaeococci'' (Risbec) (2)
=== 97 ===
* 97a All funicle segments plainly wider than long................98
* 97b Funicle segments not all wider than long................102
=== 98 All funicle segments plainly wider than long===
* 98a Postmarginal vein (fig. 83 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing very long, much longer than marginal, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal; paratergites present; mandible with three slender teeth, the middle one longest; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**'''''Blepyrus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 19 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Blepyrus insularis'' (Cameron) (11)
****''Blepyrus saccharicola'' Gahan (2)
****''Blepyrus schwarzi'' (Howard) (1)
* 98b Fore wing venation otherwise; paratergites absent; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in mealybugs........ 99
=== 99 ===
* 99a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short, shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; the latter placed at or close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Timberlake, 1919
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 99b Antennal scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; antennal sockets placed higher on face, their upper limits usually about level with lower eye margins; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 100
=== 100 ===
* 100a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with a single segment; small species, about 0,6 mm in length; parasitic in eggs of Coleoptera and Diptera -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Oobius abditus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius funestus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius longoi'' (Siscaro) (4)
****''Oobius striatus'' Annecke (3)
* 100b Palpi otherwise; larger species, often more than 1 mm in length; not egg parasitoids........ 101
=== 101 ===
* 101a Head and body dominantly dark blackish-brown to black; antennal club (fig. 84 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; parasitic in Diptera -
**'''''Exoristobia''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 9 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Exoristobia dipterae'' (Risbec) (8)
****''Exoristobia macrocerus'' (Masi) (1)
****''Exoristobia ugandensis'' Subba Rao (2)
* 101b Head and body dominantly yellowish to brownish-yellow; antennal club rounded apically; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
=== 102 Funicle segments not all wider than long===
* 102a Small species, at most about 1 mm in length, but usually less than 1 mm; exclusively parasitic in insect eggs, often in those of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera........ 103
* 102b Larger species, usually more than 1 mm in length; if less than 1 mm in length, then not parasitic in insect eggs, but in the larvae and pupae of insects................104
=== 103 ===
* 103a Antennal club longer than entire funicle; funicle segments I-V transverse; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial palpi not segmented -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species (See step 100)
* 103b Antennal club shorter than entire funicle; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three - [[File:Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Egg Mass Being Parasitized by Ooencyrtus kuvanae - Mississauga, Ontario.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' on a moth egg mass, Canada]] [[File:Ooencyrtus gravis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus gravis'', female, Spain.]]
**'''''Ooencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 343 species worldwide; 38 Afrotropical species:
****''Ooencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus albicrus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus angolensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus austrinus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus azul'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus bambeyi'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus bedfordi'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus camerounensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus cinctus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Ooencyrtus cirinae'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus congensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus cretatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus demodoci'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus dipterae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus distatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus epilachnae'' Annecke (3)
****''Ooencyrtus exallus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus guamensis'' Fullaway (6)
****''Ooencyrtus homoeoceri'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus insignis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus jeani'' Noyes and Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' is an egg parasitoid of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera (Nigeria)
****''Ooencyrtus lamborni'' Waterston (11)
****''Ooencyrtus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus nanus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus pallidipes'' (Ashmead) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus piezodori'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus polyphagus'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus puparum'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rigemae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus risbeci'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rufogaster'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus senegalensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus sesbaniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Ooencyrtus sinis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus unicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus utetheisae'' (Risbec) (11)
****''Ooencyrtus ventralis'' (Masi) (1)
=== 104 ===
* 104a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; head usually approximately round in outline in frontal view with mouth margin broad, antennal sockets placed close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 104b Scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; other characters different; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 105
=== 105 ===
* 105a Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth (figs 85, 86)........ 106
* 105b Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth; rarely with three teeth, but then dorsal tooth not acute or subacute, but broad, the apex squarely to roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................111
=== 106 Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 106a Head and body entirely and brilliantly metallic in colour; parasitic in Aclerdidae - [[File:Mayridia pulchra, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Mayridia pulchra'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Mayridia''''' Mercet, 1921
***34 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Mayridia arida'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Mayridia maryae'' Prinsloo (1)
* 106b Head and body at most with a faint to moderately strong metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thorax; not parasitic in Aclerdidae........ 107
=== 107 ===
* 107a Antennal club as long as the distal three funicle segments together; marginal vein or fore wing longer than stigmal; parasitic in dryinid wasps -
**'''''Helegonatopus''''' Perkins, 1906
***13 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Helegonatopus saotomensis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 107b Antennal club longer than funicle segments III-VI; marginal vein at most as long as stigmal; not parasitic in Hymenoptera........ 108
=== 108 ===
* 108a Antennal club obliquely truncate apically. Thoracic dorsum usually with metallic green and purple refringence; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae -
**'''''Litomastix''''' Thomson, 1876
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma'', making this step redundant, although presumably useful for identification of species groups?.
* 108b Antennal club rounded apically, or club segments transverse........ 109
=== 109 ===
* 109a Antenna long and slender, the funicle segments all longer than wide; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae - [[File:Copidosoma koehleri 03.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma koehleri'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** See also step 88 (above)
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' (Ashmead) (6)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 109b Funicle segments not all longer than wide, the antenna not particularly slender; not parasitic in Lepidoptera................110
=== 110 ===
* 110a Marginal and postmarginal veins very short, the latter much shorter than stigmal vein, sometimes punctiform; frontovertex without punctations; usually parasitic in Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 110b Marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter reaching almost to the level of apex of stigmal vein; frontovertex with scattered puncrations; exclusively parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
***'' Tachardiaephagus'' keys out at 93, 110
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
=== 111 Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 111a Tergum II and VII of abdomen each with an interrupted row of gland-like structures (fig. 88 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); Antennal club long, usually about as long as enure funicle; legs usually banded; parasitic in Diaspididae. -
**'''''Zaomma''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 17 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Zaomma acaciae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma carinae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma cestus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma ficusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma lambinus'' (Walker) (5)
****''Zaomma sitis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma vix'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma xhosa'' Prinsloo (2)
* 111b Abdomen without gland-like structures........ 112
=== 112 Abdomen without gland-like structures===
* 112a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two; parasitic in Diaspididae. Small species, usually not much more than 1 mm in length; antenna generally slender, the club long -
**'''''Coccidencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 36 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes'' Gahan (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus plectroniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus punctatus'' Compere and Annecke (1)
* 112b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; not parasitic in Diaspididae........ 113
=== 113 ===
* 113a Marginal vein of fore wing relatively long*, broad, dark in colour, about as long as, or longer than, stigmal vein (figs 89, 90); mandible with three well separated teeth, the upper one squarely or roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 114
* 113b Marginal vein punctiform or very short, shorter than stigmal (figs 91, 92); if rarely subequal to stigmal, then mandible with a well separated ventral tooth and a broad dorsal truncation (fig. 93 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 115
=== 114 ===
* 114a Body longer than 1 mm; thorax slender, the scutellum longer than wide; legs usually not banded; primary parasitoids of Syrphidae - [[File:Syrphophagus aphidivorus, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'', female, Spain]][[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 114b Smaller species, usually about 1 mm in length; scutellum relatively broad, about as long as wide or a little wider than long; legs usually banded; hyperparasitoids of aphids, rarely of psyllids -
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
***''Aphidencyrtus'' is a synonym of ''Syrphophagus''; this step previously separated ''Aphidencyrtus''
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
=== 115 ===
* 115a Head and body pale, dominantly yellow in colour, without metallic refringence; parasitic in Coccidae. Male remarkable in colour: orange and brilliant metallic green in parts -
**''''' Argutencyrtus''''' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974<ref name=Prinsloo1974>Prinsloo, G.L. & Annecke, D.P. (1973). A new genus and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from South Africa. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, 37(2), 345-349. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2638</ref>
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Argutencyrtus luteolus'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974
* 115b Head and body entirely metallic in colour, or black with some parts with faint to moderately strong metallic refringence, or rarely at least head and thorax black; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 116
=== 116 ===
* 116a Usually entirely metallic green or blue-green in colour, rarely with only some parts metallic in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae - [[File:Psyllaephagus inat 165372177 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus'' sp., Córdoba, Spain.]][[File:Psyllaephagus guangxiensis (10.3897-BDJ.9.e63253) Figure 1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Psyllaephagus guangxiensis'', China]] [[File:Psyllaephagus euphyllurae, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus euphyllurae'', female, Spain]]
**'''''[[w:Psyllaephagus|Psyllaephagus]]''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 246 species worldwide; 30 Afrotropical species:
****''Psyllaephagus africanus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus albicrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus arytainae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus bicolor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae'' Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame, Dzokou, Gumovsky and De Coninck (1)
****''Psyllaephagus bliteus'' Riek, 1962 (Australia, introduced to South Africa and also Neotropical and western Palaearctic regions)
****''Psyllaephagus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus capeneri'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus cellulatus'' Waterston (1)
****''Psyllaephagus chianganus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus cincticrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus dealbatae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus dispar'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus furvus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus hibiscusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus io'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus lucaris'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus minor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus oleae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus ornatus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus pauliani'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus perendinus'' Robinson (1)
****''Psyllaephagus phytolymae'' (Ferriere) (5)
****''Psyllaephagus pulvinatus'' (Waterston) (12)
****''Psyllaephagus rhusae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus secus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus tessmannii'' Tamesse and Tiyo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus vastus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus viridis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus yaseeni'' Noyes (Tanzania)
* 116b Never entirely metallic in colour, at most the head and thoracic dorsum with weak to moderately strong metallic refringence; parasitic in Syrphidae and Coccinellidae -
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114a, 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
== 117 Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide ==
* 117a Eyes exceptionally setose (fig. 123 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the setae long, strongly developed; frontovertex sparsely pitted; antenna (fig. 126 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with scape blackish, the remainder of antenna uniformly paler in colour - [[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 117b Eyes sparsely setose, the setae fine; frontovertex at most finely punctate; colour of antenna otherwise........ 118
=== 118 Eyes sparsely setose===
* 118a Head tending to opisthognathous, the frontovertex almost horizontal, meeting the inflexed face at an acute angle, so that head is subtriangular in lateral view; parasitic in ticks (Ixodidae). Male sometimes brachypterous, in which case the head has a forked process jutting forward at junction of frontovertex and face - [[File:Ixodiphagus hookeri.jpg|thumb|''Ixodiphagus hookeri'', France]]
**'''''Ixodiphagus''''' Howard, 1907
***''Hunterellus'' Howard, 1908 is a synonym of ''Ixodiphagus''
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ixodiphagus hookeri'' (Howard) (14)
****''Ixodiphagus theilerae'' (Fiedler) (5)
* 118b Head hypognathous, the frontovertex more or less convex, rounded on to face; not parasitic in ticks........ 119
=== 119 ===
* 119a Head and body largely yellowish to brownish, without metallic refringence; antennal scrobes more or less well developed; toruli with lower limits well above clypeal margin; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 119b Head and body dominantly black, the head and thoracic dorsum with faint to strong metallic refringence; scrobes absent or developed as two very short shallow furrows, hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; toruli placed at or close to mouth margin; polyembryonic parasitoids of aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
== 120 Mandible with only two teeth; paratergites usually present; usually without coarse setae at edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced. Mealybug parasitoids==
[Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae (from 43)]
* 120a Antennal funicle seven-segmented -
**''''' Alamella''''' Agarwal, 1966
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Alamella flava'' - a parasitoid of eriococcids and mealybugs (Angola, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa)
****Species description: [https://www.ias.ac.in/public/Volumes/secb/063/02/0067-0079.pdf Agarwal (1966)]<ref name=Agarwal1966>Agarwal, M. M. (1966). Three undescribed genera and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera-Chalcidoidea) parasitic on coccids. In Proceedings/Indian Academy of Sciences (Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 67-79). New Delhi: Springer India.</ref>
* 120b Club two-segmented; head and body without metallic lustre; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with two. Funicle with six or fewer segments........ 121
=== 121 ===
* 121a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (cf. fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat caudal projection of the scutellum. Body often black, the head dark metallic green; antenna long, slender, the scape cylindrical; marginal and postmarginal veins long - [[File:Ericydnus inat 183126807 Mario Bassini.jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Italy]]
**''''' Ericydnus''''' Haliday, 1832
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
* 121b Scutellum without a flange........ 122
=== 122 ===
* 122a Head prognathous (fig. 94 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), elongate and flattened in dorsal view, almost as long as thorax (fig. 95 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the eyes elongate, in dorsal view occupying almost whole of head laterally; antenna (fig. 96 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extremely large, foliaceously flattened, the club three-segmented -
**''''' Monstranusia''''' Trjapitzin, 1964
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Monstranusia antennata'' (Narayanan) (1)
****''Monstranusia mirabilissima'' Trjapitzin (4)
* 122b Head otherwise; if antenna foliaceously flattened, then club not segmented................123
=== 123 ===
* 123a Antenna nine-segmented........ 124
* 123b Antenna ten or eleven-segmented........ 126
=== 124 ===
* 124a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches (fig. 97 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Head .and body largely metallic in colour; antenna sometimes foliaceously flattened; ovipositor often strongly protruded at apex of metasoma; male antenna with funicle six-segmented, segments II – V each with a ramus -
**''''' Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
*** 37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus'' bifasciatellus (Mercet) (1)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (1)
* 124b Fore wing entirely hyaline........ 125
=== 125 ===
* 125a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; antenna (fig. 111 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, the fumcle and club broad, somewhat laterally compressed -
**''''' Callaincyrtus''''' Prinsloo & Annecke, 1979
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Callaincyrtus decorus'' - no known associates (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
* 125b Head and body at most with faint metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thoracic dorsum; antenna not particularly slender, the segments not flattened -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915<ref name=>Silvestri, F. 1915, Contributo all conoscenza degli insetti dell'olivo dell'Eritrea e dell'Africa meridionalei. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della R. Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura, Portici 9:305 [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14029132 BHL][https://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/research-curation/projects/chalcidoids/pdf_X/Silves915.pdf PDF]</ref>
*** This genus was reviewed in 1995: Prinsloo, G. L. (1995). The encyrtid genus Allocerellus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), parasitoids of mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 26(2), 167-179.
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Allocerellus ater'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus bizonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus curtus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus hortensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****'' Allocerellus inquirendus'' Silvestri (2)
****'' Allocerellus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus notatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus orestes'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus paulus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus venustus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus vittatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus zonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
=== 126 ===
* 126a Antenna ten-segmented, the club with two segments........ 127
* 126b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented........ 128
=== 127 ===
* 127a Head and body flatlened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**'''''Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Rhopus adustus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus discretus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus geminus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus luridus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus notius'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus pilatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus urbanus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 127b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=== 128 ===
* 128a Frontovertex (fig. 98 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) densely pitted, the pits with a metallic green lustre; antennal scape subcylindical. Dominantly black species, the fore wing entirely and strongly infuscated; cephalic margin of fore wing forming an incision at apex of submarginal vein; male antenna with six transverse funicle segments and a long unsegmented banana-shaped club - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9692.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** ''Chalcaspis'' Howard, 1895 is a synonym of '' Aenasius''
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' (Risbec) (4)
****'' Aenasius advena'' Compere (9)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' (Kerrich) (4)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' Kerrich (1)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' (Walker) (1)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' (Compere) (4)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' (Ashmead) (1)
* 128b Frontovertex at most punctate, the punctations not refringent........ 129
=== 129 ===
* 129a Head and body flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**''''' Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 127
* 129b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; palpi otherwise........ 130
=== 130 ===
* 130a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two................131
* 130b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial three-segmented........ 132
=== 131 ===
* 131a Antenna (fig. 99 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, filiform, the funicle segments all plainly longer than wide; postmarginal vein (fig. 100 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing long, extending to a level well beyond apex of stigmal; small species. Fore wing hyaline or partly infuscated - [[File:Leptomastidea abnormis inat 8538894 Jesse Rorabaugh.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastidea abnormis'', California, USA]]
**''''' Leptomastidea''''' Mercet, 1916
*** This genus was reviewed in 2001: Prinsloo, G.L. 2001, The aftrotropical species of Leptomastidea Mercet (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitoids of mealybugs. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 10(2):158-159. Includes photos of fore wings.
*** 23 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****'' Leptomastidea abnormis'' (Girault) (12)
****'' Leptomastidea ascia'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea jeanneli'' Mercet (5)
****'' Leptomastidea lamto'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea pondo'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea tecta'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea turba'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea usta'' Prinsloo (1)
* 131b Antenna (fig. 101 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) not particularly slender, the funicle segments not all longer than wide; postmarginal vein short, shorter than stigmal; larger species - [[File:Anagyrus lopezi.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus lopezi'']][[File:Anagyrus on mealybug inaturalist 105468882.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus'' wasp parasitizing a mealybug]]
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** ''Doliphoceras'' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '' Anagyrus''
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anagyrus aberiae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus abyssinicus'' Compere (4)
****'' Anagyrus agraensis'' Saraswat (1)
****'' Anagyrus amnicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus amoenus'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus antoniae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus arambourgi'' Risbec (1)
****'' Anagyrus arenaria'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus aurantifrons'' Compere (6)
****'' Anagyrus bambeyi'' Risbec (3)
****'' Anagyrus beneficians'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus bugandaensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus diversicornis'' (Howard) (11)
****'' Anagyrus fusciventris'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus gracilis'' (Hayat) (3)
****'' Anagyrus greeni'' Howard (1)
****'' Anagyrus haroldi'' Noyes and Hayat (4)
****'' Anagyrus incongruens'' (Masi) (1)
****'' Anagyrus indicus'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****'' Anagyrus kivuensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus lopezi'' (De Santis) (92)
****'' Anagyrus mangicola'' Noyes (7)
****'' Anagyrus mirzai'' Agarwal and Alam (3)
****'' Anagyrus nigrescens'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus pseudococci'' (Girault) (10)
****'' Anagyrus pullus'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus rubellus'' (Annecke) (4)
****'' Anagyrus saccharicola'' Timberlake (8)
****'' Anagyrus siccus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****'' Anagyrus subflaviceps'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus subnigricornis'' Ishii (1)
****'' Anagyrus subproximus'' (Silvestri) (5)
****'' Anagyrus swezeyi'' Timberlake (2)
=== 132 ===
* 132a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments; if rarely unicolorous, then marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform........ 133
* 132b Funicle unicolorous; marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter often very long........ 134
=== 133 ===
* 133a Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally (fig. 102 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing hyaline; frontovertex without punctations -
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 131b
* 133b Antennal scape subcylindrical (fig. 121 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing weakly to strongly infuscated (fig. 119 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), at least in the distal three-fourths or so; frontovertex and face with scattered punctations (fig. 118 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Basal part of fore wing with setation as in fig. 120 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; male antenna as in fig. 122 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> - [[File:Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|thumb|''Apoleptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Apoleptomastix''''' Kerrich, 1982
***''Xiphomastix'' De Santis, 1972 is a synonym of ''Apoleptomastix''
*** 6 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Apoleptomastix anneckei'' Pseudococcidae ''Antonina'' sp. (Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Apoleptomastix bicoloricornis'' Pseudococcidae ''Brevennia rehi'', ''Coccidohystrix insolita'', ''Heterococcus nigeriensis'' (Ethiopia, Gambia, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
=== 134 ===
* 134a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches........ 135
* 134b Fore wing hyaline; if rarely infuscated, then with faint longitudinally infuscated bands........ 136
=== 135 ===
* 135a Head and body dominantly orange-red; fore wing (fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) tapering towards apex from the level of apex of venation, the wing disc characteristically maculated as in fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; antenna not particularly slender, the scape somewhat expanded ventrally, about three times as long as its greatest width; wings held horizontal in life -
**''''' Yasumatsuiola''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species?
****''Yasumatsuiola orientalis'' Trjapitzin, 1977 found in Afrotropics?
* 135b Colour of head and body otherwise; fore wing (fig. 104 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, slender, not tapering towards apex, the latter broadly rounded; wing disc infuscated with hyaline cross-bands or patches; antenna (fig. 105 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, filiform, the scape cylindrical, much more than three times as long as wide; wings held erect in life - [[File:Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|thumb|''Callipteroma sexguttata'', South Africa]][[File:Mercet 1921 27 Callipteroma 118.jpg|thumb|Male ''Callipteroma sexguttata'', Spain]]
**''''' Callipteroma''''' Motschulsky, 1863
*** 6 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Callipteroma albiclava'' Noyes (1)
****''Callipteroma sexguttata'' Motschulsky (3)
****''Callipteroma testacea'' Motschulsky (2)
=== 136 ===
* 136a Scutellum with sculptural cells longitudinally oriented, somewhat raised, giving the disc a striate effect (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black, shiny, without metallic refringence; male antenna (fig. 117 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with rami, one each on funicle segments II–V -
**'''''Neocharitopus''''' Hayat, Alam and Agarwal, 1975
*** ''Insleyia'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979 is a synonym of ''Neocharitopus''
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Neocharitopus crassus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****''Neocharitopus solani'' (Risbec) (1)
* 136b Sculpture of scutellum otherwise................137
=== 137 ===
* 137a Antennal scape (fig. 106 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, or if only slightly expanded, then the ends cylindrical. General colour yellow to orange, without metallic lustre; thorax covered with fine white setae; postmarginal vein long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal -
**''''' Gyranusoidea''''' Compere, 1947
*** 44 species worldwide; 11 Afrotropical species:
****''Gyranusoidea austrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea citrina'' (Compere) (6)
****''Gyranusoidea dilatata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea flava'' Shafee, Alam and Agarwal (1)
****''Gyranusoidea klugei'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Gyranusoidea litura'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea munda'' Annecke (5)
****''Gyranusoidea pauliani'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Gyranusoidea separata'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea signata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (5)
****''Gyranusoidea tebygi'' Noyes (28)
* 137b Antennal scape not or hardly expanded ventrally........ 138
=== 138 ===
* 138a Body always black, with moderate to strong metallic green, blue or purplish refringence. Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci; marginal and postmarginal veins long -
**''''' Clausenia''''' Ishii, 1923
*** 12 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Clausenia capensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia comperei'' Kerrich (4)
****''Clausenia concinna'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia confusor'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia corrugata'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia guineensis'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia sobrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
* 138b Colour otherwise, if rarely black, then without any metallic refringence........ 139
=== 139 ===
* 139a Antenna filiform, the basal funicle segment longer than pedicel, often very much so; cercal plates advanced to a level near base of metasoma - [[File:Leptomastix inat 153928277.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Leptomastix''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 34 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Leptomastix abyssinica'' Compere (5)
****''Leptomastix africana'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix dactylopii'' Howard (24)
****''Leptomastix digitariae'' Risbec (1)
****''Leptomastix flava'' Mercet (3)
****''Leptomastix herreni'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix hibiscusae'' Risbec (3)
****''Leptomastix jonesi'' Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix nigra'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix nigrocincta'' Risbec (4)
****''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix tsukumiensis'' Tachikawa (2)
* 139b Antenna not filiform, the pedicel longer than basal funicle segment; cecal plates placed near apex of metasoma -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=Other genera known from the Afrotropics=
[[File:Achalcerinys lindus faunaibrica Mercet 1921 F112 p270.jpg|thumb|''Achalcerinys lindus'', female, Spain.]][[File:Blastothrix erythrostetha female Fig95 p245.jpg|thumb|''Blastothrix erythrostetha'', female]][[File:Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|thumb|''Cryptanusia'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.554.jpg|thumb|Male ''Mira integralis'']][[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.556.jpg|thumb|Female ''Mira integralis'']][[File:Trichomasthus cyanifrons, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Trichomasthus cyanifrons'', female, Spain]]
*Some of these genera have been found in the Afrotropics since the key was created (1979)
**'''''Achalcerinys''''' Girault, 1915
***''Parasyrpophagus'' is a synonym of ''Achalcerinys''
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Achalcerinys gorodkovi'' (Myartseva, 1983) - no known associates (Egypt, Ethiopia)
****''Achalcerinys lindus'' (Mercet, 1921) - a parasitoid of Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae, Encyrtidae (Ethiopia)
**'''''Agarwalencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Agarwalencyrtus citri'' - a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid in mealybugs; ''Planococcus'' spp. (South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
****Photograph of specimen in [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20203576260 Tirunagaru and Sagadai (2020)]
**'''''Anomalencyrtus''''' Hayat and Verma, 1980
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalencyrtus longicornis'' - no known associates (Madagascar)
**'''''Anomalicornia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalicornia tenuicornis'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Astymachus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Astymachus exilis '' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Blastothrix '''''
*** 29 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Blastothrix anthocleistae'' Risbec, 1952 (Madagascar)
**'''''Bothriocraera''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriocraera bicolor'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Ghana)
**'''''Brachyplatycerus''''' De Santis, 1972
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brachyplatycerus minutum'' - a parasitoid of moths ''Cydia pomonella'' (South Africa)
**'''''Brethesiella''''' Porter, 1920
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brethesiella abnormicornis'' - a parasitoid of Margarodidae ''Icerya'' spp. (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Cladiscodes''''' Subba Rao, 1977
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cladiscodes incisius'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Cryptanusia''''' Girault , 1917
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cryptanusia aureiscutellum'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Diaphorencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis'' (Shafee, Alam and Agarwal) (Réunion, South Africa)
****''Diaphorencyrtus harrisoni'' (Robinson, 1960) (South Africa)
**'''''Dionencyrtus''''' De Santis, 1985
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dionencyrtus cordylomerae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Dusmetia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dusmetia fuscipennis'' (Noyes & Hayat, 1984) (Zimbabwe)
**'''''Ectroma''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Ectroma truncatum'' Prinsloo, 1986 (Zimbabwe)
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Erencyrtus ater'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus contrarius'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus fuscus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus notialis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
**'''''Hambletonia''''' Compere, 1936
*** 9 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hambletonia pseudococcina'' Compere, 1936 (Ghana)
**'''''Hemileucoceras''''' Hoffer, 1976
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hemileucoceras madagascariensis'' (Risbec) (Madagascar)
**'''''Holcencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 10 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Holcencyrtus liriomyzae'' Risbec (Senegal)
****''Holcencyrtus myrmicoides'' (Compere and Zinna) (Ghana)
**'''''Homosemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homosemion bennetti'' Annecke, 1967 (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Incisencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1988
*** 4 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Incisencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo, 1988 (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Incisencyrtus secus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Madagascar)
****''Incisencyrtus sirus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Nigeria)
**'''''Lakshaphagus''''' Mahdihassan, 1931
*** 9 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Lakshaphagus armillatus'' (Annecke, 1969) (South Africa)
****''Lakshaphagus ceroplastae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Manicnemus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Manicnemus'' sp. (Tanzania) <ref name=vanNoort>van Noort, S. (2024). WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Tetracneminae/Manicnemus/Manicnemus_species.htm Manicnemus species] (accessed on 14 March 2024).</ref>
**''''' Mahencyrtus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 14 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mahencyrtus occultans'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
**'''''Mira'''''
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mira integralis'' (Mercet, 1921) (Senegal)
**'''''Neastymachus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 21 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neastymachus dispar'' Prinsloo, 1996 (South Africa)
**'''''Neodusmetia''''' Kerrich, 1964
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neodusmetia sangwani'' (Subba Rao, 1957) (Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Parablatticida''''' Girault, 1915
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Parablatticida aphycoides'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
****''Parablatticida vidua'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
**'''''Pseudococcobius''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 12 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Pseudococcobius akares'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius ancylus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius dolus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius san'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vibex'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vinealis'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
**'''''Rhytidothorax''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 20 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Rhytidothorax ambositrensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Rhytidothorax latiscapus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979) (Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Scotteus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Scotteus ochroleucus'' Masi, 1917 (Seychelles)
**'''''Spaniopterus''''' Gahan, 1927
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Spaniopterus crucifer'' Gahan, 1927 (Mauritius)
**'''''Stemmatosteres''''' Timberlake, 1918
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Stemmatosteres primus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt, 1981 (South Africa)
**'''''Trichomasthus'''''
*** 60 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Trichomasthus portoricensis'' (Crawford, 1913) (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Xenostryxis'''''
*** 10 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Xenostryxis margiscutellum'' Girault, 1920 (South Africa)
**'''''Zarhopalus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zarhopalus corvinus'' a parasitoid of Pseudococcidae, ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
**'''''Zozoros'''''
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zozoros adamsoniae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
=References=
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key]]
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/* Other genera known from the Afrotropics */
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text/x-wiki
Encyrtidae is a large family of parasitic wasps in the Superfamily [[w:Chalcidoidea|Chalcidoidea]]. There are more than 640 described species of [[w:Afrotropical|Afrotropical]] Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of [[w:scale insect|scale insect]]s, some of which are pests that reduce the productivity of agricultural crops across the world.<br>
=Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae=
This key is based on this paper: '''Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979).''' A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref> The Universal Chalcidoidea Database<ref name=Noyes2019/>, WaspWeb<ref name=vanNoort2024>van Noort, S. 2024. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Classification/index.htm (accessed 2023-2024).</ref>, and other on-line sources were used to add details.
==1 Encyrtidae ==
[[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|'''Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae''']] include: mesopleuron very enlarged; mid coxae level with middle of mesopleuron in side view; cercal plates advanced; linea calva distinct; mesoscutum transverse and without distinct notauli.<ref name=Pitkin2004>Pitkin, B.R. (2004) Notes on families: Encyrtidae. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/encyrtidae.html www.nhm.ac.uk]</ref> There are illustrations of these features on another [[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|page of the '''African Arthropods project''']].<br>
1a Tarsi with four segments ........ 2<br>
1b Tarsi with five segments ........ 3
==2 Tarsi with four segments==
*Marginal cilia of forewing very long (fig. 2 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); axillae indistinct (fig. 3 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb]); funicle with five or six segments -
**'''''Anthemus''''' <small>HOWARD, 1896</small>
***22 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species.
***Photos: [http://ponent.atspace.org/fauna/ins/fam/encyrtidae/anthemus_hab.htm Ponent, Catalonia]
***Paper: Prinsloo, G. L., & Neser, O. C. (1989). A revision of the genus Anthemus Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in the Afrotropical region. Revue de Zoologie Africaine, 103(1), 51-72.
*Marginal cilia of forewing short (cf. fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the longest cilia never much longer than the setae on the submarginal vein; axillae are distinct and meet medially; funicle with two to four segments - [[File:Mercet 1921 7 Arrenophagus parasite in Alacaspis rosae p54.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' before emergence from scale host, Spain.]][[File:Mercet 1921 6 Arrhenophagus chionaspidis female antenna p53.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' female antenna]]
**'''''Arrhenophagus''''' <small>AURIVILLIUS, 1888</small>
***Photos: [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/media.dsml?IMAGENO=chalc071&VALGENUS=Arrhenophagus&VALSPECIES=albitibiae&isVideo= Universal Chalcidoidea Database] [https://takagi.tenteki.org/%E5%A4%A9%E6%95%B5%E5%9B%B3%E9%91%912/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A9.htm takagi.tenteki]
***Papers: [https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/view/129680 '''Suh S-J. 2021.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Prunus salicina Lindl. (Rosales: Rosaceae) in South Korea. Insecta Mundi 0885: 1–5.] [http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3697168 '''Suh, Soo-Jung, 2018.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reared from Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in the Republic of Korea, Insecta Mundi 612, pp. 1-6 : 3-4] [https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.19.3.110 '''Muniappan, R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012). Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114., R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012).''' Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114.]
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' (worldwide)
==3 Tarsi five-segmented==
*3a Forewing without stigmal, marginal or postmarginal veins, with an infuscated patch (fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); on the head, the scrobes are moderately deep, in the shape of aninverted V, their confluence is separated medially by a membranous joint that extends to the front of the vertex; a similar membrane runs transversely between the eyes where the fronto-vertex adjoins the face (fig. 5 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and figs 1, 13, 20, 24 of Annecke & Mynhardt (1974)<ref name=AnneckeMynhardt1974>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M.J., 1974. On some new and described species of arrhenophagine Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 37(1), pp.35-47. [https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 DOI] [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 PDF]</ref>) -
**'''''Arrhenophagoidea''''' <small>Girault, 1915</small><br>
***''Arrhenophagoidea'' and ''Arrhenophagus'' are morphologically similar, except that the tarsi are four-segmented in ''Arrhenophagus'' and five-segmented in ''Arrhenophagoidea''. Species of both genera are very small (body length about 0.5 mm).
***Four Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagoidea chaetacmae'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea neseri'' Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea rolaspidis'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea sierra'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
*3b Forewing venation partly or well-developed; head without membranous features above the scrobes ........ 4
===4 (Fore wing venation at least partly developed; head without membranous interruptions)===
*4a Posterior margin of mesosetum with two round projections, each fitting into an indentation in anterior margin of axillae (fig. 6 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); forewing with marginal cilia unusually long along caudal wing margin (fig. 7 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); egg parasitoids of Tettigometridae -
**'''''Psyllechthrus''''' <small>GHESQUIERE, 1958</small>
***A single species, ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' is known - from Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.<ref name=Noyes2019>Noyes, J.S. 2019. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. The Natural History Museum, London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/index.dsml</ref>
***''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' has been reared from the eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'', which is thought to be its only host.<ref name=Prinsloo1985>Prinsloo, G.L. 1985, Afrotropical Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): new records and notes. Journal of Natural History 19:281</ref>
***Photographs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'' eggs with tiny wasps that are probably ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'': [http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/bugs/tettigometridae/hilda_patruelis.htm] and [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180134054]
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 a.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus''
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 c.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' on eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis''.
</gallery>
*4b Margin of mesoseutum without two round projections fitting into indentations in the anterior margin of the axillae; marginal cilia of forewing not unusually long; not parasites of Tettigometridae ........ 5
===5 (Posterior margin of mesoscutum without two round projections fitting into the anterior margin of axillae, forewing with marginal cilia not unusually long)===
*5a Fore femur and tibia greatly swollen, the apex of the latter with two blunt spines in addition to the strigil; antenna eleven-segmented, the segments of pedicel, funicle and club similar in shape; head and body hardly encyrtiform (fig. 9 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)
**'''''Sanghalia''''' <small>RISBEC, 1955</small>
***A single species from Congo, ''Sanghalia kerandeli''
*5b Fore femur and tibia at most slightly swollen, the latter without spines; antenna otherwise, usually clavate................6
===6 (Fore femur and tibia not greatly swollen, fore tibia without spines)===
*6a Funicle with less than six segments........ 7
*6b Funicle with six or seven segments........ 16
==7 Funicle with less than six segments==
*7a Antenna (fig. 10 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extensively flattened and expanded - both scape and flagellum leaf-like; the club is not segmented; the funicle has three to five transverse segments; Pseudococeid parasitoids -[[File:Zaplatycerus fullawayi Timberlake 1925 Plate IX Fig. 1.jpg|thumb|''Zaplatycerus fullawayi''; A. female antenna; B. Male antenna; C. Female mandible frontal view]]
**'''''Zaplatycerus''''' Timberlake, 1925
***Synonyms include: ''Tropidophryne'' Compere, 1931; ''Neoplatycerus'' Subba Rao, 1965; ''Avernes'' Noyes et Woolley, 1994; ''Assamencyrtus'' Singh, 2006.<ref name=Trjapitzin2018>Trjapitzin, V. A. (2018). A Review of the Encyrtid-Wasp Genus ''Zaplatycerus'' Timberlake, 1925 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) of the World Fauna, Parasitoids of Mealybugs (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae). Entomological Review, 98, 787-792.</ref>
***16 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and images of ''Zaplatycerus notialis'' on [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271666428 Researchgate]
Afrotropical species
*7b Antenna not extensively flattened, but the scape may be expanded ventrally........ 8
===8 (Antenna not extensively flattened; scape may be expanded)===
*8a Funicle with four segments ........ 9
*8b Funicle with five segments ........ 10
===9 (Funicle with four segments)===
*9a Apex of scutellum with two lamelliform (flattened) setae (cf. figs 27 & 28 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>, and ''Habrolepis'', 38b below); forewing distinctly darkened, patterned; body flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of armored scale insects -
**'''''Caenohomalopoda''''' Tachikawa, 1979
***11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Caenohomalopoda shikokuensis'' a parasitoid of armored scales, ''Froggattiella penicillata'', ''Odonaspis'' spp. (South Africa)
****Description and figures - [https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf Tachikawa, 1956]<ref name=Tachikawa1956>Tachikawa, T. (1956). Description of a new species of the genus Pseudhomalopoda Cirault from Japan, with a list of the known species and their hosts of the Habrolepis-like genera (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Insecta matsumurana, 20(3-4), 90-96. https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf</ref>
*9b Scutellum without scale-like setae; forewing transparent; body not flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of bees -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Two Afrotropical species: ''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'', is known from South Africa; and ''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is known from Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda and is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and figures - [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3102 Annecke, 1968]<ref name=Annecke1968>Annecke, D. P. (1968). Records and Descriptions of African Encyrtidae-4 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 31(2), 249-264.</ref>
===10 (Funicle with five segments)===
*10a Antennal club not divided (a single segment) -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
*** 30 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Trechnites angolensis'' associated with the legume ''Isoberlinia'' sp. (Angola)
****''Trechnites manaliensis'' a parasitoid of ''Euphyllura eastopi'', ''Euphyllura longiciliata'', ''Psylla hyalina'' (South Africa)
****''Trechnites morulus'' associated with ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
*10b The antennal club has two or three segments ........ 11
===11 (Antennal club with two or three segments)===
*11a Antennal club with two segments. (Maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented; mandible tridentate (fig. 11 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the upper tooth retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae) - [[File:Pseudectroma europaeum Fauna ibérica p192 Fig.65.jpg|thumb|Female ''Pseudectroma europaeum'', Spain]]
**'''''Pseudectroma''''' Girault , 1915
***''Timberlakia'' Mercet, 1925 is a synonym<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***16 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species: ''Pseudectroma cussoniae'' (Madagascar), ''Pseudectroma gilvum'' (South Africa), ''Pseudectroma signatum'' (Israel, South Africa)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Parasitoids - hosts include soft scales (Coccidae) and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*11b Club with three segments ........ 12
===12 (Antennal club with three segments)===
*12a Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma -
**'''''Acerophagus''''' Smith, 1880
***''Pseudaphycus'' is a synonym of ''Acerophagus'' (see 13 below).
***''Acerophagus'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).
***iNaturalist has images of ''Acerophagus'' (CC-BY-NC).<ref name=iNatAcerophagus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250166 ''Acerophagus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
*12b Ovipositor not distinctly protruding from the end of the metasoma ........ 14
===13 (Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma - ''Acerophagus'')===
*13a Antennal club white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with a white antennal club (described as ''Pseudaphycus'') include ''A. angelicus'', ''A. dysmicocci'', ''A. ferrisianae'', ''A. maculipennis'', ''A. mundus'', ''A. notativentris '', ''A. perdignus'', ''A. prosopidis''.
*13b Antennal club not white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with two segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with an antennal club that is not white (described as ''Acerophagus'') include ''A. coccois'', ''A. pallidus''.
===14 (Ovipositor not protruding or just protruding)===
*14a Mandible with two teeth; maxillary palpi each have two segments, the labial not segmented; paratergites present; Male antenna ramose, rami on funicle segments I-IV -
**'''''Tetracnemoidea''''' Howard, 1898
***''Tetracnemoidea'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Afrotropical species:
****''T. brevicornis'' (Girault) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
****''T. coffeicola'' (Kerrich) (Kenya, Uganda)
****''T. peregrina'' (Compere) (Worldwide; Ghana, South Africa in Afrotropics)
****''T. sydneyensis'' (Timberlake) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
*14b Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs ................15
===15 (Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs)===
*15a Head and body dark brown to blackish-brown, non-metallic except for frontovertex which may have a very slight metallic tinge; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Afrotropical species:
****''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'' (South Africa); and
****''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini) (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*15b Head and body predominantly black, the scutellum brilliant metallic green in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
==16 Funicle with six or seven segments==
*16a Hind tibia foliaceously flattened (fig. 12 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 17
*16b Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened................ 18
===17 (Hind tibia foliaceously flattened)===
*17a Antennal club three-segmented or not segmented; parasitoids of Aphrophoridae and Cicadellidae. Male antenna may have six rami (fig. 14 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|thumb|''Neocladia'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Neocladia''''' Perkins, 1906
***''Carabunia'' Waterston, 1928 is a synonym of ''Neocladia''<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***iNaturalist has images of ''Neocladia''.<ref name=iNatNeocladia>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/253254 ''Neocladia'' photographs on iNaturalist (including some CC-BY)</ref>
***Afrotropical species:<ref name=Noyes2019/>
****''Neocladia gigantica'' is a parasitoid of ''Ptyelus flavescens'', the Yellow Raintree Spittlebug (Uganda).
****''Neocladia senegalensis'' (Senegal, South Africa).
****''Neocladia tibialis'' is a parasitoid of ''Batrachomorphus capeneri'', a leafhopper (South Africa).
===18 (Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened)===
*18a Wings markedly reduced ................19
*18b Wings not greatly reduced ............. 25
==19 Wings markedly reduced==
*19a Scutellum with a flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), in profile this flange shows as a thin, flat, caudal projection of the apex of scutellum................20
*19b Scutellum without a flange................21
===20 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a flange or lamella)===
*20a Mandible with two acute teeth; parasitoids of bees - [[File:Ericydnus inat 170283716 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Spain]]
**'''''Ericydnus''''' Walker, 1837
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
*20b Mandible with three teeth; parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus bicolor Fauna ibérica Ricardo García Mercet 1921.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus bicolor'', Spain]]
**'''''Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
***20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
***Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' (Risbec) is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' species (Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' Risbec is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Pulvinaria'' species (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' Ghesquiere is a parasitoid of the moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' (Risbec) has been associated with rice plants (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===21 (Wings reduced, scutellum without a flange)===
*21a Antenna nine-segmented, the club not segmented; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Male antenna six-segmented, segments II - V each with a ramus -
**'''''Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
***iNaturalist has images of ''Tetracnemus''.<ref name=iNatTetracnemus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250503 ''Tetracnemus'' photographs on iNaturalist (some CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus bifasciatellus'' (Mercet) (South Africa)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (Ethiopia)
*21b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in Pseudococcidae................22
===22 (Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments)===
*22a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft........................23
*22b Scutellar tuft of bristles absent........ 24
===23 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles)===
*23a Mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); gonostyli (3rd valvulae) absent -
**'''''Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
***96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Gascardia'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of Hemiptera including Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of ''Sahlbergella'' species (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' and ''Saissetia'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of ''Gascardia'' and ''Tachardina'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' ((Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' (Cameroon, Gabon)
*23b Mandible tridentate; gonostyli present - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250172 ''Diversinervus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus'' species (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', and ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
===24 (Wings reduced, scutellar tuft of bristles absent)===
*24a Apterous, or wings represented by a stub -
**'''''Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species:
****Many pics of winged species on iNaturalist (but not Afrotropical and not apterous)
*24b Fore wing reduced in size, but with venation distinct (fig. 17 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran.]]
**'''''Neococcidencyrtus''''' Compere, 1928
***20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' (Madagascar)
****''Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' (Cameroon)
****''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of ''Furchadaspis zamiae'', cycad scale (South Africa) Fig. 5. in https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343006453
****''Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****''Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' (South Africa)
==25 Wings not greatly reduced==
*25a Dorsum of scutellum with a longitudinal, inconspicuous, median keel - [[File:Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg |thumb|''Pentelicus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Pentelicus''''' Howard, 1895
***Head and thorax pitted; antennal club three-segmented, obliquely truncate apically.
***10 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
*25b Scutellum without a median keel................26
===26 (Scutellum without a median keel)===
*26a Head with a horn-like protuberance jutting from middle of face just below antennal Insertions - [[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti Fauna iberica (1921).jpg|thumb|Male ''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'']][[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti, head, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'', lateral view of head]]
**'''''Paratetracnemoidea''''' Girault , 1915
***''Rhinoencyrtus'' Mercet, 1918 is a synonym of ''Paratetracnemoidea''
***Photos at https://www.waspweb.org/chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Encyrtinae/Paratetracnemoidea/index.htm
***5 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Paratetracnemoidea breviventris'' - no associates known (Tanzania)
****''Paratetracnemoidea cornis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'' - no associates known (Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan)
*26b Head without facial protuberance................ 27
===27 (Head without facial protuberance)===
*27a Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin (figs 18- 22 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein never reaching cephalic edge of wing................28
*27b Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform (figs 34, 63, 82, 89 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................32
==28 Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin==
*28a Anterior margin of frontovertex produced to form a prominent ridge that overhangs upper limits of scrobes; mandibles diminutive -
**''''' Amira ''''' Girault , 1913
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Amira durantae'' is a parasitoid of spiders ''Nephila inaurata'' and ''Nephila madagascarensis'' (Madagascar)
*28b Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large, well developed........ 29
===29 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large)===
*29a Antennal scrobes sulcate, impressed on face as an inverted V, their lateral margins sharply angled (fig. 23 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Male and female antennae identical in shape and segmentation; parasitic in Aclerdidae -
**''''' Allencyrtus ''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide - Afrotropical:
****''Allencyrtus monomorphus'' is a parasitoid of an Aclerdid scale, ''Rhodesaclerda'' sp. (South Africa)
****Description of genus and species: Annecke & Mynhardt (1973) [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]<ref name=>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M. J. (1973). New and Iittle known African Encyrtidae, with descriptions of two new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 36(2), 211-28. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]</ref>
*29b Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins ....... 30
===30 (Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins)===
*30a Antennal club three-segmented; mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 24 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae and Stictococcidae -[[File:Aethognathus afer female Silvestri 1915 with inset.jpg|thumb|''Aethognathus afer'', female; inset shows detail of stigmal and postmarginal veins]]
**''''' Aethognathus ''''' Silvestri, 1915
***5 species worldwide; all Afrotropical:
****''Aethognathus afer'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus diversiseta'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Benin, Ghana)
****''Aethognathus bicolor'' is a parasitoid of the scale ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Uganda)
****''Aethognathus cavilabris'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia''and ''Stictococcus'' spp. (Congo, Uganda)
****''Aethognathus khryzhanovskyi'' - no associates known (Equatorial Guinea)
****''Aethognathus unicolor'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus gowdeyi'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Nigeria, Uganda)
*30b Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate; not parasitic in scale insects........ 31
===31 (Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate)===
*31a Frontovertex and face with large pits, each with a strong metallic lustre; antennal scape (fig. 25 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) strongly expanded ventrally; parasitic in eggs of spiders and/or planthoppers
**''''' Proleurocerus ''''' Ferriere, 1935
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Proleurocerus clavatus'' - no associates known (Zimbabwe)
****''Proleurocerus zululandiae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*31b Frontovertex at most finely punctate, non-metallic; antennal scape at most slightly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Neuroptera nymphs - [[File:Isodromus iNat 147864868.jpg |thumb|''Isodromus'' sp., Mexico.]][[File:Isodromus vinulus, male, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Isodromus vinulus'', a parasitic wasp in the family Encyrtidae; male]]
**''''' Isodromus''''' Howard, 1887
*** 26 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Isodromus timberlakei'' is a parasitoid of a ''Chrysopa'' species (South Africa)
==32 Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform; or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing==
*32a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft................ 33
*32b Scutellum without a tuft of bristles, the setae recumbent, except for one subapical pair which is sometimes present................37
==33 Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles==
*33a Head elongate in dorsal view, longer than wide or almost so, the greater part of each eye placed dorsally; mesoscutum (fig. 26 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually with a tuft of coarse bristles, but this tuft lacking in some species - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus/>
*** 12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes floridensis'', ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia coffeae'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a wide range of coccid scales (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus'' spp. (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*33b Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles................34
===34 (Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles)===
*34a Antenna enlarged, flattened, the club two-segmented, very large, almost as long as entire funicle; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Head and body generally smooth and polished, brilliantly metallic in colour -
**''''' Chrysoplatycerus''''' Ashmead, 1889
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysoplatycerus splendens'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs, ''Dysmicoccus'' spp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Formicococcus njalensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Ghana, South Africa)
*34b Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented; mandibles not bidentate; not parasitic in mealybugs................ 35
===35 (Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented)===
*35a Mandible edentate (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), broadly rounded apically; gonostyli absent; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Encyrtus aurantii iNat 132121027 d.jpg|thumb|''Encyrtus aurantii'', Italy.]][[File:Encyrtus infelix iNat 159262263 a.jpg |thumb|''Encyrtus infelix'', New Zealand.]]
**''''' Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
*** 96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of many different Hemiptera from Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of plant bugs, ''Sahlbergella'' spp., Miridae (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp., ''Saissetia'' sp. (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus'', ''Lichtensia'', ''Pulvinaria'', ''Saissetia'', ''Saissetia oleae'', and ''Udinia'' species. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' - no associates known (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Gascardia madagascariensis'', ''Lecanium hemisphaericum'', ''Protopulvinaria pyriformis'', ''Pulvinaria innumerabilis'', ''Pulvinaria urbicola'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'', and lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' spp. on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria delottoi'' spp., ''Pulvinariella'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon)
*35b Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids................36
===36 (Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids)===
*36a Ovipositor not or only slightly exserted at apex of metasoma - [[File:Cheiloneurus iNat 90442164 a.jpg|thumb|Male ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., USA]] [[File:Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 02.jpg|thumb|Female ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cheiloneurus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 152 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Cheiloneurus afer'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Pulvinarisca jacksoni'' (Ghana)
****''Cheiloneurus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Ceroplastes mimosae'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Sudan)
****''Cheiloneurus caesar'' is a hyperparasitoid of ''Dryinus orophilus'' in a delphacid planthopper (Mozambique)
****''Cheiloneurus carinatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. and mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus chiaromontei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus cyanonotus'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus flaminius'' and Eulophidae ''Tetrastichus'' sp. in a variety of beetles, flies and Hemiptera (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe)
****''Cheiloneurus elegans'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'' and Platygastridae ''Platygaster zosine'' in a variety of cecidomyiid midges, scales and mealybugs (Nigeria)
****''Cheiloneurus flavoscutatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from mealybugs ''Adelosoma phragmitidis'', ''Chaetococcus phragmitis'' (Ethiopia)
****''Cheiloneurus gonatopodis'' is a hyperparasitoid of pincer wasps ''Echthrodelphax'' sp., ''Pseudogonatopoides mauritianus'', ''Pseudogonatopus'' spp., ''Richardsidryinus'' sp. in delphacid planthoppers on sugar cane (Madagascar, Mauritius)
****''Cheiloneurus kuisebi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a mealybug ''Phenacoccus manihoti'' on cassava (Namibia)
****''Cheiloneurus leptulus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a ''Ceratina'' bee (Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus liorhipnusi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a lady beetle ''Chnootriba similis'', and a scentless plant bug ''Corizus hyalinus'' (Kenya, Senegal)
****''Cheiloneurus metallicus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Cheiloneurus obscurus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Gascardia brevicauda'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus orbitalis'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from an encyrtid ''Homalotylus'' sp., the coccid scale ''Saissetia oleae'' and green lacewings ''Chrysopa'' sp., ''Mallada handschini'', ''Suarius squamosa'' on citrus (South Africa)
*36b Ovipositor protruding strongly, by about one-half length of metasoma. Metasoma usually truncate apically - [[File:Prochiloneurus bolivari, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus bolivari'', female, Spain.]][[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus'' spp., ''Leptomastix'' spp., Pteromalidae ''Metastenus'' sp., lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****''Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' sp., ''Blepyrus insularis'', ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Leptomastix flava'', Coccidae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****''Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Coccidae ''Lecanium viride'', Margarodidae ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'', and Pseudococcidae ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'', Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Margarodidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
==37 Scutellum without a tuft of bristles==
*37a Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae (figs 27, 28)........ 38
*37b Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae........ 39
===38 (Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*38a Antenna (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) broadened and flattened, the funicle segments strongly transverse; eyes margined dorsally with white; fronto-occipital margin of head without a pair of lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] -
**''''' Comperiella ''''' Howard, 1906
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250283 iNaturalist]
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella bifasciata'' is a parasitoid of many Diaspididae, and the coccid ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., ''Aleurodicus destructor'', ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*38b Antenna not broadened and flattened; eyes not margined with white; fronto-occipital margin with a pair of small lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis ''''' Foerster, 1856
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/376512 iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of pit scale insects ''Asterodiaspis'' spp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scale insects ''Didesmococcus'' sp., armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', mealybugs ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and moths ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus elaeidis'', ''Aspidiotus oppugnatus'' (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius articulatus'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===39 (Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*39a Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion (figs 30, 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) in its apical one-third, this expansion usually bearing a single strong seta........ 40
*39b Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion................43
===40 (Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion in its apical one-third)===
*40a Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes (fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally................41
*40b Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally................42
===41 (Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes; antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally)===
*41a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 31 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing with a characteristic pattern of radiating dark bands (fig. 32 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black with strong metallic refringence; presumed hyperparasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Cerapterocerus mirabilis, female.jpg|thumb|''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'', female, Spain]][[File:Cerapterocerus celadus inat 194830169 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Cerapterocerus celadus'', France]]
**''''' Cerapterocerus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250477-Cerapterocerus iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'' is probably a hyperparasitoid of encyrtid wasps in scale insects (South Africa)
*41b Antenna not broadened and flattened except for scape (fig. 33 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing (fig. 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) infuscated, but without distinct patterns as above; head and body dominantly brownish, without strong metallic refringence; primary parasitoids of Asterolecaniidae (pit scales). Head as in fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Mayrencyrtus''''' Hincks, 1944
*** 6 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database
===42 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally)===
*42a Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci (fig. 36 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); maxillary and labial palpi each two-segmented; paratergites present; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Coccidoxenoides perminutus Fernandes 2016 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'', Brazil]]
**'''''Coccidoxenoides''''' Girault, 1915
***'' Pauridia'' Timberlake, 1919 is a synonym of ''Coccidoxenoides'' (a monotypic genus)
****''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'' Girault, 1915 is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Allococcus quaestius'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Phenacoccus madeirensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Planococcus citri'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. and armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus nerii'', ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chionaspis striata'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa)
*42b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; paratergites absent; parasitic in Diaspididae -[[File:Tyndarichus melanacis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Tyndarichus melanacis'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Tyndarichus''''' Howard, 1910
***''Protyndarichus combretae'', ''P. orarius'', ''P. prolatus'', ''P. sparnus'' are a synonyms of the ''Tyndarichus'' species below.
*** 24 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Tyndarichus combretae'' no known associates (Senegal)
****''Tyndarichus orarius'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Idiosaissetia peringueyi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus prolatus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Ceroplastes elytropappi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus sparnus'' is a parasitoid of Lecanodiaspididae, ''Lecanodiaspis tarsalis'' (South Africa)
===43 (Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion)===
*43a Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae ................ 120
*43b Mandible never with only two pointed teeth ........ 44
===44 (Mandible never with only two pointed teeth)===
*44a Entire fore wing, or part of it, distinctly [[wikt:infuscate|infuscated]] (with a dark tinge), the infuscation rarely restricted to an area beneath the venation ........ 45
*44b Fore wing entirely [[w:hyaline|hyaline]] (translucent or transparent), or very faintly and inconspicuously infuscated, the infuscation then usually only visible if wing held against a white background ........ 73
==45 Fore wing, or part of it, distinctly infuscated==
*45a Fore wing with a conspicuous incision in cephalic wing margin at distal end of submarginal vein (fig. 40 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Eugahania''''' Mercet, 1926
*** 10 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database.<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*45b Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin ................46
===46 Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin===
*46a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat [[wikt:caudal|caudal]] projection of the scutellum................47
*46b Scutellum without a marginal flange, the posterior margin rarely forming a very short lip........ 49
===47 Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella===
*47a Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] absent; [[wikt:clava|club]] large, much longer than the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; parasitic in Lepidoptera eggs. Antenna as in fig. 41 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Hesperencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1971
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hesperencyrtus lycoenephila'' is a parasitoid of lycaenid butterflies ''Deodorix antalus'', ''Deudorix antalus'', ''Lampides boeticus'' (Senegal)
*47b Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] not white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] present; [[wikt:clava|club]] about as long as the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; not parasitic in Lepidoptera........ 48
===48 Antennal club not white; club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together===
*48a Frontovertex and face with numerous large pits, each brilliantly metallic green in colour - [[File:Discodes arizonensis Smithsonian Institution 2019 CC-BY BOLD CCDB-34079-D12.jpg|thumb|''Discodes arizonensis'', New Mexico, United States]]
**''''' Discodes''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 44 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Discodes discors'' is a parasitoid of felt scales ''Eriococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Discodes melas'' - no associates known (Namibia)
*48b Head at most with fine punctations. Orange-brown to dark brown, rarely black, species, at most weakly refringent; fore wing strongly and uniformly infuscated from base to near apex; usually parasitic in Pulvinaria spp. on grasses - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus monawari, female, dorsal view.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus monawari'', India]]
**''''' Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp.(Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinariai'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp. (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' is a parasitoid of a moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' is a parasitoid associated with rice ''Oryza sativa'' (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===49 Scutellum without a marginal flange===
*49a Stigmal vein of fore wing placed almost at right angle to postmarginal vein (fig. 42 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Fore wing infuscated with contrasting hyaline patches as in fig. 42<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; parasitic in Lacciferidae and Coccidae -
**''''' Ruandella''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 4 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Ruandella capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella stigmosa'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella tertia'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella testacea'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (Rwanda, South Africa)
*49b Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much less than 90 degrees ........ 50
===50 Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much smaller than right angle===
*50a Mandible with four teeth (fig. 43 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Body somewhat flattened dorsoventrally; head subtriangular in lateral view, the face a little inflexed; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Adelencyrtus inat 31626163.jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Adelencyrtus Cipola 2022 EntomoBrasilis 15 e1003 CC-BY.jpg|thumb|Female ''Adelencyrtus'' sp., Brazil]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*50b Mandibles do not have four teeth ........ 51
===51 (Mandibles do not have four teeth)===
*51a Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically................52
*51b Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically................55
===52 Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically===
*52a Antennal club three-segmented; not parasitic in Coleoptera........ 53
*52b Antennal club not segmented, rarely with faint traces of one or two septa on one side of the club; parasitic in Coleoptera........ 54
===53 Antennal club three-segmented===
*53a Antennal scape expanded ventrally (fig. 44 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); hcad and body strongly metallic in colour, the head and thorax usually covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta Annecke'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*53b Antennal scape not or only slightly expanded ventrally (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body without metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===54 Antennal club not segmented; parasitic in Coleoptera===
*54a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); basal one-half or so of tegulae white; antennal scape slender, subcylindrical; primary parasitoids of Coccinellidae -[[File:Homalotylus flaminius, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus flaminius'', female]][[File:Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Homalotylus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 68 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotylus africanus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Exochomus concavus'', ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lindorus lophanthae'', ''Scymnus ornatulus'' (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa)
****''Homalotylus eytelweinii'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes sexmaculata'', ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Rodolia'' spp. (Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus flaminius'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adalia'' spp., ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Brumus suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes'' spp., ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella'' spp., ''Coleomegilla maculata'', ''Cycloneda'' spp., ''Epilachna chrysomelina'', ''Eriopis connexa'', ''Exochomus'' spp., ''Harmonia'' spp., ''Henosepilachna bifasciata'', ''Hippodamia'' spp., ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lioadala flavomaculata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Neomysia oblongoguttata'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Orcus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Platynaspis'' sp., ''Rodolia'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Thea vigintiduopunctata'', ''Verania frenata'', leaf beetles ''Galeruca calmariensis'', coccid scale insects ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Saissetia oleae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Planococcus citri'', ''Pseudococcus citri'' (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo)
****''Homalotylus hemipterinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Chilomenes'' sp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Cycloneda sanguinea'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Orcus'' sp., stink bugs ''Cantheconidia furcellata'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Pseudococcus'' sp., gelechiid moths ''Aproaerema modicella'' (Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus quaylei'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Nephus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Sidis'' sp., coccid scales ''Eulecanium persicae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Phenacoccus herreni'', ''Planococcus''; spp. (Gabon, Mauritania)
****''Homalotylus vicinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis marmottani'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Nephus vetustus'', ''Scymnus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar)
*54b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; tegula not white; scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Discolomatidae - [[File:Homalotyloidea dahlbomii, female.jpg|thumb|''Homalotyloidea dahlbomii'', female, Spain]]
**''''' Homalotyloidea''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotyloidea africana'' is a parasitoid of beetles ''Notiophygus piger'' (South Africa)
===55 Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically===
*55a Body flattened dorsoventrally, the dorsum of head and thorax almost flat. Parasitic in Diaspididae........ 56
*55b Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax more or less convex........ 57
===56 Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax convex===
*56a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); frontovertex with two narrow whitish bands, one each extending along the dorsal eye margins. Fore wing boldly marked -[[File:Cain2565.jpg|thumb| ''Comperiella bifasciata'']]
**''''' Comperiella''''' Howard, 1906
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Affirmaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''[[w:Comperiella bifasciata|Comperiella bifasciata]]'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'', ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Clavaspis'' sp., ''Diaspidiotus gigas'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Dynaspidiotus abietis'', ''Hemiberlesia'' spp., ''Lindingaspis fusca'', ''Morganella longispina'', ''Nuculaspis abietis'', ''Parlatoria pergandii'', ''Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis'', ''Pseudaulacaspis'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus'' spp., ''Temnaspidiotus destructor'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'', coccid scale insects ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., whiteflies ''Aleurodicus destructor'', wax scale insects ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*56b Antenna not broadened and flattened; frontovertex without pale bands - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', pit scales, ''Asterodiaspis'' sp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scales ''Didesmococcus'' sp., mealybugs, ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and a moth, ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus aonidum'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius celastri'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' spp. (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===57 Body not flattened, head and thorax convex===
*57a Antenna foliaceously flattened (fig. 47 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); junction of frontovertex and face carinate or at least acutely angled and grooved........ 58
*57b Antenna not flattened except for scape which may be expanded ventrally; head without a facial carina................60
===58 Antenna flattened, junction of frontovertex and face carinate or acutely angled and grooved===
*58a Frontovertex terminating anteriorly at a transverse groove (fig. 48 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) containing dense, recumbent, silvery-white setae -
**''''' Anasemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anasemion inutile'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*58b Junction of frontovertex and face lacking a transverse row of dense setae - [[File:Anicetus iNat 180762161 g.jpg|thumb|''Anicetus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Anicetus''''' Howard, 1896
***''Paraceraptrocerus'' is a synonym of ''Anicetus''. In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''
*** 52 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anicetus abyssinicus '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (Eritrea)
****'' Anicetus africanus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Egypt, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus anneckei '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus aquilus '' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus austrinus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus calidus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. and ''Gascardia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus clivus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus communis'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus longulus'', ''Gascardia'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus fotsyae'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Anicetus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes bipartitus'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus graminosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus italicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus elongatus'', felt scales ''Gossyparia spuria'' (Zimbabwe)
****'' Anicetus nyasicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Malawi, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia rustica'', ''Lichtensia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parvus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Anicetus pattersoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes personatus'', ''Vinsonia personata'' (Ghana)
****'' Anicetus russeus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus sepis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus taylori'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
===59 ''Paraceraptrocerus''===
*In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''. However, ''Paraceraptrocerus'' is now regarded as a synonym of ''Anicetus'', making this step redundant.
===60 (Antenna not flattened although the scape may be expanded ventrally; no facial carina)===
*60a Ovipositor protruding strongly (fig. 49 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) at apex of metasoma by about one half length of metasoma........ 61
*60b Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted; if strongly protruded (rare), then antennal scrobes sulcate, or mandible slender, tridentate, the upper tooth retracted (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 62
===61 (Ovipositor protruding strongly)===
*61a Head with numerous setigerous pits; fore wing with a single pale cross-band beyond venation; body robust, black in colour; parasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Lombitsikala''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lombitsikala coccidivora'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia madagascariensis'' (Madagascar)
*61b Head at most with minute, indistinct punctations; fore wing without hyaline cross-bands; body more or less slender, usually generally yellowish to brownish; probably hyperparasitoids, usually in mealybugs - [[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****'' Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Atrococcus'' sp., ''Dysmicoccus multivorus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Heliococcus bohemicus'', ''Heterococcopsis opertus'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Peliococcus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Puto pilosellae'', ''Spinococcus calluneti'', ''Trionymus'' spp., coccid scales ''Rhizopulvinaria armeniaca'', felt scales ''Acanthococcus desertus'', ''Eriococcus insignis'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****'' Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Lecanium viride'', margarodid scales ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****'' Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Centrococcus'' spp., ''Coccidohystrix'' spp., ''Dysmicoccus'' sp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp., ''Oxyacanthus chrysocomae'', ''Paracoccus'' sp., ''Peliococcus mesasiaticus'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' spp., ''Trabutina crassispinosa'', ''Trabutina leonardii'', armored scale insects ''Chionaspis'' sp., felt scales ''Eriococcus stenoclini'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
===62 (Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted)===
*62a Antennal scape long and slender, at most slightly expanded ventrally........ 63
*62b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded, less than three times as long as its greatest width................70
==63 Antennal scape long and slender==
*63a Fore wing with marginal vein several times longer than stigmal (fig. 51 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal club with four segments, visible only in cleared slide·mounted specimens (fig. 52 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -[[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, Spain.]][[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, lateral view]]
**''''' Metaphaenodiscus''''' Mercet, 1921
*** Host species generally unknown, except for ''Metaphaenodiscus umbilicatus'' (Australia) which is known to be a parasitoid of a mealy bug.
*** 10 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Metaphaenodiscus aethiops'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus capensis'', associated with ''Protea aurea'' (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus watshami'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
*63b Marginal vein of fore wing shorter than, or subequal to stigmal vein; club with fewer than four segments................64
===64 (Marginal vein shorter than stigmal vein; antennal club with less than four segments)===
*64a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53 and 54 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), impressed on face as two deep furrows, their lateral margins acutely angled, at least in their basal one-half or so, converging, sometimes confluent dorsally to form an inverted V-shaped impression on face........ 65
*64b Antennal scrobes otherwise................66
===65 (Antennal scrobes impressed on face as two deep furrows)===
*65a Antennal club not longer than the distal funicle segments together; frontovertex more or less pitted; mandible with two teeth and a broad truncation (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
*65b Antennal club much longer than the distal three funicle segments together; frontovertex without pits or punctations; mandible with three teeth and a truncation (fig. 56 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Parasitic in Lacciferidae. Male antenna with two smaIl funicle segments and a large, unsegmented banana shaped club (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
===66 (Antennal scrobes not deeply impressed)===
*66a Mandible with three distinct teeth, the upper one sometimes retracted ................ 67
*66b Mandible otherwise ................ 68
===67 (Mandible with three distinct teeth)===
*67a Antenna (fig. 58 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) slender, not clavate, the funicle segments each longer than wide, the pedicel and funicle subcqual in length; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Hadrencyrtus''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Hadrencyrtus cirritus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Distichlicoccus'' sp. (South Africa)
*67b Antenna (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) clavate, not particularly slender, the basal funicle segment plainly wider than long, small, much shorter than pedicel; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===68 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth)===
*68a Mandible with a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation (fig. 59 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); ovipositor with gonostyli absent; parasitic in Membracidae - [[File:Prionomastix biharensis - Female 01.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prionomastix biharensis'', Bihar, India.]]
**''''' Prionomastix''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 30 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prionomastix africana'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix capeneri'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Beaufortiana viridis'', ''Leprechaunus cristatus'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix congoensis'' - no associates known (Rwanda)
****'' Prionomastix montana'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Dukeobelus simplex'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix myartsevae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix siccarius'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Gongroneura fasciata'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix wonjeae'' is a parasitoid of leafhoppers ''Coloborrhis corticina'' (Cameroon)
*68b Mandible otherwise; gonostyli present; not parasitic in Membracidae................69
===69 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth, or a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation)===
*69a Antennal club large, about as long as entire funicle; integument of head and thorax heavily sclerotized, strongly and intricately sculptured with raised, irregular ridges; probably parasitic in Lacciferidae. Fore wing with areas of very coarse discal setae (fig. 60 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
** '''Coccopilatus''' Annecke, 1963
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Coccopilatus judithae'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
*69b Antennal club shorter than funicle; sculpture of head and thorax mostly cellulite-reticulate; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran]]
**'' ' '' Neococcidencyrtus Compere, 1928
*** 20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****'' Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Furchadaspis zamiae'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
==70 Antennal scape expanded==
*70a Antenna with all funicle segments transverse (fig. 61 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); club very large, longer than entire funicle; paratergitcs present; frontovertex pitted; parasitic in mealybugs - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9470.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus citri'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast)
****'' Aenasius advena'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp. ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp. (Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' sp. (Afrotropical)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus celtis'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'' (Ghana)
70b Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; paratergites absent; frontovertex at most with fine punctations; not parasitic in mealybugs ................ 71
===71 (Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; frontovertex not markedly pitted)===
*71a Head and thoracic dorsum largely metallic blue-green or cupreous, covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella'' sp., ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*71b Head and body generally yellowish to brownish, without any metallic refringence or white setae; parasitic in Coccoidea ................ 72
===72 (Head and body yellowish to brownish, not metallic, no white setae)===
*72a Antennal club longer than distal three funicle segments together, usually much wider than funicle segment VI; if rarely shorter, then distal four funicle segments white - [[File:Metaphycus inat 5003180 c.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*72b Club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together, at most a little wider than distal funicle segment; funicle with at most distal three segments white - [[File:Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|thumb|''Microterys'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Microterys nietneri female.jpg|thumb|Female ''Microterys nietneri'', New Zealand]]
**'''''Microterys''''' Thomson, 1876
*** 228 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Microterys africa'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardia decorella'' (Uganda)
****'' Microterys anneckei'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Filippia'' sp., ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys bizanensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceronema'' sp., ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia cuneiformis'' (Eritrea)
****'' Microterys capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys ceroplastae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes destructor'' (Kenya)
****'' Microterys clauseni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Metaceronema japonica'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys haroldi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Messinea plana'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys kenyaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Lecanium oleae'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Microterys nanus'' is a parasitoid of cerococcid scales ''Cerococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys nicholsoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Ceroplastes destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Microterys nietneri'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Chloropulvinaria'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp., ''Eucalymnatus tessellatus'', ''Lecanium'' spp., ''Maacoccus piperis'', ''Parasaissetia'' spp., ''Parasaissetia oleae'', ''Parthenolecanium'' spp., ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Protopulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Saissetia'' spp., ''Sphaerolecanium prunastri'', armored scales ''Hemichionaspis theae'', ''Pinnaspis theae'', mealybugs ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys speciosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp. (South Africa)
== 73 Fore wing entirely hyaline, or faintly infuscated (any infuscation only visible against a pale background; from 44)==
* 73a Gonostyli exserted at apex of metasoma, the exserted parts laterally compressed, usually more or less rounded apically in lateral view........ 74
* 73b Gonostyli, if protruding at apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally, usually having the appearance of two slender, sharp stylets................78
== 74 Gonostyli extend beyond apex of metasoma, laterally compressed and rounded apically ==
* 74a Scutellum entirely or partly shiny, with a polished appearance, without differentiated sculptural cells; mandibles exceptionally large (fig. 62 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>)........ 75
* 74b Scutellum dorsally sculptured, not smooth and polished; mandibles normal................76
=== 75 Scutellum shiny; mandibles large===
* 75a Postmarginal vein (fig. 63 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing shorter than marginal, not reaching to a level near apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc largely devoid of setae; parasitic in Coleoptera - [[File:Cerchysiella inat 104244416.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysiella'' sp., United States]]
**''''' Cerchysiella''''' Girault, 1914
***''Zeteticontus'' Silvestri, 1915 is a synonym of ''Cerchysiella''.
*** 36 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysiella abilis'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Cerchysiella neodypsisae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Cerchysiella punctiscutellum'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****''Cerchysiella utilis'' (Noyes) (5)
****''Cerchysiella xanthopus'' (Masi) (1)
* 75b Postmarginal vein of fore wing subequal to or longer than marginal, reaching to about the level of apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc evenly and densely setose; parasitic in Diptera - [[File:Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|thumb|''Tachinaephagus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Tachinaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 11 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Tachinaephagus congoensis'' Subba Rao (1)
****''Tachinaephagus stomoxicida'' Subba Rao (3)
****''Tachinaephagus zealandicus'' Ashmead (6)
=== 76 Scutellum sculptured, not smooth; mandibles not large ===
* 76a Antennal funicle and club white in colour; antennal scape expanded ventrally, the funicle segments all wider than long; parasitic in Coleoptera. Head with membranous interruptions of sclerotized integument as in fig. 64 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Chrysomelechthrus''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysomelechthrus descampsi'' (Risbec) (3)
* 76b Antennal funicle and club dark in colour; scape slender, subcylindrical, the funicle with at least basal four or five segments longer than wide; parasitic in Diptera........ 77
=== 77 Antennal funicle and club dark; scape slender, subcylindrical; funicle with more than three segments longer than wide ===
* 77a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; pedicel shorter than, to about as long as, basal funicle segment; clypeal margin not crenulate - [[File:Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cerchysius''''' Westwood, 1832
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysius kilimanjarensis'' Kerrich (1)
****''Cerchysius ugandensis'' Kerrich (4)
* 77b Head and body without metallic lustre; pedicel plainly longer than basal funicle segment; clypeal margin with crenulae -
**''''' Coccidoctonus''''' Crawford, 1912
***''Xyphigaster'' Risbec, 1954 is a synonym of '' Coccidoctonus''
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidoctonus pseudococci'' (Risbec) (9)
== 78 If gonostyli protrude from apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally ==
* 78a Head, in frontal view, with eyes large, extending almost to mouth margin, the genae very short. Head and body metallic green in colour, the tegulae partly white; male antenna with four rami, borne on the first four funicle segments; parasitic in Lepidoptera - [[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus male antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Male antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]][[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus female antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Feale antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]]
**''''' Parablastothrix''''' Mercet, 1917
*** 16 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
****No Afrotropical records in UCD?
* 78b Genae much longer, usually plainly more than one-third longest diameter of eye in frontal view........ 79
=== 79 In frontal view genae more than one-third longest diameter of eye ===
* 79a Mandible with four teeth (figs 43, 65 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 80
* 79b Mandible otherwise................81
=== 80 Mandible with four teeth ===
* 80a Scutellum longitudinally striate (fig. 66 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); dorsum of thorax gently convex, the thorax not dorsoventrally compressed - [[File:Lamennaisia ambigua male p284.jpg|thumb|''Lamennaisia ambigua'', male]]
**''''' Lamennaisia''''' Girault, 1922
***''Mercetencyrtus'' Trjapitzin, 1963 is a synonym of ''Lamennaisia''
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lamennaisia nobilis'' (Nees) (South Africa)
* 80b Scutellum largely cellulate-reticulate, not giving the surface a striated effect; body some what flattened dorsoventrally, the thoracic dorsum flat or almost so - [[File:Adelencyrtus - Japoshvili, G. and Soethof, R. (2022).jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
=== 81 Mandible does not have four teeth ===
* 81a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (cf. fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 82
* 81b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci........ 83
=== 82 Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci===
* 82a Antenna (fig. 67 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, the scape subcylindrical, the funicle segments all longer than wide; paratergites present; body entirely black, or black with metasoma yellowish, the latter laterally margined with blackish-brown; head and thorax with a metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Charitopus fulviventris male Fig. 218 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Male ''Charitopus fulviventris'']][[File:Charitopus fulviventris female Fig. 220 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Female ''Charitopus fulviventris'']]
**''''' Charitopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Charitopus fulviventris'' - no associates known (South Africa)
* 82b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, the funicle segments not all longer than wide (fig. 68 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); paratergites absent; head and body without a metallic refringence, usually yellowish to brownish in colour; parasitic in Coccoidea other than Pseudococcidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
=== 83 Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci===
* 83a Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, more than three times as long as its greatest width........ 84
* 83b Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide........ 117
== 84 Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, much longer than wide==
* 84a Antennal sockets placed high on face (fig. 69 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), their lower limits at or above lower eye level. Body black in colour, the frontovertex and face more or less pitted; antennal scrobes usually sulcate; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Bothriophryne''''' Compere, 1937
*** 8 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriophryne acaciae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Bothriophryne ceroplastae'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne dispar'' Compere (2)
****''Bothriophryne fuscicornis'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne purpurascens'' Compere (3)
****''Bothriophryne velata'' Prinsloo and Annecke (2)
* 84b Antennal scrobes placed lower on face, their lower limits well below lower eye level, sometimes almost at mouth margin........ 85
=== 85 Antennal scrobes are low on face, lower limits well below bottom of eye===
* 85a Antennal club white........ 86
* 85b Antennal club not white........ 87
=== 86 Antennal club white===
* 86a Head and thorax brilliant metallic green in colour; antennal club strongly obliquely truncate apically; mandible (fig. 70 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a broad truncation; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
* 86b Head and body without metallic refringence; club rounded apically; mandible (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three slender teeth, the dorsal one somewhat retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 87 Antennal club not white===
* 87a Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented. Polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae................88
* 87b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented................89
=== 88 Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented===
* 88a Antennal club obliquely truncate from near base (fig. 71 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein of fore wing short, shorter than stigmal - [[File:Copidosoma varicorne female.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma varicorne'', female]][[File:202101 Copidosoma floridanum attack.svg|thumb|''Copidosoma floridanum'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma''
*** See also step 109 below
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' is a parasitoid of Lepidoptera (Cape Verde Islands, Ivory Coast, Senegal)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 88b Antennal club rounded or more or less squarely truncate at apex (fig. 72 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein (fig. 73 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) unsually long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal vein - [[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig143.jpg|thumb|Female ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'']][[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig145.jpg|thumb|Postmarginal and stigmal veins, ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'' female fore-wing.]]
**''''' Ageniaspis''''' Dahlbom, 1857
*** 21 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ageniaspis citricola'' Logvinovskaya (1)
****''Ageniaspis primus'' Prinsloo (1)
=== 89 Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented===
* 89a Mandible (fig. 74 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three distinct teeth and a straight dorsal truncation. Parasitic in Lacciferidae........ 90
* 89b Mandible otherwise........ 91
=== 90 ===
* 90a Abdomen with two interrupted rows of gland-like structures (fig. 75 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), one each on tergum II and VII, head and thorax with rather strong metallic refringence -
**''''' Adencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 3 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Adencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus pictus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 90b Abdomen without gland-like structures; head and body at most very slightly metallic in parts. Male antenna (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two small, transverse funicle segments and a long, unsegmented banana-shaped club -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 91 ===
* 91a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53, 54, 76), their lateral margins sharply angled, usually impressed on face as an inverted V........ 92
* 91b Scrobes otherwise........ 94
=== 92 ===
* 92a Gonostyli very short and broad (fig. 77 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), subtriangular, densely covered with short, spine-like setae. Body black in colour; male antenna ten-segmented, the club two-segmented; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**'''''Laccacida''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Laccacida lacunata'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
* 92b Gonostyli otherwise: elongate and slender, not densely covered with spine-like setae. Antenna of male nine-segmented, the club not segmented........ 93
=== 93 ===
* 93a Mandible (fig. 78 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three teeth; frontovertex with fine punctations; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 93b Mandible (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; frontovertex with large punctations or with pits; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
=== 94 ===
* 94a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments........ 95
* 94b Antennal funicle unicolorous or almost so........ 97
=== 95 ===
* 95a Body yellowish to brownish, without a metallic tinge; antennal club rounded apically; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
* 95b Body black, in parts with weak to strong metallic refringence; antennal club obliquely or transversely truncate apically; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 96
=== 96 ===
* 96a Mandible with three distinct teeth; antennal club (fig. 79 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) transversely truncate apically; marginal vein punctiform (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); polyembryonic parasitoids in larvae of Lepidoptera -
**'''''Paralitomastix''''' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '''''Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844 (see step 88)
* 96b Mandible with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; antennal club (fig. 81 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; marginal vein of fore wing (fig. 82 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) well developed; hyperparasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Tremblaya''''' Trjapitzin, 1985
*** ''Silvestria'' Trjapitzin, 1972 is a synonym of ''Tremblaya''
*** 5 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Tremblaya ceroplastae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Tremblaya coffeicola'' Noyes (1)
****''Tremblaya minor'' (Silvestri) (6)
****''Tremblaya oleae'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Tremblaya palaeococci'' (Risbec) (2)
=== 97 ===
* 97a All funicle segments plainly wider than long................98
* 97b Funicle segments not all wider than long................102
=== 98 All funicle segments plainly wider than long===
* 98a Postmarginal vein (fig. 83 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing very long, much longer than marginal, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal; paratergites present; mandible with three slender teeth, the middle one longest; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**'''''Blepyrus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 19 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Blepyrus insularis'' (Cameron) (11)
****''Blepyrus saccharicola'' Gahan (2)
****''Blepyrus schwarzi'' (Howard) (1)
* 98b Fore wing venation otherwise; paratergites absent; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in mealybugs........ 99
=== 99 ===
* 99a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short, shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; the latter placed at or close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Timberlake, 1919
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 99b Antennal scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; antennal sockets placed higher on face, their upper limits usually about level with lower eye margins; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 100
=== 100 ===
* 100a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with a single segment; small species, about 0,6 mm in length; parasitic in eggs of Coleoptera and Diptera -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Oobius abditus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius funestus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius longoi'' (Siscaro) (4)
****''Oobius striatus'' Annecke (3)
* 100b Palpi otherwise; larger species, often more than 1 mm in length; not egg parasitoids........ 101
=== 101 ===
* 101a Head and body dominantly dark blackish-brown to black; antennal club (fig. 84 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; parasitic in Diptera -
**'''''Exoristobia''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 9 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Exoristobia dipterae'' (Risbec) (8)
****''Exoristobia macrocerus'' (Masi) (1)
****''Exoristobia ugandensis'' Subba Rao (2)
* 101b Head and body dominantly yellowish to brownish-yellow; antennal club rounded apically; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
=== 102 Funicle segments not all wider than long===
* 102a Small species, at most about 1 mm in length, but usually less than 1 mm; exclusively parasitic in insect eggs, often in those of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera........ 103
* 102b Larger species, usually more than 1 mm in length; if less than 1 mm in length, then not parasitic in insect eggs, but in the larvae and pupae of insects................104
=== 103 ===
* 103a Antennal club longer than entire funicle; funicle segments I-V transverse; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial palpi not segmented -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species (See step 100)
* 103b Antennal club shorter than entire funicle; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three - [[File:Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Egg Mass Being Parasitized by Ooencyrtus kuvanae - Mississauga, Ontario.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' on a moth egg mass, Canada]] [[File:Ooencyrtus gravis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus gravis'', female, Spain.]]
**'''''Ooencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 343 species worldwide; 38 Afrotropical species:
****''Ooencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus albicrus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus angolensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus austrinus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus azul'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus bambeyi'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus bedfordi'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus camerounensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus cinctus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Ooencyrtus cirinae'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus congensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus cretatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus demodoci'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus dipterae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus distatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus epilachnae'' Annecke (3)
****''Ooencyrtus exallus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus guamensis'' Fullaway (6)
****''Ooencyrtus homoeoceri'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus insignis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus jeani'' Noyes and Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' is an egg parasitoid of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera (Nigeria)
****''Ooencyrtus lamborni'' Waterston (11)
****''Ooencyrtus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus nanus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus pallidipes'' (Ashmead) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus piezodori'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus polyphagus'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus puparum'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rigemae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus risbeci'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rufogaster'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus senegalensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus sesbaniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Ooencyrtus sinis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus unicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus utetheisae'' (Risbec) (11)
****''Ooencyrtus ventralis'' (Masi) (1)
=== 104 ===
* 104a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; head usually approximately round in outline in frontal view with mouth margin broad, antennal sockets placed close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 104b Scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; other characters different; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 105
=== 105 ===
* 105a Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth (figs 85, 86)........ 106
* 105b Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth; rarely with three teeth, but then dorsal tooth not acute or subacute, but broad, the apex squarely to roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................111
=== 106 Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 106a Head and body entirely and brilliantly metallic in colour; parasitic in Aclerdidae - [[File:Mayridia pulchra, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Mayridia pulchra'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Mayridia''''' Mercet, 1921
***34 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Mayridia arida'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Mayridia maryae'' Prinsloo (1)
* 106b Head and body at most with a faint to moderately strong metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thorax; not parasitic in Aclerdidae........ 107
=== 107 ===
* 107a Antennal club as long as the distal three funicle segments together; marginal vein or fore wing longer than stigmal; parasitic in dryinid wasps -
**'''''Helegonatopus''''' Perkins, 1906
***13 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Helegonatopus saotomensis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 107b Antennal club longer than funicle segments III-VI; marginal vein at most as long as stigmal; not parasitic in Hymenoptera........ 108
=== 108 ===
* 108a Antennal club obliquely truncate apically. Thoracic dorsum usually with metallic green and purple refringence; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae -
**'''''Litomastix''''' Thomson, 1876
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma'', making this step redundant, although presumably useful for identification of species groups?.
* 108b Antennal club rounded apically, or club segments transverse........ 109
=== 109 ===
* 109a Antenna long and slender, the funicle segments all longer than wide; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae - [[File:Copidosoma koehleri 03.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma koehleri'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** See also step 88 (above)
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' (Ashmead) (6)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 109b Funicle segments not all longer than wide, the antenna not particularly slender; not parasitic in Lepidoptera................110
=== 110 ===
* 110a Marginal and postmarginal veins very short, the latter much shorter than stigmal vein, sometimes punctiform; frontovertex without punctations; usually parasitic in Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 110b Marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter reaching almost to the level of apex of stigmal vein; frontovertex with scattered puncrations; exclusively parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
***'' Tachardiaephagus'' keys out at 93, 110
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
=== 111 Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 111a Tergum II and VII of abdomen each with an interrupted row of gland-like structures (fig. 88 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); Antennal club long, usually about as long as enure funicle; legs usually banded; parasitic in Diaspididae. -
**'''''Zaomma''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 17 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Zaomma acaciae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma carinae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma cestus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma ficusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma lambinus'' (Walker) (5)
****''Zaomma sitis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma vix'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma xhosa'' Prinsloo (2)
* 111b Abdomen without gland-like structures........ 112
=== 112 Abdomen without gland-like structures===
* 112a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two; parasitic in Diaspididae. Small species, usually not much more than 1 mm in length; antenna generally slender, the club long -
**'''''Coccidencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 36 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes'' Gahan (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus plectroniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus punctatus'' Compere and Annecke (1)
* 112b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; not parasitic in Diaspididae........ 113
=== 113 ===
* 113a Marginal vein of fore wing relatively long*, broad, dark in colour, about as long as, or longer than, stigmal vein (figs 89, 90); mandible with three well separated teeth, the upper one squarely or roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 114
* 113b Marginal vein punctiform or very short, shorter than stigmal (figs 91, 92); if rarely subequal to stigmal, then mandible with a well separated ventral tooth and a broad dorsal truncation (fig. 93 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 115
=== 114 ===
* 114a Body longer than 1 mm; thorax slender, the scutellum longer than wide; legs usually not banded; primary parasitoids of Syrphidae - [[File:Syrphophagus aphidivorus, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'', female, Spain]][[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 114b Smaller species, usually about 1 mm in length; scutellum relatively broad, about as long as wide or a little wider than long; legs usually banded; hyperparasitoids of aphids, rarely of psyllids -
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
***''Aphidencyrtus'' is a synonym of ''Syrphophagus''; this step previously separated ''Aphidencyrtus''
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
=== 115 ===
* 115a Head and body pale, dominantly yellow in colour, without metallic refringence; parasitic in Coccidae. Male remarkable in colour: orange and brilliant metallic green in parts -
**''''' Argutencyrtus''''' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974<ref name=Prinsloo1974>Prinsloo, G.L. & Annecke, D.P. (1973). A new genus and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from South Africa. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, 37(2), 345-349. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2638</ref>
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Argutencyrtus luteolus'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974
* 115b Head and body entirely metallic in colour, or black with some parts with faint to moderately strong metallic refringence, or rarely at least head and thorax black; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 116
=== 116 ===
* 116a Usually entirely metallic green or blue-green in colour, rarely with only some parts metallic in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae - [[File:Psyllaephagus inat 165372177 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus'' sp., Córdoba, Spain.]][[File:Psyllaephagus guangxiensis (10.3897-BDJ.9.e63253) Figure 1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Psyllaephagus guangxiensis'', China]] [[File:Psyllaephagus euphyllurae, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus euphyllurae'', female, Spain]]
**'''''[[w:Psyllaephagus|Psyllaephagus]]''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 246 species worldwide; 30 Afrotropical species:
****''Psyllaephagus africanus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus albicrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus arytainae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus bicolor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae'' Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame, Dzokou, Gumovsky and De Coninck (1)
****''Psyllaephagus bliteus'' Riek, 1962 (Australia, introduced to South Africa and also Neotropical and western Palaearctic regions)
****''Psyllaephagus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus capeneri'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus cellulatus'' Waterston (1)
****''Psyllaephagus chianganus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus cincticrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus dealbatae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus dispar'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus furvus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus hibiscusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus io'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus lucaris'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus minor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus oleae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus ornatus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus pauliani'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus perendinus'' Robinson (1)
****''Psyllaephagus phytolymae'' (Ferriere) (5)
****''Psyllaephagus pulvinatus'' (Waterston) (12)
****''Psyllaephagus rhusae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus secus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus tessmannii'' Tamesse and Tiyo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus vastus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus viridis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus yaseeni'' Noyes (Tanzania)
* 116b Never entirely metallic in colour, at most the head and thoracic dorsum with weak to moderately strong metallic refringence; parasitic in Syrphidae and Coccinellidae -
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114a, 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
== 117 Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide ==
* 117a Eyes exceptionally setose (fig. 123 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the setae long, strongly developed; frontovertex sparsely pitted; antenna (fig. 126 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with scape blackish, the remainder of antenna uniformly paler in colour - [[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 117b Eyes sparsely setose, the setae fine; frontovertex at most finely punctate; colour of antenna otherwise........ 118
=== 118 Eyes sparsely setose===
* 118a Head tending to opisthognathous, the frontovertex almost horizontal, meeting the inflexed face at an acute angle, so that head is subtriangular in lateral view; parasitic in ticks (Ixodidae). Male sometimes brachypterous, in which case the head has a forked process jutting forward at junction of frontovertex and face - [[File:Ixodiphagus hookeri.jpg|thumb|''Ixodiphagus hookeri'', France]]
**'''''Ixodiphagus''''' Howard, 1907
***''Hunterellus'' Howard, 1908 is a synonym of ''Ixodiphagus''
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ixodiphagus hookeri'' (Howard) (14)
****''Ixodiphagus theilerae'' (Fiedler) (5)
* 118b Head hypognathous, the frontovertex more or less convex, rounded on to face; not parasitic in ticks........ 119
=== 119 ===
* 119a Head and body largely yellowish to brownish, without metallic refringence; antennal scrobes more or less well developed; toruli with lower limits well above clypeal margin; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 119b Head and body dominantly black, the head and thoracic dorsum with faint to strong metallic refringence; scrobes absent or developed as two very short shallow furrows, hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; toruli placed at or close to mouth margin; polyembryonic parasitoids of aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
== 120 Mandible with only two teeth; paratergites usually present; usually without coarse setae at edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced. Mealybug parasitoids==
[Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae (from 43)]
* 120a Antennal funicle seven-segmented -
**''''' Alamella''''' Agarwal, 1966
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Alamella flava'' - a parasitoid of eriococcids and mealybugs (Angola, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa)
****Species description: [https://www.ias.ac.in/public/Volumes/secb/063/02/0067-0079.pdf Agarwal (1966)]<ref name=Agarwal1966>Agarwal, M. M. (1966). Three undescribed genera and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera-Chalcidoidea) parasitic on coccids. In Proceedings/Indian Academy of Sciences (Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 67-79). New Delhi: Springer India.</ref>
* 120b Club two-segmented; head and body without metallic lustre; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with two. Funicle with six or fewer segments........ 121
=== 121 ===
* 121a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (cf. fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat caudal projection of the scutellum. Body often black, the head dark metallic green; antenna long, slender, the scape cylindrical; marginal and postmarginal veins long - [[File:Ericydnus inat 183126807 Mario Bassini.jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Italy]]
**''''' Ericydnus''''' Haliday, 1832
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
* 121b Scutellum without a flange........ 122
=== 122 ===
* 122a Head prognathous (fig. 94 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), elongate and flattened in dorsal view, almost as long as thorax (fig. 95 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the eyes elongate, in dorsal view occupying almost whole of head laterally; antenna (fig. 96 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extremely large, foliaceously flattened, the club three-segmented -
**''''' Monstranusia''''' Trjapitzin, 1964
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Monstranusia antennata'' (Narayanan) (1)
****''Monstranusia mirabilissima'' Trjapitzin (4)
* 122b Head otherwise; if antenna foliaceously flattened, then club not segmented................123
=== 123 ===
* 123a Antenna nine-segmented........ 124
* 123b Antenna ten or eleven-segmented........ 126
=== 124 ===
* 124a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches (fig. 97 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Head .and body largely metallic in colour; antenna sometimes foliaceously flattened; ovipositor often strongly protruded at apex of metasoma; male antenna with funicle six-segmented, segments II – V each with a ramus -
**''''' Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
*** 37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus'' bifasciatellus (Mercet) (1)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (1)
* 124b Fore wing entirely hyaline........ 125
=== 125 ===
* 125a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; antenna (fig. 111 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, the fumcle and club broad, somewhat laterally compressed -
**''''' Callaincyrtus''''' Prinsloo & Annecke, 1979
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Callaincyrtus decorus'' - no known associates (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
* 125b Head and body at most with faint metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thoracic dorsum; antenna not particularly slender, the segments not flattened -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915<ref name=>Silvestri, F. 1915, Contributo all conoscenza degli insetti dell'olivo dell'Eritrea e dell'Africa meridionalei. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della R. Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura, Portici 9:305 [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14029132 BHL][https://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/research-curation/projects/chalcidoids/pdf_X/Silves915.pdf PDF]</ref>
*** This genus was reviewed in 1995: Prinsloo, G. L. (1995). The encyrtid genus Allocerellus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), parasitoids of mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 26(2), 167-179.
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Allocerellus ater'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus bizonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus curtus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus hortensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****'' Allocerellus inquirendus'' Silvestri (2)
****'' Allocerellus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus notatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus orestes'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus paulus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus venustus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus vittatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus zonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
=== 126 ===
* 126a Antenna ten-segmented, the club with two segments........ 127
* 126b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented........ 128
=== 127 ===
* 127a Head and body flatlened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**'''''Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Rhopus adustus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus discretus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus geminus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus luridus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus notius'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus pilatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus urbanus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 127b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=== 128 ===
* 128a Frontovertex (fig. 98 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) densely pitted, the pits with a metallic green lustre; antennal scape subcylindical. Dominantly black species, the fore wing entirely and strongly infuscated; cephalic margin of fore wing forming an incision at apex of submarginal vein; male antenna with six transverse funicle segments and a long unsegmented banana-shaped club - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9692.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** ''Chalcaspis'' Howard, 1895 is a synonym of '' Aenasius''
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' (Risbec) (4)
****'' Aenasius advena'' Compere (9)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' (Kerrich) (4)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' Kerrich (1)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' (Walker) (1)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' (Compere) (4)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' (Ashmead) (1)
* 128b Frontovertex at most punctate, the punctations not refringent........ 129
=== 129 ===
* 129a Head and body flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**''''' Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 127
* 129b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; palpi otherwise........ 130
=== 130 ===
* 130a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two................131
* 130b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial three-segmented........ 132
=== 131 ===
* 131a Antenna (fig. 99 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, filiform, the funicle segments all plainly longer than wide; postmarginal vein (fig. 100 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing long, extending to a level well beyond apex of stigmal; small species. Fore wing hyaline or partly infuscated - [[File:Leptomastidea abnormis inat 8538894 Jesse Rorabaugh.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastidea abnormis'', California, USA]]
**''''' Leptomastidea''''' Mercet, 1916
*** This genus was reviewed in 2001: Prinsloo, G.L. 2001, The aftrotropical species of Leptomastidea Mercet (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitoids of mealybugs. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 10(2):158-159. Includes photos of fore wings.
*** 23 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****'' Leptomastidea abnormis'' (Girault) (12)
****'' Leptomastidea ascia'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea jeanneli'' Mercet (5)
****'' Leptomastidea lamto'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea pondo'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea tecta'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea turba'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea usta'' Prinsloo (1)
* 131b Antenna (fig. 101 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) not particularly slender, the funicle segments not all longer than wide; postmarginal vein short, shorter than stigmal; larger species - [[File:Anagyrus lopezi.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus lopezi'']][[File:Anagyrus on mealybug inaturalist 105468882.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus'' wasp parasitizing a mealybug]]
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** ''Doliphoceras'' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '' Anagyrus''
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anagyrus aberiae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus abyssinicus'' Compere (4)
****'' Anagyrus agraensis'' Saraswat (1)
****'' Anagyrus amnicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus amoenus'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus antoniae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus arambourgi'' Risbec (1)
****'' Anagyrus arenaria'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus aurantifrons'' Compere (6)
****'' Anagyrus bambeyi'' Risbec (3)
****'' Anagyrus beneficians'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus bugandaensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus diversicornis'' (Howard) (11)
****'' Anagyrus fusciventris'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus gracilis'' (Hayat) (3)
****'' Anagyrus greeni'' Howard (1)
****'' Anagyrus haroldi'' Noyes and Hayat (4)
****'' Anagyrus incongruens'' (Masi) (1)
****'' Anagyrus indicus'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****'' Anagyrus kivuensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus lopezi'' (De Santis) (92)
****'' Anagyrus mangicola'' Noyes (7)
****'' Anagyrus mirzai'' Agarwal and Alam (3)
****'' Anagyrus nigrescens'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus pseudococci'' (Girault) (10)
****'' Anagyrus pullus'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus rubellus'' (Annecke) (4)
****'' Anagyrus saccharicola'' Timberlake (8)
****'' Anagyrus siccus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****'' Anagyrus subflaviceps'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus subnigricornis'' Ishii (1)
****'' Anagyrus subproximus'' (Silvestri) (5)
****'' Anagyrus swezeyi'' Timberlake (2)
=== 132 ===
* 132a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments; if rarely unicolorous, then marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform........ 133
* 132b Funicle unicolorous; marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter often very long........ 134
=== 133 ===
* 133a Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally (fig. 102 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing hyaline; frontovertex without punctations -
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 131b
* 133b Antennal scape subcylindrical (fig. 121 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing weakly to strongly infuscated (fig. 119 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), at least in the distal three-fourths or so; frontovertex and face with scattered punctations (fig. 118 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Basal part of fore wing with setation as in fig. 120 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; male antenna as in fig. 122 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> - [[File:Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|thumb|''Apoleptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Apoleptomastix''''' Kerrich, 1982
***''Xiphomastix'' De Santis, 1972 is a synonym of ''Apoleptomastix''
*** 6 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Apoleptomastix anneckei'' Pseudococcidae ''Antonina'' sp. (Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Apoleptomastix bicoloricornis'' Pseudococcidae ''Brevennia rehi'', ''Coccidohystrix insolita'', ''Heterococcus nigeriensis'' (Ethiopia, Gambia, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
=== 134 ===
* 134a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches........ 135
* 134b Fore wing hyaline; if rarely infuscated, then with faint longitudinally infuscated bands........ 136
=== 135 ===
* 135a Head and body dominantly orange-red; fore wing (fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) tapering towards apex from the level of apex of venation, the wing disc characteristically maculated as in fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; antenna not particularly slender, the scape somewhat expanded ventrally, about three times as long as its greatest width; wings held horizontal in life -
**''''' Yasumatsuiola''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species?
****''Yasumatsuiola orientalis'' Trjapitzin, 1977 found in Afrotropics?
* 135b Colour of head and body otherwise; fore wing (fig. 104 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, slender, not tapering towards apex, the latter broadly rounded; wing disc infuscated with hyaline cross-bands or patches; antenna (fig. 105 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, filiform, the scape cylindrical, much more than three times as long as wide; wings held erect in life - [[File:Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|thumb|''Callipteroma sexguttata'', South Africa]][[File:Mercet 1921 27 Callipteroma 118.jpg|thumb|Male ''Callipteroma sexguttata'', Spain]]
**''''' Callipteroma''''' Motschulsky, 1863
*** 6 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Callipteroma albiclava'' Noyes (1)
****''Callipteroma sexguttata'' Motschulsky (3)
****''Callipteroma testacea'' Motschulsky (2)
=== 136 ===
* 136a Scutellum with sculptural cells longitudinally oriented, somewhat raised, giving the disc a striate effect (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black, shiny, without metallic refringence; male antenna (fig. 117 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with rami, one each on funicle segments II–V -
**'''''Neocharitopus''''' Hayat, Alam and Agarwal, 1975
*** ''Insleyia'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979 is a synonym of ''Neocharitopus''
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Neocharitopus crassus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****''Neocharitopus solani'' (Risbec) (1)
* 136b Sculpture of scutellum otherwise................137
=== 137 ===
* 137a Antennal scape (fig. 106 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, or if only slightly expanded, then the ends cylindrical. General colour yellow to orange, without metallic lustre; thorax covered with fine white setae; postmarginal vein long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal -
**''''' Gyranusoidea''''' Compere, 1947
*** 44 species worldwide; 11 Afrotropical species:
****''Gyranusoidea austrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea citrina'' (Compere) (6)
****''Gyranusoidea dilatata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea flava'' Shafee, Alam and Agarwal (1)
****''Gyranusoidea klugei'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Gyranusoidea litura'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea munda'' Annecke (5)
****''Gyranusoidea pauliani'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Gyranusoidea separata'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea signata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (5)
****''Gyranusoidea tebygi'' Noyes (28)
* 137b Antennal scape not or hardly expanded ventrally........ 138
=== 138 ===
* 138a Body always black, with moderate to strong metallic green, blue or purplish refringence. Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci; marginal and postmarginal veins long -
**''''' Clausenia''''' Ishii, 1923
*** 12 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Clausenia capensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia comperei'' Kerrich (4)
****''Clausenia concinna'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia confusor'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia corrugata'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia guineensis'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia sobrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
* 138b Colour otherwise, if rarely black, then without any metallic refringence........ 139
=== 139 ===
* 139a Antenna filiform, the basal funicle segment longer than pedicel, often very much so; cercal plates advanced to a level near base of metasoma - [[File:Leptomastix inat 153928277.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Leptomastix''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 34 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Leptomastix abyssinica'' Compere (5)
****''Leptomastix africana'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix dactylopii'' Howard (24)
****''Leptomastix digitariae'' Risbec (1)
****''Leptomastix flava'' Mercet (3)
****''Leptomastix herreni'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix hibiscusae'' Risbec (3)
****''Leptomastix jonesi'' Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix nigra'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix nigrocincta'' Risbec (4)
****''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix tsukumiensis'' Tachikawa (2)
* 139b Antenna not filiform, the pedicel longer than basal funicle segment; cecal plates placed near apex of metasoma -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=Other genera known from the Afrotropics=
[[File:Achalcerinys lindus faunaibrica Mercet 1921 F112 p270.jpg|thumb|''Achalcerinys lindus'', female, Spain.]][[File:Blastothrix erythrostetha female Fig95 p245.jpg|thumb|''Blastothrix erythrostetha'', female]][[File:Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|thumb|''Cryptanusia'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.554.jpg|thumb|Male ''Mira integralis'']][[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.556.jpg|thumb|Female ''Mira integralis'']]*Some of these genera have been found in the Afrotropics since the key was created (1979)
**'''''Achalcerinys''''' Girault, 1915
***''Parasyrpophagus'' is a synonym of ''Achalcerinys''
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Achalcerinys gorodkovi'' (Myartseva, 1983) - no known associates (Egypt, Ethiopia)
****''Achalcerinys lindus'' (Mercet, 1921) - a parasitoid of Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae, Encyrtidae (Ethiopia)
**'''''Agarwalencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Agarwalencyrtus citri'' - a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid in mealybugs; ''Planococcus'' spp. (South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
****Photograph of specimen in [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20203576260 Tirunagaru and Sagadai (2020)]
**'''''Anomalencyrtus''''' Hayat and Verma, 1980
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalencyrtus longicornis'' - no known associates (Madagascar)
**'''''Anomalicornia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalicornia tenuicornis'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Astymachus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Astymachus exilis '' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Blastothrix '''''
*** 29 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Blastothrix anthocleistae'' Risbec, 1952 (Madagascar)
**'''''Bothriocraera''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriocraera bicolor'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Ghana)
**'''''Brachyplatycerus''''' De Santis, 1972
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brachyplatycerus minutum'' - a parasitoid of moths ''Cydia pomonella'' (South Africa)
**'''''Brethesiella''''' Porter, 1920
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brethesiella abnormicornis'' - a parasitoid of Margarodidae ''Icerya'' spp. (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Cladiscodes''''' Subba Rao, 1977
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cladiscodes incisius'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Cryptanusia''''' Girault , 1917
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cryptanusia aureiscutellum'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Diaphorencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis'' (Shafee, Alam and Agarwal) (Réunion, South Africa)
****''Diaphorencyrtus harrisoni'' (Robinson, 1960) (South Africa)
**'''''Dionencyrtus''''' De Santis, 1985
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dionencyrtus cordylomerae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Dusmetia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dusmetia fuscipennis'' (Noyes & Hayat, 1984) (Zimbabwe)
**'''''Ectroma''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Ectroma truncatum'' Prinsloo, 1986 (Zimbabwe)
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Erencyrtus ater'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus contrarius'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus fuscus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus notialis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
**'''''Hambletonia''''' Compere, 1936
*** 9 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hambletonia pseudococcina'' Compere, 1936 (Ghana)
**'''''Hemileucoceras''''' Hoffer, 1976
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hemileucoceras madagascariensis'' (Risbec) (Madagascar)
**'''''Holcencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 10 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Holcencyrtus liriomyzae'' Risbec (Senegal)
****''Holcencyrtus myrmicoides'' (Compere and Zinna) (Ghana)
**'''''Homosemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homosemion bennetti'' Annecke, 1967 (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Incisencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1988
*** 4 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Incisencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo, 1988 (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Incisencyrtus secus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Madagascar)
****''Incisencyrtus sirus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Nigeria)
**'''''Lakshaphagus''''' Mahdihassan, 1931
*** 9 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Lakshaphagus armillatus'' (Annecke, 1969) (South Africa)
****''Lakshaphagus ceroplastae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Manicnemus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Manicnemus'' sp. (Tanzania) <ref name=vanNoort>van Noort, S. (2024). WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Tetracneminae/Manicnemus/Manicnemus_species.htm Manicnemus species] (accessed on 14 March 2024).</ref>
**''''' Mahencyrtus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 14 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mahencyrtus occultans'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
**'''''Mira'''''
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mira integralis'' (Mercet, 1921) (Senegal)
**'''''Neastymachus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 21 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neastymachus dispar'' Prinsloo, 1996 (South Africa)
**'''''Neodusmetia''''' Kerrich, 1964
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neodusmetia sangwani'' (Subba Rao, 1957) (Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Parablatticida''''' Girault, 1915
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Parablatticida aphycoides'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
****''Parablatticida vidua'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
**'''''Pseudococcobius''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 12 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Pseudococcobius akares'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius ancylus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius dolus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius san'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vibex'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vinealis'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
**'''''Rhytidothorax''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 20 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Rhytidothorax ambositrensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Rhytidothorax latiscapus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979) (Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Scotteus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Scotteus ochroleucus'' Masi, 1917 (Seychelles)
**'''''Spaniopterus''''' Gahan, 1927
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Spaniopterus crucifer'' Gahan, 1927 (Mauritius)
**'''''Stemmatosteres''''' Timberlake, 1918
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Stemmatosteres primus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt, 1981 (South Africa)
**'''''Trichomasthus''''' [[File:Trichomasthus cyanifrons, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Trichomasthus cyanifrons'', female, Spain]]
*** 60 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Trichomasthus portoricensis'' (Crawford, 1913) (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Xenostryxis'''''
*** 10 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Xenostryxis margiscutellum'' Girault, 1920 (South Africa)
**'''''Zarhopalus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zarhopalus corvinus'' a parasitoid of Pseudococcidae, ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
**'''''Zozoros'''''
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zozoros adamsoniae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
=References=
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key]]
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Encyrtidae is a large family of parasitic wasps in the Superfamily [[w:Chalcidoidea|Chalcidoidea]]. There are more than 640 described species of [[w:Afrotropical|Afrotropical]] Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of [[w:scale insect|scale insect]]s, some of which are pests that reduce the productivity of agricultural crops across the world.<br>
=Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae=
This key is based on this paper: '''Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979).''' A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref> The Universal Chalcidoidea Database<ref name=Noyes2019/>, WaspWeb<ref name=vanNoort2024>van Noort, S. 2024. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Classification/index.htm (accessed 2023-2024).</ref>, and other on-line sources were used to add details.
==1 Encyrtidae ==
[[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|'''Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae''']] include: mesopleuron very enlarged; mid coxae level with middle of mesopleuron in side view; cercal plates advanced; linea calva distinct; mesoscutum transverse and without distinct notauli.<ref name=Pitkin2004>Pitkin, B.R. (2004) Notes on families: Encyrtidae. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/encyrtidae.html www.nhm.ac.uk]</ref> There are illustrations of these features on another [[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|page of the '''African Arthropods project''']].<br>
1a Tarsi with four segments ........ 2<br>
1b Tarsi with five segments ........ 3
==2 Tarsi with four segments==
*Marginal cilia of forewing very long (fig. 2 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); axillae indistinct (fig. 3 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb]); funicle with five or six segments -
**'''''Anthemus''''' <small>HOWARD, 1896</small>
***22 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species.
***Photos: [http://ponent.atspace.org/fauna/ins/fam/encyrtidae/anthemus_hab.htm Ponent, Catalonia]
***Paper: Prinsloo, G. L., & Neser, O. C. (1989). A revision of the genus Anthemus Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in the Afrotropical region. Revue de Zoologie Africaine, 103(1), 51-72.
*Marginal cilia of forewing short (cf. fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the longest cilia never much longer than the setae on the submarginal vein; axillae are distinct and meet medially; funicle with two to four segments - [[File:Mercet 1921 7 Arrenophagus parasite in Alacaspis rosae p54.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' before emergence from scale host, Spain.]][[File:Mercet 1921 6 Arrhenophagus chionaspidis female antenna p53.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' female antenna]]
**'''''Arrhenophagus''''' <small>AURIVILLIUS, 1888</small>
***Photos: [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/media.dsml?IMAGENO=chalc071&VALGENUS=Arrhenophagus&VALSPECIES=albitibiae&isVideo= Universal Chalcidoidea Database] [https://takagi.tenteki.org/%E5%A4%A9%E6%95%B5%E5%9B%B3%E9%91%912/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A9.htm takagi.tenteki]
***Papers: [https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/view/129680 '''Suh S-J. 2021.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Prunus salicina Lindl. (Rosales: Rosaceae) in South Korea. Insecta Mundi 0885: 1–5.] [http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3697168 '''Suh, Soo-Jung, 2018.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reared from Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in the Republic of Korea, Insecta Mundi 612, pp. 1-6 : 3-4] [https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.19.3.110 '''Muniappan, R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012). Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114., R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012).''' Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114.]
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' (worldwide)
==3 Tarsi five-segmented==
*3a Forewing without stigmal, marginal or postmarginal veins, with an infuscated patch (fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); on the head, the scrobes are moderately deep, in the shape of aninverted V, their confluence is separated medially by a membranous joint that extends to the front of the vertex; a similar membrane runs transversely between the eyes where the fronto-vertex adjoins the face (fig. 5 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and figs 1, 13, 20, 24 of Annecke & Mynhardt (1974)<ref name=AnneckeMynhardt1974>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M.J., 1974. On some new and described species of arrhenophagine Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 37(1), pp.35-47. [https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 DOI] [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 PDF]</ref>) -
**'''''Arrhenophagoidea''''' <small>Girault, 1915</small><br>
***''Arrhenophagoidea'' and ''Arrhenophagus'' are morphologically similar, except that the tarsi are four-segmented in ''Arrhenophagus'' and five-segmented in ''Arrhenophagoidea''. Species of both genera are very small (body length about 0.5 mm).
***Four Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagoidea chaetacmae'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea neseri'' Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea rolaspidis'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea sierra'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
*3b Forewing venation partly or well-developed; head without membranous features above the scrobes ........ 4
===4 (Fore wing venation at least partly developed; head without membranous interruptions)===
*4a Posterior margin of mesosetum with two round projections, each fitting into an indentation in anterior margin of axillae (fig. 6 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); forewing with marginal cilia unusually long along caudal wing margin (fig. 7 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); egg parasitoids of Tettigometridae -
**'''''Psyllechthrus''''' <small>GHESQUIERE, 1958</small>
***A single species, ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' is known - from Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.<ref name=Noyes2019>Noyes, J.S. 2019. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. The Natural History Museum, London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/index.dsml</ref>
***''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' has been reared from the eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'', which is thought to be its only host.<ref name=Prinsloo1985>Prinsloo, G.L. 1985, Afrotropical Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): new records and notes. Journal of Natural History 19:281</ref>
***Photographs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'' eggs with tiny wasps that are probably ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'': [http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/bugs/tettigometridae/hilda_patruelis.htm] and [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180134054]
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 a.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus''
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 c.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' on eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis''.
</gallery>
*4b Margin of mesoseutum without two round projections fitting into indentations in the anterior margin of the axillae; marginal cilia of forewing not unusually long; not parasites of Tettigometridae ........ 5
===5 (Posterior margin of mesoscutum without two round projections fitting into the anterior margin of axillae, forewing with marginal cilia not unusually long)===
*5a Fore femur and tibia greatly swollen, the apex of the latter with two blunt spines in addition to the strigil; antenna eleven-segmented, the segments of pedicel, funicle and club similar in shape; head and body hardly encyrtiform (fig. 9 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)
**'''''Sanghalia''''' <small>RISBEC, 1955</small>
***A single species from Congo, ''Sanghalia kerandeli''
*5b Fore femur and tibia at most slightly swollen, the latter without spines; antenna otherwise, usually clavate................6
===6 (Fore femur and tibia not greatly swollen, fore tibia without spines)===
*6a Funicle with less than six segments........ 7
*6b Funicle with six or seven segments........ 16
==7 Funicle with less than six segments==
*7a Antenna (fig. 10 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extensively flattened and expanded - both scape and flagellum leaf-like; the club is not segmented; the funicle has three to five transverse segments; Pseudococeid parasitoids -[[File:Zaplatycerus fullawayi Timberlake 1925 Plate IX Fig. 1.jpg|thumb|''Zaplatycerus fullawayi''; A. female antenna; B. Male antenna; C. Female mandible frontal view]]
**'''''Zaplatycerus''''' Timberlake, 1925
***Synonyms include: ''Tropidophryne'' Compere, 1931; ''Neoplatycerus'' Subba Rao, 1965; ''Avernes'' Noyes et Woolley, 1994; ''Assamencyrtus'' Singh, 2006.<ref name=Trjapitzin2018>Trjapitzin, V. A. (2018). A Review of the Encyrtid-Wasp Genus ''Zaplatycerus'' Timberlake, 1925 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) of the World Fauna, Parasitoids of Mealybugs (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae). Entomological Review, 98, 787-792.</ref>
***16 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and images of ''Zaplatycerus notialis'' on [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271666428 Researchgate]
Afrotropical species
*7b Antenna not extensively flattened, but the scape may be expanded ventrally........ 8
===8 (Antenna not extensively flattened; scape may be expanded)===
*8a Funicle with four segments ........ 9
*8b Funicle with five segments ........ 10
===9 (Funicle with four segments)===
*9a Apex of scutellum with two lamelliform (flattened) setae (cf. figs 27 & 28 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>, and ''Habrolepis'', 38b below); forewing distinctly darkened, patterned; body flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of armored scale insects -
**'''''Caenohomalopoda''''' Tachikawa, 1979
***11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Caenohomalopoda shikokuensis'' a parasitoid of armored scales, ''Froggattiella penicillata'', ''Odonaspis'' spp. (South Africa)
****Description and figures - [https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf Tachikawa, 1956]<ref name=Tachikawa1956>Tachikawa, T. (1956). Description of a new species of the genus Pseudhomalopoda Cirault from Japan, with a list of the known species and their hosts of the Habrolepis-like genera (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Insecta matsumurana, 20(3-4), 90-96. https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf</ref>
*9b Scutellum without scale-like setae; forewing transparent; body not flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of bees -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Two Afrotropical species: ''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'', is known from South Africa; and ''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is known from Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda and is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and figures - [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3102 Annecke, 1968]<ref name=Annecke1968>Annecke, D. P. (1968). Records and Descriptions of African Encyrtidae-4 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 31(2), 249-264.</ref>
===10 (Funicle with five segments)===
*10a Antennal club not divided (a single segment) -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
*** 30 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Trechnites angolensis'' associated with the legume ''Isoberlinia'' sp. (Angola)
****''Trechnites manaliensis'' a parasitoid of ''Euphyllura eastopi'', ''Euphyllura longiciliata'', ''Psylla hyalina'' (South Africa)
****''Trechnites morulus'' associated with ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
*10b The antennal club has two or three segments ........ 11
===11 (Antennal club with two or three segments)===
*11a Antennal club with two segments. (Maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented; mandible tridentate (fig. 11 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the upper tooth retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae) - [[File:Pseudectroma europaeum Fauna ibérica p192 Fig.65.jpg|thumb|Female ''Pseudectroma europaeum'', Spain]]
**'''''Pseudectroma''''' Girault , 1915
***''Timberlakia'' Mercet, 1925 is a synonym<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***16 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species: ''Pseudectroma cussoniae'' (Madagascar), ''Pseudectroma gilvum'' (South Africa), ''Pseudectroma signatum'' (Israel, South Africa)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Parasitoids - hosts include soft scales (Coccidae) and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*11b Club with three segments ........ 12
===12 (Antennal club with three segments)===
*12a Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma -
**'''''Acerophagus''''' Smith, 1880
***''Pseudaphycus'' is a synonym of ''Acerophagus'' (see 13 below).
***''Acerophagus'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).
***iNaturalist has images of ''Acerophagus'' (CC-BY-NC).<ref name=iNatAcerophagus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250166 ''Acerophagus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
*12b Ovipositor not distinctly protruding from the end of the metasoma ........ 14
===13 (Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma - ''Acerophagus'')===
*13a Antennal club white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with a white antennal club (described as ''Pseudaphycus'') include ''A. angelicus'', ''A. dysmicocci'', ''A. ferrisianae'', ''A. maculipennis'', ''A. mundus'', ''A. notativentris '', ''A. perdignus'', ''A. prosopidis''.
*13b Antennal club not white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with two segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with an antennal club that is not white (described as ''Acerophagus'') include ''A. coccois'', ''A. pallidus''.
===14 (Ovipositor not protruding or just protruding)===
*14a Mandible with two teeth; maxillary palpi each have two segments, the labial not segmented; paratergites present; Male antenna ramose, rami on funicle segments I-IV -
**'''''Tetracnemoidea''''' Howard, 1898
***''Tetracnemoidea'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Afrotropical species:
****''T. brevicornis'' (Girault) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
****''T. coffeicola'' (Kerrich) (Kenya, Uganda)
****''T. peregrina'' (Compere) (Worldwide; Ghana, South Africa in Afrotropics)
****''T. sydneyensis'' (Timberlake) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
*14b Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs ................15
===15 (Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs)===
*15a Head and body dark brown to blackish-brown, non-metallic except for frontovertex which may have a very slight metallic tinge; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Afrotropical species:
****''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'' (South Africa); and
****''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini) (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*15b Head and body predominantly black, the scutellum brilliant metallic green in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
==16 Funicle with six or seven segments==
*16a Hind tibia foliaceously flattened (fig. 12 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 17
*16b Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened................ 18
===17 (Hind tibia foliaceously flattened)===
*17a Antennal club three-segmented or not segmented; parasitoids of Aphrophoridae and Cicadellidae. Male antenna may have six rami (fig. 14 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|thumb|''Neocladia'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Neocladia''''' Perkins, 1906
***''Carabunia'' Waterston, 1928 is a synonym of ''Neocladia''<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***iNaturalist has images of ''Neocladia''.<ref name=iNatNeocladia>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/253254 ''Neocladia'' photographs on iNaturalist (including some CC-BY)</ref>
***Afrotropical species:<ref name=Noyes2019/>
****''Neocladia gigantica'' is a parasitoid of ''Ptyelus flavescens'', the Yellow Raintree Spittlebug (Uganda).
****''Neocladia senegalensis'' (Senegal, South Africa).
****''Neocladia tibialis'' is a parasitoid of ''Batrachomorphus capeneri'', a leafhopper (South Africa).
===18 (Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened)===
*18a Wings markedly reduced ................19
*18b Wings not greatly reduced ............. 25
==19 Wings markedly reduced==
*19a Scutellum with a flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), in profile this flange shows as a thin, flat, caudal projection of the apex of scutellum................20
*19b Scutellum without a flange................21
===20 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a flange or lamella)===
*20a Mandible with two acute teeth; parasitoids of bees - [[File:Ericydnus inat 170283716 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Spain]]
**'''''Ericydnus''''' Walker, 1837
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
*20b Mandible with three teeth; parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus bicolor Fauna ibérica Ricardo García Mercet 1921.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus bicolor'', Spain]]
**'''''Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
***20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
***Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' (Risbec) is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' species (Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' Risbec is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Pulvinaria'' species (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' Ghesquiere is a parasitoid of the moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' (Risbec) has been associated with rice plants (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===21 (Wings reduced, scutellum without a flange)===
*21a Antenna nine-segmented, the club not segmented; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Male antenna six-segmented, segments II - V each with a ramus -
**'''''Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
***iNaturalist has images of ''Tetracnemus''.<ref name=iNatTetracnemus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250503 ''Tetracnemus'' photographs on iNaturalist (some CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus bifasciatellus'' (Mercet) (South Africa)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (Ethiopia)
*21b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in Pseudococcidae................22
===22 (Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments)===
*22a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft........................23
*22b Scutellar tuft of bristles absent........ 24
===23 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles)===
*23a Mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); gonostyli (3rd valvulae) absent -
**'''''Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
***96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Gascardia'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of Hemiptera including Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of ''Sahlbergella'' species (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' and ''Saissetia'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of ''Gascardia'' and ''Tachardina'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' ((Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' (Cameroon, Gabon)
*23b Mandible tridentate; gonostyli present - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250172 ''Diversinervus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus'' species (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', and ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
===24 (Wings reduced, scutellar tuft of bristles absent)===
*24a Apterous, or wings represented by a stub -
**'''''Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species:
****Many pics of winged species on iNaturalist (but not Afrotropical and not apterous)
*24b Fore wing reduced in size, but with venation distinct (fig. 17 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran.]]
**'''''Neococcidencyrtus''''' Compere, 1928
***20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' (Madagascar)
****''Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' (Cameroon)
****''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of ''Furchadaspis zamiae'', cycad scale (South Africa) Fig. 5. in https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343006453
****''Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****''Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' (South Africa)
==25 Wings not greatly reduced==
*25a Dorsum of scutellum with a longitudinal, inconspicuous, median keel - [[File:Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg |thumb|''Pentelicus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Pentelicus''''' Howard, 1895
***Head and thorax pitted; antennal club three-segmented, obliquely truncate apically.
***10 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
*25b Scutellum without a median keel................26
===26 (Scutellum without a median keel)===
*26a Head with a horn-like protuberance jutting from middle of face just below antennal Insertions - [[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti Fauna iberica (1921).jpg|thumb|Male ''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'']][[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti, head, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'', lateral view of head]]
**'''''Paratetracnemoidea''''' Girault , 1915
***''Rhinoencyrtus'' Mercet, 1918 is a synonym of ''Paratetracnemoidea''
***Photos at https://www.waspweb.org/chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Encyrtinae/Paratetracnemoidea/index.htm
***5 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Paratetracnemoidea breviventris'' - no associates known (Tanzania)
****''Paratetracnemoidea cornis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'' - no associates known (Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan)
*26b Head without facial protuberance................ 27
===27 (Head without facial protuberance)===
*27a Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin (figs 18- 22 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein never reaching cephalic edge of wing................28
*27b Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform (figs 34, 63, 82, 89 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................32
==28 Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin==
*28a Anterior margin of frontovertex produced to form a prominent ridge that overhangs upper limits of scrobes; mandibles diminutive -
**''''' Amira ''''' Girault , 1913
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Amira durantae'' is a parasitoid of spiders ''Nephila inaurata'' and ''Nephila madagascarensis'' (Madagascar)
*28b Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large, well developed........ 29
===29 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large)===
*29a Antennal scrobes sulcate, impressed on face as an inverted V, their lateral margins sharply angled (fig. 23 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Male and female antennae identical in shape and segmentation; parasitic in Aclerdidae -
**''''' Allencyrtus ''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide - Afrotropical:
****''Allencyrtus monomorphus'' is a parasitoid of an Aclerdid scale, ''Rhodesaclerda'' sp. (South Africa)
****Description of genus and species: Annecke & Mynhardt (1973) [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]<ref name=>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M. J. (1973). New and Iittle known African Encyrtidae, with descriptions of two new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 36(2), 211-28. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]</ref>
*29b Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins ....... 30
===30 (Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins)===
*30a Antennal club three-segmented; mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 24 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae and Stictococcidae -[[File:Aethognathus afer female Silvestri 1915 with inset.jpg|thumb|''Aethognathus afer'', female; inset shows detail of stigmal and postmarginal veins]]
**''''' Aethognathus ''''' Silvestri, 1915
***5 species worldwide; all Afrotropical:
****''Aethognathus afer'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus diversiseta'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Benin, Ghana)
****''Aethognathus bicolor'' is a parasitoid of the scale ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Uganda)
****''Aethognathus cavilabris'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia''and ''Stictococcus'' spp. (Congo, Uganda)
****''Aethognathus khryzhanovskyi'' - no associates known (Equatorial Guinea)
****''Aethognathus unicolor'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus gowdeyi'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Nigeria, Uganda)
*30b Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate; not parasitic in scale insects........ 31
===31 (Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate)===
*31a Frontovertex and face with large pits, each with a strong metallic lustre; antennal scape (fig. 25 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) strongly expanded ventrally; parasitic in eggs of spiders and/or planthoppers
**''''' Proleurocerus ''''' Ferriere, 1935
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Proleurocerus clavatus'' - no associates known (Zimbabwe)
****''Proleurocerus zululandiae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*31b Frontovertex at most finely punctate, non-metallic; antennal scape at most slightly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Neuroptera nymphs - [[File:Isodromus iNat 147864868.jpg |thumb|''Isodromus'' sp., Mexico.]][[File:Isodromus vinulus, male, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Isodromus vinulus'', a parasitic wasp in the family Encyrtidae; male]]
**''''' Isodromus''''' Howard, 1887
*** 26 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Isodromus timberlakei'' is a parasitoid of a ''Chrysopa'' species (South Africa)
==32 Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform; or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing==
*32a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft................ 33
*32b Scutellum without a tuft of bristles, the setae recumbent, except for one subapical pair which is sometimes present................37
==33 Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles==
*33a Head elongate in dorsal view, longer than wide or almost so, the greater part of each eye placed dorsally; mesoscutum (fig. 26 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually with a tuft of coarse bristles, but this tuft lacking in some species - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus/>
*** 12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes floridensis'', ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia coffeae'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a wide range of coccid scales (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus'' spp. (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*33b Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles................34
===34 (Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles)===
*34a Antenna enlarged, flattened, the club two-segmented, very large, almost as long as entire funicle; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Head and body generally smooth and polished, brilliantly metallic in colour -
**''''' Chrysoplatycerus''''' Ashmead, 1889
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysoplatycerus splendens'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs, ''Dysmicoccus'' spp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Formicococcus njalensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Ghana, South Africa)
*34b Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented; mandibles not bidentate; not parasitic in mealybugs................ 35
===35 (Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented)===
*35a Mandible edentate (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), broadly rounded apically; gonostyli absent; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Encyrtus aurantii iNat 132121027 d.jpg|thumb|''Encyrtus aurantii'', Italy.]][[File:Encyrtus infelix iNat 159262263 a.jpg |thumb|''Encyrtus infelix'', New Zealand.]]
**''''' Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
*** 96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of many different Hemiptera from Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of plant bugs, ''Sahlbergella'' spp., Miridae (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp., ''Saissetia'' sp. (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus'', ''Lichtensia'', ''Pulvinaria'', ''Saissetia'', ''Saissetia oleae'', and ''Udinia'' species. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' - no associates known (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Gascardia madagascariensis'', ''Lecanium hemisphaericum'', ''Protopulvinaria pyriformis'', ''Pulvinaria innumerabilis'', ''Pulvinaria urbicola'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'', and lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' spp. on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria delottoi'' spp., ''Pulvinariella'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon)
*35b Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids................36
===36 (Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids)===
*36a Ovipositor not or only slightly exserted at apex of metasoma - [[File:Cheiloneurus iNat 90442164 a.jpg|thumb|Male ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., USA]] [[File:Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 02.jpg|thumb|Female ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cheiloneurus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 152 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Cheiloneurus afer'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Pulvinarisca jacksoni'' (Ghana)
****''Cheiloneurus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Ceroplastes mimosae'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Sudan)
****''Cheiloneurus caesar'' is a hyperparasitoid of ''Dryinus orophilus'' in a delphacid planthopper (Mozambique)
****''Cheiloneurus carinatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. and mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus chiaromontei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus cyanonotus'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus flaminius'' and Eulophidae ''Tetrastichus'' sp. in a variety of beetles, flies and Hemiptera (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe)
****''Cheiloneurus elegans'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'' and Platygastridae ''Platygaster zosine'' in a variety of cecidomyiid midges, scales and mealybugs (Nigeria)
****''Cheiloneurus flavoscutatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from mealybugs ''Adelosoma phragmitidis'', ''Chaetococcus phragmitis'' (Ethiopia)
****''Cheiloneurus gonatopodis'' is a hyperparasitoid of pincer wasps ''Echthrodelphax'' sp., ''Pseudogonatopoides mauritianus'', ''Pseudogonatopus'' spp., ''Richardsidryinus'' sp. in delphacid planthoppers on sugar cane (Madagascar, Mauritius)
****''Cheiloneurus kuisebi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a mealybug ''Phenacoccus manihoti'' on cassava (Namibia)
****''Cheiloneurus leptulus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a ''Ceratina'' bee (Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus liorhipnusi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a lady beetle ''Chnootriba similis'', and a scentless plant bug ''Corizus hyalinus'' (Kenya, Senegal)
****''Cheiloneurus metallicus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Cheiloneurus obscurus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Gascardia brevicauda'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus orbitalis'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from an encyrtid ''Homalotylus'' sp., the coccid scale ''Saissetia oleae'' and green lacewings ''Chrysopa'' sp., ''Mallada handschini'', ''Suarius squamosa'' on citrus (South Africa)
*36b Ovipositor protruding strongly, by about one-half length of metasoma. Metasoma usually truncate apically - [[File:Prochiloneurus bolivari, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus bolivari'', female, Spain.]][[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus'' spp., ''Leptomastix'' spp., Pteromalidae ''Metastenus'' sp., lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****''Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' sp., ''Blepyrus insularis'', ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Leptomastix flava'', Coccidae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****''Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Coccidae ''Lecanium viride'', Margarodidae ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'', and Pseudococcidae ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'', Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Margarodidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
==37 Scutellum without a tuft of bristles==
*37a Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae (figs 27, 28)........ 38
*37b Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae........ 39
===38 (Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*38a Antenna (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) broadened and flattened, the funicle segments strongly transverse; eyes margined dorsally with white; fronto-occipital margin of head without a pair of lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] -
**''''' Comperiella ''''' Howard, 1906
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250283 iNaturalist]
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella bifasciata'' is a parasitoid of many Diaspididae, and the coccid ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., ''Aleurodicus destructor'', ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*38b Antenna not broadened and flattened; eyes not margined with white; fronto-occipital margin with a pair of small lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis ''''' Foerster, 1856
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/376512 iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of pit scale insects ''Asterodiaspis'' spp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scale insects ''Didesmococcus'' sp., armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', mealybugs ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and moths ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus elaeidis'', ''Aspidiotus oppugnatus'' (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius articulatus'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===39 (Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*39a Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion (figs 30, 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) in its apical one-third, this expansion usually bearing a single strong seta........ 40
*39b Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion................43
===40 (Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion in its apical one-third)===
*40a Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes (fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally................41
*40b Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally................42
===41 (Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes; antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally)===
*41a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 31 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing with a characteristic pattern of radiating dark bands (fig. 32 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black with strong metallic refringence; presumed hyperparasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Cerapterocerus mirabilis, female.jpg|thumb|''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'', female, Spain]][[File:Cerapterocerus celadus inat 194830169 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Cerapterocerus celadus'', France]]
**''''' Cerapterocerus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250477-Cerapterocerus iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'' is probably a hyperparasitoid of encyrtid wasps in scale insects (South Africa)
*41b Antenna not broadened and flattened except for scape (fig. 33 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing (fig. 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) infuscated, but without distinct patterns as above; head and body dominantly brownish, without strong metallic refringence; primary parasitoids of Asterolecaniidae (pit scales). Head as in fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Mayrencyrtus''''' Hincks, 1944
*** 6 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database
===42 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally)===
*42a Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci (fig. 36 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); maxillary and labial palpi each two-segmented; paratergites present; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Coccidoxenoides perminutus Fernandes 2016 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'', Brazil]]
**'''''Coccidoxenoides''''' Girault, 1915
***'' Pauridia'' Timberlake, 1919 is a synonym of ''Coccidoxenoides'' (a monotypic genus)
****''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'' Girault, 1915 is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Allococcus quaestius'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Phenacoccus madeirensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Planococcus citri'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. and armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus nerii'', ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chionaspis striata'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa)
*42b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; paratergites absent; parasitic in Diaspididae -[[File:Tyndarichus melanacis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Tyndarichus melanacis'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Tyndarichus''''' Howard, 1910
***''Protyndarichus combretae'', ''P. orarius'', ''P. prolatus'', ''P. sparnus'' are a synonyms of the ''Tyndarichus'' species below.
*** 24 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Tyndarichus combretae'' no known associates (Senegal)
****''Tyndarichus orarius'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Idiosaissetia peringueyi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus prolatus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Ceroplastes elytropappi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus sparnus'' is a parasitoid of Lecanodiaspididae, ''Lecanodiaspis tarsalis'' (South Africa)
===43 (Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion)===
*43a Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae ................ 120
*43b Mandible never with only two pointed teeth ........ 44
===44 (Mandible never with only two pointed teeth)===
*44a Entire fore wing, or part of it, distinctly [[wikt:infuscate|infuscated]] (with a dark tinge), the infuscation rarely restricted to an area beneath the venation ........ 45
*44b Fore wing entirely [[w:hyaline|hyaline]] (translucent or transparent), or very faintly and inconspicuously infuscated, the infuscation then usually only visible if wing held against a white background ........ 73
==45 Fore wing, or part of it, distinctly infuscated==
*45a Fore wing with a conspicuous incision in cephalic wing margin at distal end of submarginal vein (fig. 40 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Eugahania''''' Mercet, 1926
*** 10 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database.<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*45b Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin ................46
===46 Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin===
*46a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat [[wikt:caudal|caudal]] projection of the scutellum................47
*46b Scutellum without a marginal flange, the posterior margin rarely forming a very short lip........ 49
===47 Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella===
*47a Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] absent; [[wikt:clava|club]] large, much longer than the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; parasitic in Lepidoptera eggs. Antenna as in fig. 41 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Hesperencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1971
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hesperencyrtus lycoenephila'' is a parasitoid of lycaenid butterflies ''Deodorix antalus'', ''Deudorix antalus'', ''Lampides boeticus'' (Senegal)
*47b Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] not white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] present; [[wikt:clava|club]] about as long as the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; not parasitic in Lepidoptera........ 48
===48 Antennal club not white; club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together===
*48a Frontovertex and face with numerous large pits, each brilliantly metallic green in colour - [[File:Discodes arizonensis Smithsonian Institution 2019 CC-BY BOLD CCDB-34079-D12.jpg|thumb|''Discodes arizonensis'', New Mexico, United States]]
**''''' Discodes''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 44 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Discodes discors'' is a parasitoid of felt scales ''Eriococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Discodes melas'' - no associates known (Namibia)
*48b Head at most with fine punctations. Orange-brown to dark brown, rarely black, species, at most weakly refringent; fore wing strongly and uniformly infuscated from base to near apex; usually parasitic in Pulvinaria spp. on grasses - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus monawari, female, dorsal view.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus monawari'', India]]
**''''' Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp.(Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinariai'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp. (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' is a parasitoid of a moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' is a parasitoid associated with rice ''Oryza sativa'' (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===49 Scutellum without a marginal flange===
*49a Stigmal vein of fore wing placed almost at right angle to postmarginal vein (fig. 42 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Fore wing infuscated with contrasting hyaline patches as in fig. 42<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; parasitic in Lacciferidae and Coccidae -
**''''' Ruandella''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 4 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Ruandella capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella stigmosa'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella tertia'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella testacea'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (Rwanda, South Africa)
*49b Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much less than 90 degrees ........ 50
===50 Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much smaller than right angle===
*50a Mandible with four teeth (fig. 43 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Body somewhat flattened dorsoventrally; head subtriangular in lateral view, the face a little inflexed; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Adelencyrtus inat 31626163.jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Adelencyrtus Cipola 2022 EntomoBrasilis 15 e1003 CC-BY.jpg|thumb|Female ''Adelencyrtus'' sp., Brazil]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*50b Mandibles do not have four teeth ........ 51
===51 (Mandibles do not have four teeth)===
*51a Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically................52
*51b Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically................55
===52 Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically===
*52a Antennal club three-segmented; not parasitic in Coleoptera........ 53
*52b Antennal club not segmented, rarely with faint traces of one or two septa on one side of the club; parasitic in Coleoptera........ 54
===53 Antennal club three-segmented===
*53a Antennal scape expanded ventrally (fig. 44 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); hcad and body strongly metallic in colour, the head and thorax usually covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta Annecke'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*53b Antennal scape not or only slightly expanded ventrally (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body without metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===54 Antennal club not segmented; parasitic in Coleoptera===
*54a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); basal one-half or so of tegulae white; antennal scape slender, subcylindrical; primary parasitoids of Coccinellidae -[[File:Homalotylus flaminius, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus flaminius'', female]][[File:Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Homalotylus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 68 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotylus africanus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Exochomus concavus'', ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lindorus lophanthae'', ''Scymnus ornatulus'' (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa)
****''Homalotylus eytelweinii'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes sexmaculata'', ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Rodolia'' spp. (Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus flaminius'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adalia'' spp., ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Brumus suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes'' spp., ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella'' spp., ''Coleomegilla maculata'', ''Cycloneda'' spp., ''Epilachna chrysomelina'', ''Eriopis connexa'', ''Exochomus'' spp., ''Harmonia'' spp., ''Henosepilachna bifasciata'', ''Hippodamia'' spp., ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lioadala flavomaculata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Neomysia oblongoguttata'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Orcus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Platynaspis'' sp., ''Rodolia'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Thea vigintiduopunctata'', ''Verania frenata'', leaf beetles ''Galeruca calmariensis'', coccid scale insects ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Saissetia oleae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Planococcus citri'', ''Pseudococcus citri'' (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo)
****''Homalotylus hemipterinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Chilomenes'' sp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Cycloneda sanguinea'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Orcus'' sp., stink bugs ''Cantheconidia furcellata'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Pseudococcus'' sp., gelechiid moths ''Aproaerema modicella'' (Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus quaylei'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Nephus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Sidis'' sp., coccid scales ''Eulecanium persicae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Phenacoccus herreni'', ''Planococcus''; spp. (Gabon, Mauritania)
****''Homalotylus vicinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis marmottani'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Nephus vetustus'', ''Scymnus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar)
*54b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; tegula not white; scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Discolomatidae - [[File:Homalotyloidea dahlbomii, female.jpg|thumb|''Homalotyloidea dahlbomii'', female, Spain]]
**''''' Homalotyloidea''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotyloidea africana'' is a parasitoid of beetles ''Notiophygus piger'' (South Africa)
===55 Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically===
*55a Body flattened dorsoventrally, the dorsum of head and thorax almost flat. Parasitic in Diaspididae........ 56
*55b Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax more or less convex........ 57
===56 Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax convex===
*56a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); frontovertex with two narrow whitish bands, one each extending along the dorsal eye margins. Fore wing boldly marked -[[File:Cain2565.jpg|thumb| ''Comperiella bifasciata'']]
**''''' Comperiella''''' Howard, 1906
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Affirmaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''[[w:Comperiella bifasciata|Comperiella bifasciata]]'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'', ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Clavaspis'' sp., ''Diaspidiotus gigas'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Dynaspidiotus abietis'', ''Hemiberlesia'' spp., ''Lindingaspis fusca'', ''Morganella longispina'', ''Nuculaspis abietis'', ''Parlatoria pergandii'', ''Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis'', ''Pseudaulacaspis'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus'' spp., ''Temnaspidiotus destructor'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'', coccid scale insects ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., whiteflies ''Aleurodicus destructor'', wax scale insects ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*56b Antenna not broadened and flattened; frontovertex without pale bands - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', pit scales, ''Asterodiaspis'' sp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scales ''Didesmococcus'' sp., mealybugs, ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and a moth, ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus aonidum'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius celastri'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' spp. (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===57 Body not flattened, head and thorax convex===
*57a Antenna foliaceously flattened (fig. 47 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); junction of frontovertex and face carinate or at least acutely angled and grooved........ 58
*57b Antenna not flattened except for scape which may be expanded ventrally; head without a facial carina................60
===58 Antenna flattened, junction of frontovertex and face carinate or acutely angled and grooved===
*58a Frontovertex terminating anteriorly at a transverse groove (fig. 48 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) containing dense, recumbent, silvery-white setae -
**''''' Anasemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anasemion inutile'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*58b Junction of frontovertex and face lacking a transverse row of dense setae - [[File:Anicetus iNat 180762161 g.jpg|thumb|''Anicetus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Anicetus''''' Howard, 1896
***''Paraceraptrocerus'' is a synonym of ''Anicetus''. In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''
*** 52 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anicetus abyssinicus '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (Eritrea)
****'' Anicetus africanus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Egypt, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus anneckei '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus aquilus '' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus austrinus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus calidus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. and ''Gascardia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus clivus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus communis'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus longulus'', ''Gascardia'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus fotsyae'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Anicetus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes bipartitus'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus graminosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus italicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus elongatus'', felt scales ''Gossyparia spuria'' (Zimbabwe)
****'' Anicetus nyasicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Malawi, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia rustica'', ''Lichtensia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parvus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Anicetus pattersoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes personatus'', ''Vinsonia personata'' (Ghana)
****'' Anicetus russeus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus sepis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus taylori'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
===59 ''Paraceraptrocerus''===
*In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''. However, ''Paraceraptrocerus'' is now regarded as a synonym of ''Anicetus'', making this step redundant.
===60 (Antenna not flattened although the scape may be expanded ventrally; no facial carina)===
*60a Ovipositor protruding strongly (fig. 49 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) at apex of metasoma by about one half length of metasoma........ 61
*60b Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted; if strongly protruded (rare), then antennal scrobes sulcate, or mandible slender, tridentate, the upper tooth retracted (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 62
===61 (Ovipositor protruding strongly)===
*61a Head with numerous setigerous pits; fore wing with a single pale cross-band beyond venation; body robust, black in colour; parasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Lombitsikala''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lombitsikala coccidivora'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia madagascariensis'' (Madagascar)
*61b Head at most with minute, indistinct punctations; fore wing without hyaline cross-bands; body more or less slender, usually generally yellowish to brownish; probably hyperparasitoids, usually in mealybugs - [[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****'' Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Atrococcus'' sp., ''Dysmicoccus multivorus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Heliococcus bohemicus'', ''Heterococcopsis opertus'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Peliococcus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Puto pilosellae'', ''Spinococcus calluneti'', ''Trionymus'' spp., coccid scales ''Rhizopulvinaria armeniaca'', felt scales ''Acanthococcus desertus'', ''Eriococcus insignis'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****'' Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Lecanium viride'', margarodid scales ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****'' Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Centrococcus'' spp., ''Coccidohystrix'' spp., ''Dysmicoccus'' sp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp., ''Oxyacanthus chrysocomae'', ''Paracoccus'' sp., ''Peliococcus mesasiaticus'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' spp., ''Trabutina crassispinosa'', ''Trabutina leonardii'', armored scale insects ''Chionaspis'' sp., felt scales ''Eriococcus stenoclini'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
===62 (Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted)===
*62a Antennal scape long and slender, at most slightly expanded ventrally........ 63
*62b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded, less than three times as long as its greatest width................70
==63 Antennal scape long and slender==
*63a Fore wing with marginal vein several times longer than stigmal (fig. 51 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal club with four segments, visible only in cleared slide·mounted specimens (fig. 52 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -[[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, Spain.]][[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, lateral view]]
**''''' Metaphaenodiscus''''' Mercet, 1921
*** Host species generally unknown, except for ''Metaphaenodiscus umbilicatus'' (Australia) which is known to be a parasitoid of a mealy bug.
*** 10 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Metaphaenodiscus aethiops'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus capensis'', associated with ''Protea aurea'' (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus watshami'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
*63b Marginal vein of fore wing shorter than, or subequal to stigmal vein; club with fewer than four segments................64
===64 (Marginal vein shorter than stigmal vein; antennal club with less than four segments)===
*64a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53 and 54 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), impressed on face as two deep furrows, their lateral margins acutely angled, at least in their basal one-half or so, converging, sometimes confluent dorsally to form an inverted V-shaped impression on face........ 65
*64b Antennal scrobes otherwise................66
===65 (Antennal scrobes impressed on face as two deep furrows)===
*65a Antennal club not longer than the distal funicle segments together; frontovertex more or less pitted; mandible with two teeth and a broad truncation (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
*65b Antennal club much longer than the distal three funicle segments together; frontovertex without pits or punctations; mandible with three teeth and a truncation (fig. 56 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Parasitic in Lacciferidae. Male antenna with two smaIl funicle segments and a large, unsegmented banana shaped club (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
===66 (Antennal scrobes not deeply impressed)===
*66a Mandible with three distinct teeth, the upper one sometimes retracted ................ 67
*66b Mandible otherwise ................ 68
===67 (Mandible with three distinct teeth)===
*67a Antenna (fig. 58 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) slender, not clavate, the funicle segments each longer than wide, the pedicel and funicle subcqual in length; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Hadrencyrtus''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Hadrencyrtus cirritus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Distichlicoccus'' sp. (South Africa)
*67b Antenna (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) clavate, not particularly slender, the basal funicle segment plainly wider than long, small, much shorter than pedicel; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===68 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth)===
*68a Mandible with a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation (fig. 59 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); ovipositor with gonostyli absent; parasitic in Membracidae - [[File:Prionomastix biharensis - Female 01.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prionomastix biharensis'', Bihar, India.]]
**''''' Prionomastix''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 30 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prionomastix africana'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix capeneri'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Beaufortiana viridis'', ''Leprechaunus cristatus'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix congoensis'' - no associates known (Rwanda)
****'' Prionomastix montana'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Dukeobelus simplex'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix myartsevae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix siccarius'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Gongroneura fasciata'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix wonjeae'' is a parasitoid of leafhoppers ''Coloborrhis corticina'' (Cameroon)
*68b Mandible otherwise; gonostyli present; not parasitic in Membracidae................69
===69 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth, or a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation)===
*69a Antennal club large, about as long as entire funicle; integument of head and thorax heavily sclerotized, strongly and intricately sculptured with raised, irregular ridges; probably parasitic in Lacciferidae. Fore wing with areas of very coarse discal setae (fig. 60 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
** '''Coccopilatus''' Annecke, 1963
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Coccopilatus judithae'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
*69b Antennal club shorter than funicle; sculpture of head and thorax mostly cellulite-reticulate; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran]]
**'' ' '' Neococcidencyrtus Compere, 1928
*** 20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****'' Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Furchadaspis zamiae'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
==70 Antennal scape expanded==
*70a Antenna with all funicle segments transverse (fig. 61 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); club very large, longer than entire funicle; paratergitcs present; frontovertex pitted; parasitic in mealybugs - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9470.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus citri'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast)
****'' Aenasius advena'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp. ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp. (Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' sp. (Afrotropical)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus celtis'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'' (Ghana)
70b Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; paratergites absent; frontovertex at most with fine punctations; not parasitic in mealybugs ................ 71
===71 (Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; frontovertex not markedly pitted)===
*71a Head and thoracic dorsum largely metallic blue-green or cupreous, covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella'' sp., ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*71b Head and body generally yellowish to brownish, without any metallic refringence or white setae; parasitic in Coccoidea ................ 72
===72 (Head and body yellowish to brownish, not metallic, no white setae)===
*72a Antennal club longer than distal three funicle segments together, usually much wider than funicle segment VI; if rarely shorter, then distal four funicle segments white - [[File:Metaphycus inat 5003180 c.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*72b Club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together, at most a little wider than distal funicle segment; funicle with at most distal three segments white - [[File:Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|thumb|''Microterys'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Microterys nietneri female.jpg|thumb|Female ''Microterys nietneri'', New Zealand]]
**'''''Microterys''''' Thomson, 1876
*** 228 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Microterys africa'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardia decorella'' (Uganda)
****'' Microterys anneckei'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Filippia'' sp., ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys bizanensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceronema'' sp., ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia cuneiformis'' (Eritrea)
****'' Microterys capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys ceroplastae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes destructor'' (Kenya)
****'' Microterys clauseni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Metaceronema japonica'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys haroldi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Messinea plana'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys kenyaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Lecanium oleae'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Microterys nanus'' is a parasitoid of cerococcid scales ''Cerococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys nicholsoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Ceroplastes destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Microterys nietneri'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Chloropulvinaria'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp., ''Eucalymnatus tessellatus'', ''Lecanium'' spp., ''Maacoccus piperis'', ''Parasaissetia'' spp., ''Parasaissetia oleae'', ''Parthenolecanium'' spp., ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Protopulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Saissetia'' spp., ''Sphaerolecanium prunastri'', armored scales ''Hemichionaspis theae'', ''Pinnaspis theae'', mealybugs ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys speciosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp. (South Africa)
== 73 Fore wing entirely hyaline, or faintly infuscated (any infuscation only visible against a pale background; from 44)==
* 73a Gonostyli exserted at apex of metasoma, the exserted parts laterally compressed, usually more or less rounded apically in lateral view........ 74
* 73b Gonostyli, if protruding at apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally, usually having the appearance of two slender, sharp stylets................78
== 74 Gonostyli extend beyond apex of metasoma, laterally compressed and rounded apically ==
* 74a Scutellum entirely or partly shiny, with a polished appearance, without differentiated sculptural cells; mandibles exceptionally large (fig. 62 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>)........ 75
* 74b Scutellum dorsally sculptured, not smooth and polished; mandibles normal................76
=== 75 Scutellum shiny; mandibles large===
* 75a Postmarginal vein (fig. 63 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing shorter than marginal, not reaching to a level near apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc largely devoid of setae; parasitic in Coleoptera - [[File:Cerchysiella inat 104244416.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysiella'' sp., United States]]
**''''' Cerchysiella''''' Girault, 1914
***''Zeteticontus'' Silvestri, 1915 is a synonym of ''Cerchysiella''.
*** 36 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysiella abilis'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Cerchysiella neodypsisae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Cerchysiella punctiscutellum'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****''Cerchysiella utilis'' (Noyes) (5)
****''Cerchysiella xanthopus'' (Masi) (1)
* 75b Postmarginal vein of fore wing subequal to or longer than marginal, reaching to about the level of apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc evenly and densely setose; parasitic in Diptera - [[File:Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|thumb|''Tachinaephagus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Tachinaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 11 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Tachinaephagus congoensis'' Subba Rao (1)
****''Tachinaephagus stomoxicida'' Subba Rao (3)
****''Tachinaephagus zealandicus'' Ashmead (6)
=== 76 Scutellum sculptured, not smooth; mandibles not large ===
* 76a Antennal funicle and club white in colour; antennal scape expanded ventrally, the funicle segments all wider than long; parasitic in Coleoptera. Head with membranous interruptions of sclerotized integument as in fig. 64 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Chrysomelechthrus''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysomelechthrus descampsi'' (Risbec) (3)
* 76b Antennal funicle and club dark in colour; scape slender, subcylindrical, the funicle with at least basal four or five segments longer than wide; parasitic in Diptera........ 77
=== 77 Antennal funicle and club dark; scape slender, subcylindrical; funicle with more than three segments longer than wide ===
* 77a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; pedicel shorter than, to about as long as, basal funicle segment; clypeal margin not crenulate - [[File:Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cerchysius''''' Westwood, 1832
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysius kilimanjarensis'' Kerrich (1)
****''Cerchysius ugandensis'' Kerrich (4)
* 77b Head and body without metallic lustre; pedicel plainly longer than basal funicle segment; clypeal margin with crenulae -
**''''' Coccidoctonus''''' Crawford, 1912
***''Xyphigaster'' Risbec, 1954 is a synonym of '' Coccidoctonus''
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidoctonus pseudococci'' (Risbec) (9)
== 78 If gonostyli protrude from apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally ==
* 78a Head, in frontal view, with eyes large, extending almost to mouth margin, the genae very short. Head and body metallic green in colour, the tegulae partly white; male antenna with four rami, borne on the first four funicle segments; parasitic in Lepidoptera - [[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus male antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Male antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]][[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus female antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Feale antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]]
**''''' Parablastothrix''''' Mercet, 1917
*** 16 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
****No Afrotropical records in UCD?
* 78b Genae much longer, usually plainly more than one-third longest diameter of eye in frontal view........ 79
=== 79 In frontal view genae more than one-third longest diameter of eye ===
* 79a Mandible with four teeth (figs 43, 65 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 80
* 79b Mandible otherwise................81
=== 80 Mandible with four teeth ===
* 80a Scutellum longitudinally striate (fig. 66 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); dorsum of thorax gently convex, the thorax not dorsoventrally compressed - [[File:Lamennaisia ambigua male p284.jpg|thumb|''Lamennaisia ambigua'', male]]
**''''' Lamennaisia''''' Girault, 1922
***''Mercetencyrtus'' Trjapitzin, 1963 is a synonym of ''Lamennaisia''
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lamennaisia nobilis'' (Nees) (South Africa)
* 80b Scutellum largely cellulate-reticulate, not giving the surface a striated effect; body some what flattened dorsoventrally, the thoracic dorsum flat or almost so - [[File:Adelencyrtus - Japoshvili, G. and Soethof, R. (2022).jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
=== 81 Mandible does not have four teeth ===
* 81a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (cf. fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 82
* 81b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci........ 83
=== 82 Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci===
* 82a Antenna (fig. 67 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, the scape subcylindrical, the funicle segments all longer than wide; paratergites present; body entirely black, or black with metasoma yellowish, the latter laterally margined with blackish-brown; head and thorax with a metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Charitopus fulviventris male Fig. 218 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Male ''Charitopus fulviventris'']][[File:Charitopus fulviventris female Fig. 220 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Female ''Charitopus fulviventris'']]
**''''' Charitopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Charitopus fulviventris'' - no associates known (South Africa)
* 82b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, the funicle segments not all longer than wide (fig. 68 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); paratergites absent; head and body without a metallic refringence, usually yellowish to brownish in colour; parasitic in Coccoidea other than Pseudococcidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
=== 83 Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci===
* 83a Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, more than three times as long as its greatest width........ 84
* 83b Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide........ 117
== 84 Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, much longer than wide==
* 84a Antennal sockets placed high on face (fig. 69 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), their lower limits at or above lower eye level. Body black in colour, the frontovertex and face more or less pitted; antennal scrobes usually sulcate; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Bothriophryne''''' Compere, 1937
*** 8 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriophryne acaciae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Bothriophryne ceroplastae'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne dispar'' Compere (2)
****''Bothriophryne fuscicornis'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne purpurascens'' Compere (3)
****''Bothriophryne velata'' Prinsloo and Annecke (2)
* 84b Antennal scrobes placed lower on face, their lower limits well below lower eye level, sometimes almost at mouth margin........ 85
=== 85 Antennal scrobes are low on face, lower limits well below bottom of eye===
* 85a Antennal club white........ 86
* 85b Antennal club not white........ 87
=== 86 Antennal club white===
* 86a Head and thorax brilliant metallic green in colour; antennal club strongly obliquely truncate apically; mandible (fig. 70 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a broad truncation; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
* 86b Head and body without metallic refringence; club rounded apically; mandible (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three slender teeth, the dorsal one somewhat retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 87 Antennal club not white===
* 87a Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented. Polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae................88
* 87b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented................89
=== 88 Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented===
* 88a Antennal club obliquely truncate from near base (fig. 71 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein of fore wing short, shorter than stigmal - [[File:Copidosoma varicorne female.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma varicorne'', female]][[File:202101 Copidosoma floridanum attack.svg|thumb|''Copidosoma floridanum'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma''
*** See also step 109 below
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' is a parasitoid of Lepidoptera (Cape Verde Islands, Ivory Coast, Senegal)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 88b Antennal club rounded or more or less squarely truncate at apex (fig. 72 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein (fig. 73 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) unsually long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal vein - [[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig143.jpg|thumb|Female ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'']][[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig145.jpg|thumb|Postmarginal and stigmal veins, ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'' female fore-wing.]]
**''''' Ageniaspis''''' Dahlbom, 1857
*** 21 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ageniaspis citricola'' Logvinovskaya (1)
****''Ageniaspis primus'' Prinsloo (1)
=== 89 Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented===
* 89a Mandible (fig. 74 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three distinct teeth and a straight dorsal truncation. Parasitic in Lacciferidae........ 90
* 89b Mandible otherwise........ 91
=== 90 ===
* 90a Abdomen with two interrupted rows of gland-like structures (fig. 75 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), one each on tergum II and VII, head and thorax with rather strong metallic refringence -
**''''' Adencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 3 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Adencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus pictus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 90b Abdomen without gland-like structures; head and body at most very slightly metallic in parts. Male antenna (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two small, transverse funicle segments and a long, unsegmented banana-shaped club -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 91 ===
* 91a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53, 54, 76), their lateral margins sharply angled, usually impressed on face as an inverted V........ 92
* 91b Scrobes otherwise........ 94
=== 92 ===
* 92a Gonostyli very short and broad (fig. 77 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), subtriangular, densely covered with short, spine-like setae. Body black in colour; male antenna ten-segmented, the club two-segmented; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**'''''Laccacida''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Laccacida lacunata'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
* 92b Gonostyli otherwise: elongate and slender, not densely covered with spine-like setae. Antenna of male nine-segmented, the club not segmented........ 93
=== 93 ===
* 93a Mandible (fig. 78 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three teeth; frontovertex with fine punctations; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 93b Mandible (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; frontovertex with large punctations or with pits; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
=== 94 ===
* 94a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments........ 95
* 94b Antennal funicle unicolorous or almost so........ 97
=== 95 ===
* 95a Body yellowish to brownish, without a metallic tinge; antennal club rounded apically; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
* 95b Body black, in parts with weak to strong metallic refringence; antennal club obliquely or transversely truncate apically; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 96
=== 96 ===
* 96a Mandible with three distinct teeth; antennal club (fig. 79 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) transversely truncate apically; marginal vein punctiform (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); polyembryonic parasitoids in larvae of Lepidoptera -
**'''''Paralitomastix''''' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '''''Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844 (see step 88)
* 96b Mandible with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; antennal club (fig. 81 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; marginal vein of fore wing (fig. 82 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) well developed; hyperparasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Tremblaya''''' Trjapitzin, 1985
*** ''Silvestria'' Trjapitzin, 1972 is a synonym of ''Tremblaya''
*** 5 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Tremblaya ceroplastae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Tremblaya coffeicola'' Noyes (1)
****''Tremblaya minor'' (Silvestri) (6)
****''Tremblaya oleae'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Tremblaya palaeococci'' (Risbec) (2)
=== 97 ===
* 97a All funicle segments plainly wider than long................98
* 97b Funicle segments not all wider than long................102
=== 98 All funicle segments plainly wider than long===
* 98a Postmarginal vein (fig. 83 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing very long, much longer than marginal, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal; paratergites present; mandible with three slender teeth, the middle one longest; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**'''''Blepyrus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 19 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Blepyrus insularis'' (Cameron) (11)
****''Blepyrus saccharicola'' Gahan (2)
****''Blepyrus schwarzi'' (Howard) (1)
* 98b Fore wing venation otherwise; paratergites absent; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in mealybugs........ 99
=== 99 ===
* 99a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short, shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; the latter placed at or close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Timberlake, 1919
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 99b Antennal scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; antennal sockets placed higher on face, their upper limits usually about level with lower eye margins; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 100
=== 100 ===
* 100a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with a single segment; small species, about 0,6 mm in length; parasitic in eggs of Coleoptera and Diptera -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Oobius abditus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius funestus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius longoi'' (Siscaro) (4)
****''Oobius striatus'' Annecke (3)
* 100b Palpi otherwise; larger species, often more than 1 mm in length; not egg parasitoids........ 101
=== 101 ===
* 101a Head and body dominantly dark blackish-brown to black; antennal club (fig. 84 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; parasitic in Diptera -
**'''''Exoristobia''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 9 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Exoristobia dipterae'' (Risbec) (8)
****''Exoristobia macrocerus'' (Masi) (1)
****''Exoristobia ugandensis'' Subba Rao (2)
* 101b Head and body dominantly yellowish to brownish-yellow; antennal club rounded apically; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
=== 102 Funicle segments not all wider than long===
* 102a Small species, at most about 1 mm in length, but usually less than 1 mm; exclusively parasitic in insect eggs, often in those of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera........ 103
* 102b Larger species, usually more than 1 mm in length; if less than 1 mm in length, then not parasitic in insect eggs, but in the larvae and pupae of insects................104
=== 103 ===
* 103a Antennal club longer than entire funicle; funicle segments I-V transverse; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial palpi not segmented -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species (See step 100)
* 103b Antennal club shorter than entire funicle; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three - [[File:Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Egg Mass Being Parasitized by Ooencyrtus kuvanae - Mississauga, Ontario.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' on a moth egg mass, Canada]] [[File:Ooencyrtus gravis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus gravis'', female, Spain.]]
**'''''Ooencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 343 species worldwide; 38 Afrotropical species:
****''Ooencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus albicrus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus angolensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus austrinus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus azul'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus bambeyi'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus bedfordi'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus camerounensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus cinctus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Ooencyrtus cirinae'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus congensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus cretatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus demodoci'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus dipterae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus distatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus epilachnae'' Annecke (3)
****''Ooencyrtus exallus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus guamensis'' Fullaway (6)
****''Ooencyrtus homoeoceri'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus insignis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus jeani'' Noyes and Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' is an egg parasitoid of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera (Nigeria)
****''Ooencyrtus lamborni'' Waterston (11)
****''Ooencyrtus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus nanus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus pallidipes'' (Ashmead) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus piezodori'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus polyphagus'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus puparum'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rigemae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus risbeci'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rufogaster'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus senegalensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus sesbaniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Ooencyrtus sinis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus unicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus utetheisae'' (Risbec) (11)
****''Ooencyrtus ventralis'' (Masi) (1)
=== 104 ===
* 104a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; head usually approximately round in outline in frontal view with mouth margin broad, antennal sockets placed close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 104b Scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; other characters different; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 105
=== 105 ===
* 105a Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth (figs 85, 86)........ 106
* 105b Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth; rarely with three teeth, but then dorsal tooth not acute or subacute, but broad, the apex squarely to roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................111
=== 106 Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 106a Head and body entirely and brilliantly metallic in colour; parasitic in Aclerdidae - [[File:Mayridia pulchra, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Mayridia pulchra'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Mayridia''''' Mercet, 1921
***34 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Mayridia arida'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Mayridia maryae'' Prinsloo (1)
* 106b Head and body at most with a faint to moderately strong metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thorax; not parasitic in Aclerdidae........ 107
=== 107 ===
* 107a Antennal club as long as the distal three funicle segments together; marginal vein or fore wing longer than stigmal; parasitic in dryinid wasps -
**'''''Helegonatopus''''' Perkins, 1906
***13 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Helegonatopus saotomensis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 107b Antennal club longer than funicle segments III-VI; marginal vein at most as long as stigmal; not parasitic in Hymenoptera........ 108
=== 108 ===
* 108a Antennal club obliquely truncate apically. Thoracic dorsum usually with metallic green and purple refringence; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae -
**'''''Litomastix''''' Thomson, 1876
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma'', making this step redundant, although presumably useful for identification of species groups?.
* 108b Antennal club rounded apically, or club segments transverse........ 109
=== 109 ===
* 109a Antenna long and slender, the funicle segments all longer than wide; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae - [[File:Copidosoma koehleri 03.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma koehleri'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** See also step 88 (above)
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' (Ashmead) (6)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 109b Funicle segments not all longer than wide, the antenna not particularly slender; not parasitic in Lepidoptera................110
=== 110 ===
* 110a Marginal and postmarginal veins very short, the latter much shorter than stigmal vein, sometimes punctiform; frontovertex without punctations; usually parasitic in Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 110b Marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter reaching almost to the level of apex of stigmal vein; frontovertex with scattered puncrations; exclusively parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
***'' Tachardiaephagus'' keys out at 93, 110
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
=== 111 Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 111a Tergum II and VII of abdomen each with an interrupted row of gland-like structures (fig. 88 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); Antennal club long, usually about as long as enure funicle; legs usually banded; parasitic in Diaspididae. -
**'''''Zaomma''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 17 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Zaomma acaciae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma carinae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma cestus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma ficusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma lambinus'' (Walker) (5)
****''Zaomma sitis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma vix'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma xhosa'' Prinsloo (2)
* 111b Abdomen without gland-like structures........ 112
=== 112 Abdomen without gland-like structures===
* 112a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two; parasitic in Diaspididae. Small species, usually not much more than 1 mm in length; antenna generally slender, the club long -
**'''''Coccidencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 36 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes'' Gahan (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus plectroniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus punctatus'' Compere and Annecke (1)
* 112b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; not parasitic in Diaspididae........ 113
=== 113 ===
* 113a Marginal vein of fore wing relatively long*, broad, dark in colour, about as long as, or longer than, stigmal vein (figs 89, 90); mandible with three well separated teeth, the upper one squarely or roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 114
* 113b Marginal vein punctiform or very short, shorter than stigmal (figs 91, 92); if rarely subequal to stigmal, then mandible with a well separated ventral tooth and a broad dorsal truncation (fig. 93 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 115
=== 114 ===
* 114a Body longer than 1 mm; thorax slender, the scutellum longer than wide; legs usually not banded; primary parasitoids of Syrphidae - [[File:Syrphophagus aphidivorus, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'', female, Spain]][[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 114b Smaller species, usually about 1 mm in length; scutellum relatively broad, about as long as wide or a little wider than long; legs usually banded; hyperparasitoids of aphids, rarely of psyllids -
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
***''Aphidencyrtus'' is a synonym of ''Syrphophagus''; this step previously separated ''Aphidencyrtus''
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
=== 115 ===
* 115a Head and body pale, dominantly yellow in colour, without metallic refringence; parasitic in Coccidae. Male remarkable in colour: orange and brilliant metallic green in parts -
**''''' Argutencyrtus''''' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974<ref name=Prinsloo1974>Prinsloo, G.L. & Annecke, D.P. (1973). A new genus and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from South Africa. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, 37(2), 345-349. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2638</ref>
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Argutencyrtus luteolus'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974
* 115b Head and body entirely metallic in colour, or black with some parts with faint to moderately strong metallic refringence, or rarely at least head and thorax black; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 116
=== 116 ===
* 116a Usually entirely metallic green or blue-green in colour, rarely with only some parts metallic in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae - [[File:Psyllaephagus inat 165372177 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus'' sp., Córdoba, Spain.]][[File:Psyllaephagus guangxiensis (10.3897-BDJ.9.e63253) Figure 1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Psyllaephagus guangxiensis'', China]] [[File:Psyllaephagus euphyllurae, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus euphyllurae'', female, Spain]]
**'''''[[w:Psyllaephagus|Psyllaephagus]]''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 246 species worldwide; 30 Afrotropical species:
****''Psyllaephagus africanus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus albicrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus arytainae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus bicolor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae'' Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame, Dzokou, Gumovsky and De Coninck (1)
****''Psyllaephagus bliteus'' Riek, 1962 (Australia, introduced to South Africa and also Neotropical and western Palaearctic regions)
****''Psyllaephagus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus capeneri'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus cellulatus'' Waterston (1)
****''Psyllaephagus chianganus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus cincticrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus dealbatae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus dispar'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus furvus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus hibiscusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus io'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus lucaris'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus minor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus oleae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus ornatus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus pauliani'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus perendinus'' Robinson (1)
****''Psyllaephagus phytolymae'' (Ferriere) (5)
****''Psyllaephagus pulvinatus'' (Waterston) (12)
****''Psyllaephagus rhusae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus secus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus tessmannii'' Tamesse and Tiyo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus vastus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus viridis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus yaseeni'' Noyes (Tanzania)
* 116b Never entirely metallic in colour, at most the head and thoracic dorsum with weak to moderately strong metallic refringence; parasitic in Syrphidae and Coccinellidae -
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114a, 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
== 117 Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide ==
* 117a Eyes exceptionally setose (fig. 123 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the setae long, strongly developed; frontovertex sparsely pitted; antenna (fig. 126 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with scape blackish, the remainder of antenna uniformly paler in colour - [[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 117b Eyes sparsely setose, the setae fine; frontovertex at most finely punctate; colour of antenna otherwise........ 118
=== 118 Eyes sparsely setose===
* 118a Head tending to opisthognathous, the frontovertex almost horizontal, meeting the inflexed face at an acute angle, so that head is subtriangular in lateral view; parasitic in ticks (Ixodidae). Male sometimes brachypterous, in which case the head has a forked process jutting forward at junction of frontovertex and face - [[File:Ixodiphagus hookeri.jpg|thumb|''Ixodiphagus hookeri'', France]]
**'''''Ixodiphagus''''' Howard, 1907
***''Hunterellus'' Howard, 1908 is a synonym of ''Ixodiphagus''
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ixodiphagus hookeri'' (Howard) (14)
****''Ixodiphagus theilerae'' (Fiedler) (5)
* 118b Head hypognathous, the frontovertex more or less convex, rounded on to face; not parasitic in ticks........ 119
=== 119 ===
* 119a Head and body largely yellowish to brownish, without metallic refringence; antennal scrobes more or less well developed; toruli with lower limits well above clypeal margin; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 119b Head and body dominantly black, the head and thoracic dorsum with faint to strong metallic refringence; scrobes absent or developed as two very short shallow furrows, hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; toruli placed at or close to mouth margin; polyembryonic parasitoids of aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
== 120 Mandible with only two teeth; paratergites usually present; usually without coarse setae at edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced. Mealybug parasitoids==
[Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae (from 43)]
* 120a Antennal funicle seven-segmented -
**''''' Alamella''''' Agarwal, 1966
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Alamella flava'' - a parasitoid of eriococcids and mealybugs (Angola, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa)
****Species description: [https://www.ias.ac.in/public/Volumes/secb/063/02/0067-0079.pdf Agarwal (1966)]<ref name=Agarwal1966>Agarwal, M. M. (1966). Three undescribed genera and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera-Chalcidoidea) parasitic on coccids. In Proceedings/Indian Academy of Sciences (Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 67-79). New Delhi: Springer India.</ref>
* 120b Club two-segmented; head and body without metallic lustre; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with two. Funicle with six or fewer segments........ 121
=== 121 ===
* 121a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (cf. fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat caudal projection of the scutellum. Body often black, the head dark metallic green; antenna long, slender, the scape cylindrical; marginal and postmarginal veins long - [[File:Ericydnus inat 183126807 Mario Bassini.jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Italy]]
**''''' Ericydnus''''' Haliday, 1832
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
* 121b Scutellum without a flange........ 122
=== 122 ===
* 122a Head prognathous (fig. 94 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), elongate and flattened in dorsal view, almost as long as thorax (fig. 95 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the eyes elongate, in dorsal view occupying almost whole of head laterally; antenna (fig. 96 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extremely large, foliaceously flattened, the club three-segmented -
**''''' Monstranusia''''' Trjapitzin, 1964
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Monstranusia antennata'' (Narayanan) (1)
****''Monstranusia mirabilissima'' Trjapitzin (4)
* 122b Head otherwise; if antenna foliaceously flattened, then club not segmented................123
=== 123 ===
* 123a Antenna nine-segmented........ 124
* 123b Antenna ten or eleven-segmented........ 126
=== 124 ===
* 124a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches (fig. 97 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Head .and body largely metallic in colour; antenna sometimes foliaceously flattened; ovipositor often strongly protruded at apex of metasoma; male antenna with funicle six-segmented, segments II – V each with a ramus -
**''''' Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
*** 37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus'' bifasciatellus (Mercet) (1)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (1)
* 124b Fore wing entirely hyaline........ 125
=== 125 ===
* 125a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; antenna (fig. 111 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, the fumcle and club broad, somewhat laterally compressed -
**''''' Callaincyrtus''''' Prinsloo & Annecke, 1979
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Callaincyrtus decorus'' - no known associates (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
* 125b Head and body at most with faint metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thoracic dorsum; antenna not particularly slender, the segments not flattened -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915<ref name=>Silvestri, F. 1915, Contributo all conoscenza degli insetti dell'olivo dell'Eritrea e dell'Africa meridionalei. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della R. Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura, Portici 9:305 [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14029132 BHL][https://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/research-curation/projects/chalcidoids/pdf_X/Silves915.pdf PDF]</ref>
*** This genus was reviewed in 1995: Prinsloo, G. L. (1995). The encyrtid genus Allocerellus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), parasitoids of mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 26(2), 167-179.
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Allocerellus ater'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus bizonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus curtus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus hortensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****'' Allocerellus inquirendus'' Silvestri (2)
****'' Allocerellus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus notatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus orestes'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus paulus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus venustus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus vittatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus zonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
=== 126 ===
* 126a Antenna ten-segmented, the club with two segments........ 127
* 126b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented........ 128
=== 127 ===
* 127a Head and body flatlened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**'''''Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Rhopus adustus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus discretus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus geminus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus luridus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus notius'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus pilatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus urbanus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 127b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=== 128 ===
* 128a Frontovertex (fig. 98 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) densely pitted, the pits with a metallic green lustre; antennal scape subcylindical. Dominantly black species, the fore wing entirely and strongly infuscated; cephalic margin of fore wing forming an incision at apex of submarginal vein; male antenna with six transverse funicle segments and a long unsegmented banana-shaped club - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9692.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** ''Chalcaspis'' Howard, 1895 is a synonym of '' Aenasius''
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' (Risbec) (4)
****'' Aenasius advena'' Compere (9)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' (Kerrich) (4)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' Kerrich (1)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' (Walker) (1)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' (Compere) (4)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' (Ashmead) (1)
* 128b Frontovertex at most punctate, the punctations not refringent........ 129
=== 129 ===
* 129a Head and body flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**''''' Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 127
* 129b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; palpi otherwise........ 130
=== 130 ===
* 130a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two................131
* 130b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial three-segmented........ 132
=== 131 ===
* 131a Antenna (fig. 99 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, filiform, the funicle segments all plainly longer than wide; postmarginal vein (fig. 100 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing long, extending to a level well beyond apex of stigmal; small species. Fore wing hyaline or partly infuscated - [[File:Leptomastidea abnormis inat 8538894 Jesse Rorabaugh.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastidea abnormis'', California, USA]]
**''''' Leptomastidea''''' Mercet, 1916
*** This genus was reviewed in 2001: Prinsloo, G.L. 2001, The aftrotropical species of Leptomastidea Mercet (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitoids of mealybugs. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 10(2):158-159. Includes photos of fore wings.
*** 23 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****'' Leptomastidea abnormis'' (Girault) (12)
****'' Leptomastidea ascia'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea jeanneli'' Mercet (5)
****'' Leptomastidea lamto'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea pondo'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea tecta'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea turba'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea usta'' Prinsloo (1)
* 131b Antenna (fig. 101 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) not particularly slender, the funicle segments not all longer than wide; postmarginal vein short, shorter than stigmal; larger species - [[File:Anagyrus lopezi.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus lopezi'']][[File:Anagyrus on mealybug inaturalist 105468882.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus'' wasp parasitizing a mealybug]]
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** ''Doliphoceras'' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '' Anagyrus''
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anagyrus aberiae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus abyssinicus'' Compere (4)
****'' Anagyrus agraensis'' Saraswat (1)
****'' Anagyrus amnicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus amoenus'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus antoniae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus arambourgi'' Risbec (1)
****'' Anagyrus arenaria'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus aurantifrons'' Compere (6)
****'' Anagyrus bambeyi'' Risbec (3)
****'' Anagyrus beneficians'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus bugandaensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus diversicornis'' (Howard) (11)
****'' Anagyrus fusciventris'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus gracilis'' (Hayat) (3)
****'' Anagyrus greeni'' Howard (1)
****'' Anagyrus haroldi'' Noyes and Hayat (4)
****'' Anagyrus incongruens'' (Masi) (1)
****'' Anagyrus indicus'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****'' Anagyrus kivuensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus lopezi'' (De Santis) (92)
****'' Anagyrus mangicola'' Noyes (7)
****'' Anagyrus mirzai'' Agarwal and Alam (3)
****'' Anagyrus nigrescens'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus pseudococci'' (Girault) (10)
****'' Anagyrus pullus'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus rubellus'' (Annecke) (4)
****'' Anagyrus saccharicola'' Timberlake (8)
****'' Anagyrus siccus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****'' Anagyrus subflaviceps'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus subnigricornis'' Ishii (1)
****'' Anagyrus subproximus'' (Silvestri) (5)
****'' Anagyrus swezeyi'' Timberlake (2)
=== 132 ===
* 132a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments; if rarely unicolorous, then marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform........ 133
* 132b Funicle unicolorous; marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter often very long........ 134
=== 133 ===
* 133a Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally (fig. 102 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing hyaline; frontovertex without punctations -
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 131b
* 133b Antennal scape subcylindrical (fig. 121 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing weakly to strongly infuscated (fig. 119 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), at least in the distal three-fourths or so; frontovertex and face with scattered punctations (fig. 118 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Basal part of fore wing with setation as in fig. 120 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; male antenna as in fig. 122 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> - [[File:Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|thumb|''Apoleptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Apoleptomastix''''' Kerrich, 1982
***''Xiphomastix'' De Santis, 1972 is a synonym of ''Apoleptomastix''
*** 6 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Apoleptomastix anneckei'' Pseudococcidae ''Antonina'' sp. (Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Apoleptomastix bicoloricornis'' Pseudococcidae ''Brevennia rehi'', ''Coccidohystrix insolita'', ''Heterococcus nigeriensis'' (Ethiopia, Gambia, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
=== 134 ===
* 134a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches........ 135
* 134b Fore wing hyaline; if rarely infuscated, then with faint longitudinally infuscated bands........ 136
=== 135 ===
* 135a Head and body dominantly orange-red; fore wing (fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) tapering towards apex from the level of apex of venation, the wing disc characteristically maculated as in fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; antenna not particularly slender, the scape somewhat expanded ventrally, about three times as long as its greatest width; wings held horizontal in life -
**''''' Yasumatsuiola''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species?
****''Yasumatsuiola orientalis'' Trjapitzin, 1977 found in Afrotropics?
* 135b Colour of head and body otherwise; fore wing (fig. 104 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, slender, not tapering towards apex, the latter broadly rounded; wing disc infuscated with hyaline cross-bands or patches; antenna (fig. 105 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, filiform, the scape cylindrical, much more than three times as long as wide; wings held erect in life - [[File:Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|thumb|''Callipteroma sexguttata'', South Africa]][[File:Mercet 1921 27 Callipteroma 118.jpg|thumb|Male ''Callipteroma sexguttata'', Spain]]
**''''' Callipteroma''''' Motschulsky, 1863
*** 6 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Callipteroma albiclava'' Noyes (1)
****''Callipteroma sexguttata'' Motschulsky (3)
****''Callipteroma testacea'' Motschulsky (2)
=== 136 ===
* 136a Scutellum with sculptural cells longitudinally oriented, somewhat raised, giving the disc a striate effect (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black, shiny, without metallic refringence; male antenna (fig. 117 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with rami, one each on funicle segments II–V -
**'''''Neocharitopus''''' Hayat, Alam and Agarwal, 1975
*** ''Insleyia'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979 is a synonym of ''Neocharitopus''
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Neocharitopus crassus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****''Neocharitopus solani'' (Risbec) (1)
* 136b Sculpture of scutellum otherwise................137
=== 137 ===
* 137a Antennal scape (fig. 106 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, or if only slightly expanded, then the ends cylindrical. General colour yellow to orange, without metallic lustre; thorax covered with fine white setae; postmarginal vein long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal -
**''''' Gyranusoidea''''' Compere, 1947
*** 44 species worldwide; 11 Afrotropical species:
****''Gyranusoidea austrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea citrina'' (Compere) (6)
****''Gyranusoidea dilatata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea flava'' Shafee, Alam and Agarwal (1)
****''Gyranusoidea klugei'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Gyranusoidea litura'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea munda'' Annecke (5)
****''Gyranusoidea pauliani'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Gyranusoidea separata'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea signata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (5)
****''Gyranusoidea tebygi'' Noyes (28)
* 137b Antennal scape not or hardly expanded ventrally........ 138
=== 138 ===
* 138a Body always black, with moderate to strong metallic green, blue or purplish refringence. Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci; marginal and postmarginal veins long -
**''''' Clausenia''''' Ishii, 1923
*** 12 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Clausenia capensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia comperei'' Kerrich (4)
****''Clausenia concinna'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia confusor'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia corrugata'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia guineensis'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia sobrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
* 138b Colour otherwise, if rarely black, then without any metallic refringence........ 139
=== 139 ===
* 139a Antenna filiform, the basal funicle segment longer than pedicel, often very much so; cercal plates advanced to a level near base of metasoma - [[File:Leptomastix inat 153928277.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Leptomastix''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 34 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Leptomastix abyssinica'' Compere (5)
****''Leptomastix africana'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix dactylopii'' Howard (24)
****''Leptomastix digitariae'' Risbec (1)
****''Leptomastix flava'' Mercet (3)
****''Leptomastix herreni'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix hibiscusae'' Risbec (3)
****''Leptomastix jonesi'' Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix nigra'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix nigrocincta'' Risbec (4)
****''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix tsukumiensis'' Tachikawa (2)
* 139b Antenna not filiform, the pedicel longer than basal funicle segment; cecal plates placed near apex of metasoma -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=Other genera known from the Afrotropics=
[[File:Achalcerinys lindus faunaibrica Mercet 1921 F112 p270.jpg|thumb|''Achalcerinys lindus'', female, Spain.]][[File:Blastothrix erythrostetha female Fig95 p245.jpg|thumb|''Blastothrix erythrostetha'', female]]
*Some of these genera have been found in the Afrotropics since the key was created (1979)
**'''''Achalcerinys''''' Girault, 1915
***''Parasyrpophagus'' is a synonym of ''Achalcerinys''
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Achalcerinys gorodkovi'' (Myartseva, 1983) - no known associates (Egypt, Ethiopia)
****''Achalcerinys lindus'' (Mercet, 1921) - a parasitoid of Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae, Encyrtidae (Ethiopia)
**'''''Agarwalencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Agarwalencyrtus citri'' - a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid in mealybugs; ''Planococcus'' spp. (South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
****Photograph of specimen in [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20203576260 Tirunagaru and Sagadai (2020)]
**'''''Anomalencyrtus''''' Hayat and Verma, 1980
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalencyrtus longicornis'' - no known associates (Madagascar)
**'''''Anomalicornia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalicornia tenuicornis'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Astymachus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Astymachus exilis '' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Blastothrix '''''
*** 29 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Blastothrix anthocleistae'' Risbec, 1952 (Madagascar)
**'''''Bothriocraera''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriocraera bicolor'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Ghana)
**'''''Brachyplatycerus''''' De Santis, 1972
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brachyplatycerus minutum'' - a parasitoid of moths ''Cydia pomonella'' (South Africa)
**'''''Brethesiella''''' Porter, 1920
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brethesiella abnormicornis'' - a parasitoid of Margarodidae ''Icerya'' spp. (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Cladiscodes''''' Subba Rao, 1977
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cladiscodes incisius'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Cryptanusia''''' Girault , 1917
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cryptanusia aureiscutellum'' - no known associates (South Africa) [[File:Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|thumb|''Cryptanusia'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Diaphorencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis'' (Shafee, Alam and Agarwal) (Réunion, South Africa)
****''Diaphorencyrtus harrisoni'' (Robinson, 1960) (South Africa)
**'''''Dionencyrtus''''' De Santis, 1985
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dionencyrtus cordylomerae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Dusmetia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dusmetia fuscipennis'' (Noyes & Hayat, 1984) (Zimbabwe)
**'''''Ectroma''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Ectroma truncatum'' Prinsloo, 1986 (Zimbabwe)
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Erencyrtus ater'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus contrarius'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus fuscus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus notialis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
**'''''Hambletonia''''' Compere, 1936
*** 9 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hambletonia pseudococcina'' Compere, 1936 (Ghana)
**'''''Hemileucoceras''''' Hoffer, 1976
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hemileucoceras madagascariensis'' (Risbec) (Madagascar)
**'''''Holcencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 10 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Holcencyrtus liriomyzae'' Risbec (Senegal)
****''Holcencyrtus myrmicoides'' (Compere and Zinna) (Ghana)
**'''''Homosemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homosemion bennetti'' Annecke, 1967 (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Incisencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1988
*** 4 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Incisencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo, 1988 (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Incisencyrtus secus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Madagascar)
****''Incisencyrtus sirus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Nigeria)
**'''''Lakshaphagus''''' Mahdihassan, 1931
*** 9 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Lakshaphagus armillatus'' (Annecke, 1969) (South Africa)
****''Lakshaphagus ceroplastae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Manicnemus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Manicnemus'' sp. (Tanzania) <ref name=vanNoort>van Noort, S. (2024). WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Tetracneminae/Manicnemus/Manicnemus_species.htm Manicnemus species] (accessed on 14 March 2024).</ref>
**''''' Mahencyrtus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 14 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mahencyrtus occultans'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
**'''''Mira'''''
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mira integralis'' (Mercet, 1921) (Senegal) [[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.556.jpg|thumb|Female ''Mira integralis'']][[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.554.jpg|thumb|Male ''Mira integralis'']]
**'''''Neastymachus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 21 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neastymachus dispar'' Prinsloo, 1996 (South Africa)
**'''''Neodusmetia''''' Kerrich, 1964
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neodusmetia sangwani'' (Subba Rao, 1957) (Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Parablatticida''''' Girault, 1915
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Parablatticida aphycoides'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
****''Parablatticida vidua'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
**'''''Pseudococcobius''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 12 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Pseudococcobius akares'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius ancylus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius dolus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius san'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vibex'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vinealis'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
**'''''Rhytidothorax''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 20 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Rhytidothorax ambositrensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Rhytidothorax latiscapus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979) (Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Scotteus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Scotteus ochroleucus'' Masi, 1917 (Seychelles)
**'''''Spaniopterus''''' Gahan, 1927
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Spaniopterus crucifer'' Gahan, 1927 (Mauritius)
**'''''Stemmatosteres''''' Timberlake, 1918
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Stemmatosteres primus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt, 1981 (South Africa)
**'''''Trichomasthus''''' [[File:Trichomasthus cyanifrons, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Trichomasthus cyanifrons'', female, Spain]]
*** 60 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Trichomasthus portoricensis'' (Crawford, 1913) (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Xenostryxis'''''
*** 10 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Xenostryxis margiscutellum'' Girault, 1920 (South Africa)
**'''''Zarhopalus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zarhopalus corvinus'' a parasitoid of Pseudococcidae, ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
**'''''Zozoros'''''
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zozoros adamsoniae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
=References=
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key]]
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/* Other genera known from the Afrotropics */
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text/x-wiki
Encyrtidae is a large family of parasitic wasps in the Superfamily [[w:Chalcidoidea|Chalcidoidea]]. There are more than 640 described species of [[w:Afrotropical|Afrotropical]] Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of [[w:scale insect|scale insect]]s, some of which are pests that reduce the productivity of agricultural crops across the world.<br>
=Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae=
This key is based on this paper: '''Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979).''' A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref> The Universal Chalcidoidea Database<ref name=Noyes2019/>, WaspWeb<ref name=vanNoort2024>van Noort, S. 2024. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Classification/index.htm (accessed 2023-2024).</ref>, and other on-line sources were used to add details.
==1 Encyrtidae ==
[[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|'''Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae''']] include: mesopleuron very enlarged; mid coxae level with middle of mesopleuron in side view; cercal plates advanced; linea calva distinct; mesoscutum transverse and without distinct notauli.<ref name=Pitkin2004>Pitkin, B.R. (2004) Notes on families: Encyrtidae. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/encyrtidae.html www.nhm.ac.uk]</ref> There are illustrations of these features on another [[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|page of the '''African Arthropods project''']].<br>
1a Tarsi with four segments ........ 2<br>
1b Tarsi with five segments ........ 3
==2 Tarsi with four segments==
*Marginal cilia of forewing very long (fig. 2 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); axillae indistinct (fig. 3 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb]); funicle with five or six segments -
**'''''Anthemus''''' <small>HOWARD, 1896</small>
***22 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species.
***Photos: [http://ponent.atspace.org/fauna/ins/fam/encyrtidae/anthemus_hab.htm Ponent, Catalonia]
***Paper: Prinsloo, G. L., & Neser, O. C. (1989). A revision of the genus Anthemus Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in the Afrotropical region. Revue de Zoologie Africaine, 103(1), 51-72.
*Marginal cilia of forewing short (cf. fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the longest cilia never much longer than the setae on the submarginal vein; axillae are distinct and meet medially; funicle with two to four segments - [[File:Mercet 1921 7 Arrenophagus parasite in Alacaspis rosae p54.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' before emergence from scale host, Spain.]][[File:Mercet 1921 6 Arrhenophagus chionaspidis female antenna p53.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' female antenna]]
**'''''Arrhenophagus''''' <small>AURIVILLIUS, 1888</small>
***Photos: [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/media.dsml?IMAGENO=chalc071&VALGENUS=Arrhenophagus&VALSPECIES=albitibiae&isVideo= Universal Chalcidoidea Database] [https://takagi.tenteki.org/%E5%A4%A9%E6%95%B5%E5%9B%B3%E9%91%912/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A9.htm takagi.tenteki]
***Papers: [https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/view/129680 '''Suh S-J. 2021.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Prunus salicina Lindl. (Rosales: Rosaceae) in South Korea. Insecta Mundi 0885: 1–5.] [http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3697168 '''Suh, Soo-Jung, 2018.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reared from Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in the Republic of Korea, Insecta Mundi 612, pp. 1-6 : 3-4] [https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.19.3.110 '''Muniappan, R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012). Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114., R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012).''' Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114.]
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' (worldwide)
==3 Tarsi five-segmented==
*3a Forewing without stigmal, marginal or postmarginal veins, with an infuscated patch (fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); on the head, the scrobes are moderately deep, in the shape of aninverted V, their confluence is separated medially by a membranous joint that extends to the front of the vertex; a similar membrane runs transversely between the eyes where the fronto-vertex adjoins the face (fig. 5 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and figs 1, 13, 20, 24 of Annecke & Mynhardt (1974)<ref name=AnneckeMynhardt1974>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M.J., 1974. On some new and described species of arrhenophagine Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 37(1), pp.35-47. [https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 DOI] [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 PDF]</ref>) -
**'''''Arrhenophagoidea''''' <small>Girault, 1915</small><br>
***''Arrhenophagoidea'' and ''Arrhenophagus'' are morphologically similar, except that the tarsi are four-segmented in ''Arrhenophagus'' and five-segmented in ''Arrhenophagoidea''. Species of both genera are very small (body length about 0.5 mm).
***Four Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagoidea chaetacmae'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea neseri'' Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea rolaspidis'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea sierra'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
*3b Forewing venation partly or well-developed; head without membranous features above the scrobes ........ 4
===4 (Fore wing venation at least partly developed; head without membranous interruptions)===
*4a Posterior margin of mesosetum with two round projections, each fitting into an indentation in anterior margin of axillae (fig. 6 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); forewing with marginal cilia unusually long along caudal wing margin (fig. 7 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); egg parasitoids of Tettigometridae -
**'''''Psyllechthrus''''' <small>GHESQUIERE, 1958</small>
***A single species, ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' is known - from Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.<ref name=Noyes2019>Noyes, J.S. 2019. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. The Natural History Museum, London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/index.dsml</ref>
***''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' has been reared from the eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'', which is thought to be its only host.<ref name=Prinsloo1985>Prinsloo, G.L. 1985, Afrotropical Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): new records and notes. Journal of Natural History 19:281</ref>
***Photographs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'' eggs with tiny wasps that are probably ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'': [http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/bugs/tettigometridae/hilda_patruelis.htm] and [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180134054]
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 a.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus''
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 c.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' on eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis''.
</gallery>
*4b Margin of mesoseutum without two round projections fitting into indentations in the anterior margin of the axillae; marginal cilia of forewing not unusually long; not parasites of Tettigometridae ........ 5
===5 (Posterior margin of mesoscutum without two round projections fitting into the anterior margin of axillae, forewing with marginal cilia not unusually long)===
*5a Fore femur and tibia greatly swollen, the apex of the latter with two blunt spines in addition to the strigil; antenna eleven-segmented, the segments of pedicel, funicle and club similar in shape; head and body hardly encyrtiform (fig. 9 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)
**'''''Sanghalia''''' <small>RISBEC, 1955</small>
***A single species from Congo, ''Sanghalia kerandeli''
*5b Fore femur and tibia at most slightly swollen, the latter without spines; antenna otherwise, usually clavate................6
===6 (Fore femur and tibia not greatly swollen, fore tibia without spines)===
*6a Funicle with less than six segments........ 7
*6b Funicle with six or seven segments........ 16
==7 Funicle with less than six segments==
*7a Antenna (fig. 10 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extensively flattened and expanded - both scape and flagellum leaf-like; the club is not segmented; the funicle has three to five transverse segments; Pseudococeid parasitoids -[[File:Zaplatycerus fullawayi Timberlake 1925 Plate IX Fig. 1.jpg|thumb|''Zaplatycerus fullawayi''; A. female antenna; B. Male antenna; C. Female mandible frontal view]]
**'''''Zaplatycerus''''' Timberlake, 1925
***Synonyms include: ''Tropidophryne'' Compere, 1931; ''Neoplatycerus'' Subba Rao, 1965; ''Avernes'' Noyes et Woolley, 1994; ''Assamencyrtus'' Singh, 2006.<ref name=Trjapitzin2018>Trjapitzin, V. A. (2018). A Review of the Encyrtid-Wasp Genus ''Zaplatycerus'' Timberlake, 1925 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) of the World Fauna, Parasitoids of Mealybugs (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae). Entomological Review, 98, 787-792.</ref>
***16 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and images of ''Zaplatycerus notialis'' on [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271666428 Researchgate]
Afrotropical species
*7b Antenna not extensively flattened, but the scape may be expanded ventrally........ 8
===8 (Antenna not extensively flattened; scape may be expanded)===
*8a Funicle with four segments ........ 9
*8b Funicle with five segments ........ 10
===9 (Funicle with four segments)===
*9a Apex of scutellum with two lamelliform (flattened) setae (cf. figs 27 & 28 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>, and ''Habrolepis'', 38b below); forewing distinctly darkened, patterned; body flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of armored scale insects -
**'''''Caenohomalopoda''''' Tachikawa, 1979
***11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Caenohomalopoda shikokuensis'' a parasitoid of armored scales, ''Froggattiella penicillata'', ''Odonaspis'' spp. (South Africa)
****Description and figures - [https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf Tachikawa, 1956]<ref name=Tachikawa1956>Tachikawa, T. (1956). Description of a new species of the genus Pseudhomalopoda Cirault from Japan, with a list of the known species and their hosts of the Habrolepis-like genera (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Insecta matsumurana, 20(3-4), 90-96. https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf</ref>
*9b Scutellum without scale-like setae; forewing transparent; body not flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of bees -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Two Afrotropical species: ''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'', is known from South Africa; and ''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is known from Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda and is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and figures - [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3102 Annecke, 1968]<ref name=Annecke1968>Annecke, D. P. (1968). Records and Descriptions of African Encyrtidae-4 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 31(2), 249-264.</ref>
===10 (Funicle with five segments)===
*10a Antennal club not divided (a single segment) -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
*** 30 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Trechnites angolensis'' associated with the legume ''Isoberlinia'' sp. (Angola)
****''Trechnites manaliensis'' a parasitoid of ''Euphyllura eastopi'', ''Euphyllura longiciliata'', ''Psylla hyalina'' (South Africa)
****''Trechnites morulus'' associated with ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
*10b The antennal club has two or three segments ........ 11
===11 (Antennal club with two or three segments)===
*11a Antennal club with two segments. (Maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented; mandible tridentate (fig. 11 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the upper tooth retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae) - [[File:Pseudectroma europaeum Fauna ibérica p192 Fig.65.jpg|thumb|Female ''Pseudectroma europaeum'', Spain]]
**'''''Pseudectroma''''' Girault , 1915
***''Timberlakia'' Mercet, 1925 is a synonym<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***16 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species: ''Pseudectroma cussoniae'' (Madagascar), ''Pseudectroma gilvum'' (South Africa), ''Pseudectroma signatum'' (Israel, South Africa)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Parasitoids - hosts include soft scales (Coccidae) and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*11b Club with three segments ........ 12
===12 (Antennal club with three segments)===
*12a Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma -
**'''''Acerophagus''''' Smith, 1880
***''Pseudaphycus'' is a synonym of ''Acerophagus'' (see 13 below).
***''Acerophagus'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).
***iNaturalist has images of ''Acerophagus'' (CC-BY-NC).<ref name=iNatAcerophagus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250166 ''Acerophagus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
*12b Ovipositor not distinctly protruding from the end of the metasoma ........ 14
===13 (Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma - ''Acerophagus'')===
*13a Antennal club white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with a white antennal club (described as ''Pseudaphycus'') include ''A. angelicus'', ''A. dysmicocci'', ''A. ferrisianae'', ''A. maculipennis'', ''A. mundus'', ''A. notativentris '', ''A. perdignus'', ''A. prosopidis''.
*13b Antennal club not white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with two segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with an antennal club that is not white (described as ''Acerophagus'') include ''A. coccois'', ''A. pallidus''.
===14 (Ovipositor not protruding or just protruding)===
*14a Mandible with two teeth; maxillary palpi each have two segments, the labial not segmented; paratergites present; Male antenna ramose, rami on funicle segments I-IV -
**'''''Tetracnemoidea''''' Howard, 1898
***''Tetracnemoidea'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Afrotropical species:
****''T. brevicornis'' (Girault) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
****''T. coffeicola'' (Kerrich) (Kenya, Uganda)
****''T. peregrina'' (Compere) (Worldwide; Ghana, South Africa in Afrotropics)
****''T. sydneyensis'' (Timberlake) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
*14b Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs ................15
===15 (Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs)===
*15a Head and body dark brown to blackish-brown, non-metallic except for frontovertex which may have a very slight metallic tinge; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Afrotropical species:
****''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'' (South Africa); and
****''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini) (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*15b Head and body predominantly black, the scutellum brilliant metallic green in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
==16 Funicle with six or seven segments==
*16a Hind tibia foliaceously flattened (fig. 12 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 17
*16b Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened................ 18
===17 (Hind tibia foliaceously flattened)===
*17a Antennal club three-segmented or not segmented; parasitoids of Aphrophoridae and Cicadellidae. Male antenna may have six rami (fig. 14 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|thumb|''Neocladia'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Neocladia''''' Perkins, 1906
***''Carabunia'' Waterston, 1928 is a synonym of ''Neocladia''<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***iNaturalist has images of ''Neocladia''.<ref name=iNatNeocladia>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/253254 ''Neocladia'' photographs on iNaturalist (including some CC-BY)</ref>
***Afrotropical species:<ref name=Noyes2019/>
****''Neocladia gigantica'' is a parasitoid of ''Ptyelus flavescens'', the Yellow Raintree Spittlebug (Uganda).
****''Neocladia senegalensis'' (Senegal, South Africa).
****''Neocladia tibialis'' is a parasitoid of ''Batrachomorphus capeneri'', a leafhopper (South Africa).
===18 (Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened)===
*18a Wings markedly reduced ................19
*18b Wings not greatly reduced ............. 25
==19 Wings markedly reduced==
*19a Scutellum with a flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), in profile this flange shows as a thin, flat, caudal projection of the apex of scutellum................20
*19b Scutellum without a flange................21
===20 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a flange or lamella)===
*20a Mandible with two acute teeth; parasitoids of bees - [[File:Ericydnus inat 170283716 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Spain]]
**'''''Ericydnus''''' Walker, 1837
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
*20b Mandible with three teeth; parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus bicolor Fauna ibérica Ricardo García Mercet 1921.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus bicolor'', Spain]]
**'''''Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
***20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
***Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' (Risbec) is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' species (Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' Risbec is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Pulvinaria'' species (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' Ghesquiere is a parasitoid of the moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' (Risbec) has been associated with rice plants (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===21 (Wings reduced, scutellum without a flange)===
*21a Antenna nine-segmented, the club not segmented; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Male antenna six-segmented, segments II - V each with a ramus -
**'''''Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
***iNaturalist has images of ''Tetracnemus''.<ref name=iNatTetracnemus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250503 ''Tetracnemus'' photographs on iNaturalist (some CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus bifasciatellus'' (Mercet) (South Africa)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (Ethiopia)
*21b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in Pseudococcidae................22
===22 (Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments)===
*22a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft........................23
*22b Scutellar tuft of bristles absent........ 24
===23 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles)===
*23a Mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); gonostyli (3rd valvulae) absent -
**'''''Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
***96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Gascardia'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of Hemiptera including Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of ''Sahlbergella'' species (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' and ''Saissetia'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of ''Gascardia'' and ''Tachardina'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' ((Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' (Cameroon, Gabon)
*23b Mandible tridentate; gonostyli present - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250172 ''Diversinervus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus'' species (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', and ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
===24 (Wings reduced, scutellar tuft of bristles absent)===
*24a Apterous, or wings represented by a stub -
**'''''Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species:
****Many pics of winged species on iNaturalist (but not Afrotropical and not apterous)
*24b Fore wing reduced in size, but with venation distinct (fig. 17 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran.]]
**'''''Neococcidencyrtus''''' Compere, 1928
***20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' (Madagascar)
****''Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' (Cameroon)
****''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of ''Furchadaspis zamiae'', cycad scale (South Africa) Fig. 5. in https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343006453
****''Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****''Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' (South Africa)
==25 Wings not greatly reduced==
*25a Dorsum of scutellum with a longitudinal, inconspicuous, median keel - [[File:Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg |thumb|''Pentelicus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Pentelicus''''' Howard, 1895
***Head and thorax pitted; antennal club three-segmented, obliquely truncate apically.
***10 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
*25b Scutellum without a median keel................26
===26 (Scutellum without a median keel)===
*26a Head with a horn-like protuberance jutting from middle of face just below antennal Insertions - [[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti Fauna iberica (1921).jpg|thumb|Male ''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'']][[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti, head, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'', lateral view of head]]
**'''''Paratetracnemoidea''''' Girault , 1915
***''Rhinoencyrtus'' Mercet, 1918 is a synonym of ''Paratetracnemoidea''
***Photos at https://www.waspweb.org/chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Encyrtinae/Paratetracnemoidea/index.htm
***5 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Paratetracnemoidea breviventris'' - no associates known (Tanzania)
****''Paratetracnemoidea cornis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'' - no associates known (Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan)
*26b Head without facial protuberance................ 27
===27 (Head without facial protuberance)===
*27a Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin (figs 18- 22 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein never reaching cephalic edge of wing................28
*27b Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform (figs 34, 63, 82, 89 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................32
==28 Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin==
*28a Anterior margin of frontovertex produced to form a prominent ridge that overhangs upper limits of scrobes; mandibles diminutive -
**''''' Amira ''''' Girault , 1913
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Amira durantae'' is a parasitoid of spiders ''Nephila inaurata'' and ''Nephila madagascarensis'' (Madagascar)
*28b Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large, well developed........ 29
===29 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large)===
*29a Antennal scrobes sulcate, impressed on face as an inverted V, their lateral margins sharply angled (fig. 23 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Male and female antennae identical in shape and segmentation; parasitic in Aclerdidae -
**''''' Allencyrtus ''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide - Afrotropical:
****''Allencyrtus monomorphus'' is a parasitoid of an Aclerdid scale, ''Rhodesaclerda'' sp. (South Africa)
****Description of genus and species: Annecke & Mynhardt (1973) [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]<ref name=>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M. J. (1973). New and Iittle known African Encyrtidae, with descriptions of two new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 36(2), 211-28. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]</ref>
*29b Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins ....... 30
===30 (Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins)===
*30a Antennal club three-segmented; mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 24 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae and Stictococcidae -[[File:Aethognathus afer female Silvestri 1915 with inset.jpg|thumb|''Aethognathus afer'', female; inset shows detail of stigmal and postmarginal veins]]
**''''' Aethognathus ''''' Silvestri, 1915
***5 species worldwide; all Afrotropical:
****''Aethognathus afer'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus diversiseta'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Benin, Ghana)
****''Aethognathus bicolor'' is a parasitoid of the scale ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Uganda)
****''Aethognathus cavilabris'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia''and ''Stictococcus'' spp. (Congo, Uganda)
****''Aethognathus khryzhanovskyi'' - no associates known (Equatorial Guinea)
****''Aethognathus unicolor'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus gowdeyi'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Nigeria, Uganda)
*30b Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate; not parasitic in scale insects........ 31
===31 (Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate)===
*31a Frontovertex and face with large pits, each with a strong metallic lustre; antennal scape (fig. 25 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) strongly expanded ventrally; parasitic in eggs of spiders and/or planthoppers
**''''' Proleurocerus ''''' Ferriere, 1935
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Proleurocerus clavatus'' - no associates known (Zimbabwe)
****''Proleurocerus zululandiae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*31b Frontovertex at most finely punctate, non-metallic; antennal scape at most slightly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Neuroptera nymphs - [[File:Isodromus iNat 147864868.jpg |thumb|''Isodromus'' sp., Mexico.]][[File:Isodromus vinulus, male, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Isodromus vinulus'', a parasitic wasp in the family Encyrtidae; male]]
**''''' Isodromus''''' Howard, 1887
*** 26 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Isodromus timberlakei'' is a parasitoid of a ''Chrysopa'' species (South Africa)
==32 Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform; or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing==
*32a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft................ 33
*32b Scutellum without a tuft of bristles, the setae recumbent, except for one subapical pair which is sometimes present................37
==33 Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles==
*33a Head elongate in dorsal view, longer than wide or almost so, the greater part of each eye placed dorsally; mesoscutum (fig. 26 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually with a tuft of coarse bristles, but this tuft lacking in some species - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus/>
*** 12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes floridensis'', ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia coffeae'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a wide range of coccid scales (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus'' spp. (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*33b Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles................34
===34 (Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles)===
*34a Antenna enlarged, flattened, the club two-segmented, very large, almost as long as entire funicle; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Head and body generally smooth and polished, brilliantly metallic in colour -
**''''' Chrysoplatycerus''''' Ashmead, 1889
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysoplatycerus splendens'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs, ''Dysmicoccus'' spp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Formicococcus njalensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Ghana, South Africa)
*34b Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented; mandibles not bidentate; not parasitic in mealybugs................ 35
===35 (Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented)===
*35a Mandible edentate (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), broadly rounded apically; gonostyli absent; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Encyrtus aurantii iNat 132121027 d.jpg|thumb|''Encyrtus aurantii'', Italy.]][[File:Encyrtus infelix iNat 159262263 a.jpg |thumb|''Encyrtus infelix'', New Zealand.]]
**''''' Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
*** 96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of many different Hemiptera from Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of plant bugs, ''Sahlbergella'' spp., Miridae (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp., ''Saissetia'' sp. (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus'', ''Lichtensia'', ''Pulvinaria'', ''Saissetia'', ''Saissetia oleae'', and ''Udinia'' species. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' - no associates known (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Gascardia madagascariensis'', ''Lecanium hemisphaericum'', ''Protopulvinaria pyriformis'', ''Pulvinaria innumerabilis'', ''Pulvinaria urbicola'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'', and lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' spp. on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria delottoi'' spp., ''Pulvinariella'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon)
*35b Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids................36
===36 (Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids)===
*36a Ovipositor not or only slightly exserted at apex of metasoma - [[File:Cheiloneurus iNat 90442164 a.jpg|thumb|Male ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., USA]] [[File:Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 02.jpg|thumb|Female ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cheiloneurus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 152 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Cheiloneurus afer'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Pulvinarisca jacksoni'' (Ghana)
****''Cheiloneurus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Ceroplastes mimosae'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Sudan)
****''Cheiloneurus caesar'' is a hyperparasitoid of ''Dryinus orophilus'' in a delphacid planthopper (Mozambique)
****''Cheiloneurus carinatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. and mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus chiaromontei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus cyanonotus'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus flaminius'' and Eulophidae ''Tetrastichus'' sp. in a variety of beetles, flies and Hemiptera (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe)
****''Cheiloneurus elegans'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'' and Platygastridae ''Platygaster zosine'' in a variety of cecidomyiid midges, scales and mealybugs (Nigeria)
****''Cheiloneurus flavoscutatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from mealybugs ''Adelosoma phragmitidis'', ''Chaetococcus phragmitis'' (Ethiopia)
****''Cheiloneurus gonatopodis'' is a hyperparasitoid of pincer wasps ''Echthrodelphax'' sp., ''Pseudogonatopoides mauritianus'', ''Pseudogonatopus'' spp., ''Richardsidryinus'' sp. in delphacid planthoppers on sugar cane (Madagascar, Mauritius)
****''Cheiloneurus kuisebi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a mealybug ''Phenacoccus manihoti'' on cassava (Namibia)
****''Cheiloneurus leptulus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a ''Ceratina'' bee (Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus liorhipnusi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a lady beetle ''Chnootriba similis'', and a scentless plant bug ''Corizus hyalinus'' (Kenya, Senegal)
****''Cheiloneurus metallicus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Cheiloneurus obscurus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Gascardia brevicauda'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus orbitalis'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from an encyrtid ''Homalotylus'' sp., the coccid scale ''Saissetia oleae'' and green lacewings ''Chrysopa'' sp., ''Mallada handschini'', ''Suarius squamosa'' on citrus (South Africa)
*36b Ovipositor protruding strongly, by about one-half length of metasoma. Metasoma usually truncate apically - [[File:Prochiloneurus bolivari, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus bolivari'', female, Spain.]][[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus'' spp., ''Leptomastix'' spp., Pteromalidae ''Metastenus'' sp., lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****''Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' sp., ''Blepyrus insularis'', ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Leptomastix flava'', Coccidae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****''Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Coccidae ''Lecanium viride'', Margarodidae ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'', and Pseudococcidae ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'', Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Margarodidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
==37 Scutellum without a tuft of bristles==
*37a Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae (figs 27, 28)........ 38
*37b Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae........ 39
===38 (Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*38a Antenna (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) broadened and flattened, the funicle segments strongly transverse; eyes margined dorsally with white; fronto-occipital margin of head without a pair of lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] -
**''''' Comperiella ''''' Howard, 1906
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250283 iNaturalist]
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella bifasciata'' is a parasitoid of many Diaspididae, and the coccid ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., ''Aleurodicus destructor'', ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*38b Antenna not broadened and flattened; eyes not margined with white; fronto-occipital margin with a pair of small lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis ''''' Foerster, 1856
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/376512 iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of pit scale insects ''Asterodiaspis'' spp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scale insects ''Didesmococcus'' sp., armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', mealybugs ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and moths ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus elaeidis'', ''Aspidiotus oppugnatus'' (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius articulatus'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===39 (Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*39a Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion (figs 30, 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) in its apical one-third, this expansion usually bearing a single strong seta........ 40
*39b Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion................43
===40 (Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion in its apical one-third)===
*40a Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes (fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally................41
*40b Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally................42
===41 (Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes; antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally)===
*41a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 31 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing with a characteristic pattern of radiating dark bands (fig. 32 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black with strong metallic refringence; presumed hyperparasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Cerapterocerus mirabilis, female.jpg|thumb|''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'', female, Spain]][[File:Cerapterocerus celadus inat 194830169 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Cerapterocerus celadus'', France]]
**''''' Cerapterocerus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250477-Cerapterocerus iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'' is probably a hyperparasitoid of encyrtid wasps in scale insects (South Africa)
*41b Antenna not broadened and flattened except for scape (fig. 33 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing (fig. 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) infuscated, but without distinct patterns as above; head and body dominantly brownish, without strong metallic refringence; primary parasitoids of Asterolecaniidae (pit scales). Head as in fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Mayrencyrtus''''' Hincks, 1944
*** 6 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database
===42 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally)===
*42a Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci (fig. 36 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); maxillary and labial palpi each two-segmented; paratergites present; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Coccidoxenoides perminutus Fernandes 2016 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'', Brazil]]
**'''''Coccidoxenoides''''' Girault, 1915
***'' Pauridia'' Timberlake, 1919 is a synonym of ''Coccidoxenoides'' (a monotypic genus)
****''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'' Girault, 1915 is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Allococcus quaestius'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Phenacoccus madeirensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Planococcus citri'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. and armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus nerii'', ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chionaspis striata'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa)
*42b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; paratergites absent; parasitic in Diaspididae -[[File:Tyndarichus melanacis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Tyndarichus melanacis'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Tyndarichus''''' Howard, 1910
***''Protyndarichus combretae'', ''P. orarius'', ''P. prolatus'', ''P. sparnus'' are a synonyms of the ''Tyndarichus'' species below.
*** 24 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Tyndarichus combretae'' no known associates (Senegal)
****''Tyndarichus orarius'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Idiosaissetia peringueyi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus prolatus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Ceroplastes elytropappi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus sparnus'' is a parasitoid of Lecanodiaspididae, ''Lecanodiaspis tarsalis'' (South Africa)
===43 (Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion)===
*43a Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae ................ 120
*43b Mandible never with only two pointed teeth ........ 44
===44 (Mandible never with only two pointed teeth)===
*44a Entire fore wing, or part of it, distinctly [[wikt:infuscate|infuscated]] (with a dark tinge), the infuscation rarely restricted to an area beneath the venation ........ 45
*44b Fore wing entirely [[w:hyaline|hyaline]] (translucent or transparent), or very faintly and inconspicuously infuscated, the infuscation then usually only visible if wing held against a white background ........ 73
==45 Fore wing, or part of it, distinctly infuscated==
*45a Fore wing with a conspicuous incision in cephalic wing margin at distal end of submarginal vein (fig. 40 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Eugahania''''' Mercet, 1926
*** 10 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database.<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*45b Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin ................46
===46 Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin===
*46a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat [[wikt:caudal|caudal]] projection of the scutellum................47
*46b Scutellum without a marginal flange, the posterior margin rarely forming a very short lip........ 49
===47 Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella===
*47a Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] absent; [[wikt:clava|club]] large, much longer than the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; parasitic in Lepidoptera eggs. Antenna as in fig. 41 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Hesperencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1971
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hesperencyrtus lycoenephila'' is a parasitoid of lycaenid butterflies ''Deodorix antalus'', ''Deudorix antalus'', ''Lampides boeticus'' (Senegal)
*47b Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] not white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] present; [[wikt:clava|club]] about as long as the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; not parasitic in Lepidoptera........ 48
===48 Antennal club not white; club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together===
*48a Frontovertex and face with numerous large pits, each brilliantly metallic green in colour - [[File:Discodes arizonensis Smithsonian Institution 2019 CC-BY BOLD CCDB-34079-D12.jpg|thumb|''Discodes arizonensis'', New Mexico, United States]]
**''''' Discodes''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 44 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Discodes discors'' is a parasitoid of felt scales ''Eriococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Discodes melas'' - no associates known (Namibia)
*48b Head at most with fine punctations. Orange-brown to dark brown, rarely black, species, at most weakly refringent; fore wing strongly and uniformly infuscated from base to near apex; usually parasitic in Pulvinaria spp. on grasses - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus monawari, female, dorsal view.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus monawari'', India]]
**''''' Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp.(Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinariai'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp. (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' is a parasitoid of a moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' is a parasitoid associated with rice ''Oryza sativa'' (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===49 Scutellum without a marginal flange===
*49a Stigmal vein of fore wing placed almost at right angle to postmarginal vein (fig. 42 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Fore wing infuscated with contrasting hyaline patches as in fig. 42<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; parasitic in Lacciferidae and Coccidae -
**''''' Ruandella''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 4 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Ruandella capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella stigmosa'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella tertia'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella testacea'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (Rwanda, South Africa)
*49b Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much less than 90 degrees ........ 50
===50 Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much smaller than right angle===
*50a Mandible with four teeth (fig. 43 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Body somewhat flattened dorsoventrally; head subtriangular in lateral view, the face a little inflexed; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Adelencyrtus inat 31626163.jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Adelencyrtus Cipola 2022 EntomoBrasilis 15 e1003 CC-BY.jpg|thumb|Female ''Adelencyrtus'' sp., Brazil]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*50b Mandibles do not have four teeth ........ 51
===51 (Mandibles do not have four teeth)===
*51a Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically................52
*51b Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically................55
===52 Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically===
*52a Antennal club three-segmented; not parasitic in Coleoptera........ 53
*52b Antennal club not segmented, rarely with faint traces of one or two septa on one side of the club; parasitic in Coleoptera........ 54
===53 Antennal club three-segmented===
*53a Antennal scape expanded ventrally (fig. 44 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); hcad and body strongly metallic in colour, the head and thorax usually covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta Annecke'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*53b Antennal scape not or only slightly expanded ventrally (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body without metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===54 Antennal club not segmented; parasitic in Coleoptera===
*54a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); basal one-half or so of tegulae white; antennal scape slender, subcylindrical; primary parasitoids of Coccinellidae -[[File:Homalotylus flaminius, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus flaminius'', female]][[File:Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Homalotylus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 68 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotylus africanus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Exochomus concavus'', ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lindorus lophanthae'', ''Scymnus ornatulus'' (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa)
****''Homalotylus eytelweinii'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes sexmaculata'', ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Rodolia'' spp. (Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus flaminius'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adalia'' spp., ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Brumus suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes'' spp., ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella'' spp., ''Coleomegilla maculata'', ''Cycloneda'' spp., ''Epilachna chrysomelina'', ''Eriopis connexa'', ''Exochomus'' spp., ''Harmonia'' spp., ''Henosepilachna bifasciata'', ''Hippodamia'' spp., ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lioadala flavomaculata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Neomysia oblongoguttata'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Orcus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Platynaspis'' sp., ''Rodolia'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Thea vigintiduopunctata'', ''Verania frenata'', leaf beetles ''Galeruca calmariensis'', coccid scale insects ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Saissetia oleae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Planococcus citri'', ''Pseudococcus citri'' (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo)
****''Homalotylus hemipterinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Chilomenes'' sp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Cycloneda sanguinea'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Orcus'' sp., stink bugs ''Cantheconidia furcellata'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Pseudococcus'' sp., gelechiid moths ''Aproaerema modicella'' (Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus quaylei'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Nephus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Sidis'' sp., coccid scales ''Eulecanium persicae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Phenacoccus herreni'', ''Planococcus''; spp. (Gabon, Mauritania)
****''Homalotylus vicinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis marmottani'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Nephus vetustus'', ''Scymnus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar)
*54b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; tegula not white; scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Discolomatidae - [[File:Homalotyloidea dahlbomii, female.jpg|thumb|''Homalotyloidea dahlbomii'', female, Spain]]
**''''' Homalotyloidea''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotyloidea africana'' is a parasitoid of beetles ''Notiophygus piger'' (South Africa)
===55 Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically===
*55a Body flattened dorsoventrally, the dorsum of head and thorax almost flat. Parasitic in Diaspididae........ 56
*55b Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax more or less convex........ 57
===56 Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax convex===
*56a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); frontovertex with two narrow whitish bands, one each extending along the dorsal eye margins. Fore wing boldly marked -[[File:Cain2565.jpg|thumb| ''Comperiella bifasciata'']]
**''''' Comperiella''''' Howard, 1906
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Affirmaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''[[w:Comperiella bifasciata|Comperiella bifasciata]]'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'', ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Clavaspis'' sp., ''Diaspidiotus gigas'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Dynaspidiotus abietis'', ''Hemiberlesia'' spp., ''Lindingaspis fusca'', ''Morganella longispina'', ''Nuculaspis abietis'', ''Parlatoria pergandii'', ''Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis'', ''Pseudaulacaspis'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus'' spp., ''Temnaspidiotus destructor'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'', coccid scale insects ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., whiteflies ''Aleurodicus destructor'', wax scale insects ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*56b Antenna not broadened and flattened; frontovertex without pale bands - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', pit scales, ''Asterodiaspis'' sp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scales ''Didesmococcus'' sp., mealybugs, ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and a moth, ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus aonidum'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius celastri'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' spp. (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===57 Body not flattened, head and thorax convex===
*57a Antenna foliaceously flattened (fig. 47 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); junction of frontovertex and face carinate or at least acutely angled and grooved........ 58
*57b Antenna not flattened except for scape which may be expanded ventrally; head without a facial carina................60
===58 Antenna flattened, junction of frontovertex and face carinate or acutely angled and grooved===
*58a Frontovertex terminating anteriorly at a transverse groove (fig. 48 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) containing dense, recumbent, silvery-white setae -
**''''' Anasemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anasemion inutile'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*58b Junction of frontovertex and face lacking a transverse row of dense setae - [[File:Anicetus iNat 180762161 g.jpg|thumb|''Anicetus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Anicetus''''' Howard, 1896
***''Paraceraptrocerus'' is a synonym of ''Anicetus''. In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''
*** 52 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anicetus abyssinicus '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (Eritrea)
****'' Anicetus africanus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Egypt, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus anneckei '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus aquilus '' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus austrinus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus calidus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. and ''Gascardia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus clivus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus communis'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus longulus'', ''Gascardia'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus fotsyae'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Anicetus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes bipartitus'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus graminosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus italicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus elongatus'', felt scales ''Gossyparia spuria'' (Zimbabwe)
****'' Anicetus nyasicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Malawi, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia rustica'', ''Lichtensia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parvus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Anicetus pattersoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes personatus'', ''Vinsonia personata'' (Ghana)
****'' Anicetus russeus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus sepis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus taylori'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
===59 ''Paraceraptrocerus''===
*In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''. However, ''Paraceraptrocerus'' is now regarded as a synonym of ''Anicetus'', making this step redundant.
===60 (Antenna not flattened although the scape may be expanded ventrally; no facial carina)===
*60a Ovipositor protruding strongly (fig. 49 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) at apex of metasoma by about one half length of metasoma........ 61
*60b Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted; if strongly protruded (rare), then antennal scrobes sulcate, or mandible slender, tridentate, the upper tooth retracted (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 62
===61 (Ovipositor protruding strongly)===
*61a Head with numerous setigerous pits; fore wing with a single pale cross-band beyond venation; body robust, black in colour; parasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Lombitsikala''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lombitsikala coccidivora'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia madagascariensis'' (Madagascar)
*61b Head at most with minute, indistinct punctations; fore wing without hyaline cross-bands; body more or less slender, usually generally yellowish to brownish; probably hyperparasitoids, usually in mealybugs - [[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****'' Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Atrococcus'' sp., ''Dysmicoccus multivorus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Heliococcus bohemicus'', ''Heterococcopsis opertus'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Peliococcus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Puto pilosellae'', ''Spinococcus calluneti'', ''Trionymus'' spp., coccid scales ''Rhizopulvinaria armeniaca'', felt scales ''Acanthococcus desertus'', ''Eriococcus insignis'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****'' Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Lecanium viride'', margarodid scales ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****'' Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Centrococcus'' spp., ''Coccidohystrix'' spp., ''Dysmicoccus'' sp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp., ''Oxyacanthus chrysocomae'', ''Paracoccus'' sp., ''Peliococcus mesasiaticus'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' spp., ''Trabutina crassispinosa'', ''Trabutina leonardii'', armored scale insects ''Chionaspis'' sp., felt scales ''Eriococcus stenoclini'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
===62 (Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted)===
*62a Antennal scape long and slender, at most slightly expanded ventrally........ 63
*62b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded, less than three times as long as its greatest width................70
==63 Antennal scape long and slender==
*63a Fore wing with marginal vein several times longer than stigmal (fig. 51 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal club with four segments, visible only in cleared slide·mounted specimens (fig. 52 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -[[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, Spain.]][[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, lateral view]]
**''''' Metaphaenodiscus''''' Mercet, 1921
*** Host species generally unknown, except for ''Metaphaenodiscus umbilicatus'' (Australia) which is known to be a parasitoid of a mealy bug.
*** 10 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Metaphaenodiscus aethiops'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus capensis'', associated with ''Protea aurea'' (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus watshami'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
*63b Marginal vein of fore wing shorter than, or subequal to stigmal vein; club with fewer than four segments................64
===64 (Marginal vein shorter than stigmal vein; antennal club with less than four segments)===
*64a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53 and 54 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), impressed on face as two deep furrows, their lateral margins acutely angled, at least in their basal one-half or so, converging, sometimes confluent dorsally to form an inverted V-shaped impression on face........ 65
*64b Antennal scrobes otherwise................66
===65 (Antennal scrobes impressed on face as two deep furrows)===
*65a Antennal club not longer than the distal funicle segments together; frontovertex more or less pitted; mandible with two teeth and a broad truncation (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
*65b Antennal club much longer than the distal three funicle segments together; frontovertex without pits or punctations; mandible with three teeth and a truncation (fig. 56 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Parasitic in Lacciferidae. Male antenna with two smaIl funicle segments and a large, unsegmented banana shaped club (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
===66 (Antennal scrobes not deeply impressed)===
*66a Mandible with three distinct teeth, the upper one sometimes retracted ................ 67
*66b Mandible otherwise ................ 68
===67 (Mandible with three distinct teeth)===
*67a Antenna (fig. 58 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) slender, not clavate, the funicle segments each longer than wide, the pedicel and funicle subcqual in length; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Hadrencyrtus''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Hadrencyrtus cirritus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Distichlicoccus'' sp. (South Africa)
*67b Antenna (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) clavate, not particularly slender, the basal funicle segment plainly wider than long, small, much shorter than pedicel; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===68 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth)===
*68a Mandible with a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation (fig. 59 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); ovipositor with gonostyli absent; parasitic in Membracidae - [[File:Prionomastix biharensis - Female 01.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prionomastix biharensis'', Bihar, India.]]
**''''' Prionomastix''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 30 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prionomastix africana'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix capeneri'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Beaufortiana viridis'', ''Leprechaunus cristatus'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix congoensis'' - no associates known (Rwanda)
****'' Prionomastix montana'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Dukeobelus simplex'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix myartsevae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix siccarius'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Gongroneura fasciata'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix wonjeae'' is a parasitoid of leafhoppers ''Coloborrhis corticina'' (Cameroon)
*68b Mandible otherwise; gonostyli present; not parasitic in Membracidae................69
===69 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth, or a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation)===
*69a Antennal club large, about as long as entire funicle; integument of head and thorax heavily sclerotized, strongly and intricately sculptured with raised, irregular ridges; probably parasitic in Lacciferidae. Fore wing with areas of very coarse discal setae (fig. 60 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
** '''Coccopilatus''' Annecke, 1963
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Coccopilatus judithae'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
*69b Antennal club shorter than funicle; sculpture of head and thorax mostly cellulite-reticulate; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran]]
**'' ' '' Neococcidencyrtus Compere, 1928
*** 20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****'' Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Furchadaspis zamiae'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
==70 Antennal scape expanded==
*70a Antenna with all funicle segments transverse (fig. 61 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); club very large, longer than entire funicle; paratergitcs present; frontovertex pitted; parasitic in mealybugs - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9470.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus citri'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast)
****'' Aenasius advena'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp. ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp. (Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' sp. (Afrotropical)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus celtis'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'' (Ghana)
70b Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; paratergites absent; frontovertex at most with fine punctations; not parasitic in mealybugs ................ 71
===71 (Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; frontovertex not markedly pitted)===
*71a Head and thoracic dorsum largely metallic blue-green or cupreous, covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella'' sp., ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*71b Head and body generally yellowish to brownish, without any metallic refringence or white setae; parasitic in Coccoidea ................ 72
===72 (Head and body yellowish to brownish, not metallic, no white setae)===
*72a Antennal club longer than distal three funicle segments together, usually much wider than funicle segment VI; if rarely shorter, then distal four funicle segments white - [[File:Metaphycus inat 5003180 c.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*72b Club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together, at most a little wider than distal funicle segment; funicle with at most distal three segments white - [[File:Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|thumb|''Microterys'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Microterys nietneri female.jpg|thumb|Female ''Microterys nietneri'', New Zealand]]
**'''''Microterys''''' Thomson, 1876
*** 228 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Microterys africa'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardia decorella'' (Uganda)
****'' Microterys anneckei'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Filippia'' sp., ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys bizanensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceronema'' sp., ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia cuneiformis'' (Eritrea)
****'' Microterys capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys ceroplastae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes destructor'' (Kenya)
****'' Microterys clauseni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Metaceronema japonica'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys haroldi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Messinea plana'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys kenyaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Lecanium oleae'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Microterys nanus'' is a parasitoid of cerococcid scales ''Cerococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys nicholsoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Ceroplastes destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Microterys nietneri'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Chloropulvinaria'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp., ''Eucalymnatus tessellatus'', ''Lecanium'' spp., ''Maacoccus piperis'', ''Parasaissetia'' spp., ''Parasaissetia oleae'', ''Parthenolecanium'' spp., ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Protopulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Saissetia'' spp., ''Sphaerolecanium prunastri'', armored scales ''Hemichionaspis theae'', ''Pinnaspis theae'', mealybugs ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys speciosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp. (South Africa)
== 73 Fore wing entirely hyaline, or faintly infuscated (any infuscation only visible against a pale background; from 44)==
* 73a Gonostyli exserted at apex of metasoma, the exserted parts laterally compressed, usually more or less rounded apically in lateral view........ 74
* 73b Gonostyli, if protruding at apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally, usually having the appearance of two slender, sharp stylets................78
== 74 Gonostyli extend beyond apex of metasoma, laterally compressed and rounded apically ==
* 74a Scutellum entirely or partly shiny, with a polished appearance, without differentiated sculptural cells; mandibles exceptionally large (fig. 62 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>)........ 75
* 74b Scutellum dorsally sculptured, not smooth and polished; mandibles normal................76
=== 75 Scutellum shiny; mandibles large===
* 75a Postmarginal vein (fig. 63 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing shorter than marginal, not reaching to a level near apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc largely devoid of setae; parasitic in Coleoptera - [[File:Cerchysiella inat 104244416.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysiella'' sp., United States]]
**''''' Cerchysiella''''' Girault, 1914
***''Zeteticontus'' Silvestri, 1915 is a synonym of ''Cerchysiella''.
*** 36 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysiella abilis'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Cerchysiella neodypsisae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Cerchysiella punctiscutellum'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****''Cerchysiella utilis'' (Noyes) (5)
****''Cerchysiella xanthopus'' (Masi) (1)
* 75b Postmarginal vein of fore wing subequal to or longer than marginal, reaching to about the level of apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc evenly and densely setose; parasitic in Diptera - [[File:Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|thumb|''Tachinaephagus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Tachinaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 11 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Tachinaephagus congoensis'' Subba Rao (1)
****''Tachinaephagus stomoxicida'' Subba Rao (3)
****''Tachinaephagus zealandicus'' Ashmead (6)
=== 76 Scutellum sculptured, not smooth; mandibles not large ===
* 76a Antennal funicle and club white in colour; antennal scape expanded ventrally, the funicle segments all wider than long; parasitic in Coleoptera. Head with membranous interruptions of sclerotized integument as in fig. 64 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Chrysomelechthrus''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysomelechthrus descampsi'' (Risbec) (3)
* 76b Antennal funicle and club dark in colour; scape slender, subcylindrical, the funicle with at least basal four or five segments longer than wide; parasitic in Diptera........ 77
=== 77 Antennal funicle and club dark; scape slender, subcylindrical; funicle with more than three segments longer than wide ===
* 77a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; pedicel shorter than, to about as long as, basal funicle segment; clypeal margin not crenulate - [[File:Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cerchysius''''' Westwood, 1832
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysius kilimanjarensis'' Kerrich (1)
****''Cerchysius ugandensis'' Kerrich (4)
* 77b Head and body without metallic lustre; pedicel plainly longer than basal funicle segment; clypeal margin with crenulae -
**''''' Coccidoctonus''''' Crawford, 1912
***''Xyphigaster'' Risbec, 1954 is a synonym of '' Coccidoctonus''
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidoctonus pseudococci'' (Risbec) (9)
== 78 If gonostyli protrude from apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally ==
* 78a Head, in frontal view, with eyes large, extending almost to mouth margin, the genae very short. Head and body metallic green in colour, the tegulae partly white; male antenna with four rami, borne on the first four funicle segments; parasitic in Lepidoptera - [[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus male antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Male antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]][[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus female antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Feale antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]]
**''''' Parablastothrix''''' Mercet, 1917
*** 16 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
****No Afrotropical records in UCD?
* 78b Genae much longer, usually plainly more than one-third longest diameter of eye in frontal view........ 79
=== 79 In frontal view genae more than one-third longest diameter of eye ===
* 79a Mandible with four teeth (figs 43, 65 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 80
* 79b Mandible otherwise................81
=== 80 Mandible with four teeth ===
* 80a Scutellum longitudinally striate (fig. 66 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); dorsum of thorax gently convex, the thorax not dorsoventrally compressed - [[File:Lamennaisia ambigua male p284.jpg|thumb|''Lamennaisia ambigua'', male]]
**''''' Lamennaisia''''' Girault, 1922
***''Mercetencyrtus'' Trjapitzin, 1963 is a synonym of ''Lamennaisia''
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lamennaisia nobilis'' (Nees) (South Africa)
* 80b Scutellum largely cellulate-reticulate, not giving the surface a striated effect; body some what flattened dorsoventrally, the thoracic dorsum flat or almost so - [[File:Adelencyrtus - Japoshvili, G. and Soethof, R. (2022).jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
=== 81 Mandible does not have four teeth ===
* 81a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (cf. fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 82
* 81b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci........ 83
=== 82 Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci===
* 82a Antenna (fig. 67 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, the scape subcylindrical, the funicle segments all longer than wide; paratergites present; body entirely black, or black with metasoma yellowish, the latter laterally margined with blackish-brown; head and thorax with a metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Charitopus fulviventris male Fig. 218 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Male ''Charitopus fulviventris'']][[File:Charitopus fulviventris female Fig. 220 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Female ''Charitopus fulviventris'']]
**''''' Charitopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Charitopus fulviventris'' - no associates known (South Africa)
* 82b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, the funicle segments not all longer than wide (fig. 68 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); paratergites absent; head and body without a metallic refringence, usually yellowish to brownish in colour; parasitic in Coccoidea other than Pseudococcidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
=== 83 Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci===
* 83a Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, more than three times as long as its greatest width........ 84
* 83b Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide........ 117
== 84 Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, much longer than wide==
* 84a Antennal sockets placed high on face (fig. 69 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), their lower limits at or above lower eye level. Body black in colour, the frontovertex and face more or less pitted; antennal scrobes usually sulcate; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Bothriophryne''''' Compere, 1937
*** 8 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriophryne acaciae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Bothriophryne ceroplastae'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne dispar'' Compere (2)
****''Bothriophryne fuscicornis'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne purpurascens'' Compere (3)
****''Bothriophryne velata'' Prinsloo and Annecke (2)
* 84b Antennal scrobes placed lower on face, their lower limits well below lower eye level, sometimes almost at mouth margin........ 85
=== 85 Antennal scrobes are low on face, lower limits well below bottom of eye===
* 85a Antennal club white........ 86
* 85b Antennal club not white........ 87
=== 86 Antennal club white===
* 86a Head and thorax brilliant metallic green in colour; antennal club strongly obliquely truncate apically; mandible (fig. 70 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a broad truncation; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
* 86b Head and body without metallic refringence; club rounded apically; mandible (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three slender teeth, the dorsal one somewhat retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 87 Antennal club not white===
* 87a Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented. Polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae................88
* 87b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented................89
=== 88 Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented===
* 88a Antennal club obliquely truncate from near base (fig. 71 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein of fore wing short, shorter than stigmal - [[File:Copidosoma varicorne female.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma varicorne'', female]][[File:202101 Copidosoma floridanum attack.svg|thumb|''Copidosoma floridanum'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma''
*** See also step 109 below
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' is a parasitoid of Lepidoptera (Cape Verde Islands, Ivory Coast, Senegal)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 88b Antennal club rounded or more or less squarely truncate at apex (fig. 72 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein (fig. 73 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) unsually long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal vein - [[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig143.jpg|thumb|Female ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'']][[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig145.jpg|thumb|Postmarginal and stigmal veins, ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'' female fore-wing.]]
**''''' Ageniaspis''''' Dahlbom, 1857
*** 21 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ageniaspis citricola'' Logvinovskaya (1)
****''Ageniaspis primus'' Prinsloo (1)
=== 89 Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented===
* 89a Mandible (fig. 74 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three distinct teeth and a straight dorsal truncation. Parasitic in Lacciferidae........ 90
* 89b Mandible otherwise........ 91
=== 90 ===
* 90a Abdomen with two interrupted rows of gland-like structures (fig. 75 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), one each on tergum II and VII, head and thorax with rather strong metallic refringence -
**''''' Adencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 3 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Adencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus pictus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 90b Abdomen without gland-like structures; head and body at most very slightly metallic in parts. Male antenna (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two small, transverse funicle segments and a long, unsegmented banana-shaped club -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 91 ===
* 91a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53, 54, 76), their lateral margins sharply angled, usually impressed on face as an inverted V........ 92
* 91b Scrobes otherwise........ 94
=== 92 ===
* 92a Gonostyli very short and broad (fig. 77 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), subtriangular, densely covered with short, spine-like setae. Body black in colour; male antenna ten-segmented, the club two-segmented; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**'''''Laccacida''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Laccacida lacunata'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
* 92b Gonostyli otherwise: elongate and slender, not densely covered with spine-like setae. Antenna of male nine-segmented, the club not segmented........ 93
=== 93 ===
* 93a Mandible (fig. 78 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three teeth; frontovertex with fine punctations; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 93b Mandible (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; frontovertex with large punctations or with pits; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
=== 94 ===
* 94a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments........ 95
* 94b Antennal funicle unicolorous or almost so........ 97
=== 95 ===
* 95a Body yellowish to brownish, without a metallic tinge; antennal club rounded apically; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
* 95b Body black, in parts with weak to strong metallic refringence; antennal club obliquely or transversely truncate apically; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 96
=== 96 ===
* 96a Mandible with three distinct teeth; antennal club (fig. 79 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) transversely truncate apically; marginal vein punctiform (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); polyembryonic parasitoids in larvae of Lepidoptera -
**'''''Paralitomastix''''' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '''''Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844 (see step 88)
* 96b Mandible with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; antennal club (fig. 81 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; marginal vein of fore wing (fig. 82 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) well developed; hyperparasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Tremblaya''''' Trjapitzin, 1985
*** ''Silvestria'' Trjapitzin, 1972 is a synonym of ''Tremblaya''
*** 5 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Tremblaya ceroplastae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Tremblaya coffeicola'' Noyes (1)
****''Tremblaya minor'' (Silvestri) (6)
****''Tremblaya oleae'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Tremblaya palaeococci'' (Risbec) (2)
=== 97 ===
* 97a All funicle segments plainly wider than long................98
* 97b Funicle segments not all wider than long................102
=== 98 All funicle segments plainly wider than long===
* 98a Postmarginal vein (fig. 83 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing very long, much longer than marginal, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal; paratergites present; mandible with three slender teeth, the middle one longest; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**'''''Blepyrus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 19 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Blepyrus insularis'' (Cameron) (11)
****''Blepyrus saccharicola'' Gahan (2)
****''Blepyrus schwarzi'' (Howard) (1)
* 98b Fore wing venation otherwise; paratergites absent; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in mealybugs........ 99
=== 99 ===
* 99a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short, shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; the latter placed at or close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Timberlake, 1919
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 99b Antennal scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; antennal sockets placed higher on face, their upper limits usually about level with lower eye margins; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 100
=== 100 ===
* 100a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with a single segment; small species, about 0,6 mm in length; parasitic in eggs of Coleoptera and Diptera -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Oobius abditus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius funestus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius longoi'' (Siscaro) (4)
****''Oobius striatus'' Annecke (3)
* 100b Palpi otherwise; larger species, often more than 1 mm in length; not egg parasitoids........ 101
=== 101 ===
* 101a Head and body dominantly dark blackish-brown to black; antennal club (fig. 84 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; parasitic in Diptera -
**'''''Exoristobia''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 9 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Exoristobia dipterae'' (Risbec) (8)
****''Exoristobia macrocerus'' (Masi) (1)
****''Exoristobia ugandensis'' Subba Rao (2)
* 101b Head and body dominantly yellowish to brownish-yellow; antennal club rounded apically; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
=== 102 Funicle segments not all wider than long===
* 102a Small species, at most about 1 mm in length, but usually less than 1 mm; exclusively parasitic in insect eggs, often in those of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera........ 103
* 102b Larger species, usually more than 1 mm in length; if less than 1 mm in length, then not parasitic in insect eggs, but in the larvae and pupae of insects................104
=== 103 ===
* 103a Antennal club longer than entire funicle; funicle segments I-V transverse; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial palpi not segmented -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species (See step 100)
* 103b Antennal club shorter than entire funicle; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three - [[File:Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Egg Mass Being Parasitized by Ooencyrtus kuvanae - Mississauga, Ontario.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' on a moth egg mass, Canada]] [[File:Ooencyrtus gravis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus gravis'', female, Spain.]]
**'''''Ooencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 343 species worldwide; 38 Afrotropical species:
****''Ooencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus albicrus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus angolensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus austrinus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus azul'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus bambeyi'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus bedfordi'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus camerounensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus cinctus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Ooencyrtus cirinae'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus congensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus cretatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus demodoci'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus dipterae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus distatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus epilachnae'' Annecke (3)
****''Ooencyrtus exallus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus guamensis'' Fullaway (6)
****''Ooencyrtus homoeoceri'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus insignis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus jeani'' Noyes and Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' is an egg parasitoid of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera (Nigeria)
****''Ooencyrtus lamborni'' Waterston (11)
****''Ooencyrtus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus nanus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus pallidipes'' (Ashmead) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus piezodori'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus polyphagus'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus puparum'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rigemae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus risbeci'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rufogaster'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus senegalensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus sesbaniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Ooencyrtus sinis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus unicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus utetheisae'' (Risbec) (11)
****''Ooencyrtus ventralis'' (Masi) (1)
=== 104 ===
* 104a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; head usually approximately round in outline in frontal view with mouth margin broad, antennal sockets placed close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 104b Scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; other characters different; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 105
=== 105 ===
* 105a Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth (figs 85, 86)........ 106
* 105b Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth; rarely with three teeth, but then dorsal tooth not acute or subacute, but broad, the apex squarely to roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................111
=== 106 Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 106a Head and body entirely and brilliantly metallic in colour; parasitic in Aclerdidae - [[File:Mayridia pulchra, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Mayridia pulchra'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Mayridia''''' Mercet, 1921
***34 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Mayridia arida'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Mayridia maryae'' Prinsloo (1)
* 106b Head and body at most with a faint to moderately strong metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thorax; not parasitic in Aclerdidae........ 107
=== 107 ===
* 107a Antennal club as long as the distal three funicle segments together; marginal vein or fore wing longer than stigmal; parasitic in dryinid wasps -
**'''''Helegonatopus''''' Perkins, 1906
***13 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Helegonatopus saotomensis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 107b Antennal club longer than funicle segments III-VI; marginal vein at most as long as stigmal; not parasitic in Hymenoptera........ 108
=== 108 ===
* 108a Antennal club obliquely truncate apically. Thoracic dorsum usually with metallic green and purple refringence; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae -
**'''''Litomastix''''' Thomson, 1876
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma'', making this step redundant, although presumably useful for identification of species groups?.
* 108b Antennal club rounded apically, or club segments transverse........ 109
=== 109 ===
* 109a Antenna long and slender, the funicle segments all longer than wide; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae - [[File:Copidosoma koehleri 03.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma koehleri'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** See also step 88 (above)
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' (Ashmead) (6)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 109b Funicle segments not all longer than wide, the antenna not particularly slender; not parasitic in Lepidoptera................110
=== 110 ===
* 110a Marginal and postmarginal veins very short, the latter much shorter than stigmal vein, sometimes punctiform; frontovertex without punctations; usually parasitic in Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 110b Marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter reaching almost to the level of apex of stigmal vein; frontovertex with scattered puncrations; exclusively parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
***'' Tachardiaephagus'' keys out at 93, 110
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
=== 111 Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 111a Tergum II and VII of abdomen each with an interrupted row of gland-like structures (fig. 88 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); Antennal club long, usually about as long as enure funicle; legs usually banded; parasitic in Diaspididae. -
**'''''Zaomma''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 17 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Zaomma acaciae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma carinae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma cestus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma ficusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma lambinus'' (Walker) (5)
****''Zaomma sitis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma vix'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma xhosa'' Prinsloo (2)
* 111b Abdomen without gland-like structures........ 112
=== 112 Abdomen without gland-like structures===
* 112a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two; parasitic in Diaspididae. Small species, usually not much more than 1 mm in length; antenna generally slender, the club long -
**'''''Coccidencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 36 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes'' Gahan (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus plectroniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus punctatus'' Compere and Annecke (1)
* 112b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; not parasitic in Diaspididae........ 113
=== 113 ===
* 113a Marginal vein of fore wing relatively long*, broad, dark in colour, about as long as, or longer than, stigmal vein (figs 89, 90); mandible with three well separated teeth, the upper one squarely or roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 114
* 113b Marginal vein punctiform or very short, shorter than stigmal (figs 91, 92); if rarely subequal to stigmal, then mandible with a well separated ventral tooth and a broad dorsal truncation (fig. 93 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 115
=== 114 ===
* 114a Body longer than 1 mm; thorax slender, the scutellum longer than wide; legs usually not banded; primary parasitoids of Syrphidae - [[File:Syrphophagus aphidivorus, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'', female, Spain]][[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 114b Smaller species, usually about 1 mm in length; scutellum relatively broad, about as long as wide or a little wider than long; legs usually banded; hyperparasitoids of aphids, rarely of psyllids -
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
***''Aphidencyrtus'' is a synonym of ''Syrphophagus''; this step previously separated ''Aphidencyrtus''
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
=== 115 ===
* 115a Head and body pale, dominantly yellow in colour, without metallic refringence; parasitic in Coccidae. Male remarkable in colour: orange and brilliant metallic green in parts -
**''''' Argutencyrtus''''' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974<ref name=Prinsloo1974>Prinsloo, G.L. & Annecke, D.P. (1973). A new genus and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from South Africa. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, 37(2), 345-349. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2638</ref>
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Argutencyrtus luteolus'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974
* 115b Head and body entirely metallic in colour, or black with some parts with faint to moderately strong metallic refringence, or rarely at least head and thorax black; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 116
=== 116 ===
* 116a Usually entirely metallic green or blue-green in colour, rarely with only some parts metallic in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae - [[File:Psyllaephagus inat 165372177 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus'' sp., Córdoba, Spain.]][[File:Psyllaephagus guangxiensis (10.3897-BDJ.9.e63253) Figure 1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Psyllaephagus guangxiensis'', China]] [[File:Psyllaephagus euphyllurae, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus euphyllurae'', female, Spain]]
**'''''[[w:Psyllaephagus|Psyllaephagus]]''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 246 species worldwide; 30 Afrotropical species:
****''Psyllaephagus africanus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus albicrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus arytainae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus bicolor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae'' Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame, Dzokou, Gumovsky and De Coninck (1)
****''Psyllaephagus bliteus'' Riek, 1962 (Australia, introduced to South Africa and also Neotropical and western Palaearctic regions)
****''Psyllaephagus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus capeneri'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus cellulatus'' Waterston (1)
****''Psyllaephagus chianganus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus cincticrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus dealbatae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus dispar'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus furvus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus hibiscusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus io'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus lucaris'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus minor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus oleae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus ornatus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus pauliani'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus perendinus'' Robinson (1)
****''Psyllaephagus phytolymae'' (Ferriere) (5)
****''Psyllaephagus pulvinatus'' (Waterston) (12)
****''Psyllaephagus rhusae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus secus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus tessmannii'' Tamesse and Tiyo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus vastus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus viridis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus yaseeni'' Noyes (Tanzania)
* 116b Never entirely metallic in colour, at most the head and thoracic dorsum with weak to moderately strong metallic refringence; parasitic in Syrphidae and Coccinellidae -
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114a, 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
== 117 Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide ==
* 117a Eyes exceptionally setose (fig. 123 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the setae long, strongly developed; frontovertex sparsely pitted; antenna (fig. 126 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with scape blackish, the remainder of antenna uniformly paler in colour - [[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 117b Eyes sparsely setose, the setae fine; frontovertex at most finely punctate; colour of antenna otherwise........ 118
=== 118 Eyes sparsely setose===
* 118a Head tending to opisthognathous, the frontovertex almost horizontal, meeting the inflexed face at an acute angle, so that head is subtriangular in lateral view; parasitic in ticks (Ixodidae). Male sometimes brachypterous, in which case the head has a forked process jutting forward at junction of frontovertex and face - [[File:Ixodiphagus hookeri.jpg|thumb|''Ixodiphagus hookeri'', France]]
**'''''Ixodiphagus''''' Howard, 1907
***''Hunterellus'' Howard, 1908 is a synonym of ''Ixodiphagus''
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ixodiphagus hookeri'' (Howard) (14)
****''Ixodiphagus theilerae'' (Fiedler) (5)
* 118b Head hypognathous, the frontovertex more or less convex, rounded on to face; not parasitic in ticks........ 119
=== 119 ===
* 119a Head and body largely yellowish to brownish, without metallic refringence; antennal scrobes more or less well developed; toruli with lower limits well above clypeal margin; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 119b Head and body dominantly black, the head and thoracic dorsum with faint to strong metallic refringence; scrobes absent or developed as two very short shallow furrows, hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; toruli placed at or close to mouth margin; polyembryonic parasitoids of aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
== 120 Mandible with only two teeth; paratergites usually present; usually without coarse setae at edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced. Mealybug parasitoids==
[Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae (from 43)]
* 120a Antennal funicle seven-segmented -
**''''' Alamella''''' Agarwal, 1966
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Alamella flava'' - a parasitoid of eriococcids and mealybugs (Angola, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa)
****Species description: [https://www.ias.ac.in/public/Volumes/secb/063/02/0067-0079.pdf Agarwal (1966)]<ref name=Agarwal1966>Agarwal, M. M. (1966). Three undescribed genera and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera-Chalcidoidea) parasitic on coccids. In Proceedings/Indian Academy of Sciences (Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 67-79). New Delhi: Springer India.</ref>
* 120b Club two-segmented; head and body without metallic lustre; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with two. Funicle with six or fewer segments........ 121
=== 121 ===
* 121a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (cf. fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat caudal projection of the scutellum. Body often black, the head dark metallic green; antenna long, slender, the scape cylindrical; marginal and postmarginal veins long - [[File:Ericydnus inat 183126807 Mario Bassini.jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Italy]]
**''''' Ericydnus''''' Haliday, 1832
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
* 121b Scutellum without a flange........ 122
=== 122 ===
* 122a Head prognathous (fig. 94 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), elongate and flattened in dorsal view, almost as long as thorax (fig. 95 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the eyes elongate, in dorsal view occupying almost whole of head laterally; antenna (fig. 96 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extremely large, foliaceously flattened, the club three-segmented -
**''''' Monstranusia''''' Trjapitzin, 1964
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Monstranusia antennata'' (Narayanan) (1)
****''Monstranusia mirabilissima'' Trjapitzin (4)
* 122b Head otherwise; if antenna foliaceously flattened, then club not segmented................123
=== 123 ===
* 123a Antenna nine-segmented........ 124
* 123b Antenna ten or eleven-segmented........ 126
=== 124 ===
* 124a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches (fig. 97 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Head .and body largely metallic in colour; antenna sometimes foliaceously flattened; ovipositor often strongly protruded at apex of metasoma; male antenna with funicle six-segmented, segments II – V each with a ramus -
**''''' Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
*** 37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus'' bifasciatellus (Mercet) (1)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (1)
* 124b Fore wing entirely hyaline........ 125
=== 125 ===
* 125a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; antenna (fig. 111 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, the fumcle and club broad, somewhat laterally compressed -
**''''' Callaincyrtus''''' Prinsloo & Annecke, 1979
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Callaincyrtus decorus'' - no known associates (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
* 125b Head and body at most with faint metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thoracic dorsum; antenna not particularly slender, the segments not flattened -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915<ref name=>Silvestri, F. 1915, Contributo all conoscenza degli insetti dell'olivo dell'Eritrea e dell'Africa meridionalei. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della R. Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura, Portici 9:305 [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14029132 BHL][https://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/research-curation/projects/chalcidoids/pdf_X/Silves915.pdf PDF]</ref>
*** This genus was reviewed in 1995: Prinsloo, G. L. (1995). The encyrtid genus Allocerellus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), parasitoids of mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 26(2), 167-179.
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Allocerellus ater'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus bizonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus curtus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus hortensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****'' Allocerellus inquirendus'' Silvestri (2)
****'' Allocerellus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus notatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus orestes'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus paulus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus venustus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus vittatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus zonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
=== 126 ===
* 126a Antenna ten-segmented, the club with two segments........ 127
* 126b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented........ 128
=== 127 ===
* 127a Head and body flatlened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**'''''Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Rhopus adustus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus discretus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus geminus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus luridus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus notius'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus pilatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus urbanus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 127b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=== 128 ===
* 128a Frontovertex (fig. 98 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) densely pitted, the pits with a metallic green lustre; antennal scape subcylindical. Dominantly black species, the fore wing entirely and strongly infuscated; cephalic margin of fore wing forming an incision at apex of submarginal vein; male antenna with six transverse funicle segments and a long unsegmented banana-shaped club - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9692.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** ''Chalcaspis'' Howard, 1895 is a synonym of '' Aenasius''
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' (Risbec) (4)
****'' Aenasius advena'' Compere (9)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' (Kerrich) (4)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' Kerrich (1)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' (Walker) (1)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' (Compere) (4)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' (Ashmead) (1)
* 128b Frontovertex at most punctate, the punctations not refringent........ 129
=== 129 ===
* 129a Head and body flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**''''' Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 127
* 129b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; palpi otherwise........ 130
=== 130 ===
* 130a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two................131
* 130b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial three-segmented........ 132
=== 131 ===
* 131a Antenna (fig. 99 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, filiform, the funicle segments all plainly longer than wide; postmarginal vein (fig. 100 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing long, extending to a level well beyond apex of stigmal; small species. Fore wing hyaline or partly infuscated - [[File:Leptomastidea abnormis inat 8538894 Jesse Rorabaugh.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastidea abnormis'', California, USA]]
**''''' Leptomastidea''''' Mercet, 1916
*** This genus was reviewed in 2001: Prinsloo, G.L. 2001, The aftrotropical species of Leptomastidea Mercet (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitoids of mealybugs. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 10(2):158-159. Includes photos of fore wings.
*** 23 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****'' Leptomastidea abnormis'' (Girault) (12)
****'' Leptomastidea ascia'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea jeanneli'' Mercet (5)
****'' Leptomastidea lamto'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea pondo'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea tecta'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea turba'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea usta'' Prinsloo (1)
* 131b Antenna (fig. 101 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) not particularly slender, the funicle segments not all longer than wide; postmarginal vein short, shorter than stigmal; larger species - [[File:Anagyrus lopezi.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus lopezi'']][[File:Anagyrus on mealybug inaturalist 105468882.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus'' wasp parasitizing a mealybug]]
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** ''Doliphoceras'' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '' Anagyrus''
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anagyrus aberiae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus abyssinicus'' Compere (4)
****'' Anagyrus agraensis'' Saraswat (1)
****'' Anagyrus amnicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus amoenus'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus antoniae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus arambourgi'' Risbec (1)
****'' Anagyrus arenaria'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus aurantifrons'' Compere (6)
****'' Anagyrus bambeyi'' Risbec (3)
****'' Anagyrus beneficians'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus bugandaensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus diversicornis'' (Howard) (11)
****'' Anagyrus fusciventris'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus gracilis'' (Hayat) (3)
****'' Anagyrus greeni'' Howard (1)
****'' Anagyrus haroldi'' Noyes and Hayat (4)
****'' Anagyrus incongruens'' (Masi) (1)
****'' Anagyrus indicus'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****'' Anagyrus kivuensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus lopezi'' (De Santis) (92)
****'' Anagyrus mangicola'' Noyes (7)
****'' Anagyrus mirzai'' Agarwal and Alam (3)
****'' Anagyrus nigrescens'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus pseudococci'' (Girault) (10)
****'' Anagyrus pullus'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus rubellus'' (Annecke) (4)
****'' Anagyrus saccharicola'' Timberlake (8)
****'' Anagyrus siccus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****'' Anagyrus subflaviceps'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus subnigricornis'' Ishii (1)
****'' Anagyrus subproximus'' (Silvestri) (5)
****'' Anagyrus swezeyi'' Timberlake (2)
=== 132 ===
* 132a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments; if rarely unicolorous, then marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform........ 133
* 132b Funicle unicolorous; marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter often very long........ 134
=== 133 ===
* 133a Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally (fig. 102 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing hyaline; frontovertex without punctations -
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 131b
* 133b Antennal scape subcylindrical (fig. 121 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing weakly to strongly infuscated (fig. 119 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), at least in the distal three-fourths or so; frontovertex and face with scattered punctations (fig. 118 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Basal part of fore wing with setation as in fig. 120 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; male antenna as in fig. 122 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> - [[File:Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|thumb|''Apoleptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Apoleptomastix''''' Kerrich, 1982
***''Xiphomastix'' De Santis, 1972 is a synonym of ''Apoleptomastix''
*** 6 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Apoleptomastix anneckei'' Pseudococcidae ''Antonina'' sp. (Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Apoleptomastix bicoloricornis'' Pseudococcidae ''Brevennia rehi'', ''Coccidohystrix insolita'', ''Heterococcus nigeriensis'' (Ethiopia, Gambia, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
=== 134 ===
* 134a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches........ 135
* 134b Fore wing hyaline; if rarely infuscated, then with faint longitudinally infuscated bands........ 136
=== 135 ===
* 135a Head and body dominantly orange-red; fore wing (fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) tapering towards apex from the level of apex of venation, the wing disc characteristically maculated as in fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; antenna not particularly slender, the scape somewhat expanded ventrally, about three times as long as its greatest width; wings held horizontal in life -
**''''' Yasumatsuiola''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species?
****''Yasumatsuiola orientalis'' Trjapitzin, 1977 found in Afrotropics?
* 135b Colour of head and body otherwise; fore wing (fig. 104 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, slender, not tapering towards apex, the latter broadly rounded; wing disc infuscated with hyaline cross-bands or patches; antenna (fig. 105 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, filiform, the scape cylindrical, much more than three times as long as wide; wings held erect in life - [[File:Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|thumb|''Callipteroma sexguttata'', South Africa]][[File:Mercet 1921 27 Callipteroma 118.jpg|thumb|Male ''Callipteroma sexguttata'', Spain]]
**''''' Callipteroma''''' Motschulsky, 1863
*** 6 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Callipteroma albiclava'' Noyes (1)
****''Callipteroma sexguttata'' Motschulsky (3)
****''Callipteroma testacea'' Motschulsky (2)
=== 136 ===
* 136a Scutellum with sculptural cells longitudinally oriented, somewhat raised, giving the disc a striate effect (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black, shiny, without metallic refringence; male antenna (fig. 117 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with rami, one each on funicle segments II–V -
**'''''Neocharitopus''''' Hayat, Alam and Agarwal, 1975
*** ''Insleyia'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979 is a synonym of ''Neocharitopus''
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Neocharitopus crassus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****''Neocharitopus solani'' (Risbec) (1)
* 136b Sculpture of scutellum otherwise................137
=== 137 ===
* 137a Antennal scape (fig. 106 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, or if only slightly expanded, then the ends cylindrical. General colour yellow to orange, without metallic lustre; thorax covered with fine white setae; postmarginal vein long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal -
**''''' Gyranusoidea''''' Compere, 1947
*** 44 species worldwide; 11 Afrotropical species:
****''Gyranusoidea austrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea citrina'' (Compere) (6)
****''Gyranusoidea dilatata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea flava'' Shafee, Alam and Agarwal (1)
****''Gyranusoidea klugei'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Gyranusoidea litura'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea munda'' Annecke (5)
****''Gyranusoidea pauliani'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Gyranusoidea separata'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea signata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (5)
****''Gyranusoidea tebygi'' Noyes (28)
* 137b Antennal scape not or hardly expanded ventrally........ 138
=== 138 ===
* 138a Body always black, with moderate to strong metallic green, blue or purplish refringence. Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci; marginal and postmarginal veins long -
**''''' Clausenia''''' Ishii, 1923
*** 12 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Clausenia capensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia comperei'' Kerrich (4)
****''Clausenia concinna'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia confusor'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia corrugata'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia guineensis'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia sobrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
* 138b Colour otherwise, if rarely black, then without any metallic refringence........ 139
=== 139 ===
* 139a Antenna filiform, the basal funicle segment longer than pedicel, often very much so; cercal plates advanced to a level near base of metasoma - [[File:Leptomastix inat 153928277.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Leptomastix''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 34 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Leptomastix abyssinica'' Compere (5)
****''Leptomastix africana'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix dactylopii'' Howard (24)
****''Leptomastix digitariae'' Risbec (1)
****''Leptomastix flava'' Mercet (3)
****''Leptomastix herreni'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix hibiscusae'' Risbec (3)
****''Leptomastix jonesi'' Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix nigra'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix nigrocincta'' Risbec (4)
****''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix tsukumiensis'' Tachikawa (2)
* 139b Antenna not filiform, the pedicel longer than basal funicle segment; cecal plates placed near apex of metasoma -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=Other genera known from the Afrotropics=
[[File:Achalcerinys lindus faunaibrica Mercet 1921 F112 p270.jpg|thumb|''Achalcerinys lindus'', female, Spain.]]
*Some of these genera have been found in the Afrotropics since the key was created (1979)
**'''''Achalcerinys''''' Girault, 1915
***''Parasyrpophagus'' is a synonym of ''Achalcerinys''
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Achalcerinys gorodkovi'' (Myartseva, 1983) - no known associates (Egypt, Ethiopia)
****''Achalcerinys lindus'' (Mercet, 1921) - a parasitoid of Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae, Encyrtidae (Ethiopia)
**'''''Agarwalencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Agarwalencyrtus citri'' - a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid in mealybugs; ''Planococcus'' spp. (South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
****Photograph of specimen in [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20203576260 Tirunagaru and Sagadai (2020)]
**'''''Anomalencyrtus''''' Hayat and Verma, 1980
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalencyrtus longicornis'' - no known associates (Madagascar)
**'''''Anomalicornia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalicornia tenuicornis'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Astymachus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Astymachus exilis '' - no known associates (South Africa)
[[File:Blastothrix erythrostetha female Fig95 p245.jpg|thumb|''Blastothrix erythrostetha'', female]]
**'''''Blastothrix '''''
*** 29 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Blastothrix anthocleistae'' Risbec, 1952 (Madagascar)
**'''''Bothriocraera''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriocraera bicolor'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Ghana)
**'''''Brachyplatycerus''''' De Santis, 1972
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brachyplatycerus minutum'' - a parasitoid of moths ''Cydia pomonella'' (South Africa)
**'''''Brethesiella''''' Porter, 1920
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brethesiella abnormicornis'' - a parasitoid of Margarodidae ''Icerya'' spp. (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Cladiscodes''''' Subba Rao, 1977
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cladiscodes incisius'' - no known associates (South Africa)
[[File:Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|thumb|''Cryptanusia'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Cryptanusia''''' Girault , 1917
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cryptanusia aureiscutellum'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Diaphorencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis'' (Shafee, Alam and Agarwal) (Réunion, South Africa)
****''Diaphorencyrtus harrisoni'' (Robinson, 1960) (South Africa)
**'''''Dionencyrtus''''' De Santis, 1985
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dionencyrtus cordylomerae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Dusmetia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dusmetia fuscipennis'' (Noyes & Hayat, 1984) (Zimbabwe)
**'''''Ectroma''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Ectroma truncatum'' Prinsloo, 1986 (Zimbabwe)
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Erencyrtus ater'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus contrarius'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus fuscus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus notialis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
**'''''Hambletonia''''' Compere, 1936
*** 9 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hambletonia pseudococcina'' Compere, 1936 (Ghana)
**'''''Hemileucoceras''''' Hoffer, 1976
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hemileucoceras madagascariensis'' (Risbec) (Madagascar)
**'''''Holcencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 10 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Holcencyrtus liriomyzae'' Risbec (Senegal)
****''Holcencyrtus myrmicoides'' (Compere and Zinna) (Ghana)
**'''''Homosemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homosemion bennetti'' Annecke, 1967 (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Incisencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1988
*** 4 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Incisencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo, 1988 (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Incisencyrtus secus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Madagascar)
****''Incisencyrtus sirus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Nigeria)
**'''''Lakshaphagus''''' Mahdihassan, 1931
*** 9 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Lakshaphagus armillatus'' (Annecke, 1969) (South Africa)
****''Lakshaphagus ceroplastae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
[https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Tetracneminae/Manicnemus/Manicnemus_species.htm Manicnemus species]
**'''''Manicnemus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Manicnemus'' sp. (Tanzania) <ref name=vanNoort>van Noort, S. (2024). WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. (accessed on 14 March 2024).</ref>
**''''' Mahencyrtus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 14 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mahencyrtus occultans'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
**'''''Mira''''' [[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.556.jpg|thumb|Female ''Mira integralis'']][[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.554.jpg|thumb|Male ''Mira integralis'']]
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mira integralis'' (Mercet, 1921) (Senegal)
**'''''Neastymachus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 21 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neastymachus dispar'' Prinsloo, 1996 (South Africa)
**'''''Neodusmetia''''' Kerrich, 1964
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neodusmetia sangwani'' (Subba Rao, 1957) (Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Parablatticida''''' Girault, 1915
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Parablatticida aphycoides'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
****''Parablatticida vidua'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
**'''''Pseudococcobius''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 12 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Pseudococcobius akares'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius ancylus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius dolus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius san'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vibex'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vinealis'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
**'''''Rhytidothorax''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 20 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Rhytidothorax ambositrensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Rhytidothorax latiscapus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979) (Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Scotteus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Scotteus ochroleucus'' Masi, 1917 (Seychelles)
**'''''Spaniopterus''''' Gahan, 1927
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Spaniopterus crucifer'' Gahan, 1927 (Mauritius)
**'''''Stemmatosteres''''' Timberlake, 1918
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Stemmatosteres primus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt, 1981 (South Africa)
**'''''Trichomasthus''''' [[File:Trichomasthus cyanifrons, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Trichomasthus cyanifrons'', female, Spain]]
*** 60 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Trichomasthus portoricensis'' (Crawford, 1913) (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Xenostryxis'''''
*** 10 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Xenostryxis margiscutellum'' Girault, 1920 (South Africa)
**'''''Zarhopalus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zarhopalus corvinus'' a parasitoid of Pseudococcidae, ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
**'''''Zozoros'''''
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zozoros adamsoniae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
=References=
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key]]
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/* Other genera known from the Afrotropics */
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text/x-wiki
Encyrtidae is a large family of parasitic wasps in the Superfamily [[w:Chalcidoidea|Chalcidoidea]]. There are more than 640 described species of [[w:Afrotropical|Afrotropical]] Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of [[w:scale insect|scale insect]]s, some of which are pests that reduce the productivity of agricultural crops across the world.<br>
=Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae=
This key is based on this paper: '''Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979).''' A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref> The Universal Chalcidoidea Database<ref name=Noyes2019/>, WaspWeb<ref name=vanNoort2024>van Noort, S. 2024. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Classification/index.htm (accessed 2023-2024).</ref>, and other on-line sources were used to add details.
==1 Encyrtidae ==
[[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|'''Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae''']] include: mesopleuron very enlarged; mid coxae level with middle of mesopleuron in side view; cercal plates advanced; linea calva distinct; mesoscutum transverse and without distinct notauli.<ref name=Pitkin2004>Pitkin, B.R. (2004) Notes on families: Encyrtidae. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/encyrtidae.html www.nhm.ac.uk]</ref> There are illustrations of these features on another [[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|page of the '''African Arthropods project''']].<br>
1a Tarsi with four segments ........ 2<br>
1b Tarsi with five segments ........ 3
==2 Tarsi with four segments==
*Marginal cilia of forewing very long (fig. 2 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); axillae indistinct (fig. 3 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb]); funicle with five or six segments -
**'''''Anthemus''''' <small>HOWARD, 1896</small>
***22 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species.
***Photos: [http://ponent.atspace.org/fauna/ins/fam/encyrtidae/anthemus_hab.htm Ponent, Catalonia]
***Paper: Prinsloo, G. L., & Neser, O. C. (1989). A revision of the genus Anthemus Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in the Afrotropical region. Revue de Zoologie Africaine, 103(1), 51-72.
*Marginal cilia of forewing short (cf. fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the longest cilia never much longer than the setae on the submarginal vein; axillae are distinct and meet medially; funicle with two to four segments - [[File:Mercet 1921 7 Arrenophagus parasite in Alacaspis rosae p54.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' before emergence from scale host, Spain.]][[File:Mercet 1921 6 Arrhenophagus chionaspidis female antenna p53.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' female antenna]]
**'''''Arrhenophagus''''' <small>AURIVILLIUS, 1888</small>
***Photos: [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/media.dsml?IMAGENO=chalc071&VALGENUS=Arrhenophagus&VALSPECIES=albitibiae&isVideo= Universal Chalcidoidea Database] [https://takagi.tenteki.org/%E5%A4%A9%E6%95%B5%E5%9B%B3%E9%91%912/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A9.htm takagi.tenteki]
***Papers: [https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/view/129680 '''Suh S-J. 2021.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Prunus salicina Lindl. (Rosales: Rosaceae) in South Korea. Insecta Mundi 0885: 1–5.] [http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3697168 '''Suh, Soo-Jung, 2018.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reared from Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in the Republic of Korea, Insecta Mundi 612, pp. 1-6 : 3-4] [https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.19.3.110 '''Muniappan, R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012). Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114., R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012).''' Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114.]
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' (worldwide)
==3 Tarsi five-segmented==
*3a Forewing without stigmal, marginal or postmarginal veins, with an infuscated patch (fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); on the head, the scrobes are moderately deep, in the shape of aninverted V, their confluence is separated medially by a membranous joint that extends to the front of the vertex; a similar membrane runs transversely between the eyes where the fronto-vertex adjoins the face (fig. 5 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and figs 1, 13, 20, 24 of Annecke & Mynhardt (1974)<ref name=AnneckeMynhardt1974>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M.J., 1974. On some new and described species of arrhenophagine Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 37(1), pp.35-47. [https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 DOI] [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 PDF]</ref>) -
**'''''Arrhenophagoidea''''' <small>Girault, 1915</small><br>
***''Arrhenophagoidea'' and ''Arrhenophagus'' are morphologically similar, except that the tarsi are four-segmented in ''Arrhenophagus'' and five-segmented in ''Arrhenophagoidea''. Species of both genera are very small (body length about 0.5 mm).
***Four Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagoidea chaetacmae'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea neseri'' Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea rolaspidis'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea sierra'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
*3b Forewing venation partly or well-developed; head without membranous features above the scrobes ........ 4
===4 (Fore wing venation at least partly developed; head without membranous interruptions)===
*4a Posterior margin of mesosetum with two round projections, each fitting into an indentation in anterior margin of axillae (fig. 6 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); forewing with marginal cilia unusually long along caudal wing margin (fig. 7 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); egg parasitoids of Tettigometridae -
**'''''Psyllechthrus''''' <small>GHESQUIERE, 1958</small>
***A single species, ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' is known - from Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.<ref name=Noyes2019>Noyes, J.S. 2019. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. The Natural History Museum, London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/index.dsml</ref>
***''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' has been reared from the eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'', which is thought to be its only host.<ref name=Prinsloo1985>Prinsloo, G.L. 1985, Afrotropical Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): new records and notes. Journal of Natural History 19:281</ref>
***Photographs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'' eggs with tiny wasps that are probably ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'': [http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/bugs/tettigometridae/hilda_patruelis.htm] and [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180134054]
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 a.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus''
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 c.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' on eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis''.
</gallery>
*4b Margin of mesoseutum without two round projections fitting into indentations in the anterior margin of the axillae; marginal cilia of forewing not unusually long; not parasites of Tettigometridae ........ 5
===5 (Posterior margin of mesoscutum without two round projections fitting into the anterior margin of axillae, forewing with marginal cilia not unusually long)===
*5a Fore femur and tibia greatly swollen, the apex of the latter with two blunt spines in addition to the strigil; antenna eleven-segmented, the segments of pedicel, funicle and club similar in shape; head and body hardly encyrtiform (fig. 9 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)
**'''''Sanghalia''''' <small>RISBEC, 1955</small>
***A single species from Congo, ''Sanghalia kerandeli''
*5b Fore femur and tibia at most slightly swollen, the latter without spines; antenna otherwise, usually clavate................6
===6 (Fore femur and tibia not greatly swollen, fore tibia without spines)===
*6a Funicle with less than six segments........ 7
*6b Funicle with six or seven segments........ 16
==7 Funicle with less than six segments==
*7a Antenna (fig. 10 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extensively flattened and expanded - both scape and flagellum leaf-like; the club is not segmented; the funicle has three to five transverse segments; Pseudococeid parasitoids -[[File:Zaplatycerus fullawayi Timberlake 1925 Plate IX Fig. 1.jpg|thumb|''Zaplatycerus fullawayi''; A. female antenna; B. Male antenna; C. Female mandible frontal view]]
**'''''Zaplatycerus''''' Timberlake, 1925
***Synonyms include: ''Tropidophryne'' Compere, 1931; ''Neoplatycerus'' Subba Rao, 1965; ''Avernes'' Noyes et Woolley, 1994; ''Assamencyrtus'' Singh, 2006.<ref name=Trjapitzin2018>Trjapitzin, V. A. (2018). A Review of the Encyrtid-Wasp Genus ''Zaplatycerus'' Timberlake, 1925 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) of the World Fauna, Parasitoids of Mealybugs (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae). Entomological Review, 98, 787-792.</ref>
***16 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and images of ''Zaplatycerus notialis'' on [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271666428 Researchgate]
Afrotropical species
*7b Antenna not extensively flattened, but the scape may be expanded ventrally........ 8
===8 (Antenna not extensively flattened; scape may be expanded)===
*8a Funicle with four segments ........ 9
*8b Funicle with five segments ........ 10
===9 (Funicle with four segments)===
*9a Apex of scutellum with two lamelliform (flattened) setae (cf. figs 27 & 28 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>, and ''Habrolepis'', 38b below); forewing distinctly darkened, patterned; body flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of armored scale insects -
**'''''Caenohomalopoda''''' Tachikawa, 1979
***11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Caenohomalopoda shikokuensis'' a parasitoid of armored scales, ''Froggattiella penicillata'', ''Odonaspis'' spp. (South Africa)
****Description and figures - [https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf Tachikawa, 1956]<ref name=Tachikawa1956>Tachikawa, T. (1956). Description of a new species of the genus Pseudhomalopoda Cirault from Japan, with a list of the known species and their hosts of the Habrolepis-like genera (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Insecta matsumurana, 20(3-4), 90-96. https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf</ref>
*9b Scutellum without scale-like setae; forewing transparent; body not flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of bees -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Two Afrotropical species: ''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'', is known from South Africa; and ''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is known from Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda and is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and figures - [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3102 Annecke, 1968]<ref name=Annecke1968>Annecke, D. P. (1968). Records and Descriptions of African Encyrtidae-4 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 31(2), 249-264.</ref>
===10 (Funicle with five segments)===
*10a Antennal club not divided (a single segment) -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
*** 30 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Trechnites angolensis'' associated with the legume ''Isoberlinia'' sp. (Angola)
****''Trechnites manaliensis'' a parasitoid of ''Euphyllura eastopi'', ''Euphyllura longiciliata'', ''Psylla hyalina'' (South Africa)
****''Trechnites morulus'' associated with ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
*10b The antennal club has two or three segments ........ 11
===11 (Antennal club with two or three segments)===
*11a Antennal club with two segments. (Maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented; mandible tridentate (fig. 11 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the upper tooth retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae) - [[File:Pseudectroma europaeum Fauna ibérica p192 Fig.65.jpg|thumb|Female ''Pseudectroma europaeum'', Spain]]
**'''''Pseudectroma''''' Girault , 1915
***''Timberlakia'' Mercet, 1925 is a synonym<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***16 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species: ''Pseudectroma cussoniae'' (Madagascar), ''Pseudectroma gilvum'' (South Africa), ''Pseudectroma signatum'' (Israel, South Africa)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Parasitoids - hosts include soft scales (Coccidae) and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*11b Club with three segments ........ 12
===12 (Antennal club with three segments)===
*12a Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma -
**'''''Acerophagus''''' Smith, 1880
***''Pseudaphycus'' is a synonym of ''Acerophagus'' (see 13 below).
***''Acerophagus'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).
***iNaturalist has images of ''Acerophagus'' (CC-BY-NC).<ref name=iNatAcerophagus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250166 ''Acerophagus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
*12b Ovipositor not distinctly protruding from the end of the metasoma ........ 14
===13 (Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma - ''Acerophagus'')===
*13a Antennal club white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with a white antennal club (described as ''Pseudaphycus'') include ''A. angelicus'', ''A. dysmicocci'', ''A. ferrisianae'', ''A. maculipennis'', ''A. mundus'', ''A. notativentris '', ''A. perdignus'', ''A. prosopidis''.
*13b Antennal club not white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with two segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with an antennal club that is not white (described as ''Acerophagus'') include ''A. coccois'', ''A. pallidus''.
===14 (Ovipositor not protruding or just protruding)===
*14a Mandible with two teeth; maxillary palpi each have two segments, the labial not segmented; paratergites present; Male antenna ramose, rami on funicle segments I-IV -
**'''''Tetracnemoidea''''' Howard, 1898
***''Tetracnemoidea'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Afrotropical species:
****''T. brevicornis'' (Girault) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
****''T. coffeicola'' (Kerrich) (Kenya, Uganda)
****''T. peregrina'' (Compere) (Worldwide; Ghana, South Africa in Afrotropics)
****''T. sydneyensis'' (Timberlake) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
*14b Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs ................15
===15 (Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs)===
*15a Head and body dark brown to blackish-brown, non-metallic except for frontovertex which may have a very slight metallic tinge; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Afrotropical species:
****''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'' (South Africa); and
****''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini) (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*15b Head and body predominantly black, the scutellum brilliant metallic green in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
==16 Funicle with six or seven segments==
*16a Hind tibia foliaceously flattened (fig. 12 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 17
*16b Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened................ 18
===17 (Hind tibia foliaceously flattened)===
*17a Antennal club three-segmented or not segmented; parasitoids of Aphrophoridae and Cicadellidae. Male antenna may have six rami (fig. 14 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|thumb|''Neocladia'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Neocladia''''' Perkins, 1906
***''Carabunia'' Waterston, 1928 is a synonym of ''Neocladia''<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***iNaturalist has images of ''Neocladia''.<ref name=iNatNeocladia>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/253254 ''Neocladia'' photographs on iNaturalist (including some CC-BY)</ref>
***Afrotropical species:<ref name=Noyes2019/>
****''Neocladia gigantica'' is a parasitoid of ''Ptyelus flavescens'', the Yellow Raintree Spittlebug (Uganda).
****''Neocladia senegalensis'' (Senegal, South Africa).
****''Neocladia tibialis'' is a parasitoid of ''Batrachomorphus capeneri'', a leafhopper (South Africa).
===18 (Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened)===
*18a Wings markedly reduced ................19
*18b Wings not greatly reduced ............. 25
==19 Wings markedly reduced==
*19a Scutellum with a flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), in profile this flange shows as a thin, flat, caudal projection of the apex of scutellum................20
*19b Scutellum without a flange................21
===20 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a flange or lamella)===
*20a Mandible with two acute teeth; parasitoids of bees - [[File:Ericydnus inat 170283716 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Spain]]
**'''''Ericydnus''''' Walker, 1837
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
*20b Mandible with three teeth; parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus bicolor Fauna ibérica Ricardo García Mercet 1921.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus bicolor'', Spain]]
**'''''Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
***20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
***Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' (Risbec) is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' species (Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' Risbec is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Pulvinaria'' species (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' Ghesquiere is a parasitoid of the moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' (Risbec) has been associated with rice plants (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===21 (Wings reduced, scutellum without a flange)===
*21a Antenna nine-segmented, the club not segmented; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Male antenna six-segmented, segments II - V each with a ramus -
**'''''Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
***iNaturalist has images of ''Tetracnemus''.<ref name=iNatTetracnemus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250503 ''Tetracnemus'' photographs on iNaturalist (some CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus bifasciatellus'' (Mercet) (South Africa)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (Ethiopia)
*21b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in Pseudococcidae................22
===22 (Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments)===
*22a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft........................23
*22b Scutellar tuft of bristles absent........ 24
===23 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles)===
*23a Mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); gonostyli (3rd valvulae) absent -
**'''''Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
***96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Gascardia'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of Hemiptera including Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of ''Sahlbergella'' species (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' and ''Saissetia'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of ''Gascardia'' and ''Tachardina'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' ((Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' (Cameroon, Gabon)
*23b Mandible tridentate; gonostyli present - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250172 ''Diversinervus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus'' species (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', and ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
===24 (Wings reduced, scutellar tuft of bristles absent)===
*24a Apterous, or wings represented by a stub -
**'''''Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species:
****Many pics of winged species on iNaturalist (but not Afrotropical and not apterous)
*24b Fore wing reduced in size, but with venation distinct (fig. 17 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran.]]
**'''''Neococcidencyrtus''''' Compere, 1928
***20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' (Madagascar)
****''Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' (Cameroon)
****''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of ''Furchadaspis zamiae'', cycad scale (South Africa) Fig. 5. in https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343006453
****''Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****''Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' (South Africa)
==25 Wings not greatly reduced==
*25a Dorsum of scutellum with a longitudinal, inconspicuous, median keel - [[File:Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg |thumb|''Pentelicus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Pentelicus''''' Howard, 1895
***Head and thorax pitted; antennal club three-segmented, obliquely truncate apically.
***10 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
*25b Scutellum without a median keel................26
===26 (Scutellum without a median keel)===
*26a Head with a horn-like protuberance jutting from middle of face just below antennal Insertions - [[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti Fauna iberica (1921).jpg|thumb|Male ''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'']][[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti, head, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'', lateral view of head]]
**'''''Paratetracnemoidea''''' Girault , 1915
***''Rhinoencyrtus'' Mercet, 1918 is a synonym of ''Paratetracnemoidea''
***Photos at https://www.waspweb.org/chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Encyrtinae/Paratetracnemoidea/index.htm
***5 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Paratetracnemoidea breviventris'' - no associates known (Tanzania)
****''Paratetracnemoidea cornis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'' - no associates known (Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan)
*26b Head without facial protuberance................ 27
===27 (Head without facial protuberance)===
*27a Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin (figs 18- 22 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein never reaching cephalic edge of wing................28
*27b Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform (figs 34, 63, 82, 89 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................32
==28 Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin==
*28a Anterior margin of frontovertex produced to form a prominent ridge that overhangs upper limits of scrobes; mandibles diminutive -
**''''' Amira ''''' Girault , 1913
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Amira durantae'' is a parasitoid of spiders ''Nephila inaurata'' and ''Nephila madagascarensis'' (Madagascar)
*28b Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large, well developed........ 29
===29 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large)===
*29a Antennal scrobes sulcate, impressed on face as an inverted V, their lateral margins sharply angled (fig. 23 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Male and female antennae identical in shape and segmentation; parasitic in Aclerdidae -
**''''' Allencyrtus ''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide - Afrotropical:
****''Allencyrtus monomorphus'' is a parasitoid of an Aclerdid scale, ''Rhodesaclerda'' sp. (South Africa)
****Description of genus and species: Annecke & Mynhardt (1973) [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]<ref name=>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M. J. (1973). New and Iittle known African Encyrtidae, with descriptions of two new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 36(2), 211-28. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]</ref>
*29b Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins ....... 30
===30 (Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins)===
*30a Antennal club three-segmented; mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 24 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae and Stictococcidae -[[File:Aethognathus afer female Silvestri 1915 with inset.jpg|thumb|''Aethognathus afer'', female; inset shows detail of stigmal and postmarginal veins]]
**''''' Aethognathus ''''' Silvestri, 1915
***5 species worldwide; all Afrotropical:
****''Aethognathus afer'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus diversiseta'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Benin, Ghana)
****''Aethognathus bicolor'' is a parasitoid of the scale ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Uganda)
****''Aethognathus cavilabris'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia''and ''Stictococcus'' spp. (Congo, Uganda)
****''Aethognathus khryzhanovskyi'' - no associates known (Equatorial Guinea)
****''Aethognathus unicolor'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus gowdeyi'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Nigeria, Uganda)
*30b Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate; not parasitic in scale insects........ 31
===31 (Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate)===
*31a Frontovertex and face with large pits, each with a strong metallic lustre; antennal scape (fig. 25 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) strongly expanded ventrally; parasitic in eggs of spiders and/or planthoppers
**''''' Proleurocerus ''''' Ferriere, 1935
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Proleurocerus clavatus'' - no associates known (Zimbabwe)
****''Proleurocerus zululandiae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*31b Frontovertex at most finely punctate, non-metallic; antennal scape at most slightly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Neuroptera nymphs - [[File:Isodromus iNat 147864868.jpg |thumb|''Isodromus'' sp., Mexico.]][[File:Isodromus vinulus, male, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Isodromus vinulus'', a parasitic wasp in the family Encyrtidae; male]]
**''''' Isodromus''''' Howard, 1887
*** 26 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Isodromus timberlakei'' is a parasitoid of a ''Chrysopa'' species (South Africa)
==32 Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform; or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing==
*32a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft................ 33
*32b Scutellum without a tuft of bristles, the setae recumbent, except for one subapical pair which is sometimes present................37
==33 Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles==
*33a Head elongate in dorsal view, longer than wide or almost so, the greater part of each eye placed dorsally; mesoscutum (fig. 26 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually with a tuft of coarse bristles, but this tuft lacking in some species - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus/>
*** 12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes floridensis'', ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia coffeae'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a wide range of coccid scales (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus'' spp. (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*33b Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles................34
===34 (Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles)===
*34a Antenna enlarged, flattened, the club two-segmented, very large, almost as long as entire funicle; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Head and body generally smooth and polished, brilliantly metallic in colour -
**''''' Chrysoplatycerus''''' Ashmead, 1889
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysoplatycerus splendens'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs, ''Dysmicoccus'' spp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Formicococcus njalensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Ghana, South Africa)
*34b Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented; mandibles not bidentate; not parasitic in mealybugs................ 35
===35 (Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented)===
*35a Mandible edentate (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), broadly rounded apically; gonostyli absent; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Encyrtus aurantii iNat 132121027 d.jpg|thumb|''Encyrtus aurantii'', Italy.]][[File:Encyrtus infelix iNat 159262263 a.jpg |thumb|''Encyrtus infelix'', New Zealand.]]
**''''' Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
*** 96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of many different Hemiptera from Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of plant bugs, ''Sahlbergella'' spp., Miridae (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp., ''Saissetia'' sp. (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus'', ''Lichtensia'', ''Pulvinaria'', ''Saissetia'', ''Saissetia oleae'', and ''Udinia'' species. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' - no associates known (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Gascardia madagascariensis'', ''Lecanium hemisphaericum'', ''Protopulvinaria pyriformis'', ''Pulvinaria innumerabilis'', ''Pulvinaria urbicola'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'', and lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' spp. on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria delottoi'' spp., ''Pulvinariella'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon)
*35b Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids................36
===36 (Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids)===
*36a Ovipositor not or only slightly exserted at apex of metasoma - [[File:Cheiloneurus iNat 90442164 a.jpg|thumb|Male ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., USA]] [[File:Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 02.jpg|thumb|Female ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cheiloneurus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 152 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Cheiloneurus afer'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Pulvinarisca jacksoni'' (Ghana)
****''Cheiloneurus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Ceroplastes mimosae'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Sudan)
****''Cheiloneurus caesar'' is a hyperparasitoid of ''Dryinus orophilus'' in a delphacid planthopper (Mozambique)
****''Cheiloneurus carinatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. and mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus chiaromontei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus cyanonotus'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus flaminius'' and Eulophidae ''Tetrastichus'' sp. in a variety of beetles, flies and Hemiptera (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe)
****''Cheiloneurus elegans'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'' and Platygastridae ''Platygaster zosine'' in a variety of cecidomyiid midges, scales and mealybugs (Nigeria)
****''Cheiloneurus flavoscutatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from mealybugs ''Adelosoma phragmitidis'', ''Chaetococcus phragmitis'' (Ethiopia)
****''Cheiloneurus gonatopodis'' is a hyperparasitoid of pincer wasps ''Echthrodelphax'' sp., ''Pseudogonatopoides mauritianus'', ''Pseudogonatopus'' spp., ''Richardsidryinus'' sp. in delphacid planthoppers on sugar cane (Madagascar, Mauritius)
****''Cheiloneurus kuisebi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a mealybug ''Phenacoccus manihoti'' on cassava (Namibia)
****''Cheiloneurus leptulus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a ''Ceratina'' bee (Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus liorhipnusi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a lady beetle ''Chnootriba similis'', and a scentless plant bug ''Corizus hyalinus'' (Kenya, Senegal)
****''Cheiloneurus metallicus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Cheiloneurus obscurus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Gascardia brevicauda'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus orbitalis'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from an encyrtid ''Homalotylus'' sp., the coccid scale ''Saissetia oleae'' and green lacewings ''Chrysopa'' sp., ''Mallada handschini'', ''Suarius squamosa'' on citrus (South Africa)
*36b Ovipositor protruding strongly, by about one-half length of metasoma. Metasoma usually truncate apically - [[File:Prochiloneurus bolivari, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus bolivari'', female, Spain.]][[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus'' spp., ''Leptomastix'' spp., Pteromalidae ''Metastenus'' sp., lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****''Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' sp., ''Blepyrus insularis'', ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Leptomastix flava'', Coccidae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****''Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Coccidae ''Lecanium viride'', Margarodidae ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'', and Pseudococcidae ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'', Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Margarodidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
==37 Scutellum without a tuft of bristles==
*37a Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae (figs 27, 28)........ 38
*37b Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae........ 39
===38 (Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*38a Antenna (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) broadened and flattened, the funicle segments strongly transverse; eyes margined dorsally with white; fronto-occipital margin of head without a pair of lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] -
**''''' Comperiella ''''' Howard, 1906
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250283 iNaturalist]
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella bifasciata'' is a parasitoid of many Diaspididae, and the coccid ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., ''Aleurodicus destructor'', ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*38b Antenna not broadened and flattened; eyes not margined with white; fronto-occipital margin with a pair of small lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis ''''' Foerster, 1856
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/376512 iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of pit scale insects ''Asterodiaspis'' spp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scale insects ''Didesmococcus'' sp., armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', mealybugs ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and moths ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus elaeidis'', ''Aspidiotus oppugnatus'' (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius articulatus'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===39 (Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*39a Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion (figs 30, 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) in its apical one-third, this expansion usually bearing a single strong seta........ 40
*39b Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion................43
===40 (Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion in its apical one-third)===
*40a Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes (fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally................41
*40b Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally................42
===41 (Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes; antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally)===
*41a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 31 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing with a characteristic pattern of radiating dark bands (fig. 32 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black with strong metallic refringence; presumed hyperparasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Cerapterocerus mirabilis, female.jpg|thumb|''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'', female, Spain]][[File:Cerapterocerus celadus inat 194830169 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Cerapterocerus celadus'', France]]
**''''' Cerapterocerus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250477-Cerapterocerus iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'' is probably a hyperparasitoid of encyrtid wasps in scale insects (South Africa)
*41b Antenna not broadened and flattened except for scape (fig. 33 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing (fig. 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) infuscated, but without distinct patterns as above; head and body dominantly brownish, without strong metallic refringence; primary parasitoids of Asterolecaniidae (pit scales). Head as in fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Mayrencyrtus''''' Hincks, 1944
*** 6 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database
===42 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally)===
*42a Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci (fig. 36 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); maxillary and labial palpi each two-segmented; paratergites present; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Coccidoxenoides perminutus Fernandes 2016 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'', Brazil]]
**'''''Coccidoxenoides''''' Girault, 1915
***'' Pauridia'' Timberlake, 1919 is a synonym of ''Coccidoxenoides'' (a monotypic genus)
****''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'' Girault, 1915 is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Allococcus quaestius'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Phenacoccus madeirensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Planococcus citri'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. and armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus nerii'', ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chionaspis striata'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa)
*42b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; paratergites absent; parasitic in Diaspididae -[[File:Tyndarichus melanacis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Tyndarichus melanacis'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Tyndarichus''''' Howard, 1910
***''Protyndarichus combretae'', ''P. orarius'', ''P. prolatus'', ''P. sparnus'' are a synonyms of the ''Tyndarichus'' species below.
*** 24 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Tyndarichus combretae'' no known associates (Senegal)
****''Tyndarichus orarius'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Idiosaissetia peringueyi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus prolatus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Ceroplastes elytropappi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus sparnus'' is a parasitoid of Lecanodiaspididae, ''Lecanodiaspis tarsalis'' (South Africa)
===43 (Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion)===
*43a Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae ................ 120
*43b Mandible never with only two pointed teeth ........ 44
===44 (Mandible never with only two pointed teeth)===
*44a Entire fore wing, or part of it, distinctly [[wikt:infuscate|infuscated]] (with a dark tinge), the infuscation rarely restricted to an area beneath the venation ........ 45
*44b Fore wing entirely [[w:hyaline|hyaline]] (translucent or transparent), or very faintly and inconspicuously infuscated, the infuscation then usually only visible if wing held against a white background ........ 73
==45 Fore wing, or part of it, distinctly infuscated==
*45a Fore wing with a conspicuous incision in cephalic wing margin at distal end of submarginal vein (fig. 40 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Eugahania''''' Mercet, 1926
*** 10 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database.<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*45b Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin ................46
===46 Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin===
*46a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat [[wikt:caudal|caudal]] projection of the scutellum................47
*46b Scutellum without a marginal flange, the posterior margin rarely forming a very short lip........ 49
===47 Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella===
*47a Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] absent; [[wikt:clava|club]] large, much longer than the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; parasitic in Lepidoptera eggs. Antenna as in fig. 41 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Hesperencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1971
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hesperencyrtus lycoenephila'' is a parasitoid of lycaenid butterflies ''Deodorix antalus'', ''Deudorix antalus'', ''Lampides boeticus'' (Senegal)
*47b Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] not white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] present; [[wikt:clava|club]] about as long as the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; not parasitic in Lepidoptera........ 48
===48 Antennal club not white; club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together===
*48a Frontovertex and face with numerous large pits, each brilliantly metallic green in colour - [[File:Discodes arizonensis Smithsonian Institution 2019 CC-BY BOLD CCDB-34079-D12.jpg|thumb|''Discodes arizonensis'', New Mexico, United States]]
**''''' Discodes''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 44 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Discodes discors'' is a parasitoid of felt scales ''Eriococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Discodes melas'' - no associates known (Namibia)
*48b Head at most with fine punctations. Orange-brown to dark brown, rarely black, species, at most weakly refringent; fore wing strongly and uniformly infuscated from base to near apex; usually parasitic in Pulvinaria spp. on grasses - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus monawari, female, dorsal view.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus monawari'', India]]
**''''' Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp.(Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinariai'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp. (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' is a parasitoid of a moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' is a parasitoid associated with rice ''Oryza sativa'' (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===49 Scutellum without a marginal flange===
*49a Stigmal vein of fore wing placed almost at right angle to postmarginal vein (fig. 42 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Fore wing infuscated with contrasting hyaline patches as in fig. 42<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; parasitic in Lacciferidae and Coccidae -
**''''' Ruandella''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 4 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Ruandella capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella stigmosa'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella tertia'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella testacea'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (Rwanda, South Africa)
*49b Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much less than 90 degrees ........ 50
===50 Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much smaller than right angle===
*50a Mandible with four teeth (fig. 43 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Body somewhat flattened dorsoventrally; head subtriangular in lateral view, the face a little inflexed; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Adelencyrtus inat 31626163.jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Adelencyrtus Cipola 2022 EntomoBrasilis 15 e1003 CC-BY.jpg|thumb|Female ''Adelencyrtus'' sp., Brazil]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*50b Mandibles do not have four teeth ........ 51
===51 (Mandibles do not have four teeth)===
*51a Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically................52
*51b Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically................55
===52 Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically===
*52a Antennal club three-segmented; not parasitic in Coleoptera........ 53
*52b Antennal club not segmented, rarely with faint traces of one or two septa on one side of the club; parasitic in Coleoptera........ 54
===53 Antennal club three-segmented===
*53a Antennal scape expanded ventrally (fig. 44 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); hcad and body strongly metallic in colour, the head and thorax usually covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta Annecke'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*53b Antennal scape not or only slightly expanded ventrally (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body without metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===54 Antennal club not segmented; parasitic in Coleoptera===
*54a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); basal one-half or so of tegulae white; antennal scape slender, subcylindrical; primary parasitoids of Coccinellidae -[[File:Homalotylus flaminius, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus flaminius'', female]][[File:Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Homalotylus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 68 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotylus africanus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Exochomus concavus'', ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lindorus lophanthae'', ''Scymnus ornatulus'' (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa)
****''Homalotylus eytelweinii'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes sexmaculata'', ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Rodolia'' spp. (Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus flaminius'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adalia'' spp., ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Brumus suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes'' spp., ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella'' spp., ''Coleomegilla maculata'', ''Cycloneda'' spp., ''Epilachna chrysomelina'', ''Eriopis connexa'', ''Exochomus'' spp., ''Harmonia'' spp., ''Henosepilachna bifasciata'', ''Hippodamia'' spp., ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lioadala flavomaculata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Neomysia oblongoguttata'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Orcus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Platynaspis'' sp., ''Rodolia'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Thea vigintiduopunctata'', ''Verania frenata'', leaf beetles ''Galeruca calmariensis'', coccid scale insects ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Saissetia oleae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Planococcus citri'', ''Pseudococcus citri'' (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo)
****''Homalotylus hemipterinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Chilomenes'' sp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Cycloneda sanguinea'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Orcus'' sp., stink bugs ''Cantheconidia furcellata'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Pseudococcus'' sp., gelechiid moths ''Aproaerema modicella'' (Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus quaylei'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Nephus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Sidis'' sp., coccid scales ''Eulecanium persicae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Phenacoccus herreni'', ''Planococcus''; spp. (Gabon, Mauritania)
****''Homalotylus vicinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis marmottani'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Nephus vetustus'', ''Scymnus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar)
*54b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; tegula not white; scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Discolomatidae - [[File:Homalotyloidea dahlbomii, female.jpg|thumb|''Homalotyloidea dahlbomii'', female, Spain]]
**''''' Homalotyloidea''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotyloidea africana'' is a parasitoid of beetles ''Notiophygus piger'' (South Africa)
===55 Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically===
*55a Body flattened dorsoventrally, the dorsum of head and thorax almost flat. Parasitic in Diaspididae........ 56
*55b Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax more or less convex........ 57
===56 Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax convex===
*56a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); frontovertex with two narrow whitish bands, one each extending along the dorsal eye margins. Fore wing boldly marked -[[File:Cain2565.jpg|thumb| ''Comperiella bifasciata'']]
**''''' Comperiella''''' Howard, 1906
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Affirmaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''[[w:Comperiella bifasciata|Comperiella bifasciata]]'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'', ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Clavaspis'' sp., ''Diaspidiotus gigas'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Dynaspidiotus abietis'', ''Hemiberlesia'' spp., ''Lindingaspis fusca'', ''Morganella longispina'', ''Nuculaspis abietis'', ''Parlatoria pergandii'', ''Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis'', ''Pseudaulacaspis'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus'' spp., ''Temnaspidiotus destructor'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'', coccid scale insects ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., whiteflies ''Aleurodicus destructor'', wax scale insects ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*56b Antenna not broadened and flattened; frontovertex without pale bands - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', pit scales, ''Asterodiaspis'' sp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scales ''Didesmococcus'' sp., mealybugs, ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and a moth, ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus aonidum'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius celastri'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' spp. (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===57 Body not flattened, head and thorax convex===
*57a Antenna foliaceously flattened (fig. 47 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); junction of frontovertex and face carinate or at least acutely angled and grooved........ 58
*57b Antenna not flattened except for scape which may be expanded ventrally; head without a facial carina................60
===58 Antenna flattened, junction of frontovertex and face carinate or acutely angled and grooved===
*58a Frontovertex terminating anteriorly at a transverse groove (fig. 48 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) containing dense, recumbent, silvery-white setae -
**''''' Anasemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anasemion inutile'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*58b Junction of frontovertex and face lacking a transverse row of dense setae - [[File:Anicetus iNat 180762161 g.jpg|thumb|''Anicetus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Anicetus''''' Howard, 1896
***''Paraceraptrocerus'' is a synonym of ''Anicetus''. In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''
*** 52 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anicetus abyssinicus '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (Eritrea)
****'' Anicetus africanus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Egypt, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus anneckei '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus aquilus '' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus austrinus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus calidus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. and ''Gascardia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus clivus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus communis'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus longulus'', ''Gascardia'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus fotsyae'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Anicetus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes bipartitus'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus graminosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus italicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus elongatus'', felt scales ''Gossyparia spuria'' (Zimbabwe)
****'' Anicetus nyasicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Malawi, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia rustica'', ''Lichtensia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parvus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Anicetus pattersoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes personatus'', ''Vinsonia personata'' (Ghana)
****'' Anicetus russeus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus sepis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus taylori'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
===59 ''Paraceraptrocerus''===
*In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''. However, ''Paraceraptrocerus'' is now regarded as a synonym of ''Anicetus'', making this step redundant.
===60 (Antenna not flattened although the scape may be expanded ventrally; no facial carina)===
*60a Ovipositor protruding strongly (fig. 49 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) at apex of metasoma by about one half length of metasoma........ 61
*60b Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted; if strongly protruded (rare), then antennal scrobes sulcate, or mandible slender, tridentate, the upper tooth retracted (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 62
===61 (Ovipositor protruding strongly)===
*61a Head with numerous setigerous pits; fore wing with a single pale cross-band beyond venation; body robust, black in colour; parasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Lombitsikala''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lombitsikala coccidivora'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia madagascariensis'' (Madagascar)
*61b Head at most with minute, indistinct punctations; fore wing without hyaline cross-bands; body more or less slender, usually generally yellowish to brownish; probably hyperparasitoids, usually in mealybugs - [[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****'' Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Atrococcus'' sp., ''Dysmicoccus multivorus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Heliococcus bohemicus'', ''Heterococcopsis opertus'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Peliococcus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Puto pilosellae'', ''Spinococcus calluneti'', ''Trionymus'' spp., coccid scales ''Rhizopulvinaria armeniaca'', felt scales ''Acanthococcus desertus'', ''Eriococcus insignis'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****'' Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Lecanium viride'', margarodid scales ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****'' Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Centrococcus'' spp., ''Coccidohystrix'' spp., ''Dysmicoccus'' sp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp., ''Oxyacanthus chrysocomae'', ''Paracoccus'' sp., ''Peliococcus mesasiaticus'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' spp., ''Trabutina crassispinosa'', ''Trabutina leonardii'', armored scale insects ''Chionaspis'' sp., felt scales ''Eriococcus stenoclini'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
===62 (Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted)===
*62a Antennal scape long and slender, at most slightly expanded ventrally........ 63
*62b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded, less than three times as long as its greatest width................70
==63 Antennal scape long and slender==
*63a Fore wing with marginal vein several times longer than stigmal (fig. 51 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal club with four segments, visible only in cleared slide·mounted specimens (fig. 52 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -[[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, Spain.]][[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, lateral view]]
**''''' Metaphaenodiscus''''' Mercet, 1921
*** Host species generally unknown, except for ''Metaphaenodiscus umbilicatus'' (Australia) which is known to be a parasitoid of a mealy bug.
*** 10 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Metaphaenodiscus aethiops'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus capensis'', associated with ''Protea aurea'' (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus watshami'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
*63b Marginal vein of fore wing shorter than, or subequal to stigmal vein; club with fewer than four segments................64
===64 (Marginal vein shorter than stigmal vein; antennal club with less than four segments)===
*64a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53 and 54 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), impressed on face as two deep furrows, their lateral margins acutely angled, at least in their basal one-half or so, converging, sometimes confluent dorsally to form an inverted V-shaped impression on face........ 65
*64b Antennal scrobes otherwise................66
===65 (Antennal scrobes impressed on face as two deep furrows)===
*65a Antennal club not longer than the distal funicle segments together; frontovertex more or less pitted; mandible with two teeth and a broad truncation (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
*65b Antennal club much longer than the distal three funicle segments together; frontovertex without pits or punctations; mandible with three teeth and a truncation (fig. 56 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Parasitic in Lacciferidae. Male antenna with two smaIl funicle segments and a large, unsegmented banana shaped club (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
===66 (Antennal scrobes not deeply impressed)===
*66a Mandible with three distinct teeth, the upper one sometimes retracted ................ 67
*66b Mandible otherwise ................ 68
===67 (Mandible with three distinct teeth)===
*67a Antenna (fig. 58 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) slender, not clavate, the funicle segments each longer than wide, the pedicel and funicle subcqual in length; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Hadrencyrtus''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Hadrencyrtus cirritus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Distichlicoccus'' sp. (South Africa)
*67b Antenna (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) clavate, not particularly slender, the basal funicle segment plainly wider than long, small, much shorter than pedicel; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===68 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth)===
*68a Mandible with a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation (fig. 59 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); ovipositor with gonostyli absent; parasitic in Membracidae - [[File:Prionomastix biharensis - Female 01.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prionomastix biharensis'', Bihar, India.]]
**''''' Prionomastix''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 30 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prionomastix africana'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix capeneri'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Beaufortiana viridis'', ''Leprechaunus cristatus'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix congoensis'' - no associates known (Rwanda)
****'' Prionomastix montana'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Dukeobelus simplex'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix myartsevae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix siccarius'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Gongroneura fasciata'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix wonjeae'' is a parasitoid of leafhoppers ''Coloborrhis corticina'' (Cameroon)
*68b Mandible otherwise; gonostyli present; not parasitic in Membracidae................69
===69 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth, or a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation)===
*69a Antennal club large, about as long as entire funicle; integument of head and thorax heavily sclerotized, strongly and intricately sculptured with raised, irregular ridges; probably parasitic in Lacciferidae. Fore wing with areas of very coarse discal setae (fig. 60 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
** '''Coccopilatus''' Annecke, 1963
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Coccopilatus judithae'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
*69b Antennal club shorter than funicle; sculpture of head and thorax mostly cellulite-reticulate; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran]]
**'' ' '' Neococcidencyrtus Compere, 1928
*** 20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****'' Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Furchadaspis zamiae'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
==70 Antennal scape expanded==
*70a Antenna with all funicle segments transverse (fig. 61 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); club very large, longer than entire funicle; paratergitcs present; frontovertex pitted; parasitic in mealybugs - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9470.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus citri'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast)
****'' Aenasius advena'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp. ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp. (Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' sp. (Afrotropical)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus celtis'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'' (Ghana)
70b Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; paratergites absent; frontovertex at most with fine punctations; not parasitic in mealybugs ................ 71
===71 (Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; frontovertex not markedly pitted)===
*71a Head and thoracic dorsum largely metallic blue-green or cupreous, covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella'' sp., ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*71b Head and body generally yellowish to brownish, without any metallic refringence or white setae; parasitic in Coccoidea ................ 72
===72 (Head and body yellowish to brownish, not metallic, no white setae)===
*72a Antennal club longer than distal three funicle segments together, usually much wider than funicle segment VI; if rarely shorter, then distal four funicle segments white - [[File:Metaphycus inat 5003180 c.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*72b Club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together, at most a little wider than distal funicle segment; funicle with at most distal three segments white - [[File:Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|thumb|''Microterys'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Microterys nietneri female.jpg|thumb|Female ''Microterys nietneri'', New Zealand]]
**'''''Microterys''''' Thomson, 1876
*** 228 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Microterys africa'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardia decorella'' (Uganda)
****'' Microterys anneckei'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Filippia'' sp., ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys bizanensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceronema'' sp., ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia cuneiformis'' (Eritrea)
****'' Microterys capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys ceroplastae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes destructor'' (Kenya)
****'' Microterys clauseni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Metaceronema japonica'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys haroldi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Messinea plana'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys kenyaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Lecanium oleae'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Microterys nanus'' is a parasitoid of cerococcid scales ''Cerococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys nicholsoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Ceroplastes destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Microterys nietneri'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Chloropulvinaria'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp., ''Eucalymnatus tessellatus'', ''Lecanium'' spp., ''Maacoccus piperis'', ''Parasaissetia'' spp., ''Parasaissetia oleae'', ''Parthenolecanium'' spp., ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Protopulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Saissetia'' spp., ''Sphaerolecanium prunastri'', armored scales ''Hemichionaspis theae'', ''Pinnaspis theae'', mealybugs ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys speciosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp. (South Africa)
== 73 Fore wing entirely hyaline, or faintly infuscated (any infuscation only visible against a pale background; from 44)==
* 73a Gonostyli exserted at apex of metasoma, the exserted parts laterally compressed, usually more or less rounded apically in lateral view........ 74
* 73b Gonostyli, if protruding at apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally, usually having the appearance of two slender, sharp stylets................78
== 74 Gonostyli extend beyond apex of metasoma, laterally compressed and rounded apically ==
* 74a Scutellum entirely or partly shiny, with a polished appearance, without differentiated sculptural cells; mandibles exceptionally large (fig. 62 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>)........ 75
* 74b Scutellum dorsally sculptured, not smooth and polished; mandibles normal................76
=== 75 Scutellum shiny; mandibles large===
* 75a Postmarginal vein (fig. 63 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing shorter than marginal, not reaching to a level near apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc largely devoid of setae; parasitic in Coleoptera - [[File:Cerchysiella inat 104244416.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysiella'' sp., United States]]
**''''' Cerchysiella''''' Girault, 1914
***''Zeteticontus'' Silvestri, 1915 is a synonym of ''Cerchysiella''.
*** 36 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysiella abilis'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Cerchysiella neodypsisae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Cerchysiella punctiscutellum'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****''Cerchysiella utilis'' (Noyes) (5)
****''Cerchysiella xanthopus'' (Masi) (1)
* 75b Postmarginal vein of fore wing subequal to or longer than marginal, reaching to about the level of apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc evenly and densely setose; parasitic in Diptera - [[File:Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|thumb|''Tachinaephagus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Tachinaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 11 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Tachinaephagus congoensis'' Subba Rao (1)
****''Tachinaephagus stomoxicida'' Subba Rao (3)
****''Tachinaephagus zealandicus'' Ashmead (6)
=== 76 Scutellum sculptured, not smooth; mandibles not large ===
* 76a Antennal funicle and club white in colour; antennal scape expanded ventrally, the funicle segments all wider than long; parasitic in Coleoptera. Head with membranous interruptions of sclerotized integument as in fig. 64 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Chrysomelechthrus''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysomelechthrus descampsi'' (Risbec) (3)
* 76b Antennal funicle and club dark in colour; scape slender, subcylindrical, the funicle with at least basal four or five segments longer than wide; parasitic in Diptera........ 77
=== 77 Antennal funicle and club dark; scape slender, subcylindrical; funicle with more than three segments longer than wide ===
* 77a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; pedicel shorter than, to about as long as, basal funicle segment; clypeal margin not crenulate - [[File:Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cerchysius''''' Westwood, 1832
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysius kilimanjarensis'' Kerrich (1)
****''Cerchysius ugandensis'' Kerrich (4)
* 77b Head and body without metallic lustre; pedicel plainly longer than basal funicle segment; clypeal margin with crenulae -
**''''' Coccidoctonus''''' Crawford, 1912
***''Xyphigaster'' Risbec, 1954 is a synonym of '' Coccidoctonus''
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidoctonus pseudococci'' (Risbec) (9)
== 78 If gonostyli protrude from apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally ==
* 78a Head, in frontal view, with eyes large, extending almost to mouth margin, the genae very short. Head and body metallic green in colour, the tegulae partly white; male antenna with four rami, borne on the first four funicle segments; parasitic in Lepidoptera - [[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus male antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Male antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]][[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus female antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Feale antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]]
**''''' Parablastothrix''''' Mercet, 1917
*** 16 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
****No Afrotropical records in UCD?
* 78b Genae much longer, usually plainly more than one-third longest diameter of eye in frontal view........ 79
=== 79 In frontal view genae more than one-third longest diameter of eye ===
* 79a Mandible with four teeth (figs 43, 65 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 80
* 79b Mandible otherwise................81
=== 80 Mandible with four teeth ===
* 80a Scutellum longitudinally striate (fig. 66 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); dorsum of thorax gently convex, the thorax not dorsoventrally compressed - [[File:Lamennaisia ambigua male p284.jpg|thumb|''Lamennaisia ambigua'', male]]
**''''' Lamennaisia''''' Girault, 1922
***''Mercetencyrtus'' Trjapitzin, 1963 is a synonym of ''Lamennaisia''
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lamennaisia nobilis'' (Nees) (South Africa)
* 80b Scutellum largely cellulate-reticulate, not giving the surface a striated effect; body some what flattened dorsoventrally, the thoracic dorsum flat or almost so - [[File:Adelencyrtus - Japoshvili, G. and Soethof, R. (2022).jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
=== 81 Mandible does not have four teeth ===
* 81a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (cf. fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 82
* 81b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci........ 83
=== 82 Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci===
* 82a Antenna (fig. 67 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, the scape subcylindrical, the funicle segments all longer than wide; paratergites present; body entirely black, or black with metasoma yellowish, the latter laterally margined with blackish-brown; head and thorax with a metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Charitopus fulviventris male Fig. 218 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Male ''Charitopus fulviventris'']][[File:Charitopus fulviventris female Fig. 220 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Female ''Charitopus fulviventris'']]
**''''' Charitopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Charitopus fulviventris'' - no associates known (South Africa)
* 82b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, the funicle segments not all longer than wide (fig. 68 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); paratergites absent; head and body without a metallic refringence, usually yellowish to brownish in colour; parasitic in Coccoidea other than Pseudococcidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
=== 83 Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci===
* 83a Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, more than three times as long as its greatest width........ 84
* 83b Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide........ 117
== 84 Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, much longer than wide==
* 84a Antennal sockets placed high on face (fig. 69 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), their lower limits at or above lower eye level. Body black in colour, the frontovertex and face more or less pitted; antennal scrobes usually sulcate; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Bothriophryne''''' Compere, 1937
*** 8 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriophryne acaciae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Bothriophryne ceroplastae'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne dispar'' Compere (2)
****''Bothriophryne fuscicornis'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne purpurascens'' Compere (3)
****''Bothriophryne velata'' Prinsloo and Annecke (2)
* 84b Antennal scrobes placed lower on face, their lower limits well below lower eye level, sometimes almost at mouth margin........ 85
=== 85 Antennal scrobes are low on face, lower limits well below bottom of eye===
* 85a Antennal club white........ 86
* 85b Antennal club not white........ 87
=== 86 Antennal club white===
* 86a Head and thorax brilliant metallic green in colour; antennal club strongly obliquely truncate apically; mandible (fig. 70 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a broad truncation; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
* 86b Head and body without metallic refringence; club rounded apically; mandible (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three slender teeth, the dorsal one somewhat retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 87 Antennal club not white===
* 87a Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented. Polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae................88
* 87b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented................89
=== 88 Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented===
* 88a Antennal club obliquely truncate from near base (fig. 71 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein of fore wing short, shorter than stigmal - [[File:Copidosoma varicorne female.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma varicorne'', female]][[File:202101 Copidosoma floridanum attack.svg|thumb|''Copidosoma floridanum'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma''
*** See also step 109 below
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' is a parasitoid of Lepidoptera (Cape Verde Islands, Ivory Coast, Senegal)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 88b Antennal club rounded or more or less squarely truncate at apex (fig. 72 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein (fig. 73 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) unsually long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal vein - [[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig143.jpg|thumb|Female ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'']][[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig145.jpg|thumb|Postmarginal and stigmal veins, ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'' female fore-wing.]]
**''''' Ageniaspis''''' Dahlbom, 1857
*** 21 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ageniaspis citricola'' Logvinovskaya (1)
****''Ageniaspis primus'' Prinsloo (1)
=== 89 Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented===
* 89a Mandible (fig. 74 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three distinct teeth and a straight dorsal truncation. Parasitic in Lacciferidae........ 90
* 89b Mandible otherwise........ 91
=== 90 ===
* 90a Abdomen with two interrupted rows of gland-like structures (fig. 75 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), one each on tergum II and VII, head and thorax with rather strong metallic refringence -
**''''' Adencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 3 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Adencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus pictus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 90b Abdomen without gland-like structures; head and body at most very slightly metallic in parts. Male antenna (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two small, transverse funicle segments and a long, unsegmented banana-shaped club -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 91 ===
* 91a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53, 54, 76), their lateral margins sharply angled, usually impressed on face as an inverted V........ 92
* 91b Scrobes otherwise........ 94
=== 92 ===
* 92a Gonostyli very short and broad (fig. 77 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), subtriangular, densely covered with short, spine-like setae. Body black in colour; male antenna ten-segmented, the club two-segmented; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**'''''Laccacida''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Laccacida lacunata'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
* 92b Gonostyli otherwise: elongate and slender, not densely covered with spine-like setae. Antenna of male nine-segmented, the club not segmented........ 93
=== 93 ===
* 93a Mandible (fig. 78 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three teeth; frontovertex with fine punctations; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 93b Mandible (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; frontovertex with large punctations or with pits; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
=== 94 ===
* 94a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments........ 95
* 94b Antennal funicle unicolorous or almost so........ 97
=== 95 ===
* 95a Body yellowish to brownish, without a metallic tinge; antennal club rounded apically; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
* 95b Body black, in parts with weak to strong metallic refringence; antennal club obliquely or transversely truncate apically; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 96
=== 96 ===
* 96a Mandible with three distinct teeth; antennal club (fig. 79 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) transversely truncate apically; marginal vein punctiform (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); polyembryonic parasitoids in larvae of Lepidoptera -
**'''''Paralitomastix''''' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '''''Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844 (see step 88)
* 96b Mandible with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; antennal club (fig. 81 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; marginal vein of fore wing (fig. 82 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) well developed; hyperparasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Tremblaya''''' Trjapitzin, 1985
*** ''Silvestria'' Trjapitzin, 1972 is a synonym of ''Tremblaya''
*** 5 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Tremblaya ceroplastae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Tremblaya coffeicola'' Noyes (1)
****''Tremblaya minor'' (Silvestri) (6)
****''Tremblaya oleae'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Tremblaya palaeococci'' (Risbec) (2)
=== 97 ===
* 97a All funicle segments plainly wider than long................98
* 97b Funicle segments not all wider than long................102
=== 98 All funicle segments plainly wider than long===
* 98a Postmarginal vein (fig. 83 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing very long, much longer than marginal, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal; paratergites present; mandible with three slender teeth, the middle one longest; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**'''''Blepyrus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 19 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Blepyrus insularis'' (Cameron) (11)
****''Blepyrus saccharicola'' Gahan (2)
****''Blepyrus schwarzi'' (Howard) (1)
* 98b Fore wing venation otherwise; paratergites absent; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in mealybugs........ 99
=== 99 ===
* 99a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short, shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; the latter placed at or close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Timberlake, 1919
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 99b Antennal scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; antennal sockets placed higher on face, their upper limits usually about level with lower eye margins; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 100
=== 100 ===
* 100a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with a single segment; small species, about 0,6 mm in length; parasitic in eggs of Coleoptera and Diptera -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Oobius abditus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius funestus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius longoi'' (Siscaro) (4)
****''Oobius striatus'' Annecke (3)
* 100b Palpi otherwise; larger species, often more than 1 mm in length; not egg parasitoids........ 101
=== 101 ===
* 101a Head and body dominantly dark blackish-brown to black; antennal club (fig. 84 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; parasitic in Diptera -
**'''''Exoristobia''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 9 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Exoristobia dipterae'' (Risbec) (8)
****''Exoristobia macrocerus'' (Masi) (1)
****''Exoristobia ugandensis'' Subba Rao (2)
* 101b Head and body dominantly yellowish to brownish-yellow; antennal club rounded apically; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
=== 102 Funicle segments not all wider than long===
* 102a Small species, at most about 1 mm in length, but usually less than 1 mm; exclusively parasitic in insect eggs, often in those of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera........ 103
* 102b Larger species, usually more than 1 mm in length; if less than 1 mm in length, then not parasitic in insect eggs, but in the larvae and pupae of insects................104
=== 103 ===
* 103a Antennal club longer than entire funicle; funicle segments I-V transverse; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial palpi not segmented -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species (See step 100)
* 103b Antennal club shorter than entire funicle; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three - [[File:Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Egg Mass Being Parasitized by Ooencyrtus kuvanae - Mississauga, Ontario.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' on a moth egg mass, Canada]] [[File:Ooencyrtus gravis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus gravis'', female, Spain.]]
**'''''Ooencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 343 species worldwide; 38 Afrotropical species:
****''Ooencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus albicrus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus angolensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus austrinus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus azul'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus bambeyi'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus bedfordi'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus camerounensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus cinctus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Ooencyrtus cirinae'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus congensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus cretatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus demodoci'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus dipterae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus distatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus epilachnae'' Annecke (3)
****''Ooencyrtus exallus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus guamensis'' Fullaway (6)
****''Ooencyrtus homoeoceri'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus insignis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus jeani'' Noyes and Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' is an egg parasitoid of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera (Nigeria)
****''Ooencyrtus lamborni'' Waterston (11)
****''Ooencyrtus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus nanus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus pallidipes'' (Ashmead) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus piezodori'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus polyphagus'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus puparum'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rigemae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus risbeci'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rufogaster'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus senegalensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus sesbaniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Ooencyrtus sinis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus unicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus utetheisae'' (Risbec) (11)
****''Ooencyrtus ventralis'' (Masi) (1)
=== 104 ===
* 104a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; head usually approximately round in outline in frontal view with mouth margin broad, antennal sockets placed close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 104b Scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; other characters different; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 105
=== 105 ===
* 105a Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth (figs 85, 86)........ 106
* 105b Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth; rarely with three teeth, but then dorsal tooth not acute or subacute, but broad, the apex squarely to roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................111
=== 106 Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 106a Head and body entirely and brilliantly metallic in colour; parasitic in Aclerdidae - [[File:Mayridia pulchra, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Mayridia pulchra'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Mayridia''''' Mercet, 1921
***34 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Mayridia arida'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Mayridia maryae'' Prinsloo (1)
* 106b Head and body at most with a faint to moderately strong metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thorax; not parasitic in Aclerdidae........ 107
=== 107 ===
* 107a Antennal club as long as the distal three funicle segments together; marginal vein or fore wing longer than stigmal; parasitic in dryinid wasps -
**'''''Helegonatopus''''' Perkins, 1906
***13 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Helegonatopus saotomensis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 107b Antennal club longer than funicle segments III-VI; marginal vein at most as long as stigmal; not parasitic in Hymenoptera........ 108
=== 108 ===
* 108a Antennal club obliquely truncate apically. Thoracic dorsum usually with metallic green and purple refringence; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae -
**'''''Litomastix''''' Thomson, 1876
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma'', making this step redundant, although presumably useful for identification of species groups?.
* 108b Antennal club rounded apically, or club segments transverse........ 109
=== 109 ===
* 109a Antenna long and slender, the funicle segments all longer than wide; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae - [[File:Copidosoma koehleri 03.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma koehleri'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** See also step 88 (above)
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' (Ashmead) (6)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 109b Funicle segments not all longer than wide, the antenna not particularly slender; not parasitic in Lepidoptera................110
=== 110 ===
* 110a Marginal and postmarginal veins very short, the latter much shorter than stigmal vein, sometimes punctiform; frontovertex without punctations; usually parasitic in Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 110b Marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter reaching almost to the level of apex of stigmal vein; frontovertex with scattered puncrations; exclusively parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
***'' Tachardiaephagus'' keys out at 93, 110
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
=== 111 Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 111a Tergum II and VII of abdomen each with an interrupted row of gland-like structures (fig. 88 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); Antennal club long, usually about as long as enure funicle; legs usually banded; parasitic in Diaspididae. -
**'''''Zaomma''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 17 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Zaomma acaciae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma carinae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma cestus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma ficusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma lambinus'' (Walker) (5)
****''Zaomma sitis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma vix'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma xhosa'' Prinsloo (2)
* 111b Abdomen without gland-like structures........ 112
=== 112 Abdomen without gland-like structures===
* 112a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two; parasitic in Diaspididae. Small species, usually not much more than 1 mm in length; antenna generally slender, the club long -
**'''''Coccidencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 36 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes'' Gahan (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus plectroniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus punctatus'' Compere and Annecke (1)
* 112b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; not parasitic in Diaspididae........ 113
=== 113 ===
* 113a Marginal vein of fore wing relatively long*, broad, dark in colour, about as long as, or longer than, stigmal vein (figs 89, 90); mandible with three well separated teeth, the upper one squarely or roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 114
* 113b Marginal vein punctiform or very short, shorter than stigmal (figs 91, 92); if rarely subequal to stigmal, then mandible with a well separated ventral tooth and a broad dorsal truncation (fig. 93 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 115
=== 114 ===
* 114a Body longer than 1 mm; thorax slender, the scutellum longer than wide; legs usually not banded; primary parasitoids of Syrphidae - [[File:Syrphophagus aphidivorus, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'', female, Spain]][[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 114b Smaller species, usually about 1 mm in length; scutellum relatively broad, about as long as wide or a little wider than long; legs usually banded; hyperparasitoids of aphids, rarely of psyllids -
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
***''Aphidencyrtus'' is a synonym of ''Syrphophagus''; this step previously separated ''Aphidencyrtus''
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
=== 115 ===
* 115a Head and body pale, dominantly yellow in colour, without metallic refringence; parasitic in Coccidae. Male remarkable in colour: orange and brilliant metallic green in parts -
**''''' Argutencyrtus''''' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974<ref name=Prinsloo1974>Prinsloo, G.L. & Annecke, D.P. (1973). A new genus and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from South Africa. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, 37(2), 345-349. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2638</ref>
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Argutencyrtus luteolus'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974
* 115b Head and body entirely metallic in colour, or black with some parts with faint to moderately strong metallic refringence, or rarely at least head and thorax black; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 116
=== 116 ===
* 116a Usually entirely metallic green or blue-green in colour, rarely with only some parts metallic in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae - [[File:Psyllaephagus inat 165372177 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus'' sp., Córdoba, Spain.]][[File:Psyllaephagus guangxiensis (10.3897-BDJ.9.e63253) Figure 1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Psyllaephagus guangxiensis'', China]] [[File:Psyllaephagus euphyllurae, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus euphyllurae'', female, Spain]]
**'''''[[w:Psyllaephagus|Psyllaephagus]]''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 246 species worldwide; 30 Afrotropical species:
****''Psyllaephagus africanus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus albicrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus arytainae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus bicolor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae'' Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame, Dzokou, Gumovsky and De Coninck (1)
****''Psyllaephagus bliteus'' Riek, 1962 (Australia, introduced to South Africa and also Neotropical and western Palaearctic regions)
****''Psyllaephagus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus capeneri'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus cellulatus'' Waterston (1)
****''Psyllaephagus chianganus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus cincticrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus dealbatae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus dispar'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus furvus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus hibiscusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus io'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus lucaris'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus minor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus oleae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus ornatus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus pauliani'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus perendinus'' Robinson (1)
****''Psyllaephagus phytolymae'' (Ferriere) (5)
****''Psyllaephagus pulvinatus'' (Waterston) (12)
****''Psyllaephagus rhusae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus secus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus tessmannii'' Tamesse and Tiyo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus vastus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus viridis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus yaseeni'' Noyes (Tanzania)
* 116b Never entirely metallic in colour, at most the head and thoracic dorsum with weak to moderately strong metallic refringence; parasitic in Syrphidae and Coccinellidae -
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114a, 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
== 117 Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide ==
* 117a Eyes exceptionally setose (fig. 123 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the setae long, strongly developed; frontovertex sparsely pitted; antenna (fig. 126 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with scape blackish, the remainder of antenna uniformly paler in colour - [[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 117b Eyes sparsely setose, the setae fine; frontovertex at most finely punctate; colour of antenna otherwise........ 118
=== 118 Eyes sparsely setose===
* 118a Head tending to opisthognathous, the frontovertex almost horizontal, meeting the inflexed face at an acute angle, so that head is subtriangular in lateral view; parasitic in ticks (Ixodidae). Male sometimes brachypterous, in which case the head has a forked process jutting forward at junction of frontovertex and face - [[File:Ixodiphagus hookeri.jpg|thumb|''Ixodiphagus hookeri'', France]]
**'''''Ixodiphagus''''' Howard, 1907
***''Hunterellus'' Howard, 1908 is a synonym of ''Ixodiphagus''
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ixodiphagus hookeri'' (Howard) (14)
****''Ixodiphagus theilerae'' (Fiedler) (5)
* 118b Head hypognathous, the frontovertex more or less convex, rounded on to face; not parasitic in ticks........ 119
=== 119 ===
* 119a Head and body largely yellowish to brownish, without metallic refringence; antennal scrobes more or less well developed; toruli with lower limits well above clypeal margin; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 119b Head and body dominantly black, the head and thoracic dorsum with faint to strong metallic refringence; scrobes absent or developed as two very short shallow furrows, hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; toruli placed at or close to mouth margin; polyembryonic parasitoids of aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
== 120 Mandible with only two teeth; paratergites usually present; usually without coarse setae at edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced. Mealybug parasitoids==
[Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae (from 43)]
* 120a Antennal funicle seven-segmented -
**''''' Alamella''''' Agarwal, 1966
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Alamella flava'' - a parasitoid of eriococcids and mealybugs (Angola, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa)
****Species description: [https://www.ias.ac.in/public/Volumes/secb/063/02/0067-0079.pdf Agarwal (1966)]<ref name=Agarwal1966>Agarwal, M. M. (1966). Three undescribed genera and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera-Chalcidoidea) parasitic on coccids. In Proceedings/Indian Academy of Sciences (Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 67-79). New Delhi: Springer India.</ref>
* 120b Club two-segmented; head and body without metallic lustre; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with two. Funicle with six or fewer segments........ 121
=== 121 ===
* 121a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (cf. fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat caudal projection of the scutellum. Body often black, the head dark metallic green; antenna long, slender, the scape cylindrical; marginal and postmarginal veins long - [[File:Ericydnus inat 183126807 Mario Bassini.jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Italy]]
**''''' Ericydnus''''' Haliday, 1832
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
* 121b Scutellum without a flange........ 122
=== 122 ===
* 122a Head prognathous (fig. 94 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), elongate and flattened in dorsal view, almost as long as thorax (fig. 95 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the eyes elongate, in dorsal view occupying almost whole of head laterally; antenna (fig. 96 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extremely large, foliaceously flattened, the club three-segmented -
**''''' Monstranusia''''' Trjapitzin, 1964
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Monstranusia antennata'' (Narayanan) (1)
****''Monstranusia mirabilissima'' Trjapitzin (4)
* 122b Head otherwise; if antenna foliaceously flattened, then club not segmented................123
=== 123 ===
* 123a Antenna nine-segmented........ 124
* 123b Antenna ten or eleven-segmented........ 126
=== 124 ===
* 124a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches (fig. 97 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Head .and body largely metallic in colour; antenna sometimes foliaceously flattened; ovipositor often strongly protruded at apex of metasoma; male antenna with funicle six-segmented, segments II – V each with a ramus -
**''''' Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
*** 37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus'' bifasciatellus (Mercet) (1)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (1)
* 124b Fore wing entirely hyaline........ 125
=== 125 ===
* 125a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; antenna (fig. 111 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, the fumcle and club broad, somewhat laterally compressed -
**''''' Callaincyrtus''''' Prinsloo & Annecke, 1979
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Callaincyrtus decorus'' - no known associates (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
* 125b Head and body at most with faint metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thoracic dorsum; antenna not particularly slender, the segments not flattened -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915<ref name=>Silvestri, F. 1915, Contributo all conoscenza degli insetti dell'olivo dell'Eritrea e dell'Africa meridionalei. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della R. Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura, Portici 9:305 [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14029132 BHL][https://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/research-curation/projects/chalcidoids/pdf_X/Silves915.pdf PDF]</ref>
*** This genus was reviewed in 1995: Prinsloo, G. L. (1995). The encyrtid genus Allocerellus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), parasitoids of mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 26(2), 167-179.
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Allocerellus ater'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus bizonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus curtus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus hortensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****'' Allocerellus inquirendus'' Silvestri (2)
****'' Allocerellus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus notatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus orestes'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus paulus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus venustus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus vittatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus zonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
=== 126 ===
* 126a Antenna ten-segmented, the club with two segments........ 127
* 126b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented........ 128
=== 127 ===
* 127a Head and body flatlened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**'''''Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Rhopus adustus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus discretus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus geminus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus luridus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus notius'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus pilatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus urbanus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 127b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=== 128 ===
* 128a Frontovertex (fig. 98 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) densely pitted, the pits with a metallic green lustre; antennal scape subcylindical. Dominantly black species, the fore wing entirely and strongly infuscated; cephalic margin of fore wing forming an incision at apex of submarginal vein; male antenna with six transverse funicle segments and a long unsegmented banana-shaped club - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9692.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** ''Chalcaspis'' Howard, 1895 is a synonym of '' Aenasius''
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' (Risbec) (4)
****'' Aenasius advena'' Compere (9)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' (Kerrich) (4)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' Kerrich (1)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' (Walker) (1)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' (Compere) (4)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' (Ashmead) (1)
* 128b Frontovertex at most punctate, the punctations not refringent........ 129
=== 129 ===
* 129a Head and body flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**''''' Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 127
* 129b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; palpi otherwise........ 130
=== 130 ===
* 130a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two................131
* 130b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial three-segmented........ 132
=== 131 ===
* 131a Antenna (fig. 99 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, filiform, the funicle segments all plainly longer than wide; postmarginal vein (fig. 100 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing long, extending to a level well beyond apex of stigmal; small species. Fore wing hyaline or partly infuscated - [[File:Leptomastidea abnormis inat 8538894 Jesse Rorabaugh.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastidea abnormis'', California, USA]]
**''''' Leptomastidea''''' Mercet, 1916
*** This genus was reviewed in 2001: Prinsloo, G.L. 2001, The aftrotropical species of Leptomastidea Mercet (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitoids of mealybugs. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 10(2):158-159. Includes photos of fore wings.
*** 23 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****'' Leptomastidea abnormis'' (Girault) (12)
****'' Leptomastidea ascia'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea jeanneli'' Mercet (5)
****'' Leptomastidea lamto'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea pondo'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea tecta'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea turba'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea usta'' Prinsloo (1)
* 131b Antenna (fig. 101 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) not particularly slender, the funicle segments not all longer than wide; postmarginal vein short, shorter than stigmal; larger species - [[File:Anagyrus lopezi.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus lopezi'']][[File:Anagyrus on mealybug inaturalist 105468882.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus'' wasp parasitizing a mealybug]]
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** ''Doliphoceras'' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '' Anagyrus''
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anagyrus aberiae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus abyssinicus'' Compere (4)
****'' Anagyrus agraensis'' Saraswat (1)
****'' Anagyrus amnicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus amoenus'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus antoniae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus arambourgi'' Risbec (1)
****'' Anagyrus arenaria'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus aurantifrons'' Compere (6)
****'' Anagyrus bambeyi'' Risbec (3)
****'' Anagyrus beneficians'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus bugandaensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus diversicornis'' (Howard) (11)
****'' Anagyrus fusciventris'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus gracilis'' (Hayat) (3)
****'' Anagyrus greeni'' Howard (1)
****'' Anagyrus haroldi'' Noyes and Hayat (4)
****'' Anagyrus incongruens'' (Masi) (1)
****'' Anagyrus indicus'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****'' Anagyrus kivuensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus lopezi'' (De Santis) (92)
****'' Anagyrus mangicola'' Noyes (7)
****'' Anagyrus mirzai'' Agarwal and Alam (3)
****'' Anagyrus nigrescens'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus pseudococci'' (Girault) (10)
****'' Anagyrus pullus'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus rubellus'' (Annecke) (4)
****'' Anagyrus saccharicola'' Timberlake (8)
****'' Anagyrus siccus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****'' Anagyrus subflaviceps'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus subnigricornis'' Ishii (1)
****'' Anagyrus subproximus'' (Silvestri) (5)
****'' Anagyrus swezeyi'' Timberlake (2)
=== 132 ===
* 132a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments; if rarely unicolorous, then marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform........ 133
* 132b Funicle unicolorous; marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter often very long........ 134
=== 133 ===
* 133a Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally (fig. 102 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing hyaline; frontovertex without punctations -
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 131b
* 133b Antennal scape subcylindrical (fig. 121 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing weakly to strongly infuscated (fig. 119 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), at least in the distal three-fourths or so; frontovertex and face with scattered punctations (fig. 118 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Basal part of fore wing with setation as in fig. 120 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; male antenna as in fig. 122 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> - [[File:Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|thumb|''Apoleptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Apoleptomastix''''' Kerrich, 1982
***''Xiphomastix'' De Santis, 1972 is a synonym of ''Apoleptomastix''
*** 6 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Apoleptomastix anneckei'' Pseudococcidae ''Antonina'' sp. (Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Apoleptomastix bicoloricornis'' Pseudococcidae ''Brevennia rehi'', ''Coccidohystrix insolita'', ''Heterococcus nigeriensis'' (Ethiopia, Gambia, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
=== 134 ===
* 134a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches........ 135
* 134b Fore wing hyaline; if rarely infuscated, then with faint longitudinally infuscated bands........ 136
=== 135 ===
* 135a Head and body dominantly orange-red; fore wing (fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) tapering towards apex from the level of apex of venation, the wing disc characteristically maculated as in fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; antenna not particularly slender, the scape somewhat expanded ventrally, about three times as long as its greatest width; wings held horizontal in life -
**''''' Yasumatsuiola''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species?
****''Yasumatsuiola orientalis'' Trjapitzin, 1977 found in Afrotropics?
* 135b Colour of head and body otherwise; fore wing (fig. 104 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, slender, not tapering towards apex, the latter broadly rounded; wing disc infuscated with hyaline cross-bands or patches; antenna (fig. 105 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, filiform, the scape cylindrical, much more than three times as long as wide; wings held erect in life - [[File:Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|thumb|''Callipteroma sexguttata'', South Africa]][[File:Mercet 1921 27 Callipteroma 118.jpg|thumb|Male ''Callipteroma sexguttata'', Spain]]
**''''' Callipteroma''''' Motschulsky, 1863
*** 6 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Callipteroma albiclava'' Noyes (1)
****''Callipteroma sexguttata'' Motschulsky (3)
****''Callipteroma testacea'' Motschulsky (2)
=== 136 ===
* 136a Scutellum with sculptural cells longitudinally oriented, somewhat raised, giving the disc a striate effect (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black, shiny, without metallic refringence; male antenna (fig. 117 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with rami, one each on funicle segments II–V -
**'''''Neocharitopus''''' Hayat, Alam and Agarwal, 1975
*** ''Insleyia'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979 is a synonym of ''Neocharitopus''
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Neocharitopus crassus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****''Neocharitopus solani'' (Risbec) (1)
* 136b Sculpture of scutellum otherwise................137
=== 137 ===
* 137a Antennal scape (fig. 106 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, or if only slightly expanded, then the ends cylindrical. General colour yellow to orange, without metallic lustre; thorax covered with fine white setae; postmarginal vein long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal -
**''''' Gyranusoidea''''' Compere, 1947
*** 44 species worldwide; 11 Afrotropical species:
****''Gyranusoidea austrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea citrina'' (Compere) (6)
****''Gyranusoidea dilatata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea flava'' Shafee, Alam and Agarwal (1)
****''Gyranusoidea klugei'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Gyranusoidea litura'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea munda'' Annecke (5)
****''Gyranusoidea pauliani'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Gyranusoidea separata'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea signata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (5)
****''Gyranusoidea tebygi'' Noyes (28)
* 137b Antennal scape not or hardly expanded ventrally........ 138
=== 138 ===
* 138a Body always black, with moderate to strong metallic green, blue or purplish refringence. Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci; marginal and postmarginal veins long -
**''''' Clausenia''''' Ishii, 1923
*** 12 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Clausenia capensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia comperei'' Kerrich (4)
****''Clausenia concinna'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia confusor'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia corrugata'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia guineensis'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia sobrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
* 138b Colour otherwise, if rarely black, then without any metallic refringence........ 139
=== 139 ===
* 139a Antenna filiform, the basal funicle segment longer than pedicel, often very much so; cercal plates advanced to a level near base of metasoma - [[File:Leptomastix inat 153928277.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Leptomastix''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 34 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Leptomastix abyssinica'' Compere (5)
****''Leptomastix africana'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix dactylopii'' Howard (24)
****''Leptomastix digitariae'' Risbec (1)
****''Leptomastix flava'' Mercet (3)
****''Leptomastix herreni'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix hibiscusae'' Risbec (3)
****''Leptomastix jonesi'' Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix nigra'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix nigrocincta'' Risbec (4)
****''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix tsukumiensis'' Tachikawa (2)
* 139b Antenna not filiform, the pedicel longer than basal funicle segment; cecal plates placed near apex of metasoma -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=Other genera known from the Afrotropics=
[[File:Achalcerinys lindus faunaibrica Mercet 1921 F112 p270.jpg|thumb|''Achalcerinys lindus'', female, Spain.]]
*Some of these genera have been found in the Afrotropics since the key was created (1979)
**'''''Achalcerinys''''' Girault, 1915
***''Parasyrpophagus'' is a synonym of ''Achalcerinys''
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Achalcerinys gorodkovi'' (Myartseva, 1983) - no known associates (Egypt, Ethiopia)
****''Achalcerinys lindus'' (Mercet, 1921) - a parasitoid of Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae, Encyrtidae (Ethiopia)
**'''''Agarwalencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Agarwalencyrtus citri'' - a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid in mealybugs; ''Planococcus'' spp. (South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
****Photograph of specimen in [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20203576260 Tirunagaru and Sagadai (2020)]
**'''''Anomalencyrtus''''' Hayat and Verma, 1980
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalencyrtus longicornis'' - no known associates (Madagascar)
**'''''Anomalicornia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalicornia tenuicornis'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Astymachus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Astymachus exilis '' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Blastothrix ''''' [[File:Blastothrix erythrostetha female Fig95 p245.jpg|thumb|''Blastothrix erythrostetha'', female]]
*** 29 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Blastothrix anthocleistae'' Risbec, 1952 (Madagascar)
**'''''Bothriocraera''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriocraera bicolor'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Ghana)
**'''''Brachyplatycerus''''' De Santis, 1972
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brachyplatycerus minutum'' - a parasitoid of moths ''Cydia pomonella'' (South Africa)
**'''''Brethesiella''''' Porter, 1920
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brethesiella abnormicornis'' - a parasitoid of Margarodidae ''Icerya'' spp. (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Cladiscodes''''' Subba Rao, 1977
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cladiscodes incisius'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Cryptanusia''''' Girault , 1917 [[File:Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|thumb|''Cryptanusia'' sp., South Africa]]
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cryptanusia aureiscutellum'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Diaphorencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis'' (Shafee, Alam and Agarwal) (Réunion, South Africa)
****''Diaphorencyrtus harrisoni'' (Robinson, 1960) (South Africa)
**'''''Dionencyrtus''''' De Santis, 1985
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dionencyrtus cordylomerae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Dusmetia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dusmetia fuscipennis'' (Noyes & Hayat, 1984) (Zimbabwe)
**'''''Ectroma''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Ectroma truncatum'' Prinsloo, 1986 (Zimbabwe)
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Erencyrtus ater'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus contrarius'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus fuscus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus notialis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
**'''''Hambletonia''''' Compere, 1936
*** 9 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hambletonia pseudococcina'' Compere, 1936 (Ghana)
**'''''Hemileucoceras''''' Hoffer, 1976
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hemileucoceras madagascariensis'' (Risbec) (Madagascar)
**'''''Holcencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 10 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Holcencyrtus liriomyzae'' Risbec (Senegal)
****''Holcencyrtus myrmicoides'' (Compere and Zinna) (Ghana)
**'''''Homosemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homosemion bennetti'' Annecke, 1967 (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Incisencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1988
*** 4 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Incisencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo, 1988 (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Incisencyrtus secus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Madagascar)
****''Incisencyrtus sirus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Nigeria)
**'''''Lakshaphagus''''' Mahdihassan, 1931
*** 9 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Lakshaphagus armillatus'' (Annecke, 1969) (South Africa)
****''Lakshaphagus ceroplastae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Manicnemus''''' Hayat, 1981 [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Tetracneminae/Manicnemus/Manicnemus_species.htm Manicnemus species]
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Manicnemus'' sp. (Tanzania) <ref name=vanNoort>van Noort, S. (2024). WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. (accessed on 14 March 2024).</ref>
**''''' Mahencyrtus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 14 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mahencyrtus occultans'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
**'''''Mira''''' [[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.556.jpg|thumb|Female ''Mira integralis'']][[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.554.jpg|thumb|Male ''Mira integralis'']]
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mira integralis'' (Mercet, 1921) (Senegal)
**'''''Neastymachus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 21 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neastymachus dispar'' Prinsloo, 1996 (South Africa)
**'''''Neodusmetia''''' Kerrich, 1964
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neodusmetia sangwani'' (Subba Rao, 1957) (Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Parablatticida''''' Girault, 1915
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Parablatticida aphycoides'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
****''Parablatticida vidua'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
**'''''Pseudococcobius''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 12 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Pseudococcobius akares'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius ancylus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius dolus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius san'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vibex'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vinealis'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
**'''''Rhytidothorax''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 20 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Rhytidothorax ambositrensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Rhytidothorax latiscapus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979) (Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Scotteus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Scotteus ochroleucus'' Masi, 1917 (Seychelles)
**'''''Spaniopterus''''' Gahan, 1927
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Spaniopterus crucifer'' Gahan, 1927 (Mauritius)
**'''''Stemmatosteres''''' Timberlake, 1918
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Stemmatosteres primus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt, 1981 (South Africa)
**'''''Trichomasthus''''' [[File:Trichomasthus cyanifrons, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Trichomasthus cyanifrons'', female, Spain]]
*** 60 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Trichomasthus portoricensis'' (Crawford, 1913) (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Xenostryxis'''''
*** 10 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Xenostryxis margiscutellum'' Girault, 1920 (South Africa)
**'''''Zarhopalus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zarhopalus corvinus'' a parasitoid of Pseudococcidae, ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
**'''''Zozoros'''''
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zozoros adamsoniae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
=References=
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key]]
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Encyrtidae is a large family of parasitic wasps in the Superfamily [[w:Chalcidoidea|Chalcidoidea]]. There are more than 640 described species of [[w:Afrotropical|Afrotropical]] Encyrtidae in about 130 genera. Many encyrtid species are parasitoids of [[w:scale insect|scale insect]]s, some of which are pests that reduce the productivity of agricultural crops across the world.<br>
=Key to the genera of Afrotropical Encyrtidae=
This key is based on this paper: '''Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979).''' A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382.<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref> The Universal Chalcidoidea Database<ref name=Noyes2019/>, WaspWeb<ref name=vanNoort2024>van Noort, S. 2024. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Classification/index.htm (accessed 2023-2024).</ref>, and other on-line sources were used to add details.
==1 Encyrtidae ==
[[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|'''Diagnostic features of Encyrtidae''']] include: mesopleuron very enlarged; mid coxae level with middle of mesopleuron in side view; cercal plates advanced; linea calva distinct; mesoscutum transverse and without distinct notauli.<ref name=Pitkin2004>Pitkin, B.R. (2004) Notes on families: Encyrtidae. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/encyrtidae.html www.nhm.ac.uk]</ref> There are illustrations of these features on another [[African Arthropods/Encyrtidae|page of the '''African Arthropods project''']].<br>
1a Tarsi with four segments ........ 2<br>
1b Tarsi with five segments ........ 3
==2 Tarsi with four segments==
*Marginal cilia of forewing very long (fig. 2 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); axillae indistinct (fig. 3 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb]); funicle with five or six segments -
**'''''Anthemus''''' <small>HOWARD, 1896</small>
***22 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species.
***Photos: [http://ponent.atspace.org/fauna/ins/fam/encyrtidae/anthemus_hab.htm Ponent, Catalonia]
***Paper: Prinsloo, G. L., & Neser, O. C. (1989). A revision of the genus Anthemus Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in the Afrotropical region. Revue de Zoologie Africaine, 103(1), 51-72.
*Marginal cilia of forewing short (cf. fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and Prinsloo & Anneke, 1979<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the longest cilia never much longer than the setae on the submarginal vein; axillae are distinct and meet medially; funicle with two to four segments - [[File:Mercet 1921 7 Arrenophagus parasite in Alacaspis rosae p54.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' before emergence from scale host, Spain.]][[File:Mercet 1921 6 Arrhenophagus chionaspidis female antenna p53.jpg|thumb|''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' female antenna]]
**'''''Arrhenophagus''''' <small>AURIVILLIUS, 1888</small>
***Photos: [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/media.dsml?IMAGENO=chalc071&VALGENUS=Arrhenophagus&VALSPECIES=albitibiae&isVideo= Universal Chalcidoidea Database] [https://takagi.tenteki.org/%E5%A4%A9%E6%95%B5%E5%9B%B3%E9%91%912/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A9.htm takagi.tenteki]
***Papers: [https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/view/129680 '''Suh S-J. 2021.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Prunus salicina Lindl. (Rosales: Rosaceae) in South Korea. Insecta Mundi 0885: 1–5.] [http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3697168 '''Suh, Soo-Jung, 2018.''' Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reared from Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in the Republic of Korea, Insecta Mundi 612, pp. 1-6 : 3-4] [https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.19.3.110 '''Muniappan, R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012). Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114., R., Watson, G. W., Evans, G. A., Rauf, A., & Von Ellenrieder, N. (2012).''' Cycad aulacaspis scale, a newly introduced insect pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences, 19(3), 110-114.]
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagus chionaspidis'' (worldwide)
==3 Tarsi five-segmented==
*3a Forewing without stigmal, marginal or postmarginal veins, with an infuscated patch (fig. 4 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); on the head, the scrobes are moderately deep, in the shape of aninverted V, their confluence is separated medially by a membranous joint that extends to the front of the vertex; a similar membrane runs transversely between the eyes where the fronto-vertex adjoins the face (fig. 5 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key] and figs 1, 13, 20, 24 of Annecke & Mynhardt (1974)<ref name=AnneckeMynhardt1974>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M.J., 1974. On some new and described species of arrhenophagine Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 37(1), pp.35-47. [https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 DOI] [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2835 PDF]</ref>) -
**'''''Arrhenophagoidea''''' <small>Girault, 1915</small><br>
***''Arrhenophagoidea'' and ''Arrhenophagus'' are morphologically similar, except that the tarsi are four-segmented in ''Arrhenophagus'' and five-segmented in ''Arrhenophagoidea''. Species of both genera are very small (body length about 0.5 mm).
***Four Afrotropical species:
****''Arrhenophagoidea chaetacmae'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea neseri'' Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea rolaspidis'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
****''Arrhenophagoidea sierra'' Annecke & Prinsloo, 1974 (South Africa)
*3b Forewing venation partly or well-developed; head without membranous features above the scrobes ........ 4
===4 (Fore wing venation at least partly developed; head without membranous interruptions)===
*4a Posterior margin of mesosetum with two round projections, each fitting into an indentation in anterior margin of axillae (fig. 6 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); forewing with marginal cilia unusually long along caudal wing margin (fig. 7 of [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Keys/Dichotomus_keys/Encyrtidae_genera.htm waspweb key]); egg parasitoids of Tettigometridae -
**'''''Psyllechthrus''''' <small>GHESQUIERE, 1958</small>
***A single species, ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' is known - from Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.<ref name=Noyes2019>Noyes, J.S. 2019. Universal Chalcidoidea Database. The Natural History Museum, London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/chalcidoids/database/index.dsml</ref>
***''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' has been reared from the eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'', which is thought to be its only host.<ref name=Prinsloo1985>Prinsloo, G.L. 1985, Afrotropical Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): new records and notes. Journal of Natural History 19:281</ref>
***Photographs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis'' eggs with tiny wasps that are probably ''Psyllechthrus oophagus'': [http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/bugs/tettigometridae/hilda_patruelis.htm] and [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180134054]
<gallery mode=packed heights=300>
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 a.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus''
Psyllechthrus oophagus 192741071 c.jpg|''Psyllechthrus oophagus'' on eggs of ''Nototettigometra patruelis''.
</gallery>
*4b Margin of mesoseutum without two round projections fitting into indentations in the anterior margin of the axillae; marginal cilia of forewing not unusually long; not parasites of Tettigometridae ........ 5
===5 (Posterior margin of mesoscutum without two round projections fitting into the anterior margin of axillae, forewing with marginal cilia not unusually long)===
*5a Fore femur and tibia greatly swollen, the apex of the latter with two blunt spines in addition to the strigil; antenna eleven-segmented, the segments of pedicel, funicle and club similar in shape; head and body hardly encyrtiform (fig. 9 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)
**'''''Sanghalia''''' <small>RISBEC, 1955</small>
***A single species from Congo, ''Sanghalia kerandeli''
*5b Fore femur and tibia at most slightly swollen, the latter without spines; antenna otherwise, usually clavate................6
===6 (Fore femur and tibia not greatly swollen, fore tibia without spines)===
*6a Funicle with less than six segments........ 7
*6b Funicle with six or seven segments........ 16
==7 Funicle with less than six segments==
*7a Antenna (fig. 10 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extensively flattened and expanded - both scape and flagellum leaf-like; the club is not segmented; the funicle has three to five transverse segments; Pseudococeid parasitoids -[[File:Zaplatycerus fullawayi Timberlake 1925 Plate IX Fig. 1.jpg|thumb|''Zaplatycerus fullawayi''; A. female antenna; B. Male antenna; C. Female mandible frontal view]]
**'''''Zaplatycerus''''' Timberlake, 1925
***Synonyms include: ''Tropidophryne'' Compere, 1931; ''Neoplatycerus'' Subba Rao, 1965; ''Avernes'' Noyes et Woolley, 1994; ''Assamencyrtus'' Singh, 2006.<ref name=Trjapitzin2018>Trjapitzin, V. A. (2018). A Review of the Encyrtid-Wasp Genus ''Zaplatycerus'' Timberlake, 1925 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) of the World Fauna, Parasitoids of Mealybugs (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae). Entomological Review, 98, 787-792.</ref>
***16 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and images of ''Zaplatycerus notialis'' on [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271666428 Researchgate]
Afrotropical species
*7b Antenna not extensively flattened, but the scape may be expanded ventrally........ 8
===8 (Antenna not extensively flattened; scape may be expanded)===
*8a Funicle with four segments ........ 9
*8b Funicle with five segments ........ 10
===9 (Funicle with four segments)===
*9a Apex of scutellum with two lamelliform (flattened) setae (cf. figs 27 & 28 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>, and ''Habrolepis'', 38b below); forewing distinctly darkened, patterned; body flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of armored scale insects -
**'''''Caenohomalopoda''''' Tachikawa, 1979
***11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Caenohomalopoda shikokuensis'' a parasitoid of armored scales, ''Froggattiella penicillata'', ''Odonaspis'' spp. (South Africa)
****Description and figures - [https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf Tachikawa, 1956]<ref name=Tachikawa1956>Tachikawa, T. (1956). Description of a new species of the genus Pseudhomalopoda Cirault from Japan, with a list of the known species and their hosts of the Habrolepis-like genera (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Insecta matsumurana, 20(3-4), 90-96. https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/9592/1/20(3-4)_p90-96.pdf</ref>
*9b Scutellum without scale-like setae; forewing transparent; body not flattened dorsoventrally; parasitoids of bees -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Two Afrotropical species: ''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'', is known from South Africa; and ''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is known from Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda and is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Description and figures - [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3102 Annecke, 1968]<ref name=Annecke1968>Annecke, D. P. (1968). Records and Descriptions of African Encyrtidae-4 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 31(2), 249-264.</ref>
===10 (Funicle with five segments)===
*10a Antennal club not divided (a single segment) -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
*** 30 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Trechnites angolensis'' associated with the legume ''Isoberlinia'' sp. (Angola)
****''Trechnites manaliensis'' a parasitoid of ''Euphyllura eastopi'', ''Euphyllura longiciliata'', ''Psylla hyalina'' (South Africa)
****''Trechnites morulus'' associated with ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
*10b The antennal club has two or three segments ........ 11
===11 (Antennal club with two or three segments)===
*11a Antennal club with two segments. (Maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented; mandible tridentate (fig. 11 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the upper tooth retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae) - [[File:Pseudectroma europaeum Fauna ibérica p192 Fig.65.jpg|thumb|Female ''Pseudectroma europaeum'', Spain]]
**'''''Pseudectroma''''' Girault , 1915
***''Timberlakia'' Mercet, 1925 is a synonym<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***16 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species: ''Pseudectroma cussoniae'' (Madagascar), ''Pseudectroma gilvum'' (South Africa), ''Pseudectroma signatum'' (Israel, South Africa)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Parasitoids - hosts include soft scales (Coccidae) and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*11b Club with three segments ........ 12
===12 (Antennal club with three segments)===
*12a Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma -
**'''''Acerophagus''''' Smith, 1880
***''Pseudaphycus'' is a synonym of ''Acerophagus'' (see 13 below).
***''Acerophagus'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).
***iNaturalist has images of ''Acerophagus'' (CC-BY-NC).<ref name=iNatAcerophagus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250166 ''Acerophagus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
*12b Ovipositor not distinctly protruding from the end of the metasoma ........ 14
===13 (Ovipositor protruding from the end of the metasoma - ''Acerophagus'')===
*13a Antennal club white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with a white antennal club (described as ''Pseudaphycus'') include ''A. angelicus'', ''A. dysmicocci'', ''A. ferrisianae'', ''A. maculipennis'', ''A. mundus'', ''A. notativentris '', ''A. perdignus'', ''A. prosopidis''.
*13b Antennal club not white; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with two segments -
**Afrotropical species of ''Acerophagus'' with an antennal club that is not white (described as ''Acerophagus'') include ''A. coccois'', ''A. pallidus''.
===14 (Ovipositor not protruding or just protruding)===
*14a Mandible with two teeth; maxillary palpi each have two segments, the labial not segmented; paratergites present; Male antenna ramose, rami on funicle segments I-IV -
**'''''Tetracnemoidea''''' Howard, 1898
***''Tetracnemoidea'' species are parasitoids of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***Afrotropical species:
****''T. brevicornis'' (Girault) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
****''T. coffeicola'' (Kerrich) (Kenya, Uganda)
****''T. peregrina'' (Compere) (Worldwide; Ghana, South Africa in Afrotropics)
****''T. sydneyensis'' (Timberlake) (Worldwide; Ghana in Afrotropics)
*14b Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs ................15
===15 (Mandible with three or more teeth; palpi do not have two segments; no paratergites; not parasitoids of mealybugs)===
*15a Head and body dark brown to blackish-brown, non-metallic except for frontovertex which may have a very slight metallic tinge; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Xylencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1968
***Afrotropical species:
****''Xylencyrtus mumifex'', a parasitoid of ''Allodapula melanopus'' (South Africa); and
****''Xylencyrtus tridens'' is a parasitoid of several xylocopine bee species (Tribe Allodapini) (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda).<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*15b Head and body predominantly black, the scutellum brilliant metallic green in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae -
**'''''Trechnites''''' Thomson, 1876
***The body is blackish, with a metallic green scutellum; marginal and postmarginal veins of forewing punctiform or very short; parapsidal sulci present;
***Parasitoids of psyllids.
==16 Funicle with six or seven segments==
*16a Hind tibia foliaceously flattened (fig. 12 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 17
*16b Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened................ 18
===17 (Hind tibia foliaceously flattened)===
*17a Antennal club three-segmented or not segmented; parasitoids of Aphrophoridae and Cicadellidae. Male antenna may have six rami (fig. 14 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neocladia inaturalist 316904882.jpg|thumb|''Neocladia'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Neocladia''''' Perkins, 1906
***''Carabunia'' Waterston, 1928 is a synonym of ''Neocladia''<ref name=Noyes2019/>
***iNaturalist has images of ''Neocladia''.<ref name=iNatNeocladia>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/253254 ''Neocladia'' photographs on iNaturalist (including some CC-BY)</ref>
***Afrotropical species:<ref name=Noyes2019/>
****''Neocladia gigantica'' is a parasitoid of ''Ptyelus flavescens'', the Yellow Raintree Spittlebug (Uganda).
****''Neocladia senegalensis'' (Senegal, South Africa).
****''Neocladia tibialis'' is a parasitoid of ''Batrachomorphus capeneri'', a leafhopper (South Africa).
===18 (Hind tibia not or only slightly flattened)===
*18a Wings markedly reduced ................19
*18b Wings not greatly reduced ............. 25
==19 Wings markedly reduced==
*19a Scutellum with a flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), in profile this flange shows as a thin, flat, caudal projection of the apex of scutellum................20
*19b Scutellum without a flange................21
===20 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a flange or lamella)===
*20a Mandible with two acute teeth; parasitoids of bees - [[File:Ericydnus inat 170283716 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Spain]]
**'''''Ericydnus''''' Walker, 1837
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
*20b Mandible with three teeth; parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus bicolor Fauna ibérica Ricardo García Mercet 1921.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus bicolor'', Spain]]
**'''''Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
***20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
***Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' (Risbec) is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' species (Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' Prinsloo (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' Prinsloo is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' Risbec is a parasitoid of ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Pulvinaria'' species (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt is a parasitoid of ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' Ghesquiere is a parasitoid of the moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' (Risbec) has been associated with rice plants (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===21 (Wings reduced, scutellum without a flange)===
*21a Antenna nine-segmented, the club not segmented; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Male antenna six-segmented, segments II - V each with a ramus -
**'''''Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
***iNaturalist has images of ''Tetracnemus''.<ref name=iNatTetracnemus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250503 ''Tetracnemus'' photographs on iNaturalist (some CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus bifasciatellus'' (Mercet) (South Africa)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (Ethiopia)
*21b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in Pseudococcidae................22
===22 (Antenna eleven-segmented, the club with three segments)===
*22a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft........................23
*22b Scutellar tuft of bristles absent........ 24
===23 (Wings reduced, scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles)===
*23a Mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); gonostyli (3rd valvulae) absent -
**'''''Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
***96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae ''Ceroplastes'' and ''Gascardia'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of Hemiptera including Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of ''Sahlbergella'' species (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' and ''Saissetia'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of ''Gascardia'' and ''Tachardina'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' ((Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' (Cameroon, Gabon)
*23b Mandible tridentate; gonostyli present - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus>https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250172 ''Diversinervus'' photographs on iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC)</ref>
***12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi'' is a parasitoid of ''Pulvinaria'' species (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a range of Coccidae (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of a ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus'' species (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', and ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
===24 (Wings reduced, scutellar tuft of bristles absent)===
*24a Apterous, or wings represented by a stub -
**'''''Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species:
****Many pics of winged species on iNaturalist (but not Afrotropical and not apterous)
*24b Fore wing reduced in size, but with venation distinct (fig. 17 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran.]]
**'''''Neococcidencyrtus''''' Compere, 1928
***20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' (Madagascar)
****''Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' (Cameroon)
****''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of ''Furchadaspis zamiae'', cycad scale (South Africa) Fig. 5. in https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343006453
****''Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****''Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' (South Africa)
==25 Wings not greatly reduced==
*25a Dorsum of scutellum with a longitudinal, inconspicuous, median keel - [[File:Encyrtidae iNat 178385702 08.jpg |thumb|''Pentelicus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Pentelicus''''' Howard, 1895
***Head and thorax pitted; antennal club three-segmented, obliquely truncate apically.
***10 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
*25b Scutellum without a median keel................26
===26 (Scutellum without a median keel)===
*26a Head with a horn-like protuberance jutting from middle of face just below antennal Insertions - [[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti Fauna iberica (1921).jpg|thumb|Male ''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'']][[File:Paratetracnemoidea malenotti, head, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'', lateral view of head]]
**'''''Paratetracnemoidea''''' Girault , 1915
***''Rhinoencyrtus'' Mercet, 1918 is a synonym of ''Paratetracnemoidea''
***Photos at https://www.waspweb.org/chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Encyrtinae/Paratetracnemoidea/index.htm
***5 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Paratetracnemoidea breviventris'' - no associates known (Tanzania)
****''Paratetracnemoidea cornis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paratetracnemoidea malenotti'' - no associates known (Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan)
*26b Head without facial protuberance................ 27
===27 (Head without facial protuberance)===
*27a Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin (figs 18- 22 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein never reaching cephalic edge of wing................28
*27b Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform (figs 34, 63, 82, 89 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................32
==28 Fore wing with stigmal vein branching away before venation reaches cephalic wing margin==
*28a Anterior margin of frontovertex produced to form a prominent ridge that overhangs upper limits of scrobes; mandibles diminutive -
**''''' Amira ''''' Girault , 1913
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Amira durantae'' is a parasitoid of spiders ''Nephila inaurata'' and ''Nephila madagascarensis'' (Madagascar)
*28b Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large, well developed........ 29
===29 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, without an anterior ledge; mandibles relatively large)===
*29a Antennal scrobes sulcate, impressed on face as an inverted V, their lateral margins sharply angled (fig. 23 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Male and female antennae identical in shape and segmentation; parasitic in Aclerdidae -
**''''' Allencyrtus ''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide - Afrotropical:
****''Allencyrtus monomorphus'' is a parasitoid of an Aclerdid scale, ''Rhodesaclerda'' sp. (South Africa)
****Description of genus and species: Annecke & Mynhardt (1973) [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]<ref name=>Annecke, DP & Mynhardt, M. J. (1973). New and Iittle known African Encyrtidae, with descriptions of two new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 36(2), 211-28. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_3436 PDF]</ref>
*29b Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins ....... 30
===30 (Antennal scrobes not impressed on face as an inverted V with sharply angled lateral margins)===
*30a Antennal club three-segmented; mandible edentate, broadly rounded apically (fig. 24 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae and Stictococcidae -[[File:Aethognathus afer female Silvestri 1915 with inset.jpg|thumb|''Aethognathus afer'', female; inset shows detail of stigmal and postmarginal veins]]
**''''' Aethognathus ''''' Silvestri, 1915
***5 species worldwide; all Afrotropical:
****''Aethognathus afer'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus diversiseta'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Benin, Ghana)
****''Aethognathus bicolor'' is a parasitoid of the scale ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Uganda)
****''Aethognathus cavilabris'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia''and ''Stictococcus'' spp. (Congo, Uganda)
****''Aethognathus khryzhanovskyi'' - no associates known (Equatorial Guinea)
****''Aethognathus unicolor'' is a parasitoid of scales, ''Stictococcus gowdeyi'' and ''Stictococcus multispinosus'' (Nigeria, Uganda)
*30b Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate; not parasitic in scale insects........ 31
===31 (Antennal club not segmented, obliquely truncate; mandible tridentate)===
*31a Frontovertex and face with large pits, each with a strong metallic lustre; antennal scape (fig. 25 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) strongly expanded ventrally; parasitic in eggs of spiders and/or planthoppers
**''''' Proleurocerus ''''' Ferriere, 1935
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Proleurocerus clavatus'' - no associates known (Zimbabwe)
****''Proleurocerus zululandiae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*31b Frontovertex at most finely punctate, non-metallic; antennal scape at most slightly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Neuroptera nymphs - [[File:Isodromus iNat 147864868.jpg |thumb|''Isodromus'' sp., Mexico.]][[File:Isodromus vinulus, male, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Isodromus vinulus'', a parasitic wasp in the family Encyrtidae; male]]
**''''' Isodromus''''' Howard, 1887
*** 26 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Isodromus timberlakei'' is a parasitoid of a ''Chrysopa'' species (South Africa)
==32 Fore wing venation normal, at most marginal vein punctiform; or rarely, if marginal vein absent, then postmarginal touches edge of wing==
*32a Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles, these strong bristles rarely scattered and not forming a distinct tuft................ 33
*32b Scutellum without a tuft of bristles, the setae recumbent, except for one subapical pair which is sometimes present................37
==33 Scutellum with a semi-erect tuft of bristles==
*33a Head elongate in dorsal view, longer than wide or almost so, the greater part of each eye placed dorsally; mesoscutum (fig. 26 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually with a tuft of coarse bristles, but this tuft lacking in some species - [[File:Diversinervus inat 196926650.jpg|thumb|''Diversinervus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Diversinervus''''' Silvestri, 1915
***iNaturalist has images of ''Diversinervus''.<ref name=iNatDiversinervus/>
*** 12 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Diversinervus cervantesi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes floridensis'', ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia coffeae'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus desantisi '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
****''Diversinervus elegans'' is a parasitoid of a wide range of coccid scales (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus masakaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (Uganda)
****''Diversinervus orarius'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ctenochiton'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus redactus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus scutatus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceronema'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus silvestrii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus'' spp. (Mauritius, South Africa)
****''Diversinervus smithi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****''Diversinervus stramineus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Coccus alpinus'', ''Coccus celatus'', ''Saissetia persimilis'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*33b Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles................34
===34 (Head not longer than wide, eyes not placed dorsally; mesoscutum never with a tuft of bristles)===
*34a Antenna enlarged, flattened, the club two-segmented, very large, almost as long as entire funicle; mandible bidentate; parasitic in Pseudococcidae. Head and body generally smooth and polished, brilliantly metallic in colour -
**''''' Chrysoplatycerus''''' Ashmead, 1889
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysoplatycerus splendens'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs, ''Dysmicoccus'' spp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Formicococcus njalensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Ghana, South Africa)
*34b Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented; mandibles not bidentate; not parasitic in mealybugs................ 35
===35 (Antenna not broadened and flattened, the club three-segmented)===
*35a Mandible edentate (fig. 16 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), broadly rounded apically; gonostyli absent; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Encyrtus aurantii iNat 132121027 d.jpg|thumb|''Encyrtus aurantii'', Italy.]][[File:Encyrtus infelix iNat 159262263 a.jpg |thumb|''Encyrtus infelix'', New Zealand.]]
**''''' Encyrtus''''' Latreille, 1809
*** 96 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Encyrtus aquilus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales, ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus aurantii'' is a parasitoid of many different Hemiptera from Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus barbiger'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Parasaissetia litorea'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus bedfordi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus cotterelli'' is a parasitoid of plant bugs, ''Sahlbergella'' spp., Miridae (Ghana)
****''Encyrtus decorus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp., ''Saissetia'' sp. (Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus fuliginosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus'', ''Lichtensia'', ''Pulvinaria'', ''Saissetia'', ''Saissetia oleae'', and ''Udinia'' species. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)
****''Encyrtus hesperus'' - no associates known (Gambia, Ivory Coast)
****''Encyrtus imitator'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda)
****''Encyrtus infelix'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Gascardia madagascariensis'', ''Lecanium hemisphaericum'', ''Protopulvinaria pyriformis'', ''Pulvinaria innumerabilis'', ''Pulvinaria urbicola'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Seychelles, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus melas'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia'' sp., ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'', and lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus palpator'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****''Encyrtus sacchari'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' spp. on rice and sugar cane (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Encyrtus saliens'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria delottoi'' spp., ''Pulvinariella'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Encyrtus signifer'' - no associates known (Cameroon, Gabon)
*35b Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids................36
===36 (Mandible not edentate; gonostyli present; usually hyperparasitoids)===
*36a Ovipositor not or only slightly exserted at apex of metasoma - [[File:Cheiloneurus iNat 90442164 a.jpg|thumb|Male ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., USA]] [[File:Cheiloneurus inaturalist 327253478 02.jpg|thumb|Female ''Cheiloneurus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cheiloneurus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 152 species worldwide; 15 Afrotropical species:
****''Cheiloneurus afer'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Pulvinarisca jacksoni'' (Ghana)
****''Cheiloneurus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Ceroplastes mimosae'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Sudan)
****''Cheiloneurus caesar'' is a hyperparasitoid of ''Dryinus orophilus'' in a delphacid planthopper (Mozambique)
****''Cheiloneurus carinatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. and mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus chiaromontei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus cyanonotus'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus flaminius'' and Eulophidae ''Tetrastichus'' sp. in a variety of beetles, flies and Hemiptera (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe)
****''Cheiloneurus elegans'' is a hyperparasitoid of Encyrtidae ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'' and Platygastridae ''Platygaster zosine'' in a variety of cecidomyiid midges, scales and mealybugs (Nigeria)
****''Cheiloneurus flavoscutatus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from mealybugs ''Adelosoma phragmitidis'', ''Chaetococcus phragmitis'' (Ethiopia)
****''Cheiloneurus gonatopodis'' is a hyperparasitoid of pincer wasps ''Echthrodelphax'' sp., ''Pseudogonatopoides mauritianus'', ''Pseudogonatopus'' spp., ''Richardsidryinus'' sp. in delphacid planthoppers on sugar cane (Madagascar, Mauritius)
****''Cheiloneurus kuisebi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a mealybug ''Phenacoccus manihoti'' on cassava (Namibia)
****''Cheiloneurus leptulus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a ''Ceratina'' bee (Tanzania)
****''Cheiloneurus liorhipnusi'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from a lady beetle ''Chnootriba similis'', and a scentless plant bug ''Corizus hyalinus'' (Kenya, Senegal)
****''Cheiloneurus metallicus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Cheiloneurus obscurus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from coccid scales ''Gascardia brevicauda'', ''Saissetia oleae'' (Eritrea)
****''Cheiloneurus orbitalis'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from an encyrtid ''Homalotylus'' sp., the coccid scale ''Saissetia oleae'' and green lacewings ''Chrysopa'' sp., ''Mallada handschini'', ''Suarius squamosa'' on citrus (South Africa)
*36b Ovipositor protruding strongly, by about one-half length of metasoma. Metasoma usually truncate apically - [[File:Prochiloneurus bolivari, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus bolivari'', female, Spain.]][[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Homalotylus'' spp., ''Leptomastix'' spp., Pteromalidae ''Metastenus'' sp., lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****''Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' sp., ''Blepyrus insularis'', ''Clausenia purpurea'', ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Leptomastix flava'', Coccidae, Eriococcidae, and Pseudococcidae (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****''Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Coccidae ''Lecanium viride'', Margarodidae ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'', and Pseudococcidae ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****''Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid from Encyrtidae ''Anagyrus'' spp., ''Epidinocarsis lopezi'', ''Gyranusoidea tebygi'', ''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'', Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Margarodidae, and Pseudococcidae (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
==37 Scutellum without a tuft of bristles==
*37a Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae (figs 27, 28)........ 38
*37b Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae........ 39
===38 (Apex of scutellum with a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*38a Antenna (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) broadened and flattened, the funicle segments strongly transverse; eyes margined dorsally with white; fronto-occipital margin of head without a pair of lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] -
**''''' Comperiella ''''' Howard, 1906
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250283 iNaturalist]
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella bifasciata'' is a parasitoid of many Diaspididae, and the coccid ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., ''Aleurodicus destructor'', ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*38b Antenna not broadened and flattened; eyes not margined with white; fronto-occipital margin with a pair of small lamelliform setae. Parasitic in [[w:Diaspididae|armored scale insects]] - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis ''''' Foerster, 1856
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/376512 iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of pit scale insects ''Asterodiaspis'' spp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scale insects ''Didesmococcus'' sp., armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', mealybugs ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and moths ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus elaeidis'', ''Aspidiotus oppugnatus'' (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius articulatus'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===39 (Scutellum without a pair of lamelliform setae)===
*39a Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion (figs 30, 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) in its apical one-third, this expansion usually bearing a single strong seta........ 40
*39b Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion................43
===40 (Submarginal vein of fore wing with a subtriangular expansion in its apical one-third)===
*40a Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes (fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally................41
*40b Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally................42
===41 (Junction of frontovertex and face forming a transverse ledge above scrobes; antennal scape broadly expanded ventrally)===
*41a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 31 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing with a characteristic pattern of radiating dark bands (fig. 32 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black with strong metallic refringence; presumed hyperparasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Cerapterocerus mirabilis, female.jpg|thumb|''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'', female, Spain]][[File:Cerapterocerus celadus inat 194830169 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Cerapterocerus celadus'', France]]
**''''' Cerapterocerus''''' Westwood, 1833
*** Links: [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/250477-Cerapterocerus iNaturalist]
*** 17 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerapterocerus mirabilis'' is probably a hyperparasitoid of encyrtid wasps in scale insects (South Africa)
*41b Antenna not broadened and flattened except for scape (fig. 33 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing (fig. 34 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) infuscated, but without distinct patterns as above; head and body dominantly brownish, without strong metallic refringence; primary parasitoids of Asterolecaniidae (pit scales). Head as in fig. 35 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Mayrencyrtus''''' Hincks, 1944
*** 6 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database
===42 (Frontovertex rounded on to face, not forming a ledge; antenna slender, the scape at most slightly expanded ventrally)===
*42a Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci (fig. 36 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); maxillary and labial palpi each two-segmented; paratergites present; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Coccidoxenoides perminutus Fernandes 2016 a.jpg|thumb|Adult ''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'', Brazil]]
**'''''Coccidoxenoides''''' Girault, 1915
***'' Pauridia'' Timberlake, 1919 is a synonym of ''Coccidoxenoides'' (a monotypic genus)
****''Coccidoxenoides perminutus'' Girault, 1915 is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Allococcus quaestius'', ''Delottococcus quaesitus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Phenacoccus madeirensis'', ''Planococcoides'' spp., ''Planococcus citri'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. and armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus nerii'', ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chionaspis striata'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa)
*42b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; paratergites absent; parasitic in Diaspididae -[[File:Tyndarichus melanacis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Tyndarichus melanacis'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Tyndarichus''''' Howard, 1910
***''Protyndarichus combretae'', ''P. orarius'', ''P. prolatus'', ''P. sparnus'' are a synonyms of the ''Tyndarichus'' species below.
*** 24 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Tyndarichus combretae'' no known associates (Senegal)
****''Tyndarichus orarius'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Idiosaissetia peringueyi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus prolatus'' is a parasitoid of Coccidae, ''Ceroplastes elytropappi'' (South Africa)
****''Tyndarichus sparnus'' is a parasitoid of Lecanodiaspididae, ''Lecanodiaspis tarsalis'' (South Africa)
===43 (Submarginal vein without a triangular expansion)===
*43a Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae ................ 120
*43b Mandible never with only two pointed teeth ........ 44
===44 (Mandible never with only two pointed teeth)===
*44a Entire fore wing, or part of it, distinctly [[wikt:infuscate|infuscated]] (with a dark tinge), the infuscation rarely restricted to an area beneath the venation ........ 45
*44b Fore wing entirely [[w:hyaline|hyaline]] (translucent or transparent), or very faintly and inconspicuously infuscated, the infuscation then usually only visible if wing held against a white background ........ 73
==45 Fore wing, or part of it, distinctly infuscated==
*45a Fore wing with a conspicuous incision in cephalic wing margin at distal end of submarginal vein (fig. 40 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Eugahania''''' Mercet, 1926
*** 10 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species in Universal Chalcidoidea Database.<ref name=Noyes2019/>
*45b Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin ................46
===46 Fore wing without an incision in cephalic margin===
*46a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat [[wikt:caudal|caudal]] projection of the scutellum................47
*46b Scutellum without a marginal flange, the posterior margin rarely forming a very short lip........ 49
===47 Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella===
*47a Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] absent; [[wikt:clava|club]] large, much longer than the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; parasitic in Lepidoptera eggs. Antenna as in fig. 41 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Hesperencyrtus''''' Annecke, 1971
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hesperencyrtus lycoenephila'' is a parasitoid of lycaenid butterflies ''Deodorix antalus'', ''Deudorix antalus'', ''Lampides boeticus'' (Senegal)
*47b Antennal [[wikt:clava|club]] not white; [[wikt:gonostylus|gonostyli]] present; [[wikt:clava|club]] about as long as the distal three [[wikt:funicle|funicle]] segments together; not parasitic in Lepidoptera........ 48
===48 Antennal club not white; club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together===
*48a Frontovertex and face with numerous large pits, each brilliantly metallic green in colour - [[File:Discodes arizonensis Smithsonian Institution 2019 CC-BY BOLD CCDB-34079-D12.jpg|thumb|''Discodes arizonensis'', New Mexico, United States]]
**''''' Discodes''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 44 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Discodes discors'' is a parasitoid of felt scales ''Eriococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Discodes melas'' - no associates known (Namibia)
*48b Head at most with fine punctations. Orange-brown to dark brown, rarely black, species, at most weakly refringent; fore wing strongly and uniformly infuscated from base to near apex; usually parasitic in Pulvinaria spp. on grasses - [[File:Paraphaenodiscus monawari, female, dorsal view.jpg|thumb|Female ''Paraphaenodiscus monawari'', India]]
**''''' Paraphaenodiscus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 20 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Paraphaenodiscus africanus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus ceroplastodesi'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp.(Senegal)
****''Paraphaenodiscus chrysocomae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus munroi'' is a parasitoid of a coccid scale ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus niger'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinariai'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus paralis'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pavoniae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp. (Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Paraphaenodiscus pedanus'' is a parasitoid associated with the grass ''Plagiochloa uniolae'' (South Africa)
****''Paraphaenodiscus risbeci'' is a parasitoid of a moth ''Sesamia cretica'' (Senegal, Sudan)
****''Paraphaenodiscus rizicola'' is a parasitoid associated with rice ''Oryza sativa'' (Cameroon, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
===49 Scutellum without a marginal flange===
*49a Stigmal vein of fore wing placed almost at right angle to postmarginal vein (fig. 42 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Fore wing infuscated with contrasting hyaline patches as in fig. 42<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; parasitic in Lacciferidae and Coccidae -
**''''' Ruandella''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 4 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Ruandella capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella stigmosa'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella tertia'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' spp. (South Africa)
****''Ruandella testacea'' is a parasitoid of a wax scale ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (Rwanda, South Africa)
*49b Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much less than 90 degrees ........ 50
===50 Angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins much smaller than right angle===
*50a Mandible with four teeth (fig. 43 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Body somewhat flattened dorsoventrally; head subtriangular in lateral view, the face a little inflexed; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Adelencyrtus inat 31626163.jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Adelencyrtus Cipola 2022 EntomoBrasilis 15 e1003 CC-BY.jpg|thumb|Female ''Adelencyrtus'' sp., Brazil]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
*50b Mandibles do not have four teeth ........ 51
===51 (Mandibles do not have four teeth)===
*51a Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically................52
*51b Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically................55
===52 Antennal club white, usually obliquely truncate apically===
*52a Antennal club three-segmented; not parasitic in Coleoptera........ 53
*52b Antennal club not segmented, rarely with faint traces of one or two septa on one side of the club; parasitic in Coleoptera........ 54
===53 Antennal club three-segmented===
*53a Antennal scape expanded ventrally (fig. 44 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); hcad and body strongly metallic in colour, the head and thorax usually covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta Annecke'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*53b Antennal scape not or only slightly expanded ventrally (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body without metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===54 Antennal club not segmented; parasitic in Coleoptera===
*54a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); basal one-half or so of tegulae white; antennal scape slender, subcylindrical; primary parasitoids of Coccinellidae -[[File:Homalotylus flaminius, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus flaminius'', female]][[File:Homalotylus iNat 135531367.jpg|thumb|''Homalotylus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Homalotylus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 68 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotylus africanus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Exochomus concavus'', ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lindorus lophanthae'', ''Scymnus ornatulus'' (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa)
****''Homalotylus eytelweinii'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes sexmaculata'', ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Rodolia'' spp. (Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus flaminius'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Adalia'' spp., ''Adonia variegata'', ''Anatis ocellata'', ''Brumoides suturalis'', ''Brumus suturalis'', ''Cheilomenes'' spp., ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Coccinella'' spp., ''Coleomegilla maculata'', ''Cycloneda'' spp., ''Epilachna chrysomelina'', ''Eriopis connexa'', ''Exochomus'' spp., ''Harmonia'' spp., ''Henosepilachna bifasciata'', ''Hippodamia'' spp., ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Lioadala flavomaculata'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Neomysia oblongoguttata'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Orcus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Platynaspis'' sp., ''Rodolia'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Thea vigintiduopunctata'', ''Verania frenata'', leaf beetles ''Galeruca calmariensis'', coccid scale insects ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Saissetia oleae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Planococcus citri'', ''Pseudococcus citri'' (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo)
****''Homalotylus hemipterinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Chilocorus'' spp., ''Chilomenes'' sp., ''Coccinella septempunctata'', ''Cycloneda sanguinea'', ''Menochilus sexmaculatus'', ''Orcus'' sp., stink bugs ''Cantheconidia furcellata'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Pseudococcus'' sp., gelechiid moths ''Aproaerema modicella'' (Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Togo)
****''Homalotylus quaylei'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis'' spp., ''Nephus'' spp., ''Pharoscymnus'' spp., ''Scymnus'' spp., ''Sidis'' sp., coccid scales ''Eulecanium persicae'', mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Phenacoccus herreni'', ''Planococcus''; spp. (Gabon, Mauritania)
****''Homalotylus vicinus'' is a parasitoid of lady beetles ''Hyperaspis marmottani'', ''Nephus bipunctatus'', ''Nephus vetustus'', ''Scymnus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar)
*54b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci; tegula not white; scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally; parasitic in Discolomatidae - [[File:Homalotyloidea dahlbomii, female.jpg|thumb|''Homalotyloidea dahlbomii'', female, Spain]]
**''''' Homalotyloidea''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homalotyloidea africana'' is a parasitoid of beetles ''Notiophygus piger'' (South Africa)
===55 Antennal club dark, seldom obliquely truncate apically===
*55a Body flattened dorsoventrally, the dorsum of head and thorax almost flat. Parasitic in Diaspididae........ 56
*55b Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax more or less convex........ 57
===56 Body not flattened dorsoventrally, the head and thorax convex===
*56a Antenna entirely broadened and flattened (fig. 29 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); frontovertex with two narrow whitish bands, one each extending along the dorsal eye margins. Fore wing boldly marked -[[File:Cain2565.jpg|thumb| ''Comperiella bifasciata'']]
**''''' Comperiella''''' Howard, 1906
*** 11 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperiella apoda'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Affirmaspis ehretiae'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''[[w:Comperiella bifasciata|Comperiella bifasciata]]'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'', ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Clavaspis'' sp., ''Diaspidiotus gigas'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Dynaspidiotus abietis'', ''Hemiberlesia'' spp., ''Lindingaspis fusca'', ''Morganella longispina'', ''Nuculaspis abietis'', ''Parlatoria pergandii'', ''Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis'', ''Pseudaulacaspis'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus'' spp., ''Temnaspidiotus destructor'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'', coccid scale insects ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
****''Comperiella karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperiella lemniscata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Chrysomphalus dictyospermi'' (South Africa)
****''Comperiella ponticula'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Clavaspis pituranthi'' (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Comperiella unifasciata'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Pseudaonidia'' spp., whiteflies ''Aleurodicus destructor'', wax scale insects ''Ceroplastes rubens'' (Mauritius)
*56b Antenna not broadened and flattened; frontovertex without pale bands - [[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']][[File:Habrolepis dalmanni Howard 1898 Fig.2.jpg|thumb|Female ''Habrolepis dalmanni'']]
**''''' Habrolepis''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 17 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Habrolepis aeruginosa'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
****''Habrolepis algoensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus capensis'' (South Africa)
****''Habrolepis apicalis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Chionaspis minor'', ''Pinnaspis temporaria'' (Ghana)
****''Habrolepis dalmanni'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lepidosaphes ulmi'', ''Melanaspis inopinata'', ''Targionia vitis'', pit scales, ''Asterodiaspis'' sp., ''Asterolecanium'' sp., coccid scales ''Didesmococcus'' sp., mealybugs, ''Pseudococcus'' sp., and a moth, ''Leucoptera'' sp. (South Africa, Uganda)
****''Habrolepis diaspidi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella aurantii'' spp., ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Chrysomphalus aonidum'' spp., ''Diaspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Diaspis senegalensis'', ''Hemiberlesia lataniae'', ''Parlatoria ziziphi'', ''Pinnaspis strachani'', ''Pudaspis newsteadi'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Selenaspidius celastri'' spp., ''Tecaspis visci'', ''Umbaspis regularis'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis guineensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Duplaspidiotus pavettae'' (Guinea)
****''Habrolepis namibensis'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Namaquea simplex'' (Namibia)
****''Habrolepis obscura'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis chionaspiformis'', ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Chionaspis'' sp., ''Diclavaspis ehretiae'', ''Ledaspis distincta'', ''Lindingaspis rossi'', ''Melanaspis corticosa'', ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'', ''Separaspis capensis'' (Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis occidua'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Melanaspis phenax'', ''Morganella phenax'', ''Pseudotargionia'' spp. (Namibia, South Africa)
****''Habrolepis oppugnati'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' spp. (Eritrea)
****''Habrolepis rouxi'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella'' spp., ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Carulaspis minima'', ''Chrysomphalus'' spp., ''Hemiberlesia rapax'', ''Lepidosaphes newsteadi'', ''Parlatoria oleae'', ''Selenaspidius'' spp. (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****''Habrolepis setigera'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Lindingaspis greeni'' (South Africa)
===57 Body not flattened, head and thorax convex===
*57a Antenna foliaceously flattened (fig. 47 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); junction of frontovertex and face carinate or at least acutely angled and grooved........ 58
*57b Antenna not flattened except for scape which may be expanded ventrally; head without a facial carina................60
===58 Antenna flattened, junction of frontovertex and face carinate or acutely angled and grooved===
*58a Frontovertex terminating anteriorly at a transverse groove (fig. 48 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) containing dense, recumbent, silvery-white setae -
**''''' Anasemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anasemion inutile'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Kenya, South Africa)
*58b Junction of frontovertex and face lacking a transverse row of dense setae - [[File:Anicetus iNat 180762161 g.jpg|thumb|''Anicetus'' sp., South Africa]]
**'''''Anicetus''''' Howard, 1896
***''Paraceraptrocerus'' is a synonym of ''Anicetus''. In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''
*** 52 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anicetus abyssinicus '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (Eritrea)
****'' Anicetus africanus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Egypt, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus anneckei '' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus aquilus '' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia destructor'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus austrinus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus calidus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. and ''Gascardia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus clivus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Gascardia tachardiaformis'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus communis'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus longulus'', ''Gascardia'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus fotsyae'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Anicetus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes bipartitus'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus graminosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria iceryi'' (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus italicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus elongatus'', felt scales ''Gossyparia spuria'' (Zimbabwe)
****'' Anicetus nyasicus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Malawi, South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia rustica'', ''Lichtensia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus parvus'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Anicetus pattersoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes personatus'', ''Vinsonia personata'' (Ghana)
****'' Anicetus russeus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus sepis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Anicetus taylori'' is a parasitoid of wax scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (South Africa)
===59 ''Paraceraptrocerus''===
*In the Prinsloo-Annecke key,<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> step 59 separated ''Paraceraptrocerus'' and ''Anicetus''. However, ''Paraceraptrocerus'' is now regarded as a synonym of ''Anicetus'', making this step redundant.
===60 (Antenna not flattened although the scape may be expanded ventrally; no facial carina)===
*60a Ovipositor protruding strongly (fig. 49 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) at apex of metasoma by about one half length of metasoma........ 61
*60b Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted; if strongly protruded (rare), then antennal scrobes sulcate, or mandible slender, tridentate, the upper tooth retracted (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 62
===61 (Ovipositor protruding strongly)===
*61a Head with numerous setigerous pits; fore wing with a single pale cross-band beyond venation; body robust, black in colour; parasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Lombitsikala''''' Risbec, 1957
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lombitsikala coccidivora'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Gascardia madagascariensis'' (Madagascar)
*61b Head at most with minute, indistinct punctations; fore wing without hyaline cross-bands; body more or less slender, usually generally yellowish to brownish; probably hyperparasitoids, usually in mealybugs - [[File:Prochiloneurus sp fem researchgate 363819988.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prochiloneurus'' sp., Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil]]
**''''' Prochiloneurus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 30 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Ferrisiana virgata'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Nipaecoccus vastator'', ''Nipaecoccus viridis'', ''Octococcus africanus'', ''Pedrococcus'' sp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Rastrococcus invadens'', coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Saissetia coffeae'' and lady beetles ''Chilocorus bipustulatus'', ''Exochomus flavipes'', ''Hyperaspis aestimabilis'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo)
****'' Prochiloneurus bolivari'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Atrococcus'' sp., ''Dysmicoccus multivorus'', ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Heliococcus bohemicus'', ''Heterococcopsis opertus'', ''Maconellicoccus hirsutus'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Peliococcus'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Puto pilosellae'', ''Spinococcus calluneti'', ''Trionymus'' spp., coccid scales ''Rhizopulvinaria armeniaca'', felt scales ''Acanthococcus desertus'', ''Eriococcus insignis'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe, South Africa)
****'' Prochiloneurus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Lecanium viride'', margarodid scales ''Icerya formicarum'', ''Palaeococcus bicolor'' (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
****'' Prochiloneurus pulchellus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Centrococcus'' spp., ''Coccidohystrix'' spp., ''Dysmicoccus'' sp., ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Naiacoccus serpentinus'', ''Nipaecoccus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp., ''Oxyacanthus chrysocomae'', ''Paracoccus'' sp., ''Peliococcus mesasiaticus'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp., ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' spp., ''Trabutina crassispinosa'', ''Trabutina leonardii'', armored scale insects ''Chionaspis'' sp., felt scales ''Eriococcus stenoclini'', ''Neoacanthococcus tamaricicola'' (Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo)
===62 (Ovipositor not exserted or slightly exserted)===
*62a Antennal scape long and slender, at most slightly expanded ventrally........ 63
*62b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded, less than three times as long as its greatest width................70
==63 Antennal scape long and slender==
*63a Fore wing with marginal vein several times longer than stigmal (fig. 51 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); antennal club with four segments, visible only in cleared slide·mounted specimens (fig. 52 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -[[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, Spain.]][[File:Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis, female, lateral view.jpg|thumb|''Metaphaenodiscus nemoralis'', female, lateral view]]
**''''' Metaphaenodiscus''''' Mercet, 1921
*** Host species generally unknown, except for ''Metaphaenodiscus umbilicatus'' (Australia) which is known to be a parasitoid of a mealy bug.
*** 10 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Metaphaenodiscus aethiops'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus capensis'', associated with ''Protea aurea'' (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus karoo'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Metaphaenodiscus watshami'' - no associates known (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
*63b Marginal vein of fore wing shorter than, or subequal to stigmal vein; club with fewer than four segments................64
===64 (Marginal vein shorter than stigmal vein; antennal club with less than four segments)===
*64a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53 and 54 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), impressed on face as two deep furrows, their lateral margins acutely angled, at least in their basal one-half or so, converging, sometimes confluent dorsally to form an inverted V-shaped impression on face........ 65
*64b Antennal scrobes otherwise................66
===65 (Antennal scrobes impressed on face as two deep furrows)===
*65a Antennal club not longer than the distal funicle segments together; frontovertex more or less pitted; mandible with two teeth and a broad truncation (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
*65b Antennal club much longer than the distal three funicle segments together; frontovertex without pits or punctations; mandible with three teeth and a truncation (fig. 56 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Parasitic in Lacciferidae. Male antenna with two smaIl funicle segments and a large, unsegmented banana shaped club (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
===66 (Antennal scrobes not deeply impressed)===
*66a Mandible with three distinct teeth, the upper one sometimes retracted ................ 67
*66b Mandible otherwise ................ 68
===67 (Mandible with three distinct teeth)===
*67a Antenna (fig. 58 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) slender, not clavate, the funicle segments each longer than wide, the pedicel and funicle subcqual in length; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Hadrencyrtus''''' Annecke and Mynhardt, 1973
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Hadrencyrtus cirritus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Distichlicoccus'' sp. (South Africa)
*67b Antenna (fig. 45 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) clavate, not particularly slender, the basal funicle segment plainly wider than long, small, much shorter than pedicel; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Aphycus apicalis gbif.org - occurrence - 3905669246 03.png|thumb|''Aphycus apicalis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
===68 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth)===
*68a Mandible with a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation (fig. 59 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); ovipositor with gonostyli absent; parasitic in Membracidae - [[File:Prionomastix biharensis - Female 01.jpg|thumb|Female ''Prionomastix biharensis'', Bihar, India.]]
**''''' Prionomastix''''' Mayr , 1876
*** 30 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Prionomastix africana'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix capeneri'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Beaufortiana viridis'', ''Leprechaunus cristatus'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix congoensis'' - no associates known (Rwanda)
****'' Prionomastix montana'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Dukeobelus simplex'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix myartsevae'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix siccarius'' is a parasitoid of treehoppers ''Gongroneura fasciata'' (South Africa)
****'' Prionomastix wonjeae'' is a parasitoid of leafhoppers ''Coloborrhis corticina'' (Cameroon)
*68b Mandible otherwise; gonostyli present; not parasitic in Membracidae................69
===69 (Mandible does not have three distinct teeth, or a single tooth and a broad serrated truncation)===
*69a Antennal club large, about as long as entire funicle; integument of head and thorax heavily sclerotized, strongly and intricately sculptured with raised, irregular ridges; probably parasitic in Lacciferidae. Fore wing with areas of very coarse discal setae (fig. 60 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) -
** '''Coccopilatus''' Annecke, 1963
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Coccopilatus judithae'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
*69b Antennal club shorter than funicle; sculpture of head and thorax mostly cellulite-reticulate; parasitic in Diaspididae - [[File:Neococcidencyrtus-poutiersi-Mercet-1922-A-Lateral-view-B-Dorsal-view-C W640.jpg|thumb|''Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'', Iran]]
**'' ' '' Neococcidencyrtus Compere, 1928
*** 20 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****'' Neococcidencyrtus brenhindis'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus cliradainis'' - no associates known (Cameroon)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus poutiersi'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Furchadaspis zamiae'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus pudaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Pudaspis newsteadi'' (South Africa)
****'' Neococcidencyrtus syndodis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
==70 Antennal scape expanded==
*70a Antenna with all funicle segments transverse (fig. 61 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); club very large, longer than entire funicle; paratergitcs present; frontovertex pitted; parasitic in mealybugs - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9470.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus citri'' (Ghana, Ivory Coast)
****'' Aenasius advena'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia'' spp., ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcus'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' spp., ''Spilococcus'' sp. (Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Allococcus quaesitus'', ''Delottococcus'' spp., ''Octococcus'' sp. ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' spp. (Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Phenacoccus'' sp. (Afrotropical)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Ferrisia virgata'', ''Planococcoides njalensis'', ''Planococcus celtis'' spp., ''Pseudococcus'' sp. (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Phenacoccus'' spp., ''Planococcoides njalensis'' (Ghana)
70b Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; paratergites absent; frontovertex at most with fine punctations; not parasitic in mealybugs ................ 71
===71 (Funicle segments not all wider than long; club shorter than entire funicle; frontovertex not markedly pitted)===
*71a Head and thoracic dorsum largely metallic blue-green or cupreous, covered with silvery-white setae; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella'' sp., ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
*71b Head and body generally yellowish to brownish, without any metallic refringence or white setae; parasitic in Coccoidea ................ 72
===72 (Head and body yellowish to brownish, not metallic, no white setae)===
*72a Antennal club longer than distal three funicle segments together, usually much wider than funicle segment VI; if rarely shorter, then distal four funicle segments white - [[File:Metaphycus inat 5003180 c.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*72b Club about as long as the distal three funicle segments together, at most a little wider than distal funicle segment; funicle with at most distal three segments white - [[File:Microterys iN 253517641.jpg|thumb|''Microterys'' sp., South Africa]][[File:Microterys nietneri female.jpg|thumb|Female ''Microterys nietneri'', New Zealand]]
**'''''Microterys''''' Thomson, 1876
*** 228 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Microterys africa'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardia decorella'' (Uganda)
****'' Microterys anneckei'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Filippia'' sp., ''Lichtensia'' sp., ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi'', ''Saissetia'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys bizanensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceronema'' sp., ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia cuneiformis'' (Eritrea)
****'' Microterys capensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Pulvinaria'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys ceroplastae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes destructor'' (Kenya)
****'' Microterys clauseni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Metaceronema japonica'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys haroldi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Messinea plana'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys kenyaensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp., ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Lecanium oleae'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Microterys nanus'' is a parasitoid of cerococcid scales ''Cerococcus'' sp., coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Microterys nicholsoni'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus hesperidum'', ''Ceroplastes destructor'', ''Parasaissetia litorea'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****'' Microterys nietneri'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Chloropulvinaria'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp., ''Eucalymnatus tessellatus'', ''Lecanium'' spp., ''Maacoccus piperis'', ''Parasaissetia'' spp., ''Parasaissetia oleae'', ''Parthenolecanium'' spp., ''Parthenolecanium corni'', ''Protopulvinaria'' spp., ''Pulvinaria'' spp., ''Saissetia'' spp., ''Sphaerolecanium prunastri'', armored scales ''Hemichionaspis theae'', ''Pinnaspis theae'', mealybugs ''Rastrococcus iceryoides'' (South Africa)
****'' Microterys speciosus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Coccus'' spp. (South Africa)
== 73 Fore wing entirely hyaline, or faintly infuscated (any infuscation only visible against a pale background; from 44)==
* 73a Gonostyli exserted at apex of metasoma, the exserted parts laterally compressed, usually more or less rounded apically in lateral view........ 74
* 73b Gonostyli, if protruding at apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally, usually having the appearance of two slender, sharp stylets................78
== 74 Gonostyli extend beyond apex of metasoma, laterally compressed and rounded apically ==
* 74a Scutellum entirely or partly shiny, with a polished appearance, without differentiated sculptural cells; mandibles exceptionally large (fig. 62 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979>Prinsloo, G. L., & Annecke, D. P. (1979). A key to the genera of Encyrtidae from the Ethiopian region, with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 42(2), 349-382. [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2641 PDF]</ref>)........ 75
* 74b Scutellum dorsally sculptured, not smooth and polished; mandibles normal................76
=== 75 Scutellum shiny; mandibles large===
* 75a Postmarginal vein (fig. 63 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing shorter than marginal, not reaching to a level near apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc largely devoid of setae; parasitic in Coleoptera - [[File:Cerchysiella inat 104244416.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysiella'' sp., United States]]
**''''' Cerchysiella''''' Girault, 1914
***''Zeteticontus'' Silvestri, 1915 is a synonym of ''Cerchysiella''.
*** 36 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysiella abilis'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Cerchysiella neodypsisae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Cerchysiella punctiscutellum'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****''Cerchysiella utilis'' (Noyes) (5)
****''Cerchysiella xanthopus'' (Masi) (1)
* 75b Postmarginal vein of fore wing subequal to or longer than marginal, reaching to about the level of apex of stigmal; basal triangle of wing disc evenly and densely setose; parasitic in Diptera - [[File:Tachinaephagus iNat 148445032.jpg|thumb|''Tachinaephagus'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Tachinaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 11 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Tachinaephagus congoensis'' Subba Rao (1)
****''Tachinaephagus stomoxicida'' Subba Rao (3)
****''Tachinaephagus zealandicus'' Ashmead (6)
=== 76 Scutellum sculptured, not smooth; mandibles not large ===
* 76a Antennal funicle and club white in colour; antennal scape expanded ventrally, the funicle segments all wider than long; parasitic in Coleoptera. Head with membranous interruptions of sclerotized integument as in fig. 64 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> -
**''''' Chrysomelechthrus''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Chrysomelechthrus descampsi'' (Risbec) (3)
* 76b Antennal funicle and club dark in colour; scape slender, subcylindrical, the funicle with at least basal four or five segments longer than wide; parasitic in Diptera........ 77
=== 77 Antennal funicle and club dark; scape slender, subcylindrical; funicle with more than three segments longer than wide ===
* 77a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; pedicel shorter than, to about as long as, basal funicle segment; clypeal margin not crenulate - [[File:Cerchysius inaturalist 144151918.jpg|thumb|''Cerchysius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Cerchysius''''' Westwood, 1832
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Cerchysius kilimanjarensis'' Kerrich (1)
****''Cerchysius ugandensis'' Kerrich (4)
* 77b Head and body without metallic lustre; pedicel plainly longer than basal funicle segment; clypeal margin with crenulae -
**''''' Coccidoctonus''''' Crawford, 1912
***''Xyphigaster'' Risbec, 1954 is a synonym of '' Coccidoctonus''
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidoctonus pseudococci'' (Risbec) (9)
== 78 If gonostyli protrude from apex of metasoma, not flattened laterally ==
* 78a Head, in frontal view, with eyes large, extending almost to mouth margin, the genae very short. Head and body metallic green in colour, the tegulae partly white; male antenna with four rami, borne on the first four funicle segments; parasitic in Lepidoptera - [[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus male antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Male antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]][[File:Parablastothrix vespertinus female antenna Fauna ibérica p254 BHL10940309.jpg|thumb|Feale antenna of ''Parablastothrix vespertinus'', Spain]]
**''''' Parablastothrix''''' Mercet, 1917
*** 16 species worldwide; ? Afrotropical species:
****No Afrotropical records in UCD?
* 78b Genae much longer, usually plainly more than one-third longest diameter of eye in frontal view........ 79
=== 79 In frontal view genae more than one-third longest diameter of eye ===
* 79a Mandible with four teeth (figs 43, 65 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 80
* 79b Mandible otherwise................81
=== 80 Mandible with four teeth ===
* 80a Scutellum longitudinally striate (fig. 66 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); dorsum of thorax gently convex, the thorax not dorsoventrally compressed - [[File:Lamennaisia ambigua male p284.jpg|thumb|''Lamennaisia ambigua'', male]]
**''''' Lamennaisia''''' Girault, 1922
***''Mercetencyrtus'' Trjapitzin, 1963 is a synonym of ''Lamennaisia''
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Lamennaisia nobilis'' (Nees) (South Africa)
* 80b Scutellum largely cellulate-reticulate, not giving the surface a striated effect; body some what flattened dorsoventrally, the thoracic dorsum flat or almost so - [[File:Adelencyrtus - Japoshvili, G. and Soethof, R. (2022).jpg|thumb|''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'', Netherlands]]
**''''' Adelencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 45 species worldwide; 10 Afrotropical species:
****''Adelencyrtus antennatus'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aspidiotus'' sp. (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus aulacaspidis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanopsis nevesi'', and armored scales ''Aulacaspis difficilis'', ''Aulacaspis rosae'', ''Chionaspis salicis'', ''Dynaspidiotus britannicus'', ''Lepidosaphes cupressi'', ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', ''Quadraspidiotus macroporanus'', ''Unaspis yanonensis'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus depressus'' - no associates known (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus flagellatus'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus inglisiae'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Africaspis''' spp. ''Aspidiotus'' spp., ''Balaspis faurei'', ''Clavaspis'' spp., ''Clavaspis pituranthi'', ''Diaspis echinocacti'', ''Moraspis euphorbiae'', ''Mytilococcus'' spp., ''Quadraspidiotus perniciosus'' (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Adelencyrtus mangiphila'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Phenacaspis dilatata'' (Madagascar)
****''Adelencyrtus mayurai'' is a parasitoid of armored scale insects ''Aonidiella orientalis'', ''Melanaspis glomerata'' (Mauritania)
****''Adelencyrtus moderatus'' is a parasitoid of whiteflies ''Bemisia tabaci'', armored scales ''Aspidiella hartii'', ''Aspidiella sacchari'', ''Aspidiotus glomeratus'', ''Aulacaspis'' spp., ''Duplachionaspis'' spp., ''Lepidosaphes'' spp., ''Melanaspis glomerata'', and mealybugs ''Saccharicoccus sacchari'' (Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda)
****''Adelencyrtus odonaspidis'' is a parasitoid of armored scales ''Duplachionaspis sansevieriae'', ''Odonaspidis'' sp., ''Odonaspis'' spp., and mealybugs ''Antonina graminis'' (South Africa)
****''Adelencyrtus tibialis'' - no associates known (South Africa)
=== 81 Mandible does not have four teeth ===
* 81a Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (cf. fig. 46 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 82
* 81b Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci........ 83
=== 82 Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci===
* 82a Antenna (fig. 67 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, the scape subcylindrical, the funicle segments all longer than wide; paratergites present; body entirely black, or black with metasoma yellowish, the latter laterally margined with blackish-brown; head and thorax with a metallic refringence; parasitic in Pseudococcidae - [[File:Charitopus fulviventris male Fig. 218 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Male ''Charitopus fulviventris'']][[File:Charitopus fulviventris female Fig. 220 Mercet (1921) Fauna ibérica.jpg|thumb|Female ''Charitopus fulviventris'']]
**''''' Charitopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Charitopus fulviventris'' - no associates known (South Africa)
* 82b Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, the funicle segments not all longer than wide (fig. 68 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); paratergites absent; head and body without a metallic refringence, usually yellowish to brownish in colour; parasitic in Coccoidea other than Pseudococcidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
=== 83 Mesoscutum without parapsidal sulci===
* 83a Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, more than three times as long as its greatest width........ 84
* 83b Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide........ 117
== 84 Antennal scape cylindrical or almost so, much longer than wide==
* 84a Antennal sockets placed high on face (fig. 69 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), their lower limits at or above lower eye level. Body black in colour, the frontovertex and face more or less pitted; antennal scrobes usually sulcate; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Bothriophryne''''' Compere, 1937
*** 8 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriophryne acaciae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Bothriophryne ceroplastae'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne dispar'' Compere (2)
****''Bothriophryne fuscicornis'' Compere (5)
****''Bothriophryne purpurascens'' Compere (3)
****''Bothriophryne velata'' Prinsloo and Annecke (2)
* 84b Antennal scrobes placed lower on face, their lower limits well below lower eye level, sometimes almost at mouth margin........ 85
=== 85 Antennal scrobes are low on face, lower limits well below bottom of eye===
* 85a Antennal club white........ 86
* 85b Antennal club not white........ 87
=== 86 Antennal club white===
* 86a Head and thorax brilliant metallic green in colour; antennal club strongly obliquely truncate apically; mandible (fig. 70 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a broad truncation; parasitic in the oothecae of cockroaches - [[File:Comperia Smithsonian Institution 2019 CCDB-34079-D08 CC-BY boldsystems.jpg|thumb|''Comperia'' sp., Illinois, United States]]
**''''' Comperia''''' Gomes, 1942
*** 7 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Comperia alfierii'' is a parasitoid of a cockroach ''Blattella'' sp., and a dance fly ''Phyllodromia'' sp. (Egypt, Kenya, South Africa)
****''Comperia austrina'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia clavata'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia domestica'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia faceta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia hirsuta'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****''Comperia merceti'' is a parasitoid of a cockroaches ''Blattella germanica'', ''Supella longipalpa'', ''Supella supellectilium'', ''Periplaneta americana'' (Uganda)
* 86b Head and body without metallic refringence; club rounded apically; mandible (fig. 50 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three slender teeth, the dorsal one somewhat retracted; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**''''' Aphycus''''' Mayr, 1876
*** 33 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Aphycus comperei'' is a parasitoid of mealybugs ''Pedrococcus'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 87 Antennal club not white===
* 87a Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented. Polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae................88
* 87b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented................89
=== 88 Antenna nine-segmented, the club unsegmented===
* 88a Antennal club obliquely truncate from near base (fig. 71 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein of fore wing short, shorter than stigmal - [[File:Copidosoma varicorne female.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma varicorne'', female]][[File:202101 Copidosoma floridanum attack.svg|thumb|''Copidosoma floridanum'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma''
*** See also step 109 below
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' is a parasitoid of Lepidoptera (Cape Verde Islands, Ivory Coast, Senegal)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 88b Antennal club rounded or more or less squarely truncate at apex (fig. 72 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); postmarginal vein (fig. 73 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) unsually long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal vein - [[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig143.jpg|thumb|Female ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'']][[File:Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman, 1820) Fauna iberica 1921 p337 Fig145.jpg|thumb|Postmarginal and stigmal veins, ''Ageniaspis fuscicollis'' female fore-wing.]]
**''''' Ageniaspis''''' Dahlbom, 1857
*** 21 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ageniaspis citricola'' Logvinovskaya (1)
****''Ageniaspis primus'' Prinsloo (1)
=== 89 Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented===
* 89a Mandible (fig. 74 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three distinct teeth and a straight dorsal truncation. Parasitic in Lacciferidae........ 90
* 89b Mandible otherwise........ 91
=== 90 ===
* 90a Abdomen with two interrupted rows of gland-like structures (fig. 75 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), one each on tergum II and VII, head and thorax with rather strong metallic refringence -
**''''' Adencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 3 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Adencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Adencyrtus pictus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 90b Abdomen without gland-like structures; head and body at most very slightly metallic in parts. Male antenna (fig. 57 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two small, transverse funicle segments and a long, unsegmented banana-shaped club -
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Erencyrtus ater'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus contrarius'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus fuscus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Waxiella mimosae'', lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Erencyrtus notialis'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
=== 91 ===
* 91a Antennal scrobes sulcate (figs 53, 54, 76), their lateral margins sharply angled, usually impressed on face as an inverted V........ 92
* 91b Scrobes otherwise........ 94
=== 92 ===
* 92a Gonostyli very short and broad (fig. 77 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), subtriangular, densely covered with short, spine-like setae. Body black in colour; male antenna ten-segmented, the club two-segmented; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**'''''Laccacida''''' Prinsloo, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****'' Laccacida lacunata'' is a parasitoid of lac scales ''Tachardina'' sp. (South Africa)
* 92b Gonostyli otherwise: elongate and slender, not densely covered with spine-like setae. Antenna of male nine-segmented, the club not segmented........ 93
=== 93 ===
* 93a Mandible (fig. 78 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with three teeth; frontovertex with fine punctations; parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 93b Mandible (fig. 55 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; frontovertex with large punctations or with pits; parasitic in Coccidae -
**''''' Aloencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1978
*** 20 species worldwide; 19 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aloencyrtus alox'' - no associates known (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus angustifrons'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia brevicauda'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus claripennis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Inglisia conchiformis'' (South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus coelops'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp., ''Gascardia destructor'', ''Waxiella mimosae'' (Eritrea, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus delottoi'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia opulenta'' (Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus diaphorocerus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Mauritius, Seychelles)
****'' Aloencyrtus distinguendus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus subhemisphaericus'', ''Lecanium'' sp. (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria)
****'' Aloencyrtus facetus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes longicauda'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus habrus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia coffeae'' (Cameroon)
****'' Aloencyrtus hardii'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus johani'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Parasaissetia nigra'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus lindae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus nativus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Coccus longulus'', ''Parthenolecanium persicae'' (Benin, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus obscuratus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Lecanium somereni'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus saissetiae'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' sp. ''Coccus'' spp. ''Cryptinglisia lounsburyi'', ''Parasaissetia nigra'', ''Saissetia'' spp. (Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)
****'' Aloencyrtus ugandensis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Uganda)
****'' Aloencyrtus umbrinus'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Ceroplastes'' spp. (Kenya, )
****'' Aloencyrtus utilis'' is a parasitoid of coccid scales ''Saissetia oleae'' (South Africa)
****'' Aloencyrtus vivo'' - no associates known (Uganda)
=== 94 ===
* 94a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments........ 95
* 94b Antennal funicle unicolorous or almost so........ 97
=== 95 ===
* 95a Body yellowish to brownish, without a metallic tinge; antennal club rounded apically; primary parasitoids of Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
* 95b Body black, in parts with weak to strong metallic refringence; antennal club obliquely or transversely truncate apically; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 96
=== 96 ===
* 96a Mandible with three distinct teeth; antennal club (fig. 79 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) transversely truncate apically; marginal vein punctiform (fig. 80 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); polyembryonic parasitoids in larvae of Lepidoptera -
**'''''Paralitomastix''''' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '''''Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844 (see step 88)
* 96b Mandible with two teeth and a dorsal truncation; antennal club (fig. 81 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; marginal vein of fore wing (fig. 82 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) well developed; hyperparasitic in Coccidae -
**'''''Tremblaya''''' Trjapitzin, 1985
*** ''Silvestria'' Trjapitzin, 1972 is a synonym of ''Tremblaya''
*** 5 species worldwide; 5 Afrotropical species:
****''Tremblaya ceroplastae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Tremblaya coffeicola'' Noyes (1)
****''Tremblaya minor'' (Silvestri) (6)
****''Tremblaya oleae'' (Silvestri) (5)
****''Tremblaya palaeococci'' (Risbec) (2)
=== 97 ===
* 97a All funicle segments plainly wider than long................98
* 97b Funicle segments not all wider than long................102
=== 98 All funicle segments plainly wider than long===
* 98a Postmarginal vein (fig. 83 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing very long, much longer than marginal, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal; paratergites present; mandible with three slender teeth, the middle one longest; parasitic in Pseudococcidae -
**'''''Blepyrus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 19 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Blepyrus insularis'' (Cameron) (11)
****''Blepyrus saccharicola'' Gahan (2)
****''Blepyrus schwarzi'' (Howard) (1)
* 98b Fore wing venation otherwise; paratergites absent; mandible otherwise; not parasitic in mealybugs........ 99
=== 99 ===
* 99a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short, shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; the latter placed at or close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Timberlake, 1919
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 99b Antennal scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; antennal sockets placed higher on face, their upper limits usually about level with lower eye margins; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 100
=== 100 ===
* 100a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with a single segment; small species, about 0,6 mm in length; parasitic in eggs of Coleoptera and Diptera -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Oobius abditus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius funestus'' Annecke (2)
****''Oobius longoi'' (Siscaro) (4)
****''Oobius striatus'' Annecke (3)
* 100b Palpi otherwise; larger species, often more than 1 mm in length; not egg parasitoids........ 101
=== 101 ===
* 101a Head and body dominantly dark blackish-brown to black; antennal club (fig. 84 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) obliquely truncate apically; parasitic in Diptera -
**'''''Exoristobia''''' Ashmead, 1904
*** 9 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Exoristobia dipterae'' (Risbec) (8)
****''Exoristobia macrocerus'' (Masi) (1)
****''Exoristobia ugandensis'' Subba Rao (2)
* 101b Head and body dominantly yellowish to brownish-yellow; antennal club rounded apically; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
=== 102 Funicle segments not all wider than long===
* 102a Small species, at most about 1 mm in length, but usually less than 1 mm; exclusively parasitic in insect eggs, often in those of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera........ 103
* 102b Larger species, usually more than 1 mm in length; if less than 1 mm in length, then not parasitic in insect eggs, but in the larvae and pupae of insects................104
=== 103 ===
* 103a Antennal club longer than entire funicle; funicle segments I-V transverse; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial palpi not segmented -
**''''' Oobius''''' Trjapitzin, 1963
*** 45 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species (See step 100)
* 103b Antennal club shorter than entire funicle; maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three - [[File:Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Egg Mass Being Parasitized by Ooencyrtus kuvanae - Mississauga, Ontario.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' on a moth egg mass, Canada]] [[File:Ooencyrtus gravis, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Ooencyrtus gravis'', female, Spain.]]
**'''''Ooencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 343 species worldwide; 38 Afrotropical species:
****''Ooencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus albicrus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus angolensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus austrinus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus azul'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus bambeyi'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus bedfordi'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus camerounensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus cinctus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Ooencyrtus cirinae'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus congensis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus cretatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus demodoci'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus dipterae'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus distatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus epilachnae'' Annecke (3)
****''Ooencyrtus exallus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus guamensis'' Fullaway (6)
****''Ooencyrtus homoeoceri'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus insignis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus jeani'' Noyes and Prinsloo (3)
****''Ooencyrtus kuvanae'' is an egg parasitoid of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera (Nigeria)
****''Ooencyrtus lamborni'' Waterston (11)
****''Ooencyrtus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus nanus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus pallidipes'' (Ashmead) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus piezodori'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus polyphagus'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus puparum'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rigemae'' (Risbec) (3)
****''Ooencyrtus risbeci'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus rufogaster'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Ooencyrtus senegalensis'' (Risbec) (4)
****''Ooencyrtus sesbaniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Ooencyrtus sinis'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus unicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Ooencyrtus utetheisae'' (Risbec) (11)
****''Ooencyrtus ventralis'' (Masi) (1)
=== 104 ===
* 104a Antennal scrobes absent or represented by two very short shallow furrows, at most hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; head usually approximately round in outline in frontal view with mouth margin broad, antennal sockets placed close to mouth margin; parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
* 104b Scrobes otherwise, usually well developed; other characters different; not parasitic in aculeate Hymenoptera........ 105
=== 105 ===
* 105a Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth (figs 85, 86)........ 106
* 105b Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth; rarely with three teeth, but then dorsal tooth not acute or subacute, but broad, the apex squarely to roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)................111
=== 106 Mandible with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 106a Head and body entirely and brilliantly metallic in colour; parasitic in Aclerdidae - [[File:Mayridia pulchra, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Mayridia pulchra'', female, Spain]]
**'''''Mayridia''''' Mercet, 1921
***34 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Mayridia arida'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Mayridia maryae'' Prinsloo (1)
* 106b Head and body at most with a faint to moderately strong metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thorax; not parasitic in Aclerdidae........ 107
=== 107 ===
* 107a Antennal club as long as the distal three funicle segments together; marginal vein or fore wing longer than stigmal; parasitic in dryinid wasps -
**'''''Helegonatopus''''' Perkins, 1906
***13 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Helegonatopus saotomensis'' Prinsloo (2)
* 107b Antennal club longer than funicle segments III-VI; marginal vein at most as long as stigmal; not parasitic in Hymenoptera........ 108
=== 108 ===
* 108a Antennal club obliquely truncate apically. Thoracic dorsum usually with metallic green and purple refringence; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae -
**'''''Litomastix''''' Thomson, 1876
*** ''Litomastix'' is a synonym of ''Copidosoma'', making this step redundant, although presumably useful for identification of species groups?.
* 108b Antennal club rounded apically, or club segments transverse........ 109
=== 109 ===
* 109a Antenna long and slender, the funicle segments all longer than wide; polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae - [[File:Copidosoma koehleri 03.jpg|thumb|''Copidosoma koehleri'']]
**''''' Copidosoma''''' Ratzeburg, 1844
*** See also step 88 (above)
*** 212 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Copidosoma delattrei'' (Ghesquiere) (2)
****''Copidosoma desantisi'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****''Copidosoma floridanum'' (Ashmead) (6)
****''Copidosoma koehleri'' Blanchard (17)
****''Copidosoma primulum'' (Mercet) (2)
****''Copidosoma truncatellum'' (Dalman) (2)
****''Copidosoma uruguayensis'' Tachnikawa (3)
****''Copidosoma varicorne'' (Nees) (7)
* 109b Funicle segments not all longer than wide, the antenna not particularly slender; not parasitic in Lepidoptera................110
=== 110 ===
* 110a Marginal and postmarginal veins very short, the latter much shorter than stigmal vein, sometimes punctiform; frontovertex without punctations; usually parasitic in Coccidae - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 a.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 110b Marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter reaching almost to the level of apex of stigmal vein; frontovertex with scattered puncrations; exclusively parasitic in Lacciferidae -
**''''' Tachardiaephagus''''' Ashmead, 1904
***'' Tachardiaephagus'' keys out at 93, 110
*** 7 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****'' Tachardiaephagus absonus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus communis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus gracilis'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Tachardiaephagus similis'' Prinsloo (2)
=== 111 Mandible not with three acute or subacute teeth===
* 111a Tergum II and VII of abdomen each with an interrupted row of gland-like structures (fig. 88 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); Antennal club long, usually about as long as enure funicle; legs usually banded; parasitic in Diaspididae. -
**'''''Zaomma''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 17 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****''Zaomma acaciae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma carinae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma cestus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma ficusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Zaomma lambinus'' (Walker) (5)
****''Zaomma sitis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma vix'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Zaomma xhosa'' Prinsloo (2)
* 111b Abdomen without gland-like structures........ 112
=== 112 Abdomen without gland-like structures===
* 112a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two; parasitic in Diaspididae. Small species, usually not much more than 1 mm in length; antenna generally slender, the club long -
**'''''Coccidencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 36 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes'' Gahan (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus plectroniae'' Risbec (1)
****''Coccidencyrtus punctatus'' Compere and Annecke (1)
* 112b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial with three; not parasitic in Diaspididae........ 113
=== 113 ===
* 113a Marginal vein of fore wing relatively long*, broad, dark in colour, about as long as, or longer than, stigmal vein (figs 89, 90); mandible with three well separated teeth, the upper one squarely or roundly truncate (fig. 87 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 114
* 113b Marginal vein punctiform or very short, shorter than stigmal (figs 91, 92); if rarely subequal to stigmal, then mandible with a well separated ventral tooth and a broad dorsal truncation (fig. 93 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>)........ 115
=== 114 ===
* 114a Body longer than 1 mm; thorax slender, the scutellum longer than wide; legs usually not banded; primary parasitoids of Syrphidae - [[File:Syrphophagus aphidivorus, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'', female, Spain]][[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 114b Smaller species, usually about 1 mm in length; scutellum relatively broad, about as long as wide or a little wider than long; legs usually banded; hyperparasitoids of aphids, rarely of psyllids -
**''''' Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
***''Aphidencyrtus'' is a synonym of ''Syrphophagus''; this step previously separated ''Aphidencyrtus''
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
=== 115 ===
* 115a Head and body pale, dominantly yellow in colour, without metallic refringence; parasitic in Coccidae. Male remarkable in colour: orange and brilliant metallic green in parts -
**''''' Argutencyrtus''''' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974<ref name=Prinsloo1974>Prinsloo, G.L. & Annecke, D.P. (1973). A new genus and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from South Africa. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, 37(2), 345-349. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00128789_2638</ref>
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Argutencyrtus luteolus'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1974
* 115b Head and body entirely metallic in colour, or black with some parts with faint to moderately strong metallic refringence, or rarely at least head and thorax black; not parasitic in Coccidae........ 116
=== 116 ===
* 116a Usually entirely metallic green or blue-green in colour, rarely with only some parts metallic in colour; parasitic in Psyllidae - [[File:Psyllaephagus inat 165372177 davidfdz b82, some rights reserved (CC-BY).jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus'' sp., Córdoba, Spain.]][[File:Psyllaephagus guangxiensis (10.3897-BDJ.9.e63253) Figure 1.jpg|thumb|Female ''Psyllaephagus guangxiensis'', China]] [[File:Psyllaephagus euphyllurae, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Psyllaephagus euphyllurae'', female, Spain]]
**'''''[[w:Psyllaephagus|Psyllaephagus]]''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 246 species worldwide; 30 Afrotropical species:
****''Psyllaephagus africanus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus albicrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus arytainae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus bicolor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae'' Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame, Dzokou, Gumovsky and De Coninck (1)
****''Psyllaephagus bliteus'' Riek, 1962 (Australia, introduced to South Africa and also Neotropical and western Palaearctic regions)
****''Psyllaephagus callainus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus capeneri'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus cellulatus'' Waterston (1)
****''Psyllaephagus chianganus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus cincticrus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus dealbatae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus dispar'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus furvus'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus hibiscusae'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus io'' Prinsloo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus lucaris'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus minor'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus oleae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus ornatus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus pauliani'' (Risbec) (1)
****''Psyllaephagus perendinus'' Robinson (1)
****''Psyllaephagus phytolymae'' (Ferriere) (5)
****''Psyllaephagus pulvinatus'' (Waterston) (12)
****''Psyllaephagus rhusae'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus secus'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Psyllaephagus tessmannii'' Tamesse and Tiyo (1)
****''Psyllaephagus vastus'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus viridis'' Prinsloo (2)
****''Psyllaephagus yaseeni'' Noyes (Tanzania)
* 116b Never entirely metallic in colour, at most the head and thoracic dorsum with weak to moderately strong metallic refringence; parasitic in Syrphidae and Coccinellidae -
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114a, 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
== 117 Scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, less than three times as long as wide ==
* 117a Eyes exceptionally setose (fig. 123 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the setae long, strongly developed; frontovertex sparsely pitted; antenna (fig. 126 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with scape blackish, the remainder of antenna uniformly paler in colour - [[File:Syrphophagus inat 125775071.jpg|thumb|''Syrphophagus'' sp., Georgia, US.]]
**'''''Syrphophagus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** ''Syrphophagus'' keys out at 114b, 116b, 117a
*** 85 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Syrphophagus africanus'' (Gahan) (6)
****''Syrphophagus aphidivorus'' (Mayr) (2)
****''Syrphophagus cassatus'' (Annecke) (6)
****''Syrphophagus coccidicola'' (Gahan) (2)
****''Syrphophagus nigrocyaneus'' Ashmead (2)
****''Syrphophagus similis'' (Prinsloo) (3)
* 117b Eyes sparsely setose, the setae fine; frontovertex at most finely punctate; colour of antenna otherwise........ 118
=== 118 Eyes sparsely setose===
* 118a Head tending to opisthognathous, the frontovertex almost horizontal, meeting the inflexed face at an acute angle, so that head is subtriangular in lateral view; parasitic in ticks (Ixodidae). Male sometimes brachypterous, in which case the head has a forked process jutting forward at junction of frontovertex and face - [[File:Ixodiphagus hookeri.jpg|thumb|''Ixodiphagus hookeri'', France]]
**'''''Ixodiphagus''''' Howard, 1907
***''Hunterellus'' Howard, 1908 is a synonym of ''Ixodiphagus''
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Ixodiphagus hookeri'' (Howard) (14)
****''Ixodiphagus theilerae'' (Fiedler) (5)
* 118b Head hypognathous, the frontovertex more or less convex, rounded on to face; not parasitic in ticks........ 119
=== 119 ===
* 119a Head and body largely yellowish to brownish, without metallic refringence; antennal scrobes more or less well developed; toruli with lower limits well above clypeal margin; parasitic in Coccoidea - [[File:Metaphycus inat 4772310 b.jpg|thumb|''Metaphycus'' sp., California, United States]]
**''''' Metaphycus''''' Mercet, 1917
***''Metaphycus'' spp. are parasitoids of scale insects, mostly Coccidae
*** 476 species worldwide; 86 Afrotropical species.
*** ''Metaphycus'' keys out at 82, 95, 101, 110, 119
* 119b Head and body dominantly black, the head and thoracic dorsum with faint to strong metallic refringence; scrobes absent or developed as two very short shallow furrows, hardly longer than the longest diameter of a torulus; toruli placed at or close to mouth margin; polyembryonic parasitoids of aculeate Hymenoptera -
**'''''Coelopencyrtus''''' Walker, 1837
***31 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Coelopencyrtus bekiliensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Coelopencyrtus callainus'' Annecke, 1958 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus cyprius'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (Zimbabwe)
****''Coelopencyrtus ivorensis'' (Risbec, 1953) (Ivory Coast) Only this species has reduced wings?
****''Coelopencyrtus nothylaei'' Annecke 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Hylaeus'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus taylori'' (Annecke and Doutt, 1961) is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa'' species (South Africa)
****''Coelopencyrtus watmoughi'' Annecke, 1968 is a parasitoid of ''Xylocopa flavorufa'' (Zimbabwe).
== 120 Mandible with only two teeth; paratergites usually present; usually without coarse setae at edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced. Mealybug parasitoids==
[Mandible with only two acute or subacute teeth (figs 37, 38 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]). Paratergites (fig. 39 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key[1]) usually present, plainly visible in cleared, slide-mounted specimens; speculum of fore wing usually lacking a row of coarse, spine-like setae along outer edge of speculum; cercal plates often advanced to a level near base of metasoma; exclusively parasitic in Pseudococcidae (from 43)]
* 120a Antennal funicle seven-segmented -
**''''' Alamella''''' Agarwal, 1966
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Alamella flava'' - a parasitoid of eriococcids and mealybugs (Angola, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa)
****Species description: [https://www.ias.ac.in/public/Volumes/secb/063/02/0067-0079.pdf Agarwal (1966)]<ref name=Agarwal1966>Agarwal, M. M. (1966). Three undescribed genera and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera-Chalcidoidea) parasitic on coccids. In Proceedings/Indian Academy of Sciences (Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 67-79). New Delhi: Springer India.</ref>
* 120b Club two-segmented; head and body without metallic lustre; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial with two. Funicle with six or fewer segments........ 121
=== 121 ===
* 121a Scutellum with a posterior flange or lamella (cf. fig. 15 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); in profile this flange shows as a thin flat caudal projection of the scutellum. Body often black, the head dark metallic green; antenna long, slender, the scape cylindrical; marginal and postmarginal veins long - [[File:Ericydnus inat 183126807 Mario Bassini.jpg|thumb|''Ericydnus'' sp., Italy]]
**''''' Ericydnus''''' Haliday, 1832
*** 33 species worldwide; Afrotropical species?
*** ''Ericydnus'' sp. - 2 specimens at ARC-PPRI (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?dataset_key=b2ee8537-2a6c-4b4b-965a-538b47788606&taxon_key=1378896)
* 121b Scutellum without a flange........ 122
=== 122 ===
* 122a Head prognathous (fig. 94 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), elongate and flattened in dorsal view, almost as long as thorax (fig. 95 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), the eyes elongate, in dorsal view occupying almost whole of head laterally; antenna (fig. 96 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) extremely large, foliaceously flattened, the club three-segmented -
**''''' Monstranusia''''' Trjapitzin, 1964
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Monstranusia antennata'' (Narayanan) (1)
****''Monstranusia mirabilissima'' Trjapitzin (4)
* 122b Head otherwise; if antenna foliaceously flattened, then club not segmented................123
=== 123 ===
* 123a Antenna nine-segmented........ 124
* 123b Antenna ten or eleven-segmented........ 126
=== 124 ===
* 124a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches (fig. 97 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Head .and body largely metallic in colour; antenna sometimes foliaceously flattened; ovipositor often strongly protruded at apex of metasoma; male antenna with funicle six-segmented, segments II – V each with a ramus -
**''''' Tetracnemus''''' Westwood, 1837
*** 37 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Tetracnemus'' bifasciatellus (Mercet) (1)
****''Tetracnemus gumilevi'' Pilipjuk and Trjapitzin (1)
* 124b Fore wing entirely hyaline........ 125
=== 125 ===
* 125a Head and body entirely metallic green to blue-green in colour; antenna (fig. 111 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, the fumcle and club broad, somewhat laterally compressed -
**''''' Callaincyrtus''''' Prinsloo & Annecke, 1979
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Callaincyrtus decorus'' - no known associates (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
* 125b Head and body at most with faint metallic refringence on frontovertex, face and thoracic dorsum; antenna not particularly slender, the segments not flattened -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915<ref name=>Silvestri, F. 1915, Contributo all conoscenza degli insetti dell'olivo dell'Eritrea e dell'Africa meridionalei. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della R. Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura, Portici 9:305 [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14029132 BHL][https://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/research-curation/projects/chalcidoids/pdf_X/Silves915.pdf PDF]</ref>
*** This genus was reviewed in 1995: Prinsloo, G. L. (1995). The encyrtid genus Allocerellus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), parasitoids of mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 26(2), 167-179.
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****'' Allocerellus ater'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus bizonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus curtus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus hortensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (2)
****'' Allocerellus inquirendus'' Silvestri (2)
****'' Allocerellus mimus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus notatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Allocerellus orestes'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus paulus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****'' Allocerellus venustus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus vittatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****'' Allocerellus zonatus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
=== 126 ===
* 126a Antenna ten-segmented, the club with two segments........ 127
* 126b Antenna eleven-segmented, the club three-segmented........ 128
=== 127 ===
* 127a Head and body flatlened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**'''''Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Rhopus adustus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus discretus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus geminus'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus luridus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus notius'' Prinsloo (2)
****'' Rhopus pilatus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Rhopus urbanus'' Prinsloo (2)
* 127b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=== 128 ===
* 128a Frontovertex (fig. 98 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) densely pitted, the pits with a metallic green lustre; antennal scape subcylindical. Dominantly black species, the fore wing entirely and strongly infuscated; cephalic margin of fore wing forming an incision at apex of submarginal vein; male antenna with six transverse funicle segments and a long unsegmented banana-shaped club - [[File:Aenasius 2019 08 25 9692.jpg|thumb|''Aenasius'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Aenasius''''' Walker, 1846
*** ''Chalcaspis'' Howard, 1895 is a synonym of '' Aenasius''
*** 42 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****'' Aenasius abengouroui'' (Risbec) (4)
****'' Aenasius advena'' Compere (9)
****'' Aenasius comperei'' (Kerrich) (4)
****'' Aenasius flandersi'' Kerrich (1)
****'' Aenasius hyettus'' (Walker) (1)
****'' Aenasius martinii'' (Compere) (4)
****'' Aenasius phenacocci'' (Ashmead) (1)
* 128b Frontovertex at most punctate, the punctations not refringent........ 129
=== 129 ===
* 129a Head and body flattened dorsoventrally; maxillary palpi each with two segments, the labial not segmented. Small species, weakly sclerotized, usually yellowish, without metallic refringence; marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform - [[File:Rhopus nigroclavatus Moravvej 2018 Encyrtidae of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran a.jpg|thumb|''Rhopus nigroclavatus'', Iran]]
**''''' Rhopus''''' Foerster, 1856
*** This genus was reviewed in 1989: Prinsloo, G. L. (1989). The southern African species of ''Astymachus'' Howard and ''Rhopus'' Foerster (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 52(1), 129-147.
*** 70 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 127
* 129b Head and body not flattened dorsoventrally; palpi otherwise........ 130
=== 130 ===
* 130a Maxillary palpi each with three segments, the labial each with two................131
* 130b Maxillary palpi each with four segments, the labial three-segmented........ 132
=== 131 ===
* 131a Antenna (fig. 99 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, filiform, the funicle segments all plainly longer than wide; postmarginal vein (fig. 100 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) of fore wing long, extending to a level well beyond apex of stigmal; small species. Fore wing hyaline or partly infuscated - [[File:Leptomastidea abnormis inat 8538894 Jesse Rorabaugh.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastidea abnormis'', California, USA]]
**''''' Leptomastidea''''' Mercet, 1916
*** This genus was reviewed in 2001: Prinsloo, G.L. 2001, The aftrotropical species of Leptomastidea Mercet (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitoids of mealybugs. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 10(2):158-159. Includes photos of fore wings.
*** 23 species worldwide; 8 Afrotropical species:
****'' Leptomastidea abnormis'' (Girault) (12)
****'' Leptomastidea ascia'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea jeanneli'' Mercet (5)
****'' Leptomastidea lamto'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea pondo'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea tecta'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea turba'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Leptomastidea usta'' Prinsloo (1)
* 131b Antenna (fig. 101 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) not particularly slender, the funicle segments not all longer than wide; postmarginal vein short, shorter than stigmal; larger species - [[File:Anagyrus lopezi.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus lopezi'']][[File:Anagyrus on mealybug inaturalist 105468882.jpg|thumb|''Anagyrus'' wasp parasitizing a mealybug]]
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** ''Doliphoceras'' Mercet, 1921 is a synonym of '' Anagyrus''
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
****'' Anagyrus aberiae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus abyssinicus'' Compere (4)
****'' Anagyrus agraensis'' Saraswat (1)
****'' Anagyrus amnicus'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus amoenus'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus antoniae'' Guerrieri (1)
****'' Anagyrus arambourgi'' Risbec (1)
****'' Anagyrus arenaria'' Prinsloo (1)
****'' Anagyrus aurantifrons'' Compere (6)
****'' Anagyrus bambeyi'' Risbec (3)
****'' Anagyrus beneficians'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus bugandaensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus diversicornis'' (Howard) (11)
****'' Anagyrus fusciventris'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus gracilis'' (Hayat) (3)
****'' Anagyrus greeni'' Howard (1)
****'' Anagyrus haroldi'' Noyes and Hayat (4)
****'' Anagyrus incongruens'' (Masi) (1)
****'' Anagyrus indicus'' (Subba Rao) (1)
****'' Anagyrus kivuensis'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus lopezi'' (De Santis) (92)
****'' Anagyrus mangicola'' Noyes (7)
****'' Anagyrus mirzai'' Agarwal and Alam (3)
****'' Anagyrus nigrescens'' Compere (5)
****'' Anagyrus pseudococci'' (Girault) (10)
****'' Anagyrus pullus'' Compere (7)
****'' Anagyrus rubellus'' (Annecke) (4)
****'' Anagyrus saccharicola'' Timberlake (8)
****'' Anagyrus siccus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****'' Anagyrus subflaviceps'' (Girault) (2)
****'' Anagyrus subnigricornis'' Ishii (1)
****'' Anagyrus subproximus'' (Silvestri) (5)
****'' Anagyrus swezeyi'' Timberlake (2)
=== 132 ===
* 132a Antennal funicle with contrasting white and black segments; if rarely unicolorous, then marginal and postmarginal veins very short or punctiform........ 133
* 132b Funicle unicolorous; marginal and postmarginal veins well developed, the latter often very long........ 134
=== 133 ===
* 133a Antennal scape moderately to broadly expanded ventrally (fig. 102 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing hyaline; frontovertex without punctations -
**''''' Anagyrus''''' Howard, 1896
*** 293 species worldwide; 33 Afrotropical species:
**** See step 131b
* 133b Antennal scape subcylindrical (fig. 121 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); fore wing weakly to strongly infuscated (fig. 119 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>), at least in the distal three-fourths or so; frontovertex and face with scattered punctations (fig. 118 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Basal part of fore wing with setation as in fig. 120 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; male antenna as in fig. 122 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/> - [[File:Apoleptomastix iNat 165108113.jpg|thumb|''Apoleptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Apoleptomastix''''' Kerrich, 1982
***''Xiphomastix'' De Santis, 1972 is a synonym of ''Apoleptomastix''
*** 6 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Apoleptomastix anneckei'' Pseudococcidae ''Antonina'' sp. (Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Apoleptomastix bicoloricornis'' Pseudococcidae ''Brevennia rehi'', ''Coccidohystrix insolita'', ''Heterococcus nigeriensis'' (Ethiopia, Gambia, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
=== 134 ===
* 134a Fore wing distinctly infuscated with hyaline patches........ 135
* 134b Fore wing hyaline; if rarely infuscated, then with faint longitudinally infuscated bands........ 136
=== 135 ===
* 135a Head and body dominantly orange-red; fore wing (fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) tapering towards apex from the level of apex of venation, the wing disc characteristically maculated as in fig. 103 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>; antenna not particularly slender, the scape somewhat expanded ventrally, about three times as long as its greatest width; wings held horizontal in life -
**''''' Yasumatsuiola''''' Trjapitzin, 1977
*** 1 species worldwide; No Afrotropical species?
****''Yasumatsuiola orientalis'' Trjapitzin, 1977 found in Afrotropics?
* 135b Colour of head and body otherwise; fore wing (fig. 104 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long, slender, not tapering towards apex, the latter broadly rounded; wing disc infuscated with hyaline cross-bands or patches; antenna (fig. 105 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) long and slender, filiform, the scape cylindrical, much more than three times as long as wide; wings held erect in life - [[File:Callipteroma sexguttata iNat 150291293.jpg|thumb|''Callipteroma sexguttata'', South Africa]][[File:Mercet 1921 27 Callipteroma 118.jpg|thumb|Male ''Callipteroma sexguttata'', Spain]]
**''''' Callipteroma''''' Motschulsky, 1863
*** 6 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Callipteroma albiclava'' Noyes (1)
****''Callipteroma sexguttata'' Motschulsky (3)
****''Callipteroma testacea'' Motschulsky (2)
=== 136 ===
* 136a Scutellum with sculptural cells longitudinally oriented, somewhat raised, giving the disc a striate effect (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>). Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci (fig. 114 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>); head and body black, shiny, without metallic refringence; male antenna (fig. 117 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) with rami, one each on funicle segments II–V -
**'''''Neocharitopus''''' Hayat, Alam and Agarwal, 1975
*** ''Insleyia'' Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979 is a synonym of ''Neocharitopus''
*** 3 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Neocharitopus crassus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke) (3)
****''Neocharitopus solani'' (Risbec) (1)
* 136b Sculpture of scutellum otherwise................137
=== 137 ===
* 137a Antennal scape (fig. 106 of the Prinsloo-Annecke key<ref name=Prinsloo&Anneke1979/>) moderately to broadly expanded ventrally, or if only slightly expanded, then the ends cylindrical. General colour yellow to orange, without metallic lustre; thorax covered with fine white setae; postmarginal vein long, reaching to a level beyond apex of stigmal -
**''''' Gyranusoidea''''' Compere, 1947
*** 44 species worldwide; 11 Afrotropical species:
****''Gyranusoidea austrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea citrina'' (Compere) (6)
****''Gyranusoidea dilatata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (4)
****''Gyranusoidea flava'' Shafee, Alam and Agarwal (1)
****''Gyranusoidea klugei'' Prinsloo and Annecke (3)
****''Gyranusoidea litura'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea munda'' Annecke (5)
****''Gyranusoidea pauliani'' (Risbec) (2)
****''Gyranusoidea separata'' Prinsloo (3)
****''Gyranusoidea signata'' Annecke and Mynhardt (5)
****''Gyranusoidea tebygi'' Noyes (28)
* 137b Antennal scape not or hardly expanded ventrally........ 138
=== 138 ===
* 138a Body always black, with moderate to strong metallic green, blue or purplish refringence. Mesoscutum with incomplete parapsidal sulci; marginal and postmarginal veins long -
**''''' Clausenia''''' Ishii, 1923
*** 12 species worldwide; 7 Afrotropical species:
****''Clausenia capensis'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia comperei'' Kerrich (4)
****''Clausenia concinna'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
****''Clausenia confusor'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia corrugata'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia guineensis'' Kerrich (3)
****''Clausenia sobrina'' Annecke and Mynhardt (3)
* 138b Colour otherwise, if rarely black, then without any metallic refringence........ 139
=== 139 ===
* 139a Antenna filiform, the basal funicle segment longer than pedicel, often very much so; cercal plates advanced to a level near base of metasoma - [[File:Leptomastix inat 153928277.jpg|thumb|''Leptomastix'' sp., South Africa]]
**''''' Leptomastix''''' Foerster, 1856
*** 34 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
****''Leptomastix abyssinica'' Compere (5)
****''Leptomastix africana'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix dactylopii'' Howard (24)
****''Leptomastix digitariae'' Risbec (1)
****''Leptomastix flava'' Mercet (3)
****''Leptomastix herreni'' Anga and Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix hibiscusae'' Risbec (3)
****''Leptomastix jonesi'' Noyes (1)
****''Leptomastix nigra'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix nigrocincta'' Risbec (4)
****''Leptomastix nigrocoxalis'' Compere (6)
****''Leptomastix tsukumiensis'' Tachikawa (2)
* 139b Antenna not filiform, the pedicel longer than basal funicle segment; cecal plates placed near apex of metasoma -
**''''' Allocerellus''''' Silvestri, 1915
*** 12 species worldwide; 12 Afrotropical species:
***See step 125
=Other genera known from the Afrotropics=
[[File:Achalcerinys lindus faunaibrica Mercet 1921 F112 p270.jpg|thumb|''Achalcerinys lindus'', female, Spain.]]
*Some of these genera have been found in the Afrotropics since the key was created (1979)
**'''''Achalcerinys''''' Girault, 1915
***''Parasyrpophagus'' is a synonym of ''Achalcerinys''
*** 5 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Achalcerinys gorodkovi'' (Myartseva, 1983) - no known associates (Egypt, Ethiopia)
****''Achalcerinys lindus'' (Mercet, 1921) - a parasitoid of Eriococcidae, Pseudococcidae, Encyrtidae (Ethiopia)
**'''''Agarwalencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Agarwalencyrtus citri'' - a parasitoid or hyperparasitoid in mealybugs; ''Planococcus'' spp. (South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
****Photograph of specimen in [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20203576260 Tirunagaru and Sagadai (2020)]
**'''''Anomalencyrtus''''' Hayat and Verma, 1980
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalencyrtus longicornis'' - no known associates (Madagascar)
**'''''Anomalicornia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Anomalicornia tenuicornis'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Astymachus''''' Howard, 1898
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Astymachus exilis '' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Blastothrix ''''' [[File:Blastothrix erythrostetha female Fig95 p245.jpg|thumb|''Blastothrix erythrostetha'', female]]
*** 29 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Blastothrix anthocleistae'' Risbec, 1952 (Madagascar)
**'''''Bothriocraera''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 4 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Bothriocraera bicolor'' - a parasitoid of mealybugs (Ghana)
**'''''Brachyplatycerus''''' De Santis, 1972
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brachyplatycerus minutum'' - a parasitoid of moths ''Cydia pomonella'' (South Africa)
**'''''Brethesiella''''' Porter, 1920
*** 18 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Brethesiella abnormicornis'' - a parasitoid of Margarodidae ''Icerya'' spp. (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Cladiscodes''''' Subba Rao, 1977
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cladiscodes incisius'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Cryptanusia''''' Girault , 1917 [[File:Cryptanusia iNat 19192414 magriet b.jpg|thumb|''Cryptanusia'' sp., South Africa]]
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Cryptanusia aureiscutellum'' - no known associates (South Africa)
**'''''Diaphorencyrtus''''' Hayat, 1981
*** 2 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis'' (Shafee, Alam and Agarwal) (Réunion, South Africa)
****''Diaphorencyrtus harrisoni'' (Robinson, 1960) (South Africa)
**'''''Dionencyrtus''''' De Santis, 1985
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dionencyrtus cordylomerae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Dusmetia''''' Mercet, 1921
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Dusmetia fuscipennis'' (Noyes & Hayat, 1984) (Zimbabwe)
**'''''Ectroma''''' Westwood, 1833
*** 11 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Ectroma truncatum'' Prinsloo, 1986 (Zimbabwe)
**''''' Erencyrtus''''' Mahdihassan, 1923
*** 6 species worldwide; 4 Afrotropical species:
****''Erencyrtus ater'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus contrarius'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus fuscus'' Annecke and Mynhardt (South Africa)
****''Erencyrtus notialis'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt (South Africa)
**'''''Hambletonia''''' Compere, 1936
*** 9 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hambletonia pseudococcina'' Compere, 1936 (Ghana)
**'''''Hemileucoceras''''' Hoffer, 1976
*** 3 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Hemileucoceras madagascariensis'' (Risbec) (Madagascar)
**'''''Holcencyrtus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 10 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Holcencyrtus liriomyzae'' Risbec (Senegal)
****''Holcencyrtus myrmicoides'' (Compere and Zinna) (Ghana)
**'''''Homosemion''''' Annecke, 1967
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Homosemion bennetti'' Annecke, 1967 (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Incisencyrtus''''' Prinsloo, 1988 [[File:Encyrtidae_inaturalist_141860202.jpg|thumb|Female ''Incisencyrtus'' cf. ''afer'']]
*** 4 species worldwide; 3 Afrotropical species:
****''Incisencyrtus afer'' Prinsloo, 1988 (South Africa, Zimbabwe)
****''Incisencyrtus secus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Madagascar)
****''Incisencyrtus sirus'' Prinsloo, 1988 (Nigeria)
**'''''Lakshaphagus''''' Mahdihassan, 1931
*** 9 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Lakshaphagus armillatus'' (Annecke, 1969) (South Africa)
****''Lakshaphagus ceroplastae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
**'''''Manicnemus''''' Hayat, 1981 [https://www.waspweb.org/Chalcidoidea/Encyrtidae/Tetracneminae/Manicnemus/Manicnemus_species.htm Manicnemus species]
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Manicnemus'' sp. (Tanzania) <ref name=vanNoort>van Noort, S. (2024). WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical region. (accessed on 14 March 2024).</ref>
**''''' Mahencyrtus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 14 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mahencyrtus occultans'' - no associates known (Seychelles)
**'''''Mira''''' [[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.556.jpg|thumb|Female ''Mira integralis'']][[File:Mira integralis Fauna iberica (1921) p.554.jpg|thumb|Male ''Mira integralis'']]
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Mira integralis'' (Mercet, 1921) (Senegal)
**'''''Neastymachus''''' Girault, 1915
*** 21 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neastymachus dispar'' Prinsloo, 1996 (South Africa)
**'''''Neodusmetia''''' Kerrich, 1964
*** 6 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Neodusmetia sangwani'' (Subba Rao, 1957) (Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Parablatticida''''' Girault, 1915
*** 15 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Parablatticida aphycoides'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
****''Parablatticida vidua'' (Masi, 1917) (Seychelles)
**'''''Pseudococcobius''''' Timberlake, 1916
*** 12 species worldwide; 6 Afrotropical species:
****''Pseudococcobius akares'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius ancylus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius dolus'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius san'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vibex'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
****''Pseudococcobius vinealis'' Prinsloo, 2003 (South Africa)
**'''''Rhytidothorax''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 20 species worldwide; 2 Afrotropical species:
****''Rhytidothorax ambositrensis'' (Risbec, 1952) (Madagascar)
****''Rhytidothorax latiscapus'' (Prinsloo and Annecke, 1979) (Swaziland, Zimbabwe)
**'''''Scotteus''''' Masi, 1917
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Scotteus ochroleucus'' Masi, 1917 (Seychelles)
**'''''Spaniopterus''''' Gahan, 1927
*** 1 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Spaniopterus crucifer'' Gahan, 1927 (Mauritius)
**'''''Stemmatosteres''''' Timberlake, 1918
*** 5 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Stemmatosteres primus'' Prinsloo and Mynhardt, 1981 (South Africa)
**'''''Trichomasthus''''' [[File:Trichomasthus cyanifrons, female, Spain.jpg|thumb|''Trichomasthus cyanifrons'', female, Spain]]
*** 60 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Trichomasthus portoricensis'' (Crawford, 1913) (Sao Tomé and Principe)
**'''''Xenostryxis'''''
*** 10 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Xenostryxis margiscutellum'' Girault, 1920 (South Africa)
**'''''Zarhopalus''''' Ashmead, 1900
*** 8 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zarhopalus corvinus'' a parasitoid of Pseudococcidae, ''Pseudococcus'' spp. (South Africa)
**'''''Zozoros'''''
*** 2 species worldwide; 1 Afrotropical species:
****''Zozoros adamsoniae'' (Risbec, 1951) (Senegal)
=References=
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:African Arthropods|Afrotropical Encyrtidae Key]]
pwcqpvdmonnwfhz0c6vr4me1naw0z68
User:Allostasissy
2
322021
2805533
2799315
2026-04-19T15:56:20Z
Allostasissy
3003274
2805533
wikitext
text/x-wiki
= identity =
ttps://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Category:Wikiversity_alternative_accounts
most of those it seems are mine - I have been a financial contributor to wiki since the very first year making sure children saw me give wiki money because I endorsed the mission from the get go. MAGA's success at a global culling has evoked that "once bit twice shy" feeling I feel obligated to work through in hope for
= habits are cultivated =
to create a healthy relationship with wikiversity where we learn how to appropriately feed this wiki-beast, it helps to have a calendar. Even now, my academic mindset starts with a place to take notes and the first way to sort those notes is by date.
LaTeX, while still not a language I feel comfortable in, seems to be the professional choice for print publishers.
It seems reasonable to create an ought twenty six calendar for both print and use in clickable form. So, roughly 400 pages 8.5"x11" (which is not exactly an A-size iirc) in a pdf created by LaTeX for easy publication in the creative commons.
Every brick and mortar university distributes something similar to their new students to help cultivate those community oriented habits around personal ones.
So, there will be no advertisers in my pdf contribution to the creative commons... which leaves more room for content between the pages that help that calendar year get pieced apart into bites and bytes.
== 026 for creative commons distribution cultivating habits towards community building using available public tools appropriately ==
=== calendar ===
how many pages -ish?
365 = one 2/3 page per day
379 = 14 pages 1 each Dec 2025 + 2026 + Jan 2027
431 = 52 weeks + 4 in 2025 + 4 2027
so... 400-ish pages
=== repositories ===
==== wiki commons ====
==== github ====
=== free to use software ===
==== blender ====
==== krita ====
==== inkscape ====
==== gimp ====
==== obs ====
=== languages ===
==== typescript ====
==== LaTeX ====
==== python ====
= figuring things out =
I can't see well, if you want to interact with this page, please do so on this page. the four ~ tildas will sign your name so that you are identifying yourself and I can be found at this email: veronicajeananderson@outlook.com
I am working on a project for wikiversity after being a huge fan of wikipedia since it was new... i'm looking at creating a local community curatorship where we can ask each other questions in real time via voice over something like twitch or zoom or whatever...
I'm not sure why this 2015 project was recently tagged as a problem ... I've been working very hard to preserve the right of independent humans to contribute APPROPRIATELY to the creative commons in various forms. I'm trying to find free to use tools to gamify the less fun parts of life... such as diabetes. I would like to see food trucks in Cascadia use this wiki-verse like Tokyo's Department of Transportation. That involves abiding by current rules, contributing towards the community's real needs along with the digital ones and i am findable, so if you see something here that needs edited, don't throw put the baby with the bathwater and then make it hard for me to find the baby....
None of the names in this palette relate to real people or defined colors, they are randomly generated for a lospec 500 color palette creating an place for conversation in the world of fiction to grow our vocabulary enough to talk about nonfiction.
I am finally able to use my real name, but the way I used to identify myself apparently is no longer proper (there was a tag) so we'll figure this out together....
= 口☂ 501c3 ☂ growingGenkiness =
# コ https://www.twitch.tv/allostasissy https://raidpal.com/en/raidpal-is-your-twitch-raid-event-manager
# こ https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/User:VeronicaJeanAnderson
# 子 Sissy
# 湖 https://github.com/allostasissy
# 個 LaTeX pdfs for publication
= allostasis w allostasissy =
working on discovering the tools to use in 026.
What do I like about the table below? each column is sortable. That means these colors can be sorted by hue, saturation, lighness, red, blue, and greenness while keeping the order I originally placed them in for those few occasions it's useful.
Publishing Changes and then looking... wikiversity makes changes and what I see today isn't the same as what I saw a couple years ago, but now I have the ability to talk to others in my physical community to collaborate on proper contribution to this wikiverse.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! style="background-color:#e0f7fa; color:#006064; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; font-weight:bold; padding:25px;" | allostasissy:studio
! style="vertical-align:middle;" | (sis)
! style="vertical-align:middle;" | {sissy}
! style="vertical-align:middle;" | [allostasis]
! style="vertical-align:middle;" | <allostasissy>
|-
! style="vertical-align:middle;" | (sis)
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | B1
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | C1
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | D1
|-
! style="vertical-align:middle;" | {sissy}
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | A2
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | B2
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | C2
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | D2
|-
! style="vertical-align:middle;" | [allostasis]
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | A3
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | B3
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allostasis
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | D3
|-
! style="vertical-align:middle;" | <allostasissy>
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | A4
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | B4
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | C4
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allostatic_load
|-
| style="background-color:pink; color:#006064; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; font-weight:bold; padding:15px;" | allostasissy:studio
| style="background-color:pink; color:#006064; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; font-weight:bold; padding:15px;" | allostasissy:studio
| style="background-color:pink; color:#006064; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; font-weight:bold; padding:15px;" | allostasissy:studio
| style="background-color:pink; color:#006064; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; font-weight:bold; padding:15px;" | allostasissy:studio
| style="background-color:pink; color:#006064; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; font-weight:bold; padding:15px;" | allostasissy:studio
|}
[[File:Allostatic load sketch.svg|thumb|center|1111px|Allostatic load concept diagram]]
[[File:Allostatic load sketch.svg|thumb|center|300px|Allostatic load concept diagram]]
''Image: [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allostatic_load_sketch.svg Allostatic load sketch] by [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Roberto_Ferrazzano Roberto Ferrazzano], licensed under [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0].''
A "lively polka"<br>
Lyrics for Michael Finnegan<br>
There was an old man named Michael Finnegan<br>
He had whiskers on his chinnegan<br>
The wind came along and blew them in again<br>
Poor old Michael Finnegan<br>
<br>begin again!<br>
There was an old man named Michael Finnegan<br>
He went fishing with a pin again<br>
Caught a fish but it flopped back in again<br>
Poor old Michael Finnegan<br>
<br>begin again!<br>
There was an old man named Michael Finnegan<br>
He ran a race and tried to win again<br>
He fell down and bumped his shin again<br>
Poor old Michael Finnegan<br>
<br>begin again!<br>
<br>
Once again, it's time to start over.<br>
<br>
But this is the first time I've done so knowing what to do next!<br>
<br>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allostasis<br>
<br>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allostatic_load<br>
<br>
Having grown up in the church of the Nazarene, we are imbued with the concept of "trinity". At 25 after many years of miscarriages and other infertility issues, I gave birth to triplets that incredible summer of 2001.<br> The little girl who I watched on the playground at church since diapers was named Trinity and she was killed with two of her friends by a man named Juan Rodriguez who had been drinking and driving. My world revolves around threes for no reason except that I am me.<br>
<br>
This educational journey can't be extracted from me, the human whose story I get to tell.<br>
<br>
There are more good things to remember than bad, but the bad, just like errors in code, tell us what to do next. <br>
<br>
My Ecclesiastical approach to allostatic regulation is encoded here and attributed to the creative commons: https://github.com/allostasissy/seaOfNought.<br>
<br>
And like most academics, I like working into tables so this is where I will start:<br>
<br>
= funding =
== wikiversity ==
free, but there is no such thing as a free lunch; our project needs minimally, support for itself. if we are doing it "right", we should be able to "tithe" to wikimedia
== twitch ==
fee for ad free
subs for universal emojis?
== OBS ==
open source
== Blender ==
open source
== Krita ==
open source
== visual studio code ==
free ware
= work flow -ing =
↔↭
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
! # !! Name !! Color Swatch !! Color Name !! Hex !! R !! G !! B !! ° !! % !! % !! Subculture / Oregon Connection
|-
| 1 ⭕️〇○
| Ava June Rodriguez
| style="background:#F7F3B7;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| romeo
| #F7F3B7
| 247
| 243
| 183
| 55
| 78
| 84
| Mexican-American community (Salem / Woodburn)
|-
| 2 △ ▲ ↑
| Elliot Sage Monroe
| style="background:#E8D282;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| quebec
| #E8D282
| 232
| 210
| 130
| 47
| 69
| 71
| Eugene progressive / nature-centered parents
|-
| 14 →
| Noah Benjamin Price
| style="background:#FA6E79;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| kiwi
| #FA6E79
| 250
| 110
| 121
| 355
| 93
| 71
| suburban mainstream Oregon family
|-
| 27 ←
| Eden Aurora Chase
| style="background:#5E5B8C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| dingo
| #5E5B8C
| 94
| 91
| 140
| 244
| 21
| 45
| New Age / spiritual parents
|-
| 0 ❌✖×
| Milo James Carter
| style="background:#10121C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| almostBlack
| #10121C
| 16
| 18
| 28
| 231
| 27
| 9
| Portland creative / eco-conscious family
|}
== wiki work space : twitch/allostasissy ==
preparing for workday habit to start ㋀/05/026
== first : OBS; Blender ==
What is working? While typing this into wikiversity I am hearing my Allostasissy twitch stream in my right (wired) ear while speaking into my left Raycon ear bud. The unused R bud is sitting nearby so perhaps contributing to the mic input.
OBS uses Scenes and Sources. Just now I've set up both input and output for this system to be able to listen to streamable music while trudging along through my day.
I have a southpark episode I want to clip, but I believe it would be against Twitch's TOS for me to do that while streaming. Discord is a place for collaboration where I can stream what I'm doing while I'm doing it with a limited knowable audience.
I recorded SouthPark using OBS and put it into blender where I can snip the full piece into segments and determine their future use as clips ensuring whatever I do with them to be transformative. When I am done with that, I will further comment with next steps.
The goal here is to create the work flows that I want to be references over the next year for collaborations in a public safe place in accordance with wiki's TOS.
[[User:Allostasissy|Allostasissy]] ([[User talk:Allostasissy|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Allostasissy|contribs]]) 18:26, 10 November 2025 (UTC)
= vja =
using chatGPT to rng me some names and agreed with my publishing partner to the lospec 500 color palette thus named cuz it's the 500th palette.
creating workflows this year to implement in January when I want to stream collaborations that should benefit the creative commons because that's how community starts... someone has to start boiling a stone.
== faux Oregonians for ∅26 development ==
nought/naught = ⓪ 〇 0 ∅
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
! # !! Name !! Color Swatch !! Color Name !! Hex !! R !! G !! B !! ° !! % !! % !! Subculture / Oregon Connection
|-
| 0
| Milo James Carter
| style="background:#10121C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| almostBlack
| #10121C
| 16
| 18
| 28
| 231
| 27
| 9
| Portland creative / eco-conscious family
|-
| 1
| Ava June Rodriguez
| style="background:#F7F3B7;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| romeo
| #F7F3B7
| 247
| 243
| 183
| 55
| 78
| 84
| Mexican-American community (Salem / Woodburn)
|-
| 2
| Elliot Sage Monroe
| style="background:#E8D282;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| quebec
| #E8D282
| 232
| 210
| 130
| 47
| 69
| 71
| Eugene progressive / nature-centered parents
|-
| 3
| Sophie Aiko Tanaka
| style="background:#DAB163;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| papa
| #DAB163
| 218
| 177
| 99
| 38
| 61
| 62
| Japanese-American (Portland or Beaverton)
|-
| 4
| Kai Thomas Ericksen
| style="background:#F3A833;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| kilo
| #F3A833
| 243
| 168
| 51
| 37
| 88
| 58
| Scandinavian / coastal Oregon family
|-
| 5
| Hazel Anne McConnell
| style="background:#CE9248;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| oscar
| #CE9248
| 206
| 146
| 72
| 33
| 56
| 55
| old Oregon pioneer heritage
|-
| 6
| Rory Dean Matthews
| style="background:#A26D3F;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| november
| #A26D3F
| 162
| 109
| 63
| 28
| 44
| 44
| working-class / southern Oregon
|-
| 7
| Isla Grace Nguyen
| style="background:#E98537;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| juliet
| #E98537
| 233
| 133
| 55
| 26
| 80
| 56
| Vietnamese-American Portland suburb family
|-
| 8
| Luca Orion Vega
| style="background:#6E4C30;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| mike
| #6E4C30
| 110
| 76
| 48
| 26
| 39
| 31
| Latinx creative / bilingual family
|-
| 9
| Juniper Leigh Adams
| style="background:#DE5D3A;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| india
| #DE5D3A
| 222
| 93
| 58
| 13
| 73
| 55
| rural / forest-school upbringing
|-
| 10
| Olive Celeste Moreau
| style="background:#94493A;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| hotel
| #94493A
| 148
| 73
| 58
| 10
| 43
| 40
| French heritage (Ashland arts scene)
|-
| 11
| Rowan Jude Harper
| style="background:#F6E8E0;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| nova
| #F6E8E0
| 246
| 232
| 224
| 24
| 48
| 92
| Bend outdoor / rock-climbing family
|-
| 12
| Ezra Kai Thompson
| style="background:#4D3533;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| lima
| #4D3533
| 77
| 53
| 51
| 5
| 20
| 25
| Eugene sustainable / co-op culture
|-
| 13
| Willow Mae Sanders
| style="background:#FFD1D5;;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| meteor
| #FFD1D5
| 255
| 209
| 213
| 355
| 100
| 91
| small-town Oregon, farmstead family
|-
| 14
| Noah Benjamin Price
| style="background:#FA6E79;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| kiwi
| #FA6E79
| 250
| 110
| 121
| 355
| 93
| 71
| suburban mainstream Oregon family
|-
| 15
| Aria Soleil Martinez
| style="background:#EC273F;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| golf
| #EC273F
| 236
| 39
| 63
| 354
| 83
| 54
| Mexican-American, bilingual home
|-
| 16
| Leo Alexander Petrova
| style="background:#FFA2AC;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| lotus
| #FFA2AC
| 255
| 162
| 172
| 353
| 100
| 82
| Russian immigrant community (Gresham / Clackamas)
|-
| 17
| Ember Wren Wallace
| style="background:#AC2847;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| foxtrot
| #AC2847
| 172
| 40
| 71
| 344
| 62
| 42
| intentional community / off-grid lifestyle
|-
| 18
| Koda Rain Ellsworth
| style="background:#6B2643;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| echo
| #6B2643
| 107
| 38
| 67
| 333
| 48
| 28
| indigenous-adjacent naming trend
|-
| 19
| Talia Jun Nakamura
| style="background:#9A4D76;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| halo
| #9A4D76
| 154
| 77
| 118
| 327
| 33
| 45
| Japanese-American / tech family in Beaverton
|-
| 20
| Nolan River Brooks
| style="background:#C878AF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| ion
| #C878AF
| 200
| 120
| 175
| 324
| 41
| 63
| middle-class Willamette Valley family
|-
| 21
| Sienna Belle Ramirez
| style="background:#2C1E31;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| delta
| #2C1E31
| 44
| 30
| 49
| 286
| 24
| 16
| Mexican-American, bilingual family
|-
| 22
| Asher Cole Bennett
| style="background:#8C78A5;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| ember
| #8C78A5
| 140
| 120
| 165
| 274
| 20
| 56
| Portland urban family
|-
| 23
| Clara Evangeline DuPont
| style="background:#DECEED;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| glacier
| #DECEED
| 222
| 206
| 237
| 271
| 41
| 87
| French-American, artistic family
|-
| 24
| Felix Rowan DeVries
| style="background:#CC99FF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| juno
| #CC99FF
| 204
| 153
| 255
| 270
| 100
| 80
| Dutch heritage (Willamette Valley)
|-
| 25
| Maeve Iris Holland
| style="background:#B0A7B8;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| falcon
| #B0A7B8
| 176
| 167
| 184
| 269
| 11
| 69
| Irish-descendant Oregon family
|-
| 26
| Zara Skye Kim
| style="background:#3E3B65;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| comet
| #3E3B65
| 62
| 59
| 101
| 244
| 27
| 31
| Korean-American Oregon subculture
|-
| 27
| Eden Aurora Chase
| style="background:#5E5B8C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| dingo
| #5E5B8C
| 94
| 91
| 140
| 244
| 21
| 45
| New Age / spiritual parents
|-
| 28
| Wyatt Leon Jensen
| style="background:#3859B3;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| zulu
| #3859B3
| 56
| 89
| 179
| 225
| 53
| 46
| rural Oregon Scandinavian roots
|-
| 29
| Lila Rue Thompson
| style="background:#3388DE;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| atlas
| #3388DE
| 51
| 136
| 222
| 209
| 72
| 54
| artistic Portland family
|-
| 30
| Cedar Orion Rivers
| style="background:#36C5F4;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| blaze
| #36C5F4
| 54
| 197
| 244
| 195
| 87
| 58
| off-grid eco-family / Ashland
|-
| 31
| Soren Elias Johansson
| style="background:#1E4044;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| sierra
| #1E4044
| 30
| 64
| 68
| 187
| 39
| 19
| Nordic heritage (Astoria or coastal region)
|-
| 32
| Amira Rose Williams
| style="background:#008B8B;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| alpha
| #008B8B
| 0
| 139
| 139
| 180
| 100
| 27
| African-American / mixed-heritage Oregon family
|-
| 33
| Owen Luke Daniels
| style="background:#006554;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| tango
| #006554
| 0
| 101
| 84
| 169
| 100
| 20
| mainstream suburban Oregon
|-
| 34
| Phoebe Rae Lockhart
| style="background:#6DEAD6;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| bravo
| #6DEAD6
| 109
| 234
| 214
| 168
| 70
| 67
| rural Oregon / homeschool community
|-
| 35
| Micah Kai Santos
| style="background:#62A477;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| whiskey
| #62A477
| 98
| 164
| 119
| 145
| 26
| 51
| Filipino-American family
|-
| 36
| Tate Wilder Brooks
| style="background:#26854C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| uniform
| #26854C
| 38
| 133
| 76
| 142
| 55
| 34
| Bend outdoor lifestyle
|-
| 37
| Aurora Linnet Rousseau
| style="background:#D3EED3;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| yankee
| #D3EED3
| 211
| 238
| 211
| 120
| 39
| 88
| French-influenced, Eugene artist family
|-
| 38
| Zion Cruz Morales
| style="background:#5AB552;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| victor
| #5AB552
| 90
| 181
| 82
| 116
| 40
| 52
| Latinx Christian community (Salem area)
|-
| 39
| Mira Soleil Jameson
| style="background:#A6CB96;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| xray
| #A6CB96
| 166
| 203
| 150
| 106
| 32
| 69
| eco-urban / hybrid homeschool family
|-
| 40
| Niko Ivan Volkov
| style="background:#9DE64E;{{text color default}};width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| charlie
| #9DE64E
| 157
| 230
| 78
| 89
| 73
| 61
| Russian Orthodox / Slavic Oregon subculture
|-
| 41
| Logan Hayes
| style="background:#FFFFFF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| white
| #FFFFFF
| 255
| 255
| 255
| 0
| 0
| 100
| mainstream Gen Alpha Oregon kid
|}
== what does this look like ==
how is it possible that this table goes with my unique (signature?) hue sort which is 60-0 followed 360 down to 60 again?
oh! the original data given to chatgpt was listed on my index.html and sorted 60-0 360-60.
Which means to get this sort (the goal at this step) all i need to do is number these sequentially. pro-grammars start at zer0.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
! Name !! Color Swatch !! Color Name !! Hex !! R !! G !! B !! ° !! % !! % !! Subculture / Oregon Connection
|-
| Milo James Carter
| style="background:#10121C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| almostBlack
| #10121C
| 16
| 18
| 28
| 231
| 27
| 9
| Portland creative / eco-conscious family
|-
| Ava June Rodriguez
| style="background:#F7F3B7;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| romeo
| #F7F3B7
| 247
| 243
| 183
| 55
| 78
| 84
| Mexican-American community (Salem / Woodburn)
|-
| Elliot Sage Monroe
| style="background:#E8D282;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| quebec
| #E8D282
| 232
| 210
| 130
| 47
| 69
| 71
| Eugene progressive / nature-centered parents
|-
| Sophie Aiko Tanaka
| style="background:#DAB163; {{text color default}};width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| papa
| #DAB163
| 218
| 177
| 99
| 38
| 61
| 62
| Japanese-American (Portland or Beaverton)
|-
| Kai Thomas Ericksen
| style="background:#F3A833;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| kilo
| #F3A833
| 243
| 168
| 51
| 37
| 88
| 58
| Scandinavian / coastal Oregon family
|-
| Hazel Anne McConnell
| style="background:#CE9248; {{text color default}};width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| oscar
| #CE9248
| 206
| 146
| 72
| 33
| 56
| 55
| old Oregon pioneer heritage
|-
| Rory Dean Matthews
| style="background:#A26D3F;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| november
| #A26D3F
| 162
| 109
| 63
| 28
| 44
| 44
| working-class / southern Oregon
|-
| Isla Grace Nguyen
| style="background:#E98537;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| juliet
| #E98537
| 233
| 133
| 55
| 26
| 80
| 56
| Vietnamese-American Portland suburb family
|-
| Luca Orion Vega
| style="background:#6E4C30;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| mike
| #6E4C30
| 110
| 76
| 48
| 26
| 39
| 31
| Latinx creative / bilingual family
|-
| Juniper Leigh Adams
| style="background:#DE5D3A;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| india
| #DE5D3A
| 222
| 93
| 58
| 13
| 73
| 55
| rural / forest-school upbringing
|-
| Olive Celeste Moreau
| style="background:#94493A;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| hotel
| #94493A
| 148
| 73
| 58
| 10
| 43
| 40
| French heritage (Ashland arts scene)
|-
| Rowan Jude Harper
| style="background:#F6E8E0;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| nova
| #F6E8E0
| 246
| 232
| 224
| 24
| 48
| 92
| Bend outdoor / rock-climbing family
|-
| Ezra Kai Thompson
| style="background:#4D3533;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| lima
| #4D3533
| 77
| 53
| 51
| 5
| 20
| 25
| Eugene sustainable / co-op culture
|-
| Willow Mae Sanders
| style="background:#FFD1D5;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| meteor
| #FFD1D5
| 255
| 209
| 213
| 355
| 100
| 91
| small-town Oregon, farmstead family
|-
| Noah Benjamin Price
| style="background:#FA6E79; {{text color default}};width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| kiwi
| #FA6E79
| 250
| 110
| 121
| 355
| 93
| 71
| suburban mainstream Oregon family
|-
| Aria Soleil Martinez
| style="background:#EC273F;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| golf
| #EC273F
| 236
| 39
| 63
| 354
| 83
| 54
| Mexican-American, bilingual home
|-
| Leo Alexander Petrova
| style="background:#FFA2AC;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| lotus
| #FFA2AC
| 255
| 162
| 172
| 353
| 100
| 82
| Russian immigrant community (Gresham / Clackamas)
|-
| Ember Wren Wallace
| style="background:#AC2847;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| foxtrot
| #AC2847
| 172
| 40
| 71
| 344
| 62
| 42
| intentional community / off-grid lifestyle
|-
| Koda Rain Ellsworth
| style="background:#6B2643;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| echo
| #6B2643
| 107
| 38
| 67
| 333
| 48
| 28
| indigenous-adjacent naming trend
|-
| Talia Jun Nakamura
| style="background:#9A4D76;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| halo
| #9A4D76
| 154
| 77
| 118
| 327
| 33
| 45
| Japanese-American / tech family in Beaverton
|-
| Nolan River Brooks
| style="background:#C878AF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| ion
| #C878AF
| 200
| 120
| 175
| 324
| 41
| 63
| middle-class Willamette Valley family
|-
| Sienna Belle Ramirez
| style="background:#2C1E31;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| delta
| #2C1E31
| 44
| 30
| 49
| 286
| 24
| 16
| Mexican-American, bilingual family
|-
| Asher Cole Bennett
| style="background:#8C78A5;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| ember
| #8C78A5
| 140
| 120
| 165
| 274
| 20
| 56
| Portland urban family
|-
| Clara Evangeline DuPont
| style="background:#DECEED;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| glacier
| #DECEED
| 222
| 206
| 237
| 271
| 41
| 87
| French-American, artistic family
|-
| Felix Rowan DeVries
| style="background:#CC99FF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| juno
| #CC99FF
| 204
| 153
| 255
| 270
| 100
| 80
| Dutch heritage (Willamette Valley)
|-
| Maeve Iris Holland
| style="background:#B0A7B8;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| falcon
| #B0A7B8
| 176
| 167
| 184
| 269
| 11
| 69
| Irish-descendant Oregon family
|-
| Zara Skye Kim
| style="background:#3E3B65;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| comet
| #3E3B65
| 62
| 59
| 101
| 244
| 27
| 31
| Korean-American Oregon subculture
|-
| Eden Aurora Chase
| style="background:#5E5B8C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| dingo
| #5E5B8C
| 94
| 91
| 140
| 244
| 21
| 45
| New Age / spiritual parents
|-
| Wyatt Leon Jensen
| style="background:#3859B3;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| zulu
| #3859B3
| 56
| 89
| 179
| 225
| 53
| 46
| rural Oregon Scandinavian roots
|-
| Lila Rue Thompson
| style="background:#3388DE;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| atlas
| #3388DE
| 51
| 136
| 222
| 209
| 72
| 54
| artistic Portland family
|-
| Cedar Orion Rivers
| style="background:#36C5F4;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| blaze
| #36C5F4
| 54
| 197
| 244
| 195
| 87
| 58
| off-grid eco-family / Ashland
|-
| Soren Elias Johansson
| style="background:#1E4044;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| sierra
| #1E4044
| 30
| 64
| 68
| 187
| 39
| 19
| Nordic heritage (Astoria or coastal region)
|-
| Amira Rose Williams
| style="background:#008B8B;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| alpha
| #008B8B
| 0
| 139
| 139
| 180
| 100
| 27
| African-American / mixed-heritage Oregon family
|-
| Owen Luke Daniels
| style="background:#006554;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| tango
| #006554
| 0
| 101
| 84
| 169
| 100
| 20
| mainstream suburban Oregon
|-
| Phoebe Rae Lockhart
| style="background:#6DEAD6;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| bravo
| #6DEAD6
| 109
| 234
| 214
| 168
| 70
| 67
| rural Oregon / homeschool community
|-
| Micah Kai Santos
| style="background:#62A477;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| whiskey
| #62A477
| 98
| 164
| 119
| 145
| 26
| 51
| Filipino-American family
|-
| Tate Wilder Brooks
| style="background:#26854C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| uniform
| #26854C
| 38
| 133
| 76
| 142
| 55
| 34
| Bend outdoor lifestyle
|-
| Aurora Linnet Rousseau
| style="background:#D3EED3;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| yankee
| #D3EED3
| 211
| 238
| 211
| 120
| 39
| 88
| French-influenced, Eugene artist family
|-
| Zion Cruz Morales
| style="background:#5AB552;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| victor
| #5AB552
| 90
| 181
| 82
| 116
| 40
| 52
| Latinx Christian community (Salem area)
|-
| Mira Soleil Jameson
| style="background:#A6CB96;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| xray
| #A6CB96
| 166
| 203
| 150
| 106
| 32
| 69
| eco-urban / hybrid homeschool family
|-
| Niko Ivan Volkov
| style="background:#9DE64E;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| charlie
| #9DE64E
| 157
| 230
| 78
| 89
| 73
| 61
| Russian Orthodox / Slavic Oregon subculture
|-
| Logan Hayes
| style="background:#FFFFFF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| white
| #FFFFFF
| 255
| 255
| 255
| 0
| 0
| 100
| mainstream Gen Alpha Oregon kid
|}
== Oregon Gen Alpha Names (42) with Subcultures ✕ 42 Lospec 500 Colors ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
! Name
! Color Swatch
! Color Name
! Hex
! HSL
! Subculture / Oregon Connection
|-
| Milo James Carter
| style="background:#10121C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| almostBlack
| #10121C
| hsl(231°,27%,9%)
| Portland creative / eco-conscious family
|-
| Ava June Rodriguez
| style="background:#F7F3B7;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| romeo
| #F7F3B7
| hsl(55°,78%,84%)
| Mexican-American community (Salem / Woodburn)
|-
| Elliot Sage Monroe
| style="background:#E8D282;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| quebec
| #E8D282
| hsl(47°,69%,71%)
| Eugene progressive / nature-centered parents
|-
| Sophie Aiko Tanaka
| style="background:#DAB163;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| papa
| #DAB163
| hsl(38°,61%,62%)
| Japanese-American (Portland or Beaverton)
|-
| Kai Thomas Ericksen
| style="background:#F3A833;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| kilo
| #F3A833
| hsl(37°,88%,58%)
| Scandinavian / coastal Oregon family
|-
| Hazel Anne McConnell
| style="background:#CE9248;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| oscar
| #CE9248
| hsl(33°,56%,55%)
| old Oregon pioneer heritage
|-
| Rory Dean Matthews
| style="background:#A26D3F;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| november
| #A26D3F
| hsl(28°,44%,44%)
| working-class / southern Oregon
|-
| Isla Grace Nguyen
| style="background:#E98537;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| juliet
| #E98537
| hsl(26°,80%,56%)
| Vietnamese-American Portland suburb family
|-
| Luca Orion Vega
| style="background:#6E4C30;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| mike
| #6E4C30
| hsl(26°,39%,31%)
| Latinx creative / bilingual family
|-
| Juniper Leigh Adams
| style="background:#DE5D3A;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| india
| #DE5D3A
| hsl(13°,73%,55%)
| rural / forest-school upbringing
|-
| Olive Celeste Moreau
| style="background:#94493A;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| hotel
| #94493A
| hsl(10°,43%,40%)
| French heritage (Ashland arts scene)
|-
| Rowan Jude Harper
| style="background:#F6E8E0;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| nova
| #F6E8E0
| hsl(24°,48%,92%)
| Bend outdoor / rock-climbing family
|-
| Ezra Kai Thompson
| style="background:#4D3533;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| lima
| #4D3533
| hsl(5°,20%,25%)
| Eugene sustainable / co-op culture
|-
| Willow Mae Sanders
| style="background:#FFD1D5;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| meteor
| #FFD1D5
| hsl(355°,100%,91%)
| small-town Oregon, farmstead family
|-
| Noah Benjamin Price
| style="background:#FA6E79;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| kiwi
| #FA6E79
| hsl(355°,93%,71%)
| suburban mainstream Oregon family
|-
| Aria Soleil Martinez
| style="background:#EC273F; {{text color default}};width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| golf
| #EC273F
| hsl(354°,83%,54%)
| Mexican-American, bilingual home
|-
| Leo Alexander Petrova
| style="background:#FFA2AC;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| lotus
| #FFA2AC
| hsl(353°,100%,82%)
| Russian immigrant community (Gresham / Clackamas)
|-
| Ember Wren Wallace
| style="background:#AC2847;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| foxtrot
| #AC2847
| hsl(344°,62%,42%)
| intentional community / off-grid lifestyle
|-
| Koda Rain Ellsworth
| style="background:#6B2643;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| echo
| #6B2643
| hsl(333°,48%,28%)
| indigenous-adjacent naming trend
|-
| Talia Jun Nakamura
| style="background:#9A4D76;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| halo
| #9A4D76
| hsl(327°,33%,45%)
| Japanese-American / tech family in Beaverton
|-
| Nolan River Brooks
| style="background:#C878AF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| ion
| #C878AF
| hsl(324°,41%,63%)
| middle-class Willamette Valley family
|-
| Sienna Belle Ramirez
| style="background:#2C1E31;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| delta
| #2C1E31
| hsl(286°,24%,16%)
| Mexican-American, bilingual family
|-
| Asher Cole Bennett
| style="background:#8C78A5;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| ember
| #8C78A5
| hsl(274°,20%,56%)
| Portland urban family
|-
| Clara Evangeline DuPont
| style="background:#DECEED;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| glacier
| #DECEED
| hsl(271°,41%,87%)
| French-American, artistic family
|-
| Felix Rowan DeVries
| style="background:#CC99FF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| juno
| #CC99FF
| hsl(270°,100%,80%)
| Dutch heritage (Willamette Valley)
|-
| Maeve Iris Holland
| style="background:#B0A7B8;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| falcon
| #B0A7B8
| hsl(269°,11%,69%)
| Irish-descendant Oregon family
|-
| Zara Skye Kim
| style="background:#3E3B65;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| comet
| #3E3B65
| hsl(244°,27%,31%)
| Korean-American Oregon subculture
|-
| Eden Aurora Chase
| style="background:#5E5B8C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| dingo
| #5E5B8C
| hsl(244°,21%,45%)
| New Age / spiritual parents
|-
| Wyatt Leon Jensen
| style="background:#3859B3;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| zulu
| #3859B3
| hsl(225°,53%,46%)
| rural Oregon Scandinavian roots
|-
| Lila Rue Thompson
| style="background:#3388DE;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| atlas
| #3388DE
| hsl(209°,72%,54%)
| artistic Portland family
|-
| Cedar Orion Rivers
| style="background:#36C5F4;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| blaze
| #36C5F4
| hsl(195°,87%,58%)
| off-grid eco-family / Ashland
|-
| Soren Elias Johansson
| style="background:#1E4044;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| sierra
| #1E4044
| hsl(187°,39%,19%)
| Nordic heritage (Astoria or coastal region)
|-
| Amira Rose Williams
| style="background:#008B8B;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| alpha
| #008B8B
| hsl(180°,100%,27%)
| African-American / mixed-heritage Oregon family
|-
| Owen Luke Daniels
| style="background:#006554;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| tango
| #006554
| hsl(169°,100%,20%)
| mainstream suburban Oregon
|-
| Phoebe Rae Lockhart
| style="background:#6DEAD6;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| bravo
| #6DEAD6
| hsl(168°,70%,67%)
| rural Oregon / homeschool community
|-
| Micah Kai Santos
| style="background:#62A477;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| whiskey
| #62A477
| hsl(145°,26%,51%)
| Filipino-American family
|-
| Tate Wilder Brooks
| style="background:#26854C;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| uniform
| #26854C
| hsl(142°,55%,34%)
| Bend outdoor lifestyle
|-
| Aurora Linnet Rousseau
| style="background:#D3EED3;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| yankee
| #D3EED3
| hsl(120°,39%,88%)
| French-influenced, Eugene artist family
|-
| Zion Cruz Morales
| style="background:#5AB552;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| victor
| #5AB552
| hsl(116°,40%,52%)
| Latinx Christian community (Salem area)
|-
| Mira Soleil Jameson
| style="background:#A6CB96;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| xray
| #A6CB96
| hsl(106°,32%,69%)
| eco-urban / hybrid homeschool family
|-
| Niko Ivan Volkov
| style="background:#9DE64E;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| charlie
| #9DE64E
| hsl(89°,73%,61%)
| Russian Orthodox / Slavic Oregon subculture
|-
| Logan Hayes
| style="background:#FFFFFF;{{text color default}}; width:1em; height:1em; border:1px solid #000;" |
| white
| #FFFFFF
| hsl(0°,0%,100%)
| mainstream Gen Alpha Oregon kid
|}
=== 42 lospec 500 palette for use in 2026 ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"
! Name !! Swatch !! Hex !! RGB (0–255) !! RGB (0–1) !! HSL !! Sample
|-
| almostBlack || style="background:#10121C;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #10121C || rgb(16,18,28) || rgb(0.063,0.071,0.110) || hsl(231°,27%,9%) || <span style="color:#10121C;">█</span>
|-
| romeo || style="background:#F7F3B7;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #F7F3B7 || rgb(247,243,183) || rgb(0.969,0.953,0.718) || hsl(55°,78%,84%) || <span style="color:#F7F3B7;">█</span>
|-
| quebec || style="background:#E8D282;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #E8D282 || rgb(232,210,130) || rgb(0.910,0.824,0.510) || hsl(47°,69%,71%) || <span style="color:#E8D282;">█</span>
|-
| papa || style="background:#DAB163;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #DAB163 || rgb(218,177,99) || rgb(0.855,0.694,0.388) || hsl(38°,61%,62%) || <span style="color:#DAB163;">█</span>
|-
| kilo || style="background:#F3A833;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #F3A833 || rgb(243,168,51) || rgb(0.953,0.659,0.200) || hsl(37°,88%,58%) || <span style="color:#F3A833;">█</span>
|-
| oscar || style="background:#CE9248;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #CE9248 || rgb(206,146,72) || rgb(0.808,0.573,0.282) || hsl(33°,56%,55%) || <span style="color:#CE9248;">█</span>
|-
| november || style="background:#A26D3F;{{text color default}};width:60px;" | || #A26D3F || rgb(162,109,63) || rgb(0.635,0.427,0.247) || hsl(28°,44%,44%) || <span style="color:#A26D3F;">█</span>
|-
| juliet || style="background:#E98537;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #E98537 || rgb(233,133,55) || rgb(0.914,0.522,0.216) || hsl(26°,80%,56%) || <span style="color:#E98537;">█</span>
|-
| mike || style="background:#6E4C30;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #6E4C30 || rgb(110,76,48) || rgb(0.431,0.298,0.188) || hsl(26°,39%,31%) || <span style="color:#6E4C30;">█</span>
|-
| india || style="background:#DE5D3A;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #DE5D3A || rgb(222,93,58) || rgb(0.871,0.365,0.227) || hsl(13°,73%,55%) || <span style="color:#DE5D3A;">█</span>
|-
| hotel || style="background:#94493A;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #94493A || rgb(148,73,58) || rgb(0.580,0.286,0.227) || hsl(10°,43%,40%) || <span style="color:#94493A;">█</span>
|-
| nova || style="background:#F6E8E0;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #F6E8E0 || rgb(246,232,224) || rgb(0.965,0.910,0.878) || hsl(24°,48%,92%) || <span style="color:#F6E8E0;">█</span>
|-
| lima || style="background:#4D3533;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #4D3533 || rgb(77,53,51) || rgb(0.302,0.208,0.200) || hsl(5°,20%,25%) || <span style="color:#4D3533;">█</span>
|-
| meteor || style="background:#FFD1D5;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #FFD1D5 || rgb(255,209,213) || rgb(1.000,0.820,0.835) || hsl(355°,100%,91%) || <span style="color:#FFD1D5;">█</span>
|-
| kiwi || style="background:#FA6E79;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #FA6E79 || rgb(250,110,121) || rgb(0.980,0.431,0.475) || hsl(355°,93%,71%) || <span style="color:#FA6E79;">█</span>
|-
| golf || style="background:#EC273F;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #EC273F || rgb(236,39,63) || rgb(0.925,0.153,0.247) || hsl(354°,83%,54%) || <span style="color:#EC273F;">█</span>
|-
| lotus || style="background:#FFA2AC;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #FFA2AC || rgb(255,162,172) || rgb(1.000,0.635,0.675) || hsl(353°,100%,82%) || <span style="color:#FFA2AC;">█</span>
|-
| foxtrot || style="background:#AC2847;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #AC2847 || rgb(172,40,71) || rgb(0.675,0.157,0.278) || hsl(344°,62%,42%) || <span style="color:#AC2847;">█</span>
|-
| echo || style="background:#6B2643;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #6B2643 || rgb(107,38,67) || rgb(0.420,0.149,0.263) || hsl(333°,48%,28%) || <span style="color:#6B2643;">█</span>
|-
| halo || style="background:#9A4D76;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #9A4D76 || rgb(154,77,118) || rgb(0.604,0.302,0.463) || hsl(327°,33%,45%) || <span style="color:#9A4D76;">█</span>
|-
| ion || style="background:#C878AF;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #C878AF || rgb(200,120,175) || rgb(0.784,0.471,0.686) || hsl(324°,41%,63%) || <span style="color:#C878AF;">█</span>
|-
| delta || style="background:#2C1E31;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #2C1E31 || rgb(44,30,49) || rgb(0.173,0.118,0.192) || hsl(286°,24%,16%) || <span style="color:#2C1E31;">█</span>
|-
| ember || style="background:#8C78A5;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #8C78A5 || rgb(140,120,165) || rgb(0.549,0.471,0.647) || hsl(274°,20%,56%) || <span style="color:#8C78A5;">█</span>
|-
| glacier || style="background:#DECEED;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #DECEED || rgb(222,206,237) || rgb(0.871,0.808,0.929) || hsl(271°,41%,87%) || <span style="color:#DECEED;">█</span>
|-
| juno || style="background:#CC99FF;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #CC99FF || rgb(204,153,255) || rgb(0.800,0.600,1.000) || hsl(270°,100%,80%) || <span style="color:#CC99FF;">█</span>
|-
| falcon || style="background:#B0A7B8;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #B0A7B8 || rgb(176,167,184) || rgb(0.690,0.655,0.722) || hsl(269°,11%,69%) || <span style="color:#B0A7B8;">█</span>
|-
| comet || style="background:#3E3B65;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #3E3B65 || rgb(62,59,101) || rgb(0.243,0.231,0.396) || hsl(244°,27%,31%) || <span style="color:#3E3B65;">█</span>
|-
| dingo || style="background:#5E5B8C;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #5E5B8C || rgb(94,91,140) || rgb(0.369,0.357,0.549) || hsl(244°,21%,45%) || <span style="color:#5E5B8C;">█</span>
|-
| zulu || style="background:#3859B3;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #3859B3 || rgb(56,89,179) || rgb(0.220,0.349,0.702) || hsl(225°,53%,46%) || <span style="color:#3859B3;">█</span>
|-
| atlas || style="background:#3388DE;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #3388DE || rgb(51,136,222) || rgb(0.200,0.533,0.871) || hsl(209°,72%,54%) || <span style="color:#3388DE;">█</span>
|-
| blaze || style="background:#36C5F4;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #36C5F4 || rgb(54,197,244) || rgb(0.212,0.773,0.957) || hsl(195°,87%,58%) || <span style="color:#36C5F4;">█</span>
|-
| sierra || style="background:#1E4044;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #1E4044 || rgb(30,64,68) || rgb(0.118,0.251,0.267) || hsl(187°,39%,19%) || <span style="color:#1E4044;">█</span>
|-
| alpha || style="background:#008B8B;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #008B8B || rgb(0,139,139) || rgb(0.000,0.545,0.545) || hsl(180°,100%,27%) || <span style="color:#008B8B;">█</span>
|-
| tango || style="background:#006554;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #006554 || rgb(0,101,84) || rgb(0.000,0.396,0.329) || hsl(169°,100%,20%) || <span style="color:#006554;">█</span>
|-
| bravo || style="background:#6DEAD6;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #6DEAD6 || rgb(109,234,214) || rgb(0.427,0.682,0.839) || hsl(168°,70%,67%) || <span style="color:#6DEAD6;">█</span>
|-
| whiskey || style="background:#62A477;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #62A477 || rgb(98,164,119) || rgb(0.384,0.643,0.467) || hsl(145°,26%,51%) || <span style="color:#62A477;">█</span>
|-
| uniform || style="background:#26854C;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #26854C || rgb(38,133,76) || rgb(0.149,0.522,0.298) || hsl(142°,55%,34%) || <span style="color:#26854C;">█</span>
|-
| yankee || style="background:#D3EED3;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #D3EED3 || rgb(211,238,211) || rgb(0.827,0.933,0.827) || hsl(120°,39%,88%) || <span style="color:#D3EED3;">█</span>
|-
| victor || style="background:#5AB552;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #5AB552 || rgb(90,181,82) || rgb(0.353,0.710,0.322) || hsl(116°,40%,52%) || <span style="color:#5AB552;">█</span>
|-
| xray || style="background:#A6CB96;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #A6CB96 || rgb(166,203,150) || rgb(0.651,0.796,0.588) || hsl(106°,32%,69%) || <span style="color:#A6CB96;">█</span>
|-
| charlie || style="background:#9DE64E;{{text color default}}; width:60px;" | || #9DE64E || rgb(157,230,78) || rgb(0.616,0.902,0.306) || hsl(89°,73%,61%) || <span style="color:#9DE64E;">█</span>
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| white || style="background:#FFFFFF;{{text color default}}; border:1px solid #ccc; width:60px;" | || #FFFFFF || rgb(255,255,255) || rgb(1.000,1.000,1.000) || hsl(0°,0%,100%) || <span style="color:#FFFFFF; text-shadow:0 0 2px #000;">█</span>
|}
= winter 2025 =
summary paragraph for 1st week in 2026 starting point:
Sissy is developing two intertwined projects rooted in multicultural, adaptive education and creative expression: **Guchi Genki Games**, a Twitch-based international streaming brand, and **Growing Genkiness**, a registered 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit focused on **allostasis during transitions**—helping people adapt dynamically to change while maintaining vitality. The concept of *genki (元気)* combines **元** (“origin” or “source”) and **気** (“energy” or “spirit”), signifying authentic vitality or life force. *Growing Genkiness* thus represents cultivating adaptive, resilient energy that evolves through transformation. The counterpart *guchi (口)* means “mouth” or “expression,” symbolizing communication and the open channel through which vitality is expressed. Together, **Guchi Genki Games** embodies *“expressing vitality through creative play.”* The name in Japanese combines kanji and katakana: 「グッチゲンキゲームス」 (“Gucchi Genki Gēmusu,” literally *Guchi Genki Games*). Sissy’s organizational philosophy connects psychological adaptation (allostasis), intercultural narrative methods (such as using hexadecimal-coded storytelling for anonymity and honesty), and community resilience. The projects aim to engage multicultural and multigenerational audiences—including Evangelical, Palestinian, Rotarian, and Nazarene communities—and anticipate Japanese collaboration and funding. This context provides the shared vocabulary and conceptual grounding for continuing conversations about these initiatives, language use, and their symbolic framework.
=== Legal Christmas Music for Use in Videos and Sing-Alongs ===
If you want Christmas music you can legally use in your own videos, streams, or community sing-alongs, the key idea is to use either:
* **Music in the Public Domain** (free to use)
* **Music with a license that allows reuse** (for example Creative Commons or royalty-free products)
==== Understanding Public Domain Christmas Music ====
A piece of music becomes public domain when its copyright has expired. Many traditional Christmas carols fall in this category. However, it is important to note that:
* **The song (melody and lyrics) may be public domain**
* **BUT a recording or arrangement of that song may still be copyrighted**
So: The song is free. But not all recordings of it are free.
To use it legally, choose a recording that is also explicitly labeled *public domain* or *royalty-free*.
==== Well-Known Public Domain Carols ====
These songs are public domain in the United States:
* Angels We Have Heard on High
* Away in a Manger
* Deck the Halls
* God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
* Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
* It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
* Jingle Bells
* Joy to the World
* O Come, All Ye Faithful
* O Holy Night
* Silent Night
* The First Noel
* We Three Kings
* What Child Is This?
(There are more, but these are the most commonly used.)
==== Places to Find Legal Recordings ====
===== 1. Free Music Archive (FMA) =====
https://freemusicarchive.org
Look for tracks listed with **CC0** (public domain) or **CC-BY** (you must credit the creator).
===== 2. MusOpen =====
https://musopen.org
Provides public domain recordings and sheet music. Very clear licensing labels.
===== 3. Wikimedia Commons Audio =====
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Christmas_music
Check the license on each file. Many are public domain.
===== 4. YouTube Audio Library =====
https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary
Some tracks are free to use with attribution. Licensing varies, so check each track.
===== 5. Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod) =====
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/
Well-known library. Most music can be used with credit under Creative Commons.
==== If You Want to Sing or Perform the Song Yourself ====
If the song is in the public domain, **you can perform and record your own version with no licensing needed**.
This is one of the safest options because:
* You control the performance
* You own the recording
* No hidden copyright issues
==== Songs That Are *Not* Public Domain ====
These require permission or licensing to use. Examples:
* Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
* Frosty the Snowman
* Silver Bells
* Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
* Carol of the Bells (melody is public domain, many popular arrangements are not)
* Anything recorded in the last ~95 years without explicit licensing
If you are unsure about a song’s status, look it up on:
https://publicdomainsongs.com
==== Summary ====
* Use songs that are public domain.
* Make sure the *recording* you use is also free to use.
* If uncertain, record your own version.
* When using Creative Commons or royalty-free music, follow the stated license rules (usually just attribution).
----
If you'd like, I can also:
* Generate a **downloadable pack** of verified public domain carols
* Provide **simple chord sheets**
* Make a **PDF songbook**
* Or generate **ukulele / guitar lead sheets**
Just tell me the vibe you're going for. 🎄✨
[[User:Allostasissy|Allostasissy]] ([[User talk:Allostasissy|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Allostasissy|contribs]]) 03:42, 9 November 2025 (UTC) written by ChatGPT
= by program =
== Blender 5.1.0 Alpha ==
https://www.blender.org/
= by platform =
=== wikipedia ===
# My discussion
# Sandbox
# Preferences
# Beta
# Contributions
# Log out
==== Main Menu ====
# Main Page
# Browse
# Recent changes
# Guided tours
# Random
# Help
# Donate
==== Community ====
# Portal
# Colloquium
# News
# Projects
# Sandbox
==== Actions ====
move
==== General ====
#What links here
#Related changes
#User contributions
#Logs
#Email this user
#Mute preferences
#View user groups
#Upload file
#Permanent link
#Page information
#Get shortened URL
#Download QR code
==== wikimedia projects exploration notes ====
commons; wikibooks; wikidata; wikinews; wikipedia; wikiquote; wikisource; wikispecies; wikivoyage; wiktionary; meta-wiki; outreach; mediawiki; wikimania
===== export as =====
#"create a book"
#"download as pdf"
#"printable version"
=== twitch ===
I want to use https://raidpal.com/en/raidpal-is-your-twitch-raid-event-manager to create a schedule for wiki collaboration over twitch.
=== dev places ===
https://developers.meta.com/horizon/
= by date =
[[User:Allostasissy|Allostasissy]] ([[User talk:Allostasissy|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Allostasissy|contribs]]) 02:25, 14 November 2025 (UTC) so, progress continues. Raiding on twitch to attend wikiversity in January totally seems like a thing.
I have an established habit of using gmail and outlook for keeping track of where I am at and what I intend to do next.
The new habit seems to be to build a discord around the habits I want to cultivate.... even those things I don't intend to share publiclaly later. In this contemporary age, there is no presumed privacy. the people outside taking a picture of a bumblebee have a right to use whatever noise I produce at a volume enough for them to hear it. Neither defamation nor slander can be made of a truthful story appropriately cited and logged over time.
I've been asked to look at "Worlds Desktop Editor" and I found two versions of what offended Bob so much in 2017 (2015? I'm losing track)... so I am eager to important that into LaTeX.
If this LaTeX Tome is worth it's digital 1s and 0s, it will include questions and enough introduction to potential tools that filling it out will feel natural.
As a visual analogy, I intend to create a "no kings" deck of playing cards. That doesn't mean that when I publish another deck in 2030 it won't have Kings... hopefully by then MAGA will be behind us and we can go to Hiroshima with what we've learned and deliver our deck of cards for free distribution at the suicide forest... but that's only if we create something worthy of printing.
[[User:Allostasissy|Allostasissy]] ([[User talk:Allostasissy|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Allostasissy|contribs]]) 23:34, 8 November 2025 (UTC) Today I feel safe enough to bring AllostaSissy and VeronicaJeanAnderson together on wikiversity.
rumors: I hear the CIA is helping inform this world of wiki. I am pro-wiki. I also think the federated wiki pages are the natural future where both Musk's Grok and Wikipedia can be referenced while each's own bias is not only allowed but encouraged because to imply we are capable of living without bias is in fact a bias. We are more than the sum of our parts for sure, but our experiences and the cultures from which we claim inform both what we communicate and how we go about it. In Oregon it feels familiar to holler across the house loudly while in Japan that faux Russian gruffness feels like the antithesis to refinement.
While I work on Work Flows, it makes sense to take notes here where I can see those notes regardless of platform. Legal solutions that seemed reasonable before MAGAs criminal conduct in 2025 are no longer the solution. When the brokers are unable to trade, bartering because the tool we use. Gifting like we gave in German POWs post wwii or the Japanese who expected to be tortured only to find their conditions improved in the care of their enemy.
So, I just recorded Sheriff County from Paramount + so that I can create a commentary. It's contemporary, has good people doing "bad" things and bad people doing "good" things demonstrating the moral ambiguity that government creates between sub populations and stars loved actors from The Expanse and Firefly. I recorded it using OBS and watched it for the first time live with someone chatting next to me.
Next, I will pull that recording into Blender and snip it into chunks. I believe it is legal to do this while sharing my screen/audio in Discord.
After creating the snips into a new file, I'll delete more than 2/3s of the content so that I am definitely not simply replaying copywritten content in its original form.
I'm hoping at this point I will have a couple channels populated perhaps by character or following the knife giving me a chance to create further commentaries should I choose to do so, but by now one channel should be fed enough to add audio.
Audacity will record my voice over, and if I do it in time with the blender video it should be easy to layer.
The destination for this video is "trump derangement syndrome", but I don't recall which email account so that might change.
Notes will be taken into LaTeX and the workflow documented well enough in this End of Year (EOY) Tome for publication to the Library of Congress in January with the purchase of an ISBN. This year's EOY Tome will not be a refined multi-year creation - it will document the questions and how I intend to conduct myself around those questions. It will document what happened to me without my consent with enough opaqueness to allow me my modesty and my children their privacy while reclaiming my identity from those who thought they could define me by their malintent.
I don't want to step on toes here in the wiki-verse and I have been a huge fan contributing money conspicuously long before MAGA set brothers against sisters who refused to sacrifice their sons.
My now adult children are actively being told by Trump's GOP that I am the enemy of the state for refusing to participate in or hide the criminal conduct of Christians who have forgotten than that Jesus was a Palestinian and need a government to protect them from Sissys like me who don't think we should be aiming guns at graffiti artists who just need a place to be heard.
The same people who under every previous administration would have sheltered protestors are now calling for violence against those of us who refuse to comport with Trump's fascist agenda... an agenda that was documented well before he acted on it... and agenda dependent on alienating the most vulnerable from the people best equipped to help them ... and an agenda that makes it just as reasonable for Trump's own to have killed Charlie Kirk (as an example) as someone who hates him because no one knows hate quite like a Christian who feels disenfranchised when they learn that the land we call ours was stolen just like Israel is stealing Palestinian land now.
If I'm going to have to live in fear of being called an enemy of the state, I have to call on the confidence that being on the right side of history provides.
The only thing next is what comes "after" Trump. How do we reconnect brothers who thoughtfully explained why their sisters deserved not only silenced, but violence.
We can't put them all in jail - there isn't enough room.
We are going to have to learn what and how to forgive safely in a world where our President is calling Americans defending America The Enemy and lacks the reasoning that most of us have that says sending American citizens who were born here in the USA to foreign jails for their distaste of his cruel anti Jesus Agenda.
Jesus was a Palestinian and the Church of the Nazarene could have just as easily been named Church of the Palestinian.
So - workflows.
My intentions are to respectly work within the lines of the law and provide more grace than the doxxing laws permit.
If I am doing something "wrong", whether legally or morally, I trust someone will explain to me exactly what that is and how I can work within the law to achieve the end goal.
[[User:Allostasissy|Allostasissy]] ([[User talk:Allostasissy|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Allostasissy|contribs]]) 23:34, 8 November 2025 (UTC) vja
1bsvk3od2f3gzrs92ly7ivdwwakndks
Wikiversity talk:Artificial intelligence
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/* What problem is being addressed? */ Reply
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== My POV ==
*I would remove "The contributor should be an expert on the topic", because Wikiversity is not about authorities and we are not able to check weather certain person contributing LLM-created text is an expert or not.
*This is not applicable to all situations, when using LLM: "where citations are included." Sometimes you generate wery short overviews or general things.
[[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 18:41, 16 October 2025 (UTC)
: In my notes, I have a proposal to restrict the use of GenAI even more; it is much more of a threat than an opportunity for the English Wikiversity.
: In the mean time, requiring that a contributor be an expert or at least know what he is writing about is a very good thing, from my perspective. It is not true that we have no way of tentatively determining whether someone is an expert or not: we can ask for self-disclosure and we can test knowledge. And he who does not want to be tested should not be inserting GenAI into mainspace. --[[User:Dan Polansky|Dan Polansky]] ([[User talk:Dan Polansky|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Dan Polansky|contribs]]) 07:44, 3 November 2025 (UTC)
::But the obsession with expertise closes down an open Wikiversity. Nupedia was expert and failed, Wikipedia was open and succeeded. Why should Wikiversity go the way of Nupedia? [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 16:13, 17 November 2025 (UTC)
::I agree with Juandev here, although in theory the content added by folks on Wikiversity should be coming from a place of expertise, I also understood one of the missions of wikiversity to be a place where expertise can be actively developed through the act of editing by editors. [[User:IanVG|IanVG]] ([[User talk:IanVG|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/IanVG|contribs]]) 21:11, 23 March 2026 (UTC)
:I think generative AI should be used as a tool. If you are copying the text word for word, the text might not be correct. If you are interested in a particular topic, feel free to use GenAI, but maybe check the facts before using it and provide the link to the conversation. —[[User:RailwayEnthusiast2025|<span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#008000; text-shadow:gray 0.2em 0.2em 0.4em;">RailwayEnthusiast2025</span>]] <sup>[[User talk:RailwayEnthusiast2025|<span style="color:#59a53f">''talk with me!''</span>]]</sup> 11:44, 3 November 2025 (UTC)
::In that case, some kind of scale should be introduced that a human editor would use to indicate how much LLM was used. From full text created entirely by a chatbot (which I don't think is a good idea, because it may contain errors in the form of hallucinations and at the same time takes away the authorship from the given LLM). To text proofreading and only minor interventions by artificial intelligence. @[[User:RailwayEnthusiast2025|RailwayEnthusiast2025]] [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 18:36, 1 February 2026 (UTC)
== A proposed caveat on when they are used ==
If we allow generative AI usage, I think we should require disclosure of what tool was used, when, and which prompt(s) it was given. Understanding not only that it was used but how is crucial, plus, since these tools change rapidly, knowing the time/date is also key for understanding what it was likely processing and how when it generated the output. —[[User:Koavf|Justin (<span style="color:grey">ko'''a'''vf</span>)]]<span style="color:red">❤[[User talk:Koavf|T]]☮[[Special:Contributions/Koavf|C]]☺[[Special:Emailuser/Koavf|M]]☯</span> 22:47, 8 November 2025 (UTC)
:Thats a good point. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 16:14, 17 November 2025 (UTC)
:I agree that knowing how users are using AI may be a good data for Wikiversity community to learn how AI is used, but I would not overcomplicate the policy. So what about to start this with optional values for {{tl|AI-generated}} tempate? [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 08:41, 23 February 2026 (UTC)
== Different uses of AI ==
I am just pointing out that AI is not just used to generate text, which could be copy paste to Wikiversity. One may use AI to improve their grammar (for example with the use of Grammarly), other one may use GPT to create wiki tabs from CSV. So if the proposed policy is using wide title Artifical inteligence, I would consider all use cases and decide how to deal with them. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 14:38, 22 November 2025 (UTC)
: I believe that if the changes made by an AI in the authoring process falls into the definition of a "minor edit" (borrowing the definitions of [[:w:WP:MINOR]]), the resulting content should not count as "AI-generated". So definitely not for the table thing. Grammar... depends on how extensive the change is (possibly because I dislike Grammarly; I may be quite biased here). --[[User:Artoria2e5|Artoria2e5]] ([[User talk:Artoria2e5|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Artoria2e5|contribs]]) 05:33, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
== [[Wikiversity:Colloquium#Template:AI-generated]] ==
Discussion on indication of a resource being AI-generated. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 15:55, 26 January 2026 (UTC)
== Confirm AI use is okay ==
Before I continue adding to the the Law School 101 course I started, I want to make sure that it's consistent with the AI policy. I'm seeing some conflicting opinions here that may not be as nuanced as they should be.
I would not have decided to share the Law School 101 course from an LLM if I didn't feel it was uber good, completely missing in public access, and sorely needed to be available to the public.
I am 100% ok with having an AI disclaimer on the front page of the course, but I'm not going to go and add it to each page with the prompt on each page. That's stupid. Some prompts were "Next class".
If I went through the course, I'm an expert on the topic of the course. Seriously, though, expertise is an extremely stretchable concept that cannot be used as a whip to disqualify great courses. A person may have had years of education, high IQ, for example. And the topic itself may be at the level of general knowledge where the value of expertise on the topic may much less relevant to the quality of material that the course creator sees in the content.
And we're moving away from an era when LLMs were producing errors. Of course, all content from an LLM must be vetted, and of course expert opinions on class content are welcome, but to preclude excellent course content from being made public would detract from the mission of Wikiversity. [[User:Berkeleywho|Berkeleywho]] ([[User talk:Berkeleywho|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Berkeleywho|contribs]]) 07:11, 17 February 2026 (UTC)
== Evolving a Wikiversity policy on AI ==
=== Adapting to New Technologies ===
I am old enough to have obtained my BSEE degree in 1972, before the general availability of pocket electronic calculators. I laboriously used a slide rule and pencil and paper for those hundreds of calculations. Since then, I have witnessed the introduction of pocket calculators, scientific calculators, cassette recorders, video recorders, CDs, DVDs, personal computers, spreadsheets, word processors, spell checkers, online dictionaries and thesauruses, cell phones, GPS, the Internet, search engines, grammar checkers, Nanny cams, cloud storage, Napster, streaming, smart phones, Wolfram Alpha, homework assistants, tablets, Wikimedia projects, MOOCs, videoconferencing, Crypto currency, and most recently AI large language models.
Each of these technologies has required us to adapt. We had to be clear about our needs and goals. These goals might include learning, teaching, getting the right answer, efficiency, profit, ease of use, entertainment, sharing, collaboration, safety, intellectual property rights, and no doubt other concerns.
Technology is inherently morally neutral. A hammer can be used to build a house or to bludgeon someone. How we decide to use technology is our choice, not the destiny of the technology.
=== Guiding Principles and Lessons Learned ===
It is wise to avoid overreacting or underreacting.
It is wise to avoid “[[wikipedia:One-drop_rule|one drop rules]]” that indiscriminately, and unnecessarily, prejudice the use of emerging technologies.
It is wise to avoid any form of “[[wikipedia:Satanic_panic|satanic panic]]” that causes unwarranted panic, anxiety, unfounded accusations, and an unfounded search for the guilty. Furthermore, unduly highlighting the use of AI within Wikiversity is a form of [[wikipedia:Ad_hominem|Ad hominem]] attack—attacking the source rather than the argument or resulting text. Doing so pejoratively stains the material, and the authors, with a form of [[wikipedia:The_Scarlet_Letter|scarlet letter]].
It is useful to understand and acknowledge the nuances of the many ways that the new technology can be used. Existing LLM’s can be used to:
1) Proofread copy,
2) As a thesaurus or to suggest a variety of word choices,
3) To extend a list of items sharing various characteristics,
4) To assist in brainstorming,
5) To write introductory, summary, or clarifying text.
6) To suggest alternative wording or rewriting text,
7) To modify the tone of the text,
8) To generate a list of questions,
9) As a research tool to identify likely sources of new information,
10) To demonstrate the limits and capabilities of the technology, and
11) in many more ways.
These are very different uses of the technology, and it is misleading to place them into a single category.
=== Addressing Wikiversity goals. ===
Wikiversity provides “learning resources” freely available to the users. Editors have a responsibility to follow established [[Wikiversity:Policies|Wikiversity Policies]].
Content [[Wikiversity:Verifiability|must be verifiable]]. While professors have the liberty to profess, ''accurate propositional statements'' typically provide more useful learning resources than do false or misleading propositional statements. As described above, text generated or assisted by an LLM often does not include propositional statements subject to verification. Both people and LLMs sometimes hallucinate (and bloviate) and are otherwise fallible, and therefore what is relevant is the ''accuracy of the propositional statements'', regardless of the source.
If the editor takes sufficient care and has the expertise to verify the accuracy of the propositional statements made, the origin of those statements is irrelevant, as long as they are properly cited.
Because the source of verified and accurate propositional statements is irrelevant, marking, and especially obtrusive or pejorative marking, of AI generated content is unnecessary.
Because I recognize that there may be good reasons to collect AI generated materials into a category, I recommend the “AI Generated” template be redesigned to be similar to the “[[:Category:Essays|Essay” category tag]]. This would be a small tag appearing along the right-hand margin of the page. The tag could usefully include a parameter identify the mode of the AI used, as suggested above.
I hope these ideas are carefully considered as we continue to collaborate in adapting to this new and valuable technology. I also call for a moratorium on defacing existing materials until a consensus policy is adopted. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 22:45, 10 March 2026 (UTC)
:Thanks for your ideas. I didn't realize this was a draft policy discussion. In this case, please take a look at this AI-generated and human-vetted course "[[Law School 101]]." It is so superb. I have taken it in its entirety, and I believe it's a top-notch learning resource for every adult. It's also pure joy to go through and sets the bar high.
:And I don't see anything online that would accomplish something remotely similar. 95% of undergraduates graduate having no clue what Law is all about, all while it affects every facet of our lives every day.
:I think this should be a class in colleges, and the Intro part should even be offered in high schools (imagine the thrill of going through the entire one year of law school in ten classes?). I think it's the biggest, sorest gap in core education these days, and it's unclear why the legal professionals are MIA and not scrambling to fill this screaming void.
:Specifically regarding AI use - this debate must not be out of context. And the context is that access to education must not be stifled and veiled behind arbitrary exclusionary barriers. [[User:Berkeleywho|Berkeleywho]] ([[User talk:Berkeleywho|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Berkeleywho|contribs]]) 10:19, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
::I just note that this policy draft is not against AI generated content @[[User:Berkeleywho|Berkeleywho]]. Thats why nobode disputed your previous post and your reflection was build in to the proposal. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 10:52, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
:::Cool. I understand this is an extremely complex topic on many levels. [[User:Berkeleywho|Berkeleywho]] ([[User talk:Berkeleywho|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Berkeleywho|contribs]]) 10:56, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
:You said "If the editor takes sufficient care". But some editors does not take sufficient care. Some editor say its not a policy I dont mind. Thats why this policy is proposed that everbody do that and co-create quality resource on Wikiversity.
:You talk about some embarrassment that a source is marked as LLM-generated, but this rule requires you to mark it yourself and if you don't mark it, we can only suggest it to you. So why rebel against such a practice? [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 10:50, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
== Toward a Justified and Parsimonious AI Policy ==
As we collaborate to develop a consensus policy on the use of Large Language Models, it is wise to begin by considering the needs of the various stakeholders to the policy.
The stakeholders are:
# The users,
# The source providers, and
# The editors
There may also be others with a minor stake in this policy, including the population at large.
The many needs of the users are currently addressed by long-standing [[Wikiversity:Policies|Wikiversity policies]], so we can focus on what, if any, additional needs arise as LLMs are deployed.
As always, users need assurance that propositional statements are accurate. This is covered by the existing policy on [[Wikiversity:Verifiability|verifiably]]. In addition, it is expected by both the users and those that provide materials used as sources for the text are [[Wikiversity:Cite sources|accurately attributed]]. This is also covered by [[Wikiversity:Cite sources|existing policies]].
To respect the time and effort of editors, a parsimonious policy will unburden editors from costly requirements that exceed benefits to the users.
Finally, it is important to recognize that because attention is our most valuable seizing attention unnecessarily is a form of theft.
The following proposed policy statement results from these considerations:
=== Recommended Policy statement: ===
* Editors [[Wikiversity:Verifiability|verify the accuracy]] of propositional statements, regardless of the source.
* Editors [[Wikiversity:Cite sources|attribute the source]] of propositional statements. In the case of LLM, cite the LLM model and the prompt used.
* Use of various available templates to mark the use of LLM are optional. Templates that are flexible in noting the type and extend of LLM usage are preferred. Templates that avoid unduly distracting or alarming the user are preferred.
[[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 19:58, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
:Just note, that [[Wikiversity:Cite sources]] is not a policy. You can read it on the top of the page, its a ''proposed policy''. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 21:28, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
:I would say, that the actual text is better then your first two proposed statements, because:
:#Your proposal is less clear to me, so it might be less clear to others - we need policies which are easy to understand. For example, the course structure generated in LLM is not, in my opinion, a ''propositional statement'', but the rule should still cover such a case.
:#Your proposal is missing the option, when references are outputed by the LLM
:Templates that indicate AI-generated content should be mandatory, as they allow you to create statistics about AI-generated content. This is good for creating tools or other policies that work with AI-generated content, for example. It is also useful for patrolling users to be able to return to AI-assisted pages when checking.
:Another thing is that you don't specify which specific templates to use. If you don't specify, everyone will use whatever templates they want and it will lead to chaos. Moreover, who is to determine that the templates are ''not unduly distracting or alarming''? As I wrote above, Wikiversity's policy should be clear. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 21:56, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
== Publicly available link - risk of link-rot? ==
Is there a risk that the statement:
''<big>The origin of the text must be clearly indicated in the edit summary and ideally include a publicly available link to the chatbot conversation</big>''
may be problematic in the future if the links go bad (see [[wikipedia:Link_rot|link rot]])? Does the internet archive regularly comb the link of chatbot conversations? [[User:IanVG|IanVG]] ([[User talk:IanVG|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/IanVG|contribs]]) 21:19, 23 March 2026 (UTC)
:@[[User:IanVG|IanVG]] There may well be link rot over time but linking to the conversation is still better than not linking so that contributions and their sources are reviewable at least until the link does rot -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 11:48, 24 March 2026 (UTC)
== Mandatory link to chatbot conversation? ==
I'm not sure I'm a fan of (in bold) from the first acceptability requirement that states:<blockquote>The origin of the text must be clearly indicated in the edit summary and '''ideally include''' a publicly available link to the chatbot conversation</blockquote>Why isn't the requirement strict? Why don't we make the link to the chat mandatory? [[User:IanVG|IanVG]] ([[User talk:IanVG|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/IanVG|contribs]]) 21:24, 23 March 2026 (UTC)
:@[[User:IanVG|IanVG]] linking to the chat could be made mandatory (and would be better scholarship) but not all LLMs provide a way to publicly link to chats, so such a policy would restrict what AI tools could be used -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 11:45, 24 March 2026 (UTC)
::In true "conversation" cases a pastebin service such as https://paste.toolforge.org/ may be usable. As long as the text is legible as a transcript of the conversation it would be good for scholarship. Would not be usable for cases where AI is used as an "auto-complete" tool like GitHub copilot or Claude Code working on text file containing the wikitext source code though. [[User:Artoria2e5|Artoria2e5]] ([[User talk:Artoria2e5|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Artoria2e5|contribs]]) 05:27, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
:::Agree. I've changed "where available" to "(or a copy of the transcript)". -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 05:33, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
:Lets keep it simple. Do we really need that link. Patrole is not able to controll all recent changes, who will be patrolling this? I would '''leave it as it is or on request'''. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 09:37, 25 March 2026 (UTC)
::Patrol can focus on the content itself, not the link. The link is like providing a source code to some media on Commons: good for knowing how it's made and for when modifications are needed. [[User:Artoria2e5|Artoria2e5]] ([[User talk:Artoria2e5|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Artoria2e5|contribs]]) 05:25, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
== Superseding the first policy proposal ==
Because the first policy proposal would distract users without due cause;
Because the first policy proposal would burden editors without due cause;
Because the first policy proposal includes elements that are arbitrarily chosen and not derived from stakeholder benefits;
Because great designs are as simple as possible and no simpler;
Because the first policy proposal has failed to attract proponents;
Because the stated objections to the second policy proposal are based on unsound arguments, [[wikipedia:Straw_man|straw men]], speculation, and [[wikipedia:Ad_hominem|ad hominem]] attacks;
I have superseded the first policy proposal text with the second policy proposal text. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 18:07, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
:Because we are in the process of improving the proposed policy through consensus, I suggest reverting these wholesale changes and working to iteratively improve it. You have strong opinions and some useful ideas; your input is valued. I appreciate [[Wikiversity:Be bold|being bold]], but community consensus is more likely to be achieved through gradual, collaborative iteration. Alternatively, consider forking the proposal and then the community can evolve two versions and then decide on the preferred approach. -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 10:09, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
::Thanks for these comments and your moderating voice. How do I “fork the proposal”? I would like to present alternative policy text with equal visibility to the legacy policy proposal text so that there can be an informed and skillful dialogue leading toward a strong consensus. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 11:27, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
:::To "fork", create a target page e.g., [[Wikiversity:Artificial intelligence 2]] e.g., by:
:::# Manual fork (copy and paste) - but loses edit history
:::# Export/import fork (use [[Special:Export]] and [[Wikiversity:Import]] to copy an original page and retain its edit history) - needs admin rights for import
:::# Or create an alternative policy proposal by starting from scratch
:::See also [[Wikiversity:Productive forking and tailoring is encouraged]] -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 01:23, 29 March 2026 (UTC)
:None of these rationales are based on evidence and/or just completely false (ex, "the first policy proposal has failed to attract proponents" when multiple people have supported the policy as is on the Colloquium). I've removed your edit and I ask you not to do that again. —[[User:Atcovi|Atcovi]] [[User talk:Atcovi|(Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Atcovi|Contribs)]] 12:03, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
::You are obviously passionate about this issue, and we have differing points of view. Perhaps we can [[Transcending Conflict|transcend conflict]] and find [[Finding Common Ground|common ground]]. I suggest you develop a [[Creating Wikiversity Courses|Wikiversity course]] called something like “Uses and Abuses of Artificial Intelligence.” This will provide all of us with a well-considered basis for developing a policy. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 19:20, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
:::Common ground sounds great. I've edited the current (original) draft a little to emphasise adoption of good scholarly practice (e.g., transparency) above specific requirements but also softened the requirement for the AI template to be displayed only for pages with a significant amount of AI-generated material. Hopefully this helps at least somewhat to address some of Lee's concerns. Sincerely, James -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 10:54, 28 March 2026 (UTC)
== The Single Mandated Template Needs to Become More Flexible ==
The presently proposed policy mandates the use of a single AI-Generated template for a wide range of AI uses. The scope of the policy identifies a broad range of AI usage, from grammar checkers to generation of extensive text passages. These various uses bear little or no similarity from the user’s perspective. More flexibility, more subtlety, more nuance is needed. I recommend adding parameters to the single mandated template to identify the nature of the AI usage, or providing a family of templates that editors can choose from to more accurately communicate the variety of AI used. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 12:54, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:I think it would be better to have one template with parameters. As I previously mentioned more templates would create more mess from my perspective. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 18:11, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:Yes, template parameters could work well. One parameter could allow a text note to explain how gen-AI was used. -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 00:52, 2 April 2026 (UTC)
:This can probably be done technically. But now I realized that there may be a problem with the correct filling if several people edit one page and use different AI tools. There it is more technically feasible, respectively it may be difficult for the user to fill in these parameters and the template itself, or templates, may take up unnecessary space. Therefore, I think that the template can offer these variants, but it would be better if their filling was optional. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 18:09, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
== Undue Attention and Distraction ==
Attention is our most precious resource, and it must be directed wisely. The presently mandated template places a large banner at the top of each page, as if use of AI is the most important attribute of the learning resource that the user must direct attention to and be concerned with. However, we are acclimating to the use of AI, much as we have acclimated to the use of pocket electronic calculators and the many other innovative technologies that have arisen over the past several decades. The AI notification must become less distracting. I suggest generating a smaller box that appears in the right-had margin like that produced by the ''essay''template. This will better align the attention attracted by the template to the attention it merits. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 12:54, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:Sounds like a good idea. [[User:Artoria2e5|Artoria2e5]] ([[User talk:Artoria2e5|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Artoria2e5|contribs]]) 05:14, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
:I've [https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=Template%3AAI-generated&diff=2804949&oldid=2802022 simplified] the {{tl|AI-generated}} message.
:Note that this Wikiversity template is minimalistic compared to sister project equivalents e.g.,
:* [[Template:AI-generated|Template:AI-generated]] (Wikibooks)
:* [[Template:AI-generated|Template:AI-generated]] (Wikipedia)
:-- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 05:23, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
:Yes, this could be, see: [[User:Juandev/T/QA AI contribution]]. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 18:06, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
== What problem is being addressed? ==
I recommend we be clear and explicit about the problem, real or perceived, that this policy is intended to address. What are the unmet needs of the users? What are the unmet needs of the editors that need to be addressed by such a policy? We can only rationally evaluate alternative polices in the context of know user and editor needs. Until we understand the users’ needs, and the editors’ needs it is premature to propose a policy. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 12:55, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:'''The basic problem we are solving here is the speed of generating such content.'''
:Qualitatively, texts created with the help of artificial intelligence are equal to texts without the use of AI. There is a range of contributions by quality: high-quality texts, average, and bad ones.
:Methods developed for text control, which were developed on Wikimedia projects, can fail in the case of quickly generated text in that the project will be overwhelmed with such content very quickly that some methods of control will fail and then the quality of the project will decrease.
:That is, we are looking for new solutions to prevent this and one of such solutions is to
:#''remind editors to check the LLM output'',
:#''notify others that the content was created using AI''.
:The control methods used so far are based on creating categories of edits. However, for non-AI contributions categories are recognizable (or can be recognized by a computer program), for AI contributions, I am not aware of a recognition method, so I think it is appropriate for the creator to '''voluntarily report''' AI was used. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 18:38, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
::Why is increased production speed a problem?
::There is no strong link between production speed and product quality. Electronic calculators and electronic spreadsheet increase both speed and accuracy. Word processors, spell checkers, grammar checkers, on-line dictionaries and thesauruses also increase speed and accuracy. Large Language Models can be used and abused in a wide variety of ways. Certainly, using a LLM to proofread copy, suggest alternative word choice, suggesting rewrites for an awkward sentence and other uses increase the quality of the final product.
::Although the basic problem is stated as “speed of generation” perhaps the problem to be addressed is the quality of the resulting text.
::The quality of Wikiversity learning resources depends on many factors including curriculum design, topic choice, pedagogical approach, vocabulary choice, prerequisite assumptions, and of course, the factual accuracy of propositional sentences. LLM use pertains to only a fraction of these considerations. Do we have reliable evidence that when LLM’s are used skillfully they are less accurate than material written by the typical Wikiversity editor?
::Existing Wikiversity policies address the accuracy of the content contributed. As we propose development of AI-specific policies, we need to be clearer and more accurate regarding the problem we are addressing. We need to be more parsimonious in developing policy to address actual problems. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 20:08, 9 April 2026 (UTC)
:::@[[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] So the problem is still speed. You say, let's solve the problem when it occurs, but here it may happen that when the problem occurs, we will no longer be able to solve it, because we will be flooded with problems and we will not know where they are in that volume. That means, you find one problem in one page and youll figure out its in all pages, but you cannot determine which ones are thos pages. In other words, if the patrol team is now weakened, then it will be totally paralyzed when LLM texts or problems are arose – it will have many times more work than if the text created by LLM was marked and categorized. And secondly, the problem that LLM brings may not be revealed for a very long time. At the same time, it has long been known that LLM hallucinates and, for example, in GPT version 5, the hallucinations have increased slightly compared to version 4o.
:::In other words, I say let's mark and categorize pages with a significant LLM contribution. The marking informs the reader who the author is (correct marking of authorship is the gold standard in Western culture) and let's categorize them so that in the event of a problem we are able to catch the problem. (text created with GT, proofreading human) [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 21:53, 12 April 2026 (UTC)
::::@[[User:Juandev|Juandev]] Help me understand the phrase "patrol team". Thanks. [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 12:53, 15 April 2026 (UTC)
:::::See [[:w:Wikipedia:Recent changes patrol]] @[[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]]. Even though we don't have an informative page about this on Wikiversity, it actually naturally exists on all projects. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 11:55, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
::::::Thanks, this provides a valuable service. I was not aware how organized this work is. Do patrol team members coordinate, distributing the work to ensure coverage with minimal duplication? Do they leave some marker (“Kilroy was here”) to inform the original editor and subsequent patrol team members that any particular page was scanned? [[User:Lbeaumont|Lbeaumont]] ([[User talk:Lbeaumont|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lbeaumont|contribs]]) 13:33, 19 April 2026 (UTC)
:Agree with @[[User:Juandev|Juandev]] that the basic problem to tackle is to have some sort of control/filter over excessive, low-quality gen-AI content being contributed in a way that would diminish rather than enhance the educational value of this project.
:In the first phase, we've just waited to see what happens. And recently there have been some instructive instances of low-quality gen-AI content so that has helped inform our ideas as have the approaches taken by other sister projects.
:I think it is good scholarly practice to inform readers about the genesis of text. Wiki does this typically very well through edit summaries. So, this should ideally be used to communicate and show specific gen-AI chat sources.
:And a gen-AI info box allows pages with significant gen-AI content to be flagged to readers and categorised.
:Above all, for me, this is about intellectual honesty. -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 00:48, 2 April 2026 (UTC)
== Tangential: style ==
IMHO the biggest issue with "AI-generated content" is the long-winded, low-information-density writing style it defaults to, complete with unnecessary use of lists over prose and boldening of text. The thing is that it does not take an AI to write like that -- humans who think lazily do many of the same things, especially when influenced by the AI writing-style in everyday conversations. Humans write text full of hot air all the time, complete with references that they did not read. Every fault we have seen in an AI has an analogue in some group of academic humans.
While tagging AI-generated content will aid in the detection of mass-manufactured hot air, it will not address the "artisanal" hot air lovingly typed by some human fingers. The [[WV:MOS]] should be expanded to cover some of these issues. [[User:Artoria2e5|Artoria2e5]] ([[User talk:Artoria2e5|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Artoria2e5|contribs]]) 05:24, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
:Agree. IMHO, a lot of human writing could be improved by running it through a language model.
:Feel free to suggest MOS improvements: [[Wikiversity talk:Manual of Style]]. -- [[User:Jtneill|Jtneill]] - <small>[[User talk:Jtneill|Talk]] - [[Special:Contributions/Jtneill|c]]</small> 05:29, 16 April 2026 (UTC)
:Wikiversity is not an encyclopedia, nor a repository of professional texts, although we also store professional texts here. I wonder if blank pages or lengthy narration are not more a methodology within a certain course. In short, Wikiversity cannot be judged through the lens of Wikipedia. Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Wikibooks and other content focus projects can be judged through the lens of Wikipedia, but I find it debatable for Wikiversity @[[User:Artoria2e5|Artoria2e5]].
:Otherwise, for ordinary inflated or less quality text, there are control mechanisms such as [[:w:Wikipedia:Recent changes patrol|patrol]] and monitoring of watchlist, which could also be applied to text created by artificial intelligence. The problem with AI texts, however, is the speed of creation, so I would be in favor of adopting this special policy that would allow such text to be categorized. Ones its categorized, it could be easily checked. [[User:Juandev|Juandev]] ([[User talk:Juandev|discuss]] • [[Special:Contributions/Juandev|contribs]]) 12:10, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
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Communications Law in Spain
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== '''<big>Communication Law in Spain</big>''' ==
===== Introduction =====
Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy located in southwestern Europe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011|title=Spain 1978 (rev. 2011) Constitution - Constitute|website=www.constituteproject.org|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":36">{{Cite web|url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries/spain_en|title=Spain – EU country {{!}} European Union|website=european-union.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> While the monarch serves as head of state, political power is exercised through a democratic parliamentary system led by a prime minister and the national legislature known as the Cortes Generales. Spain is also a highly decentralized state composed of seventeen Autonomous Communities, each with its own regional government and authority over areas such as culture, language policy, and public broadcasting.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to its domestic institutions, Spain operates within a broader European legal framework as a member of the European Union and a party to international human rights agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights.<ref name=":36" />
Modern debates over communication law in Spain are also deeply influenced by the country’s twentieth-century history. From 1939 until 1975 Spain was governed by the authoritarian dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, during which the state exercised strict control over political speech and media institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/articles/francisco-franco|title=Francisco Franco - Biography, Facts & Death|last=Editors|first=HISTORY com|date=2009-11-09|website=HISTORY|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> Following Franco’s death, Spain underwent a democratic transition that culminated in the adoption of the 1978 Constitution, which established modern protections for freedom of expression and democratic pluralism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adst.org/2016/06/spains-post-franco-emergence-dictatorship-democracy/|title=Spain’s Post-Franco Emergence from Dictatorship to Democracy – Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These historical experiences continue to shape contemporary debates over speech, protest, and public memory in Spain.
== <big>Sources and Institutions Of Communication Law In Spain</big> ==
=== '''National Sources and Institutions''' ===
===== Constitutional Foundations of Communication Law =====
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the supreme legal authority governing communication rights in Spain.<ref name=":0" /> Only a few provisions directly address communication, but they shape disputes involving the press, privacy, defamation, surveillance, and protest.<ref name=":0" />
The first major provision is Article 20, which protects freedom of expression and information.<ref name=":0" /> It guarantees freedom of expression, creative and academic freedom, the right to communicate and receive truthful information, and the prohibition of prior censorship.<ref name=":0" /> This is the backbone of Spanish communication law.
But Article 20 is not a blank check. Article 20(4) makes clear that expression has limits when it collides with other constitutional rights. <ref name=":0" /> In other words, Spain builds speech protection and speech limits into the same constitutional design.
That leads to the second key provision: Article 18, which protects privacy, honor, and the secrecy of communications. Article 18 expressly protects the right to honor, personal and family privacy, personal image, and the secrecy of communications.<ref name=":0" /> These protections frequently arise in modern communication disputes. For example, in Spanish Constitutional Court decision STC 104/1986, the court examined whether a newspaper report accusing a businessman of misconduct violated his constitutional right to honor, emphasizing the need to balance expression with protection of reputation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hj.tribunalconstitucional.es/en/Resolucion/Show/104|title=HJ System - Decision: SENTENCIA 62/1982|website=hj.tribunalconstitucional.es|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
Another important principle in the Spanish constitutional system is the protection of the “essential content” of fundamental rights, often referred to as the ''núcleo esencial''. Rooted in Article 10 and Section I on fundamental rights, this principle holds that certain core aspects of rights cannot be undermined by the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/espana/leyfundamental/paginas/titulo_primero.aspx|title=Part I Fundamental Rights and Duties|website=www.lamoncloa.gob.es|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> The doctrine reflects Spain’s constitutional commitment to human dignity and the free development of personality. In practice, rights may be regulated but not restricted in ways that destroy their core substance. Rights such as expression, life, and physical integrity retain a protected core beyond ordinary political decision-making.
An interesting wrinkle in the Spanish Constitution is Article 10(2), often called the international interpretation clause.<ref name=":0" /> It requires that constitutional rights be interpreted in conformity with international human rights treaties ratified by Spain. That strengthens the influence of European and international human-rights standards inside Spain’s own constitutional system. For example, in ''Stern Taulats and Roura Capellera v. Spain'' (2018), the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Spain violated freedom of expression after protesters were convicted for burning photographs of the King during a political demonstration, illustrating how international courts shape constitutional speech protections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#%7B%22itemid%22:%5B%22001-181719%22%5D%7D|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
===== Regulatory Authorities =====
Spain relies on regulatory authorities to implement and supervise communication law.
The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) oversees telecommunications and audiovisual markets in Spain, with a role that blends sector oversight with competition regulation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnmc.es/|title=Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia {{!}} CNMC|website=www.cnmc.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) enforces the GDPR and Organic Law 3/2018, and it is one of the main places where “digital rights” become real—through guidance, enforcement, and sanctions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aepd.es/|title=Agencia Española de Protección de Datos {{!}} AEPD|website=www.aepd.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2018-16673|title=BOE-A-2018-16673 Ley Orgánica 3/2018, de 5 de diciembre, de Protección de Datos Personales y garantía de los derechos digitales.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital.gob.es/|title=Regulation - 2016/679 - EN - gdpr - EUR-Lex|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function plays a coordinating role for national telecommunications and digital policy, including the domestic implementation of EU digital regulation. The ministry also oversees the allocation of radio frequencies, a critical responsibility because the radio spectrum is a limited public resource used by mobile networks, television broadcasting, satellite communications, and other wireless technologies.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://digital.gob.es/|title=Portal MTDFP {{!}} Inicio|website=digital.gob.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":9" />
===== National Legislative Framework =====
Spain does not rely solely on the Constitution and international treaties to regulate communication.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.echr.coe.int/european-convention-on-human-rights|title=European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) - EUR-Lex|date=2009-12-01|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> Spain can pass national legislation governing communication as long as it stays consistent with superior constitutional and supranational law.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://curia.europa.eu/site/jcms/d2_5093/en/the-court-of-justice|title=Court of Justice of the European Union|website=curia|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The General Audiovisual Communication Law (Law 13/2022) regulates television, radio, and on-demand audiovisual services, including licensing, protection of minors, advertising standards, and media pluralism.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|title=Ley 13/2022, de 7 de julio, General de Comunicación Audiovisual|url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2022/07/07/13|date=2022-07-08|accessdate=2026-03-02|pages=96114–96220|issue=Ley 13/2022|last=Jefatura del Estado}}</ref> It also functions as Spain’s main implementation of AVMSD requirements.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":10" />
The General Telecommunications Law (Law 11/2022) regulates electronic communications networks and services, including spectrum allocation and operator licensing.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://ppp.worldbank.org/library/general-de-telecomunicaciones-ley-11-2022|title=General de Telecomunicaciones Ley 11/2022|website=PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Under Article 149.1.21 of the Constitution, telecommunications is an exclusive competence of the State.<ref name=":0" /> In other words, national control ensures consistent regulation of telecommunications across Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
On privacy, Spain applies the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and complements it through Organic Law 3/2018 (LOPDGDD), which regulates data processing and sets out digital rights in domestic law.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12" /> This framework includes digital rights such as the “right to erasure” (“right to be forgotten”).<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12" />
Finally, Organic Law 1/1982 on the Protection of Honor, Privacy, and Personal Image provides civil remedies when freedom of expression conflicts with personal dignity, basically, when speech unlawfully harms reputation or private life.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1982-11196|title=BOE-A-1982-11196 Ley Orgánica 1/1982, de 5 de mayo, de protección civil del derecho al honor, a la intimidad personal y familiar y a la propia imagen.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> This law operationalizes the protections in Article 18 in everyday disputes involving media reporting and personal reputation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" />
===== Regional (Autonomous Community) Regulation =====
[[File:Autonomous communities of Spain no names-gl.svg|thumb|'''The 17 Autonomous communities of Spain''']]
Spain is a decentralized state composed of 17 Autonomous Communities. While telecommunications remains a national competence under Article 149, Autonomous Communities still influence communication in meaningful ways, especially through public broadcasting and language policy.<ref name=":0" />
Autonomous Communities may create and regulate their own public broadcasting corporations. For example, Catalonia operates the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.3cat.cat/corporatiu/en/el-grup/|title=The Group - CCMA|last=3Cat|website=3Cat|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> and the Basque Country operates EITB.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eitb.eus/en/|title=EITB|website=www.eitb.eus|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> These bodies operate under regional frameworks but still sit under national and EU rules that shape audiovisual services more generally.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":10" />
Some regions also maintain audiovisual supervisory authorities. Catalonia, for example, has the Consell de l’Audiovisual de Catalunya (CAC), which oversees audiovisual services within the region and has a particular focus on standards tied to language and culture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cac.cat/|title=Consell de l'Auidovisual de Catalunya}}</ref>
Regional governments also regulate language and cultural policy. Autonomous Communities with co-official languages may adopt measures that promote regional-language media and broadcasting quotas.<ref name=":0" /> These policies shape what audiences actually see and hear day-to-day, but they still must remain consistent with Spain’s constitutional protections and EU standards.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" />
=== '''International''' '''Sources and Institutions''' ===
===== European Union Law =====
As an EU Member State, Spain is bound by European Union law, including the principle that EU law has primacy in areas where the EU has competence.<ref name=":4" /> EU rules increasingly shape digital communication and audiovisual markets.<ref name=":8">{{Citation|title=Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/char_2012/oj/eng|date=2012-10-26|accessdate=2026-03-02|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng|title=Regulation - 2022/2065 - EN - DSA - EUR-Lex|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Citation|title=Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) (Codified version) (Text with EEA relevance)|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2010/13/oj/eng|date=2010-03-10|accessdate=2026-03-02|volume=095|language=en}}</ref>
Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights protects freedom of expression and media pluralism.<ref name=":8" /> When acting within EU law, Spanish authorities must comply with these protections.
Two major EU instruments show how direct this influence can be. First, the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065) regulates online platforms and intermediary services across the EU, with transparency duties, processes for handling illegal content, and heightened obligations for very large online platforms.<ref name=":9" /> Spain must enforce these rules through its national system.
Second, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) sets EU-wide standards for television and on-demand audiovisual services, including advertising rules, protections for minors, and promotion of European content.<ref name=":10" /> Spain’s General Audiovisual Communication Law (2022) implements these European requirements in national law.<ref name=":1" />
===== International Obligations =====
Spain is also a party to major international human rights treaties that shape communication law.
Spain participates in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations that administers international systems for protecting intellectual property. WIPO maintains global databases for searching patents, trademarks, and industrial designs across jurisdictions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/|title=WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization|website=www.wipo.int|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> For example, the PATENTSCOPE database allows users to search millions of international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, while the Global Brand Database provides access to trademark records from national and international registries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf|title=WIPO - Search International and National Patent Collections|website=patentscope.wipo.int|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These tools help prevent conflicting claims and support cross-border protection of intellectual property.
Spain is also a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects freedom of expression in Article 19.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights|title=International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights|website=OHCHR|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Because of Article 10(2) of the Spanish Constitution, Spain’s courts must read domestic constitutional rights consistently with these kinds of international commitments.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":11" />
A key upshot of this layered legal system is that freedom of expression in Spain is not at the mercy of the national political process alone.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11" /> Because Spain operates within a broader European and international legal order, attempts to narrow expression face external legal constraints.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11" /> This layered system makes it less likely that core expressive freedoms will be reduced.
== <big>Freedom of Expression and Dignity in Spain</big> ==
===== Constitutional Balance: Expression and Honor =====
Spain protects freedom of expression under Article 20 of the 1978 Constitution, which guarantees the right to express and disseminate ideas and to communicate and receive truthful information, while prohibiting prior censorship.<ref name=":0" /> At the same time, Article 18 protects the right to honor, privacy, and personal image, protections that are further implemented through Organic Law 1/1982 on the Protection of Honor, Privacy, and Personal Image.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /> The substance of these two provisions often collide, especially because Spanish courts treat them as equally serious constitutional commitments.
Unlike systems that treat speech as nearly absolute, Spain’s Constitutional Court uses a balancing approach. When expression conflicts with dignity or reputation, courts weigh the competing rights while ensuring that the essential content (''núcleo esencial'') of each constitutional right is preserved, meaning that neither freedom of expression nor the protection of honor and privacy may be restricted in a way that destroys their core substance.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /> In practice, this can mean allowing strong criticism of public officials or institutions when it contributes to democratic debate, while still permitting legal remedies when speech crosses into false factual allegations or serious attacks on personal reputation. Spanish constitutional jurisprudence has repeatedly emphasized that freedom of expression has a “preferred position” in democratic debate, especially when speech concerns political issues or public officials.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> But that preferred position does not make it untouchable.
This framework reflects Spain’s transition to democracy after the Franco dictatorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/work-document/international-dimensions-of-democratisation-revisiting-the-spanish-case/|title=International dimensions of democratisation: revisiting the Spanish case|last=Powell|first=Charles|website=Elcano Royal Institute|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> The 1978 Constitution placed strong emphasis on open public debate as essential to pluralism.<ref name=":0" /> At the same time, dignity is considered a foundational value of the constitutional order. This dual commitment to democratic openness and protection of personal honor defines Spain’s speech doctrine.
===== The Importance of Veracity =====
One distinctive feature of Spanish law is the requirement of “veracity.” Veracity in ethics is the principle of truth-telling, requiring professionals to be honest, transparent, and accurate in all communications to foster trust. Article 20 protects the right to communicate “truthful information.”<ref name=":0" /> Courts do not interpret this to mean that journalists must prove absolute truth.<ref name=":13" /> Instead, they must show that they acted with reasonable diligence in verifying their information.
This standard recognizes human limits: reporters and witnesses cannot know “the whole truth.” What matters is whether they checked reliable sources and acted in good faith. If they do, even mistaken reporting may still be protected. If they fail to verify serious factual claims that harm someone’s reputation, liability may follow.<ref name=":13" />
The Constitutional Court has distinguished sharply between opinions and factual statements.<ref name=":13" /> Opinions, especially political opinions, receive strong protection, even when harsh or offensive. Factual allegations that damage someone’s honor are treated differently. In defamation cases, courts examine whether the information contributed to public debate or merely harmed reputation without public interest.<ref name=":13" />
===== Terrorism, the Monarchy, and Controversial Speech =====
The limits of Spain’s balancing approach become most visible in politically sensitive cases.
Following decades of violence by the Basque terrorist group ETA, Spain criminalized the glorification of terrorism and humiliation of victims under Article 578 of the Criminal Code.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/18760|title=Penal Code (Organic Law No. 10/1995 of November 23, 1995, as amended up to Organic Law No. 2/2019 of March 1, 2019), Spain, WIPO Lex|website=www.wipo.int|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://fibgar.es/en/the-human-rights-committee-urges-spain-to-protect-freedom-of-expression-and-human-rights-defenders/|title=The Human Rights Committee urges Spain to protect freedom of expression and human rights defenders|last=Fibgar|date=2025-08-06|website=FIBGAR|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Supporters argue that these laws protect democratic stability and the dignity of victims. Critics argue that they have sometimes been applied too broadly, including against musicians and social media users.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur41/001/2014/en/|title=Spain: The right to protest under threat|date=2014-04-24|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
In Otegi Mondragón v. Spain (2011), a Basque politician was convicted for referring to the King as the “chief of the torturers.”<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/spa?i=001-103951|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Spain’s courts upheld the conviction, but the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the conviction violated freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Strasbourg court emphasized that political speech, even when provocative, deserves heightened protection and that public institutions must tolerate stronger criticism.<ref name=":16" />
A similar controversy arose in Stern Taulats and Roura Capellera v. Spain (2018), involving protesters who burned photographs of the King during a political demonstration.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-181724|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Spanish courts treated the act as an insult to the Crown. The European Court again ruled that Spain had violated freedom of expression, finding that the act was symbolic political protest rather than incitement to violence.<ref name=":17" />
Artistic expression has also generated debate. The prosecution of rappers such as Valtonyc for lyrics praising terrorist groups or insulting state institutions sparked international criticism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arisa-project.eu/the-presumption-of-innocence-and-the-media-coverage-of-criminal-cases/|title=The Presumption of Innocence and the Media Coverage of Criminal Cases|last=admin|date=2021-05-13|website=Arisa|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://njc.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Putting-the-chill-in-media-freedom-and-free-speech-.pdf|title=Putting the chill in media freedom and free speech}}</ref>Some observers argued that criminal sanctions risked chilling artistic freedom.<ref name=":18" /> Others defended the prosecutions as necessary to prevent normalization of violence.<ref name=":14" />
These cases reveal a deeper tension in Spain over how far a democracy can go in protecting institutional dignity and social peace without narrowing the space for dissent.
===== Ongoing Debate: Dignity-Centered Democracy =====
Spain’s speech model is often described as dignity-centered. Human dignity is explicitly recognized in Article 10 of the Constitution as a foundational principle of the legal order.<ref name=":0" /> Courts therefore treat attacks on honor, reputation, or institutional integrity as constitutionally significant.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" />
Some scholars argue that this model reflects a mature constitutional democracy that refuses to sacrifice personal dignity in the name of absolute speech.[35][36] They see Spain’s approach as consistent with broader European human rights traditions, where proportionality and balancing are central.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":16" />
Others argue that criminal penalties for offensive speech, especially in political or artistic contexts, create a chilling effect and discourage open debate.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" /> They point to repeated rulings from the European Court of Human Rights pushing Spain toward stronger protection of political expression.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" />
Spain’s doctrine continues to evolve through judicial dialogue between national courts and European institutions.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":16" />The result is a system that seeks to protect democratic debate while also preserving the constitutional value of dignity, a balance that remains contested and actively debated.
== <big>Spain’s 2015 Citizen Security Law (“Gag Law”)</big> ==
[[File:Manifestación contra la Ley Mordaza en Madrid 20-12-2014 - 07.jpg|thumb|On December 20, 2014, protesters in Madrid demonstrated against Spain’s new Citizens Security Law, known as the "Gag Law" (Ley Mordaza)]]
The Citizen Security Law (Ley Orgánica 4/2015 de protección de la seguridad ciudadana) is a Spanish national law that entered into force on 1 July 2015.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2015-3442|title=BOE-A-2015-3442 Ley Orgánica 4/2015, de 30 de marzo, de protección de la seguridad ciudadana.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> It is widely known in public debate as the “Gag Law” (Ley Mordaza), a nickname given by critics who argue that it discourages protest and limits free expression through financial penalties rather than formal censorship.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/03/09/spain-reject-flawed-public-security-bill|title=Spain: Reject Flawed Public Security Bill {{!}} Human Rights Watch|date=2015-03-09|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/03/spain-two-pronged-assault-targets-rights-and-freedoms/|title=Spain: Two-pronged assault targets rights and freedoms of Spanish citizens, migrants and refugees|date=2015-03-26|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The law was introduced by Spain’s government as a modernization of public-order regulations. Officials stated that it was designed to provide clearer rules for police operations, maintain public security, and respond to disruptive protest activity. Supporters emphasize that the law does not establish prior censorship and does not criminalize political opinions as such.<ref name=":19" />
Critics, however, argue that while the Constitution only prohibits prior censorship, the Gag Law creates a system of administrative fines imposed after expression, which can still discourage participation in protests and public criticism. They contend that heavy fines can have a chilling effect, especially on journalists and activists.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
===== Key Provisions of The Citizen Security Law =====
The Citizen Security Law establishes a detailed system of administrative infractions and sanctions. Fines range from several hundred euros to up to €600,000 in the most serious cases.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":34">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/12/spain-security-law-protesters-freedom-expression|title=Spain puts 'gag' on freedom of expression as senate approves security law|last=Kassam|first=Ashifa|date=2015-03-12|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Among the most controversial provisions are:
* Fines (up to €600) for holding public demonstrations without prior notification, even if peaceful
* Fines (up to €600) for protests that deviate from approved routes
* Fines (up to €30,000) for protests causing disturbances near Parliament or regional government buildings
* Fines (up to €600,000) for unauthorized protests near key infrastructure (airports, nuclear plants, refineries, transport hubs)
* Fines (up to €30,000) for obstructing police or officials carrying out evictions or court orders
* Fines (up to €30,000) for recording or publishing images of police officers if deemed to endanger their safety or an operation<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":34" />
Human rights organizations have argued that the wording of some provisions is broad and gives authorities significant discretion in enforcement.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
===== International Reaction =====
The “Gag law” was met with strong criticism from international human rights groups even before it entered into force. Human Rights Watch warned that the legislation undermined freedom of assembly and expression by allowing heavy fines for peaceful protest and for recording police conduct.<ref name=":20" />
Amnesty International described the law as a threat to civil liberties and warned that restrictions on filming police could weaken transparency and accountability.<ref name=":21" /> The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also raised concerns that the law could deter media coverage of demonstrations and police activity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpj.org/2015/05/why-spains-new-gag-law-is-threat-to-free-flow-of-i/|title=Why Spain's new gag law is threat to free flow of information|last=Blogger|first=Borja Bergareche/CPJ Guest|date=2015-05-01|website=Committee to Protect Journalists|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> In addition, United Nations Special Rapporteurs expressed concern that the law’s provisions were overly broad and risked arbitrary enforcement against peaceful protesters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2015/02/two-legal-reform-projects-undermine-rights-assembly-and-expression-spain-un|title=“Two legal reform projects undermine the rights of assembly and expression in Spain” - UN experts|website=OHCHR|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
===== Javier Bauluz Case =====
One widely cited case involved Spanish photojournalist Javier Bauluz, a Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer, who was fined €960 under the Citizen Security Law after a confrontation with police while documenting migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands in November 2020.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfrr.eu/spain-fine-against-photographer-underscores-urgent-need-for-reform-of-gag-law/|title=Spain: Fine against photographer underscores urgent need for reform of Gag Law|last=MFRR|date=2022-06-21|website=Media Freedom Rapid Response|language=en-GB|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> He had been photographing rescue boats arriving in Arguineguín, where thousands of migrants were being held in conditions later described by a judge as “deplorable.”<ref name=":22" /> Video of the incident shows officers grabbing him and ordering him to leave, and he was later fined for “disrespecting an agent” and “refusing to identify himself,” though he said he had complied and was simply doing his job.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/14/photographer-capturing-migrant-camp-fined-1000-under-spains-gag-law|title=Photographer capturing migrant camp fined €1,000 under Spain’s ‘gag law’|last=Kassam|first=Ashifa|date=2022-06-14|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":35" />
The fine arrived more than a year later and gave little explanation beyond citing provisions of the law. Bauluz rejected the sanction, arguing that police were limiting press access to prevent journalists from properly documenting the situation.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35" /> He criticized the Gag Law for converting disputes into administrative fines imposed directly by authorities rather than matters handled through criminal courts.<ref name=":22" />
The case became a symbol of broader concerns that the law can be used to penalize journalists reporting on police activity. Press freedomorganizations and media groups condemned the fine and called for reform, arguing that the law enables arbitrary sanctions and threatens freedom of expression.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35" /> Although Spain’s Constitutional Court upheld most of the law in 2021, critics continue to argue that reform is necessary to bring it in line with international human rights standards.<ref name=":35" />
===== Constitutional Court Review =====
Spain’s Constitutional Court reviewed the Citizen Security Law following multiple constitutional challenges. In Constitutional Court decision STC 172/2020, the Court upheld most provisions of the law but clarified limits on its application, particularly regarding sanctions for the use or dissemination of images of police officers. The Court emphasized that penalties cannot be applied in ways that effectively restrict legitimate journalistic reporting or public documentation of police activity.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":37">{{Cite web|url=https://hj.tribunalconstitucional.es/HJ/es/Resolucion/Show/26498|title=Sistema HJ - Resolución: SENTENCIA 172/2020|website=hj.tribunalconstitucional.es|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> One of the most controversial aspects of the ruling was the Court’s decision to uphold the provision allowing administrative fines when photographs or videos of police officers are published in ways that could endanger an officer’s safety or interfere with an ongoing operation.
The Constitutional Court clarified that the mere act of recording or photographing police officers during public events or demonstrations is not automatically illegal. Instead, sanctions may only be imposed when the dissemination of those images creates a concrete risk to the safety of officers or interferes with a police operation.<ref name=":37" /> For example, publishing images that reveal the identity of undercover officers or expose the location of police units during an active operation could justify sanctions. By contrast, photographing police activity during public demonstrations for journalistic reporting or public accountability generally falls within the protections of freedom of expression.<ref name=":37" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://solermartinabogados.com/en/can-i-record-the-police-can-they-force-me-to-erase-the-images-i-have-recorded-of-them/|title=Can I record the police in Spain? rights, limits|date=2025-10-06|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
The Court emphasized that enforcement must respect constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and assembly. However, it did not invalidate the core structure of the law, leaving its administrative sanction framework intact.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.article19.org/resources/spain-time-to-end-to-repressive-gag-law/|title=Spain: Time to end repressive 'Gag Law'|date=2024-08-20|website=ARTICLE 19|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
===== The Ongoing Debate =====
The Citizen Security Law remains one of the most politically divisive laws in Spain’s contemporary democracy.
Supporters argue that the law provides necessary tools to maintain order and protect both police officers and the public. They stress that fines are administrative rather than criminal penalties and are subject to judicial review. From this perspective, the law regulates conduct rather than suppressing political ideas.
Critics, by contrast, argue that the law creates a climate of deterrence. Even without criminal prosecution, the risk of substantial fines may discourage citizens from participating in spontaneous demonstrations or from documenting police actions. Civil liberties groups describe this as a “chilling effect” on democratic participation.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
Reform efforts have repeatedly emerged in Spain’s national legislature, particularly from left-leaning parties that argue the law should be revised or partially repealed.<ref name=":38">{{Cite web|url=https://www.barrons.com/news/reform-of-spain-s-contested-security-law-fails-9b1f9a5|title=Reform Of Spain's Contested Security Law Fails|last=Presse|first=AFP-Agence France|website=barrons|language=en-us|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These parties contend that provisions related to protest, public demonstrations, and the recording of police activity give authorities too much discretion and risk discouraging political participation. By contrast, many right-leaning parties have defended the law, arguing that it provides necessary tools for maintaining public order and protecting police officers, especially during large demonstrations and periods of political unrest. As a result, proposals to substantially reform the law have often stalled due to political disagreement in parliament.<ref name=":38" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/csos-warn-decision-not-to-reform-gag-law-is-bad-news-for-human-rights-in-spain/|title=CSOs warn decision not to reform “Gag Law” is “bad news for human rights in Spain”|website=Civicus Monitor|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://russpain.com/en/news-3/spanish-parliament-stuck-on-security-law-reform-398037/|title=The political scene is heating up: growing disagreements, unexpected pressure and intrigue in parliament|last=Rubio|first=Ricardo|date=2026-02-23|website=RUSSPAIN.COM|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
This divide reflects broader political tensions in Spain. Supporters of reform frequently frame the law as a legacy of a more security-focused approach to governance that emerged during periods of economic crisis and protest movements in the 2010s. Opponents of reform argue that weakening the law could undermine the ability of authorities to manage demonstrations and maintain public safety. Because these disagreements map closely onto Spain’s left-right political divide, efforts to significantly change the Citizen Security Law have proven difficult despite ongoing public debate.
== <big>Spain’s Historical Memory Act</big> ==
===== Historical Background and Democratic Transition =====
[[File:Francisco Franco 1930.jpg|thumb|'''Francisco Franco in 1930, when he was still a rising officer in the Spanish army, years before the Spanish Civil War brought him to power and led to his long dictatorship.''']]
Spain’s contemporary debate over historical memory is rooted in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and the subsequent dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, which lasted until 1975.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Owens|first=Lawrence S.|date=2021|title=Timoteo Mendieta Alcalá and the Pact of Forgetting: trauma analysis of execution victims from a Spanish Civil War mass burial site at Guadalajara, Castilla la Mancha|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212665/|journal=Forensic Science International. Synergy|volume=3|pages=100156|doi=10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100156|issn=2589-871X|pmc=8212665|pmid=34179739}}</ref> The war divided the country along political, ideological, and religious lines and resulted in widespread repression, imprisonment, and executions.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Owens|first=Lawrence S.|date=2021|title=Timoteo Mendieta Alcalá and the Pact of Forgetting: trauma analysis of execution victims from a Spanish Civil War mass burial site at Guadalajara, Castilla la Mancha|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212665/|journal=Forensic Science International. Synergy|volume=3|pages=100156|doi=10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100156|issn=2589-871X|pmc=8212665|pmid=34179739}}</ref><ref name=":24">{{Cite journal|last=Boyd|first=Carolyn P.|date=2008|title=The Politics of History and Memory in Democratic Spain|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25098018|journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science|volume=617|pages=133–148|issn=0002-7162}}</ref> After Franco’s victory, the regime promoted an official narrative that framed the conflict as a defense of national unity and Catholic identity.<ref name=":24" /> Public monuments, street names, memorials, and religious symbols commemorating the dictatorship were erected throughout Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dash.harvard.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/e113f9f5-d512-4bfa-bd72-9c150cec2d32/content|title=Historical Memory in Post-Franco
Spain: Remembering a Purposely
Forgotten Past through
Memorialization at the Valle de los
Caídos in Cuelgamuros}}</ref>
Following Franco’s death in 1975, Spain transitioned to democracy through a negotiated political process often referred to as the “Transition.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.drum.lib.umd.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/cda590b3-0ba4-45b8-98c4-4333e42f5ed6/content|title=MEMORY AND RECONCILIATION IN THE
SPANISH TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY:
1975-1982}}</ref> During this period, political leaders adopted what became known as the “Pact of Forgetting” (Pacto del Olvido), an informal political understanding that prioritized reconciliation and democratic stability over reopening Civil War-era grievances.<ref name=":25">{{Cite web|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/action/cookieAbsent|title=Sage Journals: Discover world-class research|website=Sage Journals|language=en|doi=10.1177/026569149702700303|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> The 1977 Amnesty Law granted broad amnesty for politically motivated crimes committed during the dictatorship.
By the early 2000s, civil society organizations began advocating for greater recognition of victims of Franco-era repression, including efforts to identify mass graves and remove public symbols associated with the dictatorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scispace.com/pdf/the-return-of-civil-war-ghosts-the-ethnography-of-2j8mponmed.pdf|title=The return of Civil War ghosts
The ethnography of exhumations in contemporary Spain}}</ref> Supporters argued that democratic consolidation required public acknowledgment of historical injustices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254084329_Determinants_of_Attitudes_Toward_Transitional_Justice_An_Empirical_Analysis_of_the_Spanish_Case|title=Determinants of Attitudes Toward Transitional Justice: An Empirical Analysis of the Spanish Case}}</ref> In response, Spain enacted Law 52/2007, commonly known as the Historical Memory Act.<ref name=":26">{{Cite web|url=https://reparations.qub.ac.uk/assets/uploads/Ley-52-2007-Spain-EN.pdf|title=Ley 52-2007 Spain EN.docx}}</ref>
===== The 2007 Historical Memory Act =====
Law 52/2007 recognizes and expands rights for individuals who suffered persecution or violence during the Civil War and dictatorship. Its preamble states that it is not the role of the legislator to impose a specific collective memory, but rather to promote democratic values and protect personal and family memory as expressions of democratic citizenship.<ref name=":26" />
At the same time, the law mandates the removal of “shields, insignia, plaques and other objects or commemorative mentions” that exalt the military uprising, Civil War, or repression of the dictatorship from public buildings and spaces.<ref name=":26" /> It also supports efforts to locate and identify victims of repression and provides symbolic recognition to those who suffered under the regime.
The Act represents a shift from the earlier policy of institutional silence toward a more active engagement with the legacy of the dictatorship.<ref name=":25" /><ref name=":26" />
The main provisions are:
* Official recognition of victims of political, religious, and ideological violence on both sides of the Civil War and under Franco’s rule
* Formal condemnation of the Franco regime
* Ban on political events at the Valley of the Fallen, where Franco was buried
* Removal of public symbols, plaques, statues, and insignia that celebrate the military coup or the dictatorship (with limited exceptions for artistic, architectural, or religious reasons)
* Government support for locating, identifying, and exhuming victims buried in mass graves
* Spanish citizenship granted to surviving members of the International Brigades without requiring them to give up their original nationality
* Declaration that Franco-era trials and laws lacked legitimacy
* Temporary changes to nationality rules allowing people who left Spain during the dictatorship — and their descendants — to reclaim Spanish citizenship
* Financial and symbolic assistance for victims and their families
===== Supporters’ and Critics’ Perspective =====
Supporters of the Historical Memory Act argue that it reflects a mature democratic commitment to historical justice and human dignity.<ref name=":27">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/05/spain-passes-law-to-bring-dignity-to-franco-era-victims|title=Spain passes law to bring ‘justice’ to Franco-era victims|last=Jones|first=Sam|date=2022-10-05|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":28">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/world/europe/28spain.html|title=Bill in Spanish Parliament Aims to End ‘Amnesia’ About Civil War Victims|last=Burnett|first=Victoria|date=2007-10-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> From this perspective, a constitutional democracy cannot maintain public symbols that glorify authoritarian rule. Removing such symbols is seen not as erasing history, but as ending official state endorsement of a particular political narrative.<ref name=":28" />
Advocates also emphasize the “right to truth” for victims and their families, aligning Spain with broader international human rights standards concerning recognition, memory, and accountability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swisspeace.ch/assets/publications/downloads/Gonzalez-Garcia_WorkingPaper_2_2023.pdf|title=The Search for Truth in Spain: Debates Around the Creation of a Truth Commission}}</ref> Reports by United Nations Special Rapporteurs have encouraged Spain to strengthen efforts related to truth, justice, and reparation for victims of Franco-era repression.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2014/02/461222|title=UN expert urges Spain to probe alleged atrocities during 1930's civil war}}</ref>
For supporters, the law corrects decades of imbalance in public memory and promotes constitutional values grounded in democracy and human rights.<ref name=":27" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur41/001/2013/en/|title=Spain: Supreme Court overturns ban on full-face veils; AI concerns remain about restrictions on headscarves in schools|date=2013-04-08|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
Critics argue that the Historical Memory Act risks politicizing historical interpretation by privileging one narrative over others.<ref name=":29">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/09/17/the-spanish-government-proposes-a-new-law-on-history|title=The Spanish government proposes a new law on history|work=The Economist|access-date=2026-03-02|issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref name=":30">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/world/europe/24iht-spain.4.8039804.html|title=Spain undergoes wrenching awakening from 'amnesia'|last=Burnett|first=Victoria|date=2007-10-24|work=The New York Times|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Some scholars contend that legislative intervention in historical memory can transform contested historical debate into state-defined orthodoxy.<ref name=":30" /> Opponents also argue that removing monuments may constitute symbolic erasure rather than genuine reconciliation.<ref name=":29" /> They maintain that democratic societies should allow historical interpretation to evolve through open public discourse rather than through statutory mandates.<ref name=":30" />
Much of this debate has centered on the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen) memorial complex, one of the most prominent and controversial symbols associated with Spain’s Civil War and the Franco dictatorship. The massive monument, built after the war and located near Madrid, contains a basilica carved into a mountain and a large cross that dominates the surrounding landscape. For decades it served as the burial site of General Francisco Franco as well as thousands of victims from both sides of the Civil War.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50164806|title=Franco exhumation: Spanish dictator's remains moved|date=2019-10-24|website=www.bbc.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/24/franco-exhumation-spain-dictator-madrid|title='Spain is fulfilling its duty to itself': Franco's remains exhumed|last=Jones|first=Sam|date=2019-10-24|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Supporters of Spain’s memory laws argue that the site symbolized the continued public prominence of Franco’s regime, while critics argue that the complex represents an important historical monument whose meaning should be debated rather than reshaped through legislation.
The controversy intensified when the Spanish government ordered the exhumation of Franco’s remains from the site in 2019, relocating them to a different cemetery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/presidente/news/Paginas/2019/20191024-statement.aspx|title=Institutional statement by Acting President of the Government regarding exhumation of Francisco Franco}}</ref> The government justified the decision as part of a broader democratic memory policy aimed at preventing the memorial from functioning as a place of political homage to the dictatorship. Critics, however, viewed the move as politically motivated and reflective of Spain’s continuing polarization over how the country should confront its past.
===== Ongoing Debate: Truth, Memory, and Democratic Pluralism =====
Spain’s memory laws have become one of the most visible and contested areas of contemporary public debate. The discussion centers on how a democracy should address a painful past and what role the state should play in shaping public memory. In Spain, this debate appears in disputes over monuments, commemorations, public spaces, and the official recognition of victims of the Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship.<ref name=":31">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/06/30/debate-rages-in-spain-over-how-to-rememberor-forgetfranco-dictatorship|title=Debate rages in Spain over how to remember—or forget—Franco's dictatorship|last=Coego|first=Alexandra F.|date=2023-06-30|website=The Art Newspaper - International art news and events|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/01/spain-memory-law-ghosts-francoism|title=Spain’s Memory Law Hasn’t Banished the Ghosts of Francoism|last=By|website=jacobin.com|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
Supporters of the Democratic Memory framework argue that removing Francoist symbols and formally recognizing victims strengthens democracy. They maintain that a constitutional state should not continue to honor an authoritarian regime in public spaces. From this perspective, memory laws do not erase history but instead end state endorsement of dictatorship and affirm the dignity of those who suffered repression.<ref name=":31" /><ref name=":33">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/spain-pays-tribute-francos-victims-50-years-after-his-death-2025-10-31/|title=Spain pays tribute to Franco's victims 50 years after his death}}</ref>
Critics argue that legislating memory can deepen political divisions. Some commentators warn that when the government takes an active role in defining historical meaning, it risks turning complex historical debates into partisan conflicts.<ref name=":32" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/01/spain-memory-law-ghosts-francoism|title=Spain’s Memory Law Hasn’t Banished the Ghosts of Francoism|last=By|website=jacobin.com|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Articles examining Spain’s evolving memory laws describe a society still divided over how to interpret the Civil War and Franco’s legacy, with disagreement over whether these reforms promote justice or contribute to polarization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enrs.eu/article/spanish-controversies-related-to-memory|title=Spanish controversies related to memory|website=ENRS|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
In today’s Spain, historical memory is not only about the past. It remains tied to ongoing debates about national identity, democracy, and constitutional values.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":33" /> The regulation of collective memory shows how law, history, and public expression intersect in a modern democratic society.
== <big>Religious Freedom in Spain</big> ==
===== Historical Development =====
Spain’s religious history is marked less by steady liberalization than by recurring conflict over whether religious difference could appear in public life at all. Medieval coexistence among Christians, Muslims, and Jews existed, but it never displaced the stronger political impulse toward religious unity.<ref name=":39">{{Cite journal|last=Montserrat|first=Daniel B.|date=1995|title=The Constitutional Development of Religious Freedom in Spain: An Historical Analysis|url=https://ir.law.fsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1241&context=jtlp|journal=Fla. St. U. J. Transnat’l L. & Pol’y|volume=4|pages=27}}</ref> That unity was enforced not only through theology, but through law, restricting who could publicly practice religion and under what conditions.
The constitutional period (1812 to 1978) largely reproduced that pattern. Spain’s constitutional period from 1812 to 1978 was marked by recurring political instability, as constitutions were repeatedly created through revolutions or military coups and then repealed by subsequent regimes.
The Constitution of Cádiz (1812) combined political liberalism with explicit Catholic exclusivity, embedding religion into public institutions, civic oaths, and education.<ref name=":39" /> Public officials were required to swear to defend Catholicism, and religious instruction was mandated in schools. Religion was not simply protected, it was institutionally embedded in the structures through which ideas were transmitted.
Later constitutions softened these rules but did not eliminate them. Even when non Catholic worship was tolerated, it was often confined to private settings.<ref name=":39" /> Individuals could hold different beliefs, but the ability to organize, teach, or display those beliefs publicly remained restricted.
The Spanish Constitution of 1931 (1931) reversed course by limiting the Catholic Church’s role in public life, removing funding, dissolving certain religious orders, and restricting religious education.<ref name=":40">{{Cite journal|last=Combalia|first=Zolia|last2=Roca|first2=Maria|date=2010|title=Religion and the Secular State of Spain, in Religion and the Secular State|url=https://original.religlaw.org/content/blurb/files/Spain%202014.pdf|journal=(W. Cole Durham, Jr. & Javier Martínez-Torrón eds., 2015)|pages=661}}</ref> This shift did not produce neutrality so much as it reallocated control, narrowing the channels through which religion could be expressed in public institutions.
Under Franco, Catholicism again became central to the state. Public expressions of non Catholic religion were restricted, and Catholic doctrine shaped education and law.<ref name=":39" /><ref name=":40" /> Religious teaching, symbolism, and institutional presence were largely aligned with a single faith.
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 marks a decisive break. Article 16 provides:
“Freedom of ideology, religion and worship of individuals and communities is guaranteed… No one may be compelled to declare his ideology, religion or beliefs… No religion shall have a state character….”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229|title=Constitución Española art. 16 (1978), BOE-A-1978-31229|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
This provision restructures the legal framework in three ways:
First, it protects both private belief and public religious activity. Second, it prohibits coercion or compelled disclosure. Third, it removes any formal identification between the state and a particular religion. At the same time, it permits cooperation with religious groups, allowing religion to remain present in public life without being directed by the state. Contemporary reporting confirms this structure, noting that Spain’s constitutional framework both prohibits discrimination based on religion and protects individuals from being compelled to reveal their beliefs, while still maintaining cooperative relationships with religious communities.⁸
===== Modern Spain: Public Expression, Institutional Practice, and European Context =====
Spain’s current system assumes that religion will appear in public life and focuses on regulating how it appears rather than removing it.
This is reflected in everyday legal structures. Spain permits religious instruction in public schools, recognizes religious marriages, provides chaplaincy services in state institutions, and allows religious organizations to operate schools and social services.² These are not abstract protections. They determine how religious ideas are taught, how communities organize, and how individuals access religious practice in public settings.
A simple example shows how the system works. A student in a public school may attend Catholic, Muslim, or Protestant instruction or opt out entirely. A prisoner may request a minister of their faith. A hospital may provide chaplaincy services across religions. The state does not dictate belief, but it allows religious expression to operate openly within public institutions.
Spanish law also protects the conditions under which that expression occurs. Disrupting religious services or publicly targeting religious groups can trigger criminal liability, and hate crime laws include religion as a protected category.⁸ These rules are designed to preserve the space in which religious expression can take place without interference.
At the same time, Spain operates within a broader European system that allows different countries to take different approaches.⁴ The contrast with France is the clearest example. France prohibits visible religious symbols like hijabs or large crosses in public schools. Spain generally allows them. Both approaches are accepted under European human rights law.
Spain’s position reflects its history. After experiencing both enforced religious unity and aggressive secular restriction, it adopts a middle approach. Religion can be visible in public life, but the state cannot control or impose it.¹²
This balance appears clearly in Fernández Martínez v. Spain. The European Court of Human Rights upheld Spain’s system allowing the Catholic Church to control who teaches Catholic doctrine in public schools.⁵ The teacher lost his position after publicly opposing Church teachings, and the Court accepted that a religious institution must be able to define who represents its message.
The case shows how Spain treats religion as something that can be publicly taught while still allowing religious groups to control their own doctrine.
Despite formal equality, differences remain in practice. The Catholic Church retains broader institutional presence due to historical agreements and infrastructure.²⁷ Religious instruction tied to Catholicism is more widely available, and some institutions have more developed access to public cooperation.
Government reporting reflects this reality. While the law guarantees equality, certain religious groups have more established relationships with the state, while others must rely on registration systems or cooperation agreements to access similar benefits.⁸
At the same time, Spain is becoming more religiously diverse. Immigration has increased the presence of Islam, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestant communities.² This creates new pressures on schools, workplaces, and public institutions to accommodate a wider range of religious practices.
In practice, the system operates through structured accommodation. Public institutions allow religious expression, but participation remains voluntary, and the state does not formally endorse any faith. Religion is not removed from public life, but its presence is shaped by neutrality, access, and institutional balance.
[[Category:Communication in Europe|Law in Spain]]
[[Category:Law in Europe]]
[[Category:Spain]]
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== '''<big>Communication Law in Spain</big>''' ==
===== Introduction =====
Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy located in southwestern Europe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229#:~:text=24%3A%20%23a18%5D-,Art%C3%ADculo%2018,2.|title=Constitución Española (1978)|website=www.constituteproject.org|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":36">{{Cite web|url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries/spain_en|title=Spain – EU country {{!}} European Union|website=european-union.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> While the monarch serves as head of state, political power is exercised through a democratic parliamentary system led by a prime minister and the national legislature known as the Cortes Generales. Spain is also a highly decentralized state composed of seventeen Autonomous Communities, each with its own regional government and authority over areas such as culture, language policy, and public broadcasting.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to its domestic institutions, Spain operates within a broader European legal framework as a member of the European Union and a party to international human rights agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights.<ref name=":36" />
Modern debates over communication law in Spain are also deeply influenced by the country’s twentieth-century history. From 1939 until 1975 Spain was governed by the authoritarian dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, during which the state exercised strict control over political speech and media institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/articles/francisco-franco|title=Francisco Franco - Biography, Facts & Death|last=Editors|first=HISTORY com|date=2009-11-09|website=HISTORY|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> Following Franco’s death, Spain underwent a democratic transition that culminated in the adoption of the 1978 Constitution, which established modern protections for freedom of expression and democratic pluralism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adst.org/2016/06/spains-post-franco-emergence-dictatorship-democracy/|title=Spain’s Post-Franco Emergence from Dictatorship to Democracy – Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These historical experiences continue to shape contemporary debates over speech, protest, and public memory in Spain.
== <big>Sources and Institutions Of Communication Law In Spain</big> ==
=== '''National Sources and Institutions''' ===
===== Constitutional Foundations of Communication Law =====
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the supreme legal authority governing communication rights in Spain.<ref name=":0" /> Only a few provisions directly address communication, but they shape disputes involving the press, privacy, defamation, surveillance, and protest.<ref name=":0" />
The first major provision is Article 20, which protects freedom of expression and information.<ref name=":0" /> It guarantees freedom of expression, creative and academic freedom, the right to communicate and receive truthful information, and the prohibition of prior censorship.<ref name=":0" /> This is the backbone of Spanish communication law.
But Article 20 is not a blank check. Article 20(4) makes clear that expression has limits when it collides with other constitutional rights. <ref name=":0" /> In other words, Spain builds speech protection and speech limits into the same constitutional design.
That leads to the second key provision: Article 18, which protects privacy, honor, and the secrecy of communications. Article 18 expressly protects the right to honor, personal and family privacy, personal image, and the secrecy of communications.<ref name=":0" /> These protections frequently arise in modern communication disputes. For example, in Spanish Constitutional Court decision STC 104/1986, the court examined whether a newspaper report accusing a businessman of misconduct violated his constitutional right to honor, emphasizing the need to balance expression with protection of reputation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hj.tribunalconstitucional.es/en/Resolucion/Show/104|title=HJ System - Decision: SENTENCIA 62/1982|website=hj.tribunalconstitucional.es|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
Another important principle in the Spanish constitutional system is the protection of the “essential content” of fundamental rights, often referred to as the ''núcleo esencial''. Rooted in Article 10 and Section I on fundamental rights, this principle holds that certain core aspects of rights cannot be undermined by the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/espana/leyfundamental/paginas/titulo_primero.aspx|title=Part I Fundamental Rights and Duties|website=www.lamoncloa.gob.es|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> The doctrine reflects Spain’s constitutional commitment to human dignity and the free development of personality. In practice, rights may be regulated but not restricted in ways that destroy their core substance. Rights such as expression, life, and physical integrity retain a protected core beyond ordinary political decision-making.
An interesting wrinkle in the Spanish Constitution is Article 10(2), often called the international interpretation clause.<ref name=":0" /> It requires that constitutional rights be interpreted in conformity with international human rights treaties ratified by Spain. That strengthens the influence of European and international human-rights standards inside Spain’s own constitutional system. For example, in ''Stern Taulats and Roura Capellera v. Spain'' (2018), the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Spain violated freedom of expression after protesters were convicted for burning photographs of the King during a political demonstration, illustrating how international courts shape constitutional speech protections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#%7B%22itemid%22:%5B%22001-181719%22%5D%7D|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
===== Regulatory Authorities =====
Spain relies on regulatory authorities to implement and supervise communication law.
The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) oversees telecommunications and audiovisual markets in Spain, with a role that blends sector oversight with competition regulation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnmc.es/|title=Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia {{!}} CNMC|website=www.cnmc.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) enforces the GDPR and Organic Law 3/2018, and it is one of the main places where “digital rights” become real—through guidance, enforcement, and sanctions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aepd.es/|title=Agencia Española de Protección de Datos {{!}} AEPD|website=www.aepd.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2018-16673|title=BOE-A-2018-16673 Ley Orgánica 3/2018, de 5 de diciembre, de Protección de Datos Personales y garantía de los derechos digitales.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital.gob.es/|title=Regulation - 2016/679 - EN - gdpr - EUR-Lex|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function plays a coordinating role for national telecommunications and digital policy, including the domestic implementation of EU digital regulation. The ministry also oversees the allocation of radio frequencies, a critical responsibility because the radio spectrum is a limited public resource used by mobile networks, television broadcasting, satellite communications, and other wireless technologies.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://digital.gob.es/|title=Portal MTDFP {{!}} Inicio|website=digital.gob.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":9" />
===== National Legislative Framework =====
Spain does not rely solely on the Constitution and international treaties to regulate communication.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.echr.coe.int/european-convention-on-human-rights|title=European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) - EUR-Lex|date=2009-12-01|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> Spain can pass national legislation governing communication as long as it stays consistent with superior constitutional and supranational law.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://curia.europa.eu/site/jcms/d2_5093/en/the-court-of-justice|title=Court of Justice of the European Union|website=curia|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The General Audiovisual Communication Law (Law 13/2022) regulates television, radio, and on-demand audiovisual services, including licensing, protection of minors, advertising standards, and media pluralism.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|title=Ley 13/2022, de 7 de julio, General de Comunicación Audiovisual|url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2022/07/07/13|date=2022-07-08|accessdate=2026-03-02|pages=96114–96220|issue=Ley 13/2022|last=Jefatura del Estado}}</ref> It also functions as Spain’s main implementation of AVMSD requirements.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":10" />
The General Telecommunications Law (Law 11/2022) regulates electronic communications networks and services, including spectrum allocation and operator licensing.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://ppp.worldbank.org/library/general-de-telecomunicaciones-ley-11-2022|title=General de Telecomunicaciones Ley 11/2022|website=PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Under Article 149.1.21 of the Constitution, telecommunications is an exclusive competence of the State.<ref name=":0" /> In other words, national control ensures consistent regulation of telecommunications across Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
On privacy, Spain applies the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and complements it through Organic Law 3/2018 (LOPDGDD), which regulates data processing and sets out digital rights in domestic law.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12" /> This framework includes digital rights such as the “right to erasure” (“right to be forgotten”).<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12" />
Finally, Organic Law 1/1982 on the Protection of Honor, Privacy, and Personal Image provides civil remedies when freedom of expression conflicts with personal dignity, basically, when speech unlawfully harms reputation or private life.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1982-11196|title=BOE-A-1982-11196 Ley Orgánica 1/1982, de 5 de mayo, de protección civil del derecho al honor, a la intimidad personal y familiar y a la propia imagen.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> This law operationalizes the protections in Article 18 in everyday disputes involving media reporting and personal reputation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" />
===== Regional (Autonomous Community) Regulation =====
[[File:Autonomous communities of Spain no names-gl.svg|thumb|'''The 17 Autonomous communities of Spain''']]
Spain is a decentralized state composed of 17 Autonomous Communities. While telecommunications remains a national competence under Article 149, Autonomous Communities still influence communication in meaningful ways, especially through public broadcasting and language policy.<ref name=":0" />
Autonomous Communities may create and regulate their own public broadcasting corporations. For example, Catalonia operates the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.3cat.cat/corporatiu/en/el-grup/|title=The Group - CCMA|last=3Cat|website=3Cat|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> and the Basque Country operates EITB.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eitb.eus/en/|title=EITB|website=www.eitb.eus|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> These bodies operate under regional frameworks but still sit under national and EU rules that shape audiovisual services more generally.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":10" />
Some regions also maintain audiovisual supervisory authorities. Catalonia, for example, has the Consell de l’Audiovisual de Catalunya (CAC), which oversees audiovisual services within the region and has a particular focus on standards tied to language and culture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cac.cat/|title=Consell de l'Auidovisual de Catalunya}}</ref>
Regional governments also regulate language and cultural policy. Autonomous Communities with co-official languages may adopt measures that promote regional-language media and broadcasting quotas.<ref name=":0" /> These policies shape what audiences actually see and hear day-to-day, but they still must remain consistent with Spain’s constitutional protections and EU standards.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" />
=== '''International''' '''Sources and Institutions''' ===
===== European Union Law =====
As an EU Member State, Spain is bound by European Union law, including the principle that EU law has primacy in areas where the EU has competence.<ref name=":4" /> EU rules increasingly shape digital communication and audiovisual markets.<ref name=":8">{{Citation|title=Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/char_2012/oj/eng|date=2012-10-26|accessdate=2026-03-02|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng|title=Regulation - 2022/2065 - EN - DSA - EUR-Lex|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Citation|title=Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) (Codified version) (Text with EEA relevance)|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2010/13/oj/eng|date=2010-03-10|accessdate=2026-03-02|volume=095|language=en}}</ref>
Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights protects freedom of expression and media pluralism.<ref name=":8" /> When acting within EU law, Spanish authorities must comply with these protections.
Two major EU instruments show how direct this influence can be. First, the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065) regulates online platforms and intermediary services across the EU, with transparency duties, processes for handling illegal content, and heightened obligations for very large online platforms.<ref name=":9" /> Spain must enforce these rules through its national system.
Second, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) sets EU-wide standards for television and on-demand audiovisual services, including advertising rules, protections for minors, and promotion of European content.<ref name=":10" /> Spain’s General Audiovisual Communication Law (2022) implements these European requirements in national law.<ref name=":1" />
===== International Obligations =====
Spain is also a party to major international human rights treaties that shape communication law.
Spain participates in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations that administers international systems for protecting intellectual property. WIPO maintains global databases for searching patents, trademarks, and industrial designs across jurisdictions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/|title=WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization|website=www.wipo.int|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> For example, the PATENTSCOPE database allows users to search millions of international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, while the Global Brand Database provides access to trademark records from national and international registries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf|title=WIPO - Search International and National Patent Collections|website=patentscope.wipo.int|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These tools help prevent conflicting claims and support cross-border protection of intellectual property.
Spain is also a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects freedom of expression in Article 19.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights|title=International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights|website=OHCHR|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Because of Article 10(2) of the Spanish Constitution, Spain’s courts must read domestic constitutional rights consistently with these kinds of international commitments.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":11" />
A key upshot of this layered legal system is that freedom of expression in Spain is not at the mercy of the national political process alone.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11" /> Because Spain operates within a broader European and international legal order, attempts to narrow expression face external legal constraints.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11" /> This layered system makes it less likely that core expressive freedoms will be reduced.
== <big>Freedom of Expression and Dignity in Spain</big> ==
===== Constitutional Balance: Expression and Honor =====
Spain protects freedom of expression under Article 20 of the 1978 Constitution, which guarantees the right to express and disseminate ideas and to communicate and receive truthful information, while prohibiting prior censorship.<ref name=":0" /> At the same time, Article 18 protects the right to honor, privacy, and personal image, protections that are further implemented through Organic Law 1/1982 on the Protection of Honor, Privacy, and Personal Image.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /> The substance of these two provisions often collide, especially because Spanish courts treat them as equally serious constitutional commitments.
Unlike systems that treat speech as nearly absolute, Spain’s Constitutional Court uses a balancing approach. When expression conflicts with dignity or reputation, courts weigh the competing rights while ensuring that the essential content (''núcleo esencial'') of each constitutional right is preserved, meaning that neither freedom of expression nor the protection of honor and privacy may be restricted in a way that destroys their core substance.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /> In practice, this can mean allowing strong criticism of public officials or institutions when it contributes to democratic debate, while still permitting legal remedies when speech crosses into false factual allegations or serious attacks on personal reputation. Spanish constitutional jurisprudence has repeatedly emphasized that freedom of expression has a “preferred position” in democratic debate, especially when speech concerns political issues or public officials.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> But that preferred position does not make it untouchable.
This framework reflects Spain’s transition to democracy after the Franco dictatorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/work-document/international-dimensions-of-democratisation-revisiting-the-spanish-case/|title=International dimensions of democratisation: revisiting the Spanish case|last=Powell|first=Charles|website=Elcano Royal Institute|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> The 1978 Constitution placed strong emphasis on open public debate as essential to pluralism.<ref name=":0" /> At the same time, dignity is considered a foundational value of the constitutional order. This dual commitment to democratic openness and protection of personal honor defines Spain’s speech doctrine.
===== The Importance of Veracity =====
One distinctive feature of Spanish law is the requirement of “veracity.” Veracity in ethics is the principle of truth-telling, requiring professionals to be honest, transparent, and accurate in all communications to foster trust. Article 20 protects the right to communicate “truthful information.”<ref name=":0" /> Courts do not interpret this to mean that journalists must prove absolute truth.<ref name=":13" /> Instead, they must show that they acted with reasonable diligence in verifying their information.
This standard recognizes human limits: reporters and witnesses cannot know “the whole truth.” What matters is whether they checked reliable sources and acted in good faith. If they do, even mistaken reporting may still be protected. If they fail to verify serious factual claims that harm someone’s reputation, liability may follow.<ref name=":13" />
The Constitutional Court has distinguished sharply between opinions and factual statements.<ref name=":13" /> Opinions, especially political opinions, receive strong protection, even when harsh or offensive. Factual allegations that damage someone’s honor are treated differently. In defamation cases, courts examine whether the information contributed to public debate or merely harmed reputation without public interest.<ref name=":13" />
===== Terrorism, the Monarchy, and Controversial Speech =====
The limits of Spain’s balancing approach become most visible in politically sensitive cases.
Following decades of violence by the Basque terrorist group ETA, Spain criminalized the glorification of terrorism and humiliation of victims under Article 578 of the Criminal Code.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/18760|title=Penal Code (Organic Law No. 10/1995 of November 23, 1995, as amended up to Organic Law No. 2/2019 of March 1, 2019), Spain, WIPO Lex|website=www.wipo.int|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://fibgar.es/en/the-human-rights-committee-urges-spain-to-protect-freedom-of-expression-and-human-rights-defenders/|title=The Human Rights Committee urges Spain to protect freedom of expression and human rights defenders|last=Fibgar|date=2025-08-06|website=FIBGAR|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Supporters argue that these laws protect democratic stability and the dignity of victims. Critics argue that they have sometimes been applied too broadly, including against musicians and social media users.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur41/001/2014/en/|title=Spain: The right to protest under threat|date=2014-04-24|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
In Otegi Mondragón v. Spain (2011), a Basque politician was convicted for referring to the King as the “chief of the torturers.”<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/spa?i=001-103951|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Spain’s courts upheld the conviction, but the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the conviction violated freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Strasbourg court emphasized that political speech, even when provocative, deserves heightened protection and that public institutions must tolerate stronger criticism.<ref name=":16" />
A similar controversy arose in Stern Taulats and Roura Capellera v. Spain (2018), involving protesters who burned photographs of the King during a political demonstration.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-181724|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Spanish courts treated the act as an insult to the Crown. The European Court again ruled that Spain had violated freedom of expression, finding that the act was symbolic political protest rather than incitement to violence.<ref name=":17" />
Artistic expression has also generated debate. The prosecution of rappers such as Valtonyc for lyrics praising terrorist groups or insulting state institutions sparked international criticism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arisa-project.eu/the-presumption-of-innocence-and-the-media-coverage-of-criminal-cases/|title=The Presumption of Innocence and the Media Coverage of Criminal Cases|last=admin|date=2021-05-13|website=Arisa|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://njc.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Putting-the-chill-in-media-freedom-and-free-speech-.pdf|title=Putting the chill in media freedom and free speech}}</ref>Some observers argued that criminal sanctions risked chilling artistic freedom.<ref name=":18" /> Others defended the prosecutions as necessary to prevent normalization of violence.<ref name=":14" />
These cases reveal a deeper tension in Spain over how far a democracy can go in protecting institutional dignity and social peace without narrowing the space for dissent.
===== Ongoing Debate: Dignity-Centered Democracy =====
Spain’s speech model is often described as dignity-centered. Human dignity is explicitly recognized in Article 10 of the Constitution as a foundational principle of the legal order.<ref name=":0" /> Courts therefore treat attacks on honor, reputation, or institutional integrity as constitutionally significant.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" />
Some scholars argue that this model reflects a mature constitutional democracy that refuses to sacrifice personal dignity in the name of absolute speech.[35][36] They see Spain’s approach as consistent with broader European human rights traditions, where proportionality and balancing are central.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":16" />
Others argue that criminal penalties for offensive speech, especially in political or artistic contexts, create a chilling effect and discourage open debate.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" /> They point to repeated rulings from the European Court of Human Rights pushing Spain toward stronger protection of political expression.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" />
Spain’s doctrine continues to evolve through judicial dialogue between national courts and European institutions.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":16" />The result is a system that seeks to protect democratic debate while also preserving the constitutional value of dignity, a balance that remains contested and actively debated.
== <big>Spain’s 2015 Citizen Security Law (“Gag Law”)</big> ==
[[File:Manifestación contra la Ley Mordaza en Madrid 20-12-2014 - 07.jpg|thumb|On December 20, 2014, protesters in Madrid demonstrated against Spain’s new Citizens Security Law, known as the "Gag Law" (Ley Mordaza)]]
The Citizen Security Law (Ley Orgánica 4/2015 de protección de la seguridad ciudadana) is a Spanish national law that entered into force on 1 July 2015.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2015-3442|title=BOE-A-2015-3442 Ley Orgánica 4/2015, de 30 de marzo, de protección de la seguridad ciudadana.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> It is widely known in public debate as the “Gag Law” (Ley Mordaza), a nickname given by critics who argue that it discourages protest and limits free expression through financial penalties rather than formal censorship.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/03/09/spain-reject-flawed-public-security-bill|title=Spain: Reject Flawed Public Security Bill {{!}} Human Rights Watch|date=2015-03-09|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/03/spain-two-pronged-assault-targets-rights-and-freedoms/|title=Spain: Two-pronged assault targets rights and freedoms of Spanish citizens, migrants and refugees|date=2015-03-26|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The law was introduced by Spain’s government as a modernization of public-order regulations. Officials stated that it was designed to provide clearer rules for police operations, maintain public security, and respond to disruptive protest activity. Supporters emphasize that the law does not establish prior censorship and does not criminalize political opinions as such.<ref name=":19" />
Critics, however, argue that while the Constitution only prohibits prior censorship, the Gag Law creates a system of administrative fines imposed after expression, which can still discourage participation in protests and public criticism. They contend that heavy fines can have a chilling effect, especially on journalists and activists.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
===== Key Provisions of The Citizen Security Law =====
The Citizen Security Law establishes a detailed system of administrative infractions and sanctions. Fines range from several hundred euros to up to €600,000 in the most serious cases.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":34">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/12/spain-security-law-protesters-freedom-expression|title=Spain puts 'gag' on freedom of expression as senate approves security law|last=Kassam|first=Ashifa|date=2015-03-12|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Among the most controversial provisions are:
* Fines (up to €600) for holding public demonstrations without prior notification, even if peaceful
* Fines (up to €600) for protests that deviate from approved routes
* Fines (up to €30,000) for protests causing disturbances near Parliament or regional government buildings
* Fines (up to €600,000) for unauthorized protests near key infrastructure (airports, nuclear plants, refineries, transport hubs)
* Fines (up to €30,000) for obstructing police or officials carrying out evictions or court orders
* Fines (up to €30,000) for recording or publishing images of police officers if deemed to endanger their safety or an operation<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":34" />
Human rights organizations have argued that the wording of some provisions is broad and gives authorities significant discretion in enforcement.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
===== International Reaction =====
The “Gag law” was met with strong criticism from international human rights groups even before it entered into force. Human Rights Watch warned that the legislation undermined freedom of assembly and expression by allowing heavy fines for peaceful protest and for recording police conduct.<ref name=":20" />
Amnesty International described the law as a threat to civil liberties and warned that restrictions on filming police could weaken transparency and accountability.<ref name=":21" /> The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also raised concerns that the law could deter media coverage of demonstrations and police activity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpj.org/2015/05/why-spains-new-gag-law-is-threat-to-free-flow-of-i/|title=Why Spain's new gag law is threat to free flow of information|last=Blogger|first=Borja Bergareche/CPJ Guest|date=2015-05-01|website=Committee to Protect Journalists|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> In addition, United Nations Special Rapporteurs expressed concern that the law’s provisions were overly broad and risked arbitrary enforcement against peaceful protesters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2015/02/two-legal-reform-projects-undermine-rights-assembly-and-expression-spain-un|title=“Two legal reform projects undermine the rights of assembly and expression in Spain” - UN experts|website=OHCHR|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
===== Javier Bauluz Case =====
One widely cited case involved Spanish photojournalist Javier Bauluz, a Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer, who was fined €960 under the Citizen Security Law after a confrontation with police while documenting migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands in November 2020.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfrr.eu/spain-fine-against-photographer-underscores-urgent-need-for-reform-of-gag-law/|title=Spain: Fine against photographer underscores urgent need for reform of Gag Law|last=MFRR|date=2022-06-21|website=Media Freedom Rapid Response|language=en-GB|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> He had been photographing rescue boats arriving in Arguineguín, where thousands of migrants were being held in conditions later described by a judge as “deplorable.”<ref name=":22" /> Video of the incident shows officers grabbing him and ordering him to leave, and he was later fined for “disrespecting an agent” and “refusing to identify himself,” though he said he had complied and was simply doing his job.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/14/photographer-capturing-migrant-camp-fined-1000-under-spains-gag-law|title=Photographer capturing migrant camp fined €1,000 under Spain’s ‘gag law’|last=Kassam|first=Ashifa|date=2022-06-14|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":35" />
The fine arrived more than a year later and gave little explanation beyond citing provisions of the law. Bauluz rejected the sanction, arguing that police were limiting press access to prevent journalists from properly documenting the situation.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35" /> He criticized the Gag Law for converting disputes into administrative fines imposed directly by authorities rather than matters handled through criminal courts.<ref name=":22" />
The case became a symbol of broader concerns that the law can be used to penalize journalists reporting on police activity. Press freedomorganizations and media groups condemned the fine and called for reform, arguing that the law enables arbitrary sanctions and threatens freedom of expression.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35" /> Although Spain’s Constitutional Court upheld most of the law in 2021, critics continue to argue that reform is necessary to bring it in line with international human rights standards.<ref name=":35" />
===== Constitutional Court Review =====
Spain’s Constitutional Court reviewed the Citizen Security Law following multiple constitutional challenges. In Constitutional Court decision STC 172/2020, the Court upheld most provisions of the law but clarified limits on its application, particularly regarding sanctions for the use or dissemination of images of police officers. The Court emphasized that penalties cannot be applied in ways that effectively restrict legitimate journalistic reporting or public documentation of police activity.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":37">{{Cite web|url=https://hj.tribunalconstitucional.es/HJ/es/Resolucion/Show/26498|title=Sistema HJ - Resolución: SENTENCIA 172/2020|website=hj.tribunalconstitucional.es|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> One of the most controversial aspects of the ruling was the Court’s decision to uphold the provision allowing administrative fines when photographs or videos of police officers are published in ways that could endanger an officer’s safety or interfere with an ongoing operation.
The Constitutional Court clarified that the mere act of recording or photographing police officers during public events or demonstrations is not automatically illegal. Instead, sanctions may only be imposed when the dissemination of those images creates a concrete risk to the safety of officers or interferes with a police operation.<ref name=":37" /> For example, publishing images that reveal the identity of undercover officers or expose the location of police units during an active operation could justify sanctions. By contrast, photographing police activity during public demonstrations for journalistic reporting or public accountability generally falls within the protections of freedom of expression.<ref name=":37" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://solermartinabogados.com/en/can-i-record-the-police-can-they-force-me-to-erase-the-images-i-have-recorded-of-them/|title=Can I record the police in Spain? rights, limits|date=2025-10-06|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
The Court emphasized that enforcement must respect constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and assembly. However, it did not invalidate the core structure of the law, leaving its administrative sanction framework intact.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.article19.org/resources/spain-time-to-end-to-repressive-gag-law/|title=Spain: Time to end repressive 'Gag Law'|date=2024-08-20|website=ARTICLE 19|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
===== The Ongoing Debate =====
The Citizen Security Law remains one of the most politically divisive laws in Spain’s contemporary democracy.
Supporters argue that the law provides necessary tools to maintain order and protect both police officers and the public. They stress that fines are administrative rather than criminal penalties and are subject to judicial review. From this perspective, the law regulates conduct rather than suppressing political ideas.
Critics, by contrast, argue that the law creates a climate of deterrence. Even without criminal prosecution, the risk of substantial fines may discourage citizens from participating in spontaneous demonstrations or from documenting police actions. Civil liberties groups describe this as a “chilling effect” on democratic participation.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
Reform efforts have repeatedly emerged in Spain’s national legislature, particularly from left-leaning parties that argue the law should be revised or partially repealed.<ref name=":38">{{Cite web|url=https://www.barrons.com/news/reform-of-spain-s-contested-security-law-fails-9b1f9a5|title=Reform Of Spain's Contested Security Law Fails|last=Presse|first=AFP-Agence France|website=barrons|language=en-us|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These parties contend that provisions related to protest, public demonstrations, and the recording of police activity give authorities too much discretion and risk discouraging political participation. By contrast, many right-leaning parties have defended the law, arguing that it provides necessary tools for maintaining public order and protecting police officers, especially during large demonstrations and periods of political unrest. As a result, proposals to substantially reform the law have often stalled due to political disagreement in parliament.<ref name=":38" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/csos-warn-decision-not-to-reform-gag-law-is-bad-news-for-human-rights-in-spain/|title=CSOs warn decision not to reform “Gag Law” is “bad news for human rights in Spain”|website=Civicus Monitor|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://russpain.com/en/news-3/spanish-parliament-stuck-on-security-law-reform-398037/|title=The political scene is heating up: growing disagreements, unexpected pressure and intrigue in parliament|last=Rubio|first=Ricardo|date=2026-02-23|website=RUSSPAIN.COM|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
This divide reflects broader political tensions in Spain. Supporters of reform frequently frame the law as a legacy of a more security-focused approach to governance that emerged during periods of economic crisis and protest movements in the 2010s. Opponents of reform argue that weakening the law could undermine the ability of authorities to manage demonstrations and maintain public safety. Because these disagreements map closely onto Spain’s left-right political divide, efforts to significantly change the Citizen Security Law have proven difficult despite ongoing public debate.
== <big>Spain’s Historical Memory Act</big> ==
===== Historical Background and Democratic Transition =====
[[File:Francisco Franco 1930.jpg|thumb|'''Francisco Franco in 1930, when he was still a rising officer in the Spanish army, years before the Spanish Civil War brought him to power and led to his long dictatorship.''']]
Spain’s contemporary debate over historical memory is rooted in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and the subsequent dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, which lasted until 1975.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Owens|first=Lawrence S.|date=2021|title=Timoteo Mendieta Alcalá and the Pact of Forgetting: trauma analysis of execution victims from a Spanish Civil War mass burial site at Guadalajara, Castilla la Mancha|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212665/|journal=Forensic Science International. Synergy|volume=3|pages=100156|doi=10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100156|issn=2589-871X|pmc=8212665|pmid=34179739}}</ref> The war divided the country along political, ideological, and religious lines and resulted in widespread repression, imprisonment, and executions.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Owens|first=Lawrence S.|date=2021|title=Timoteo Mendieta Alcalá and the Pact of Forgetting: trauma analysis of execution victims from a Spanish Civil War mass burial site at Guadalajara, Castilla la Mancha|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212665/|journal=Forensic Science International. Synergy|volume=3|pages=100156|doi=10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100156|issn=2589-871X|pmc=8212665|pmid=34179739}}</ref><ref name=":24">{{Cite journal|last=Boyd|first=Carolyn P.|date=2008|title=The Politics of History and Memory in Democratic Spain|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25098018|journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science|volume=617|pages=133–148|issn=0002-7162}}</ref> After Franco’s victory, the regime promoted an official narrative that framed the conflict as a defense of national unity and Catholic identity.<ref name=":24" /> Public monuments, street names, memorials, and religious symbols commemorating the dictatorship were erected throughout Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dash.harvard.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/e113f9f5-d512-4bfa-bd72-9c150cec2d32/content|title=Historical Memory in Post-Franco
Spain: Remembering a Purposely
Forgotten Past through
Memorialization at the Valle de los
Caídos in Cuelgamuros}}</ref>
Following Franco’s death in 1975, Spain transitioned to democracy through a negotiated political process often referred to as the “Transition.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.drum.lib.umd.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/cda590b3-0ba4-45b8-98c4-4333e42f5ed6/content|title=MEMORY AND RECONCILIATION IN THE
SPANISH TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY:
1975-1982}}</ref> During this period, political leaders adopted what became known as the “Pact of Forgetting” (Pacto del Olvido), an informal political understanding that prioritized reconciliation and democratic stability over reopening Civil War-era grievances.<ref name=":25">{{Cite web|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/action/cookieAbsent|title=Sage Journals: Discover world-class research|website=Sage Journals|language=en|doi=10.1177/026569149702700303|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> The 1977 Amnesty Law granted broad amnesty for politically motivated crimes committed during the dictatorship.
By the early 2000s, civil society organizations began advocating for greater recognition of victims of Franco-era repression, including efforts to identify mass graves and remove public symbols associated with the dictatorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scispace.com/pdf/the-return-of-civil-war-ghosts-the-ethnography-of-2j8mponmed.pdf|title=The return of Civil War ghosts
The ethnography of exhumations in contemporary Spain}}</ref> Supporters argued that democratic consolidation required public acknowledgment of historical injustices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254084329_Determinants_of_Attitudes_Toward_Transitional_Justice_An_Empirical_Analysis_of_the_Spanish_Case|title=Determinants of Attitudes Toward Transitional Justice: An Empirical Analysis of the Spanish Case}}</ref> In response, Spain enacted Law 52/2007, commonly known as the Historical Memory Act.<ref name=":26">{{Cite web|url=https://reparations.qub.ac.uk/assets/uploads/Ley-52-2007-Spain-EN.pdf|title=Ley 52-2007 Spain EN.docx}}</ref>
===== The 2007 Historical Memory Act =====
Law 52/2007 recognizes and expands rights for individuals who suffered persecution or violence during the Civil War and dictatorship. Its preamble states that it is not the role of the legislator to impose a specific collective memory, but rather to promote democratic values and protect personal and family memory as expressions of democratic citizenship.<ref name=":26" />
At the same time, the law mandates the removal of “shields, insignia, plaques and other objects or commemorative mentions” that exalt the military uprising, Civil War, or repression of the dictatorship from public buildings and spaces.<ref name=":26" /> It also supports efforts to locate and identify victims of repression and provides symbolic recognition to those who suffered under the regime.
The Act represents a shift from the earlier policy of institutional silence toward a more active engagement with the legacy of the dictatorship.<ref name=":25" /><ref name=":26" />
The main provisions are:
* Official recognition of victims of political, religious, and ideological violence on both sides of the Civil War and under Franco’s rule
* Formal condemnation of the Franco regime
* Ban on political events at the Valley of the Fallen, where Franco was buried
* Removal of public symbols, plaques, statues, and insignia that celebrate the military coup or the dictatorship (with limited exceptions for artistic, architectural, or religious reasons)
* Government support for locating, identifying, and exhuming victims buried in mass graves
* Spanish citizenship granted to surviving members of the International Brigades without requiring them to give up their original nationality
* Declaration that Franco-era trials and laws lacked legitimacy
* Temporary changes to nationality rules allowing people who left Spain during the dictatorship — and their descendants — to reclaim Spanish citizenship
* Financial and symbolic assistance for victims and their families
===== Supporters’ and Critics’ Perspective =====
Supporters of the Historical Memory Act argue that it reflects a mature democratic commitment to historical justice and human dignity.<ref name=":27">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/05/spain-passes-law-to-bring-dignity-to-franco-era-victims|title=Spain passes law to bring ‘justice’ to Franco-era victims|last=Jones|first=Sam|date=2022-10-05|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":28">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/world/europe/28spain.html|title=Bill in Spanish Parliament Aims to End ‘Amnesia’ About Civil War Victims|last=Burnett|first=Victoria|date=2007-10-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> From this perspective, a constitutional democracy cannot maintain public symbols that glorify authoritarian rule. Removing such symbols is seen not as erasing history, but as ending official state endorsement of a particular political narrative.<ref name=":28" />
Advocates also emphasize the “right to truth” for victims and their families, aligning Spain with broader international human rights standards concerning recognition, memory, and accountability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swisspeace.ch/assets/publications/downloads/Gonzalez-Garcia_WorkingPaper_2_2023.pdf|title=The Search for Truth in Spain: Debates Around the Creation of a Truth Commission}}</ref> Reports by United Nations Special Rapporteurs have encouraged Spain to strengthen efforts related to truth, justice, and reparation for victims of Franco-era repression.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2014/02/461222|title=UN expert urges Spain to probe alleged atrocities during 1930's civil war}}</ref>
For supporters, the law corrects decades of imbalance in public memory and promotes constitutional values grounded in democracy and human rights.<ref name=":27" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur41/001/2013/en/|title=Spain: Supreme Court overturns ban on full-face veils; AI concerns remain about restrictions on headscarves in schools|date=2013-04-08|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
Critics argue that the Historical Memory Act risks politicizing historical interpretation by privileging one narrative over others.<ref name=":29">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/09/17/the-spanish-government-proposes-a-new-law-on-history|title=The Spanish government proposes a new law on history|work=The Economist|access-date=2026-03-02|issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref name=":30">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/world/europe/24iht-spain.4.8039804.html|title=Spain undergoes wrenching awakening from 'amnesia'|last=Burnett|first=Victoria|date=2007-10-24|work=The New York Times|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Some scholars contend that legislative intervention in historical memory can transform contested historical debate into state-defined orthodoxy.<ref name=":30" /> Opponents also argue that removing monuments may constitute symbolic erasure rather than genuine reconciliation.<ref name=":29" /> They maintain that democratic societies should allow historical interpretation to evolve through open public discourse rather than through statutory mandates.<ref name=":30" />
Much of this debate has centered on the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen) memorial complex, one of the most prominent and controversial symbols associated with Spain’s Civil War and the Franco dictatorship. The massive monument, built after the war and located near Madrid, contains a basilica carved into a mountain and a large cross that dominates the surrounding landscape. For decades it served as the burial site of General Francisco Franco as well as thousands of victims from both sides of the Civil War.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50164806|title=Franco exhumation: Spanish dictator's remains moved|date=2019-10-24|website=www.bbc.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/24/franco-exhumation-spain-dictator-madrid|title='Spain is fulfilling its duty to itself': Franco's remains exhumed|last=Jones|first=Sam|date=2019-10-24|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Supporters of Spain’s memory laws argue that the site symbolized the continued public prominence of Franco’s regime, while critics argue that the complex represents an important historical monument whose meaning should be debated rather than reshaped through legislation.
The controversy intensified when the Spanish government ordered the exhumation of Franco’s remains from the site in 2019, relocating them to a different cemetery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/presidente/news/Paginas/2019/20191024-statement.aspx|title=Institutional statement by Acting President of the Government regarding exhumation of Francisco Franco}}</ref> The government justified the decision as part of a broader democratic memory policy aimed at preventing the memorial from functioning as a place of political homage to the dictatorship. Critics, however, viewed the move as politically motivated and reflective of Spain’s continuing polarization over how the country should confront its past.
===== Ongoing Debate: Truth, Memory, and Democratic Pluralism =====
Spain’s memory laws have become one of the most visible and contested areas of contemporary public debate. The discussion centers on how a democracy should address a painful past and what role the state should play in shaping public memory. In Spain, this debate appears in disputes over monuments, commemorations, public spaces, and the official recognition of victims of the Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship.<ref name=":31">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/06/30/debate-rages-in-spain-over-how-to-rememberor-forgetfranco-dictatorship|title=Debate rages in Spain over how to remember—or forget—Franco's dictatorship|last=Coego|first=Alexandra F.|date=2023-06-30|website=The Art Newspaper - International art news and events|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/01/spain-memory-law-ghosts-francoism|title=Spain’s Memory Law Hasn’t Banished the Ghosts of Francoism|last=By|website=jacobin.com|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
Supporters of the Democratic Memory framework argue that removing Francoist symbols and formally recognizing victims strengthens democracy. They maintain that a constitutional state should not continue to honor an authoritarian regime in public spaces. From this perspective, memory laws do not erase history but instead end state endorsement of dictatorship and affirm the dignity of those who suffered repression.<ref name=":31" /><ref name=":33">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/spain-pays-tribute-francos-victims-50-years-after-his-death-2025-10-31/|title=Spain pays tribute to Franco's victims 50 years after his death}}</ref>
Critics argue that legislating memory can deepen political divisions. Some commentators warn that when the government takes an active role in defining historical meaning, it risks turning complex historical debates into partisan conflicts.<ref name=":32" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/01/spain-memory-law-ghosts-francoism|title=Spain’s Memory Law Hasn’t Banished the Ghosts of Francoism|last=By|website=jacobin.com|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Articles examining Spain’s evolving memory laws describe a society still divided over how to interpret the Civil War and Franco’s legacy, with disagreement over whether these reforms promote justice or contribute to polarization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enrs.eu/article/spanish-controversies-related-to-memory|title=Spanish controversies related to memory|website=ENRS|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
In today’s Spain, historical memory is not only about the past. It remains tied to ongoing debates about national identity, democracy, and constitutional values.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":33" /> The regulation of collective memory shows how law, history, and public expression intersect in a modern democratic society.
== <big>Religious Freedom in Spain</big> ==
===== Historical Development =====
Spain’s religious history is marked less by steady liberalization than by recurring conflict over whether religious difference could appear in public life at all. Medieval coexistence among Christians, Muslims, and Jews existed, but it never displaced the stronger political impulse toward religious unity.<ref name=":39">{{Cite journal|last=Montserrat|first=Daniel B.|date=1995|title=The Constitutional Development of Religious Freedom in Spain: An Historical Analysis|url=https://ir.law.fsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1241&context=jtlp|journal=Fla. St. U. J. Transnat’l L. & Pol’y|volume=4|pages=27}}</ref> That unity was enforced not only through theology, but through law, restricting who could publicly practice religion and under what conditions.
The constitutional period (1812 to 1978) largely reproduced that pattern. Spain’s constitutional period from 1812 to 1978 was marked by recurring political instability, as constitutions were repeatedly created through revolutions or military coups and then repealed by subsequent regimes.
The Constitution of Cádiz (1812) combined political liberalism with explicit Catholic exclusivity, embedding religion into public institutions, civic oaths, and education.<ref name=":39" /> Public officials were required to swear to defend Catholicism, and religious instruction was mandated in schools. Religion was not simply protected, it was institutionally embedded in the structures through which ideas were transmitted.
Later constitutions softened these rules but did not eliminate them. Even when non Catholic worship was tolerated, it was often confined to private settings.<ref name=":39" /> Individuals could hold different beliefs, but the ability to organize, teach, or display those beliefs publicly remained restricted.
The Spanish Constitution of 1931 (1931) reversed course by limiting the Catholic Church’s role in public life, removing funding, dissolving certain religious orders, and restricting religious education.<ref name=":40">{{Cite journal|last=Combalia|first=Zolia|last2=Roca|first2=Maria|date=2010|title=Religion and the Secular State of Spain, in Religion and the Secular State|url=https://original.religlaw.org/content/blurb/files/Spain%202014.pdf|journal=(W. Cole Durham, Jr. & Javier Martínez-Torrón eds., 2015)|pages=661}}</ref> This shift did not produce neutrality so much as it reallocated control, narrowing the channels through which religion could be expressed in public institutions.
Under Franco, Catholicism again became central to the state. Public expressions of non Catholic religion were restricted, and Catholic doctrine shaped education and law.<ref name=":39" /><ref name=":40" /> Religious teaching, symbolism, and institutional presence were largely aligned with a single faith.
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 marks a decisive break. Article 16 provides:
“Freedom of ideology, religion and worship of individuals and communities is guaranteed… No one may be compelled to declare his ideology, religion or beliefs… No religion shall have a state character….”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229|title=Constitución Española art. 16 (1978), BOE-A-1978-31229|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
This provision restructures the legal framework in three ways. First, it protects both private belief and public religious activity. Second, it prohibits coercion or compelled disclosure. Third, it removes any formal identification between the state and a particular religion. At the same time, it permits cooperation with religious groups, allowing religion to remain present in public life without being directed by the state.<ref name=":41">{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/spain/|title=U.S. Dep’t of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Spain (May 1, 2024)|website=United States Department of State|language=en-US|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
Spain’s constitutional framework both prohibits discrimination based on religion and protects individuals from being compelled to reveal their beliefs, while still maintaining cooperative relationships with religious communities.<ref name=":41" />
===== Modern Spain: Public Expression, Institutional Practice, and European Context =====
Spain’s current system assumes that religion will appear in public life and focuses on regulating how it appears rather than removing it.
This is reflected in everyday legal structures. Spain permits religious instruction in public schools, recognizes religious marriages, provides chaplaincy services in state institutions, and allows religious organizations to operate schools and social services.<ref name=":40" /><ref name=":41" /> These are not abstract protections. They determine how religious ideas are taught, how communities organize, and how individuals access religious practice in public settings.
A simple example shows how the system works. A student in a public school may attend Catholic, Muslim, or Protestant instruction or opt out entirely. A prisoner may request a minister of their faith. A hospital may provide chaplaincy services across religions. The state does not dictate belief, but it allows religious expression to operate openly within public institutions.
Spanish law also protects the conditions under which that expression occurs. Disrupting religious services or publicly targeting religious groups can trigger criminal liability, and hate crime laws include religion as a protected category.<ref name=":41" /> These rules are designed to preserve the space in which religious expression can take place without interference.
At the same time, Spain operates within a broader European system that allows different countries to take different approaches.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lugato|first=Monica|date=2013|title=The “Margin of Appreciation” and Freedom of Religion|url=https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=jcls|journal=J. Cath. Legal Stud.|volume=52|pages=49}}</ref> The contrast with France is the clearest example. France prohibits visible religious symbols like hijabs or large crosses in public schools. Spain generally allows them. Both approaches are accepted under European human rights law.
Spain’s position reflects its history. After experiencing both enforced religious unity and aggressive secular restriction, it adopts a middle approach. Religion can be visible in public life, but the state cannot control or impose it.<ref name=":39" /><ref name=":40" />
This balance appears clearly in Fernández Martínez v. Spain. The European Court of Human Rights upheld Spain’s system allowing the Catholic Church to control who teaches Catholic doctrine in public schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-145068|title=Fernández Martínez v. Spain, App. No. 56030/07, Eur. Ct. H.R. (Grand Chamber June 12, 2014)|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The teacher lost his position after publicly opposing Church teachings, and the Court accepted that a religious institution must be able to define who represents its message.
The case shows how Spain treats religion as something that can be publicly taught while still allowing religious groups to control their own doctrine.
Despite formal equality, differences remain in practice. The Catholic Church retains broader institutional presence due to historical agreements and infrastructure.<ref name=":40" /><ref name=":42">{{Cite journal|last=Angón|first=Oscar Celador|date=2025|title=Cooperation Between the State and Religious Organizations:
Equality and Non-Discrimination on Religious Grounds in Spain|url=https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/11/1408|journal=Religions|volume=16(11)}}</ref> Religious instruction tied to Catholicism is more widely available, and some institutions have more developed access to public cooperation.
Government reporting reflects this reality. While the law guarantees equality, certain religious groups have more established relationships with the state, while others must rely on registration systems or cooperation agreements to access similar benefits.<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":42" />
At the same time, Spain is becoming more religiously diverse. Immigration has increased the presence of Islam, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestant communities.<ref name=":40" /> This creates new pressures on schools, workplaces, and public institutions to accommodate a wider range of religious practices.
In practice, the system operates through structured accommodation. Public institutions allow religious expression, but participation remains voluntary, and the state does not formally endorse any faith. Religion is not removed from public life, but its presence is shaped by neutrality, access, and institutional balance.
== <big>The Right to Be Forgotten</big> ==
===== Google Spain =====
A seminal case in modern data protection law arose from Spain and reshaped the relationship between privacy and access to information in the digital age. In ''Google Spain SL v. AEPD and Mario Costeja González'', Spain’s Audiencia Nacional referred questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) concerning whether EU data protection law could require a search engine to remove links to lawful, truthful information that appeared when a person’s name was searched.<ref name=":43">{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:62012CJ0131|title=Google Spain SL v. Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD), Case C-131/12 (CJEU 2014).|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
The dispute began with a 1998 newspaper notice published by ''La Vanguardia'' announcing the forced sale of property belonging to Mario Costeja González to recover social security debts. The publication was legally required and accurate. Years later, the newspaper digitized its archives, and the notice became searchable online. When Costeja’s name was entered into Google, the notice appeared prominently in search results, effectively reviving a long-resolved financial matter.<ref name=":43" />
Costeja first requested that the newspaper remove or alter the page, and then asked Google to remove the links from its results. The Spanish Data Protection Agency rejected the claim against the newspaper but upheld the complaint against Google, ordering it to remove the links. Google challenged that decision, leading to the reference before the CJEU.<ref name=":43" />
The CJEU ultimately held that individuals may request the removal of links where the information has become “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant,” even if the original publication remains lawful.<ref name=":43" /> That holding effectively created the modern European “right to be forgotten.”
The Court’s reasoning turned on a critical distinction between publishers and search engines. While the original newspaper publication remained lawful and could stay online, the Court treated Google as a separate “data controller” because it indexes, organizes, and presents personal data in response to name-based searches.<ref name=":43" />
In the Court’s view, the legal issue did not depend on whether the information was false or unlawfully published. Rather, it arose from the way search engines amplify and restructure access to information. By enabling users to retrieve dispersed personal data instantly and systematically, search engines create a new and distinct impact on privacy interests.
The Court also adopted a broad interpretation of EU data protection law’s territorial scope. Even though Google’s core search operations were based outside the European Union, its Spanish subsidiary’s advertising activities were considered “inextricably linked” to the processing of personal data, bringing the activity within EU law.<ref name=":43" /> This expansive approach ensured that data protection rules could apply effectively in a global digital environment.
===== The Expansion of Data Protection in Spain =====
The doctrinal foundation for the decision was Directive 95/46/EC, which defined “personal data” broadly and treated “processing” as including retrieval, organization, and dissemination of information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1995/46/oj/eng|title=Directive 95/46/EC arts. 2(a), 2(b).|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> It also required that personal data be relevant, not excessive, and not retained longer than necessary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1995/46/oj/eng|title=Directive 95/46/EC art. 6(1).|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
Applied to traditional databases, these principles reflect familiar administrative safeguards. But ''Google Spain'' extended them to search engines, which do not collect data for fixed purposes but instead organize access to information across the internet. This creates tension between purpose-limitation principles and the open, communicative nature of online information flows.<ref name=":44">{{Cite journal|last=Post|first=Robert C.|date=2017|title=Data Privacy and Dignitary Privacy: Google Spain, the Right to Be Forgotten, and the Construction of the Public Sphere|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2953468|journal=Yale Law School, Public Law Research Paper|volume=598}}</ref>
The case sits at the intersection of two key provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Article 7 guarantees the right to respect for private and family life, home, and communications, tracking the language of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.<ref name=":45">{{Cite journal|title=EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (ECHR) AND CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (CHARTER)|url=https://doi.org/10.4337/9781783476879.00029|journal=European Competition Law|pages=657–658|doi=10.4337/9781783476879.00029}}</ref> Article 8, however, goes further by establishing a distinct and freestanding right to the protection of personal data. It requires that personal data be processed fairly, for specified purposes, and on a legitimate legal basis, and it guarantees individuals rights of access and rectification, as well as oversight by independent authorities.<ref name=":45" />
This dual structure is significant. Article 7 protects against intrusions into personal life, while Article 8 governs the conditions under which personal data may be collected, used, and disseminated. Together, they reflect both traditional dignitary privacy concerns and a more modern regulatory framework focused on informational control. In ''Google Spain'', the Court relied on both provisions, effectively blending these concepts by treating the continued accessibility of personal information through search engines as a form of ongoing interference with protected interests.<ref name=":44" />
===== The Right to Be Forgotten =====
The right to be forgotten that emerged from ''Google Spain'' is therefore hybrid. It reflects data protection principles, limiting continued processing of irrelevant data, while also incorporating dignity-based concerns about reputation and personal identity over time.<ref name=":44" />
In practice, the doctrine operates through balancing. A data subject’s privacy and data protection rights must be weighed against the public’s interest in access to information. The Court suggested that privacy will generally prevail, but that the balance may shift where the individual plays a public role or the information retains public significance.<ref name=":43" />
The decision also reflects a critical institutional shift: the responsibility for performing this balancing was effectively transferred from public authorities to private search engines. This delegation raises concerns about legitimacy, consistency, and the risk that private entities become de facto arbiters of fundamental rights online.<ref name=":43" />
In practice, this means that search engines must decide whether particular information about individuals in Spain should remain accessible through name-based searches. A person may obtain removal of outdated private matters, such as old financial difficulties, while requests involving public roles, criminal conduct, or professional activity may be denied as still relevant to public discourse.
Because these determinations are made initially by private actors rather than courts or regulators, the contours of privacy and access to information are shaped through decentralized, case-by-case decisions. This creates the risk that similar claims in Spain, and across the European Union, will produce inconsistent outcomes depending on how individual platforms apply the balancing test.
===== From Google Spain to Google v. CNIL =====
A later case, Google v. CNIL, addressed the geographic scope of the right to be forgotten. The CJEU held that EU law does not require global de-referencing, but it must be effective within the European Union, including measures that prevent or seriously discourage users from bypassing removals through non-EU domains.<ref name=":46">{{Cite web|url=https://infocuria.curia.europa.eu/tabs/document?source=document&docid=218105&doclang=EN|title=Google v. CNIL, Case C-507/17 (CJEU 2019).|website=infocuria.curia.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The Court nevertheless left open the possibility of broader, even global, remedies in particular cases, reflecting an unresolved tension between territorially bounded legal authority and the global nature of online information.<ref name=":46" />
That tension highlights a deeper structural problem: the internet is borderless, while law remains jurisdictionally limited. Even effective EU-wide de-referencing cannot fully eliminate access to information through foreign domains or technological workarounds. At the same time, internal tensions persist within EU law itself. Although the GDPR aims to harmonize data protection standards, the balancing of privacy and access to information may vary across Member States, creating the possibility of divergent outcomes across the Union.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Samonte|first=Mary|date=2020|title=Google v. CNIL: The Territorial Scope of the Right
to Be Forgotten Under EU Law|url=https://www.europeanpapers.eu/system/files/pdf_version/EP_EF_2020_I_003_Mary_Samonte_00332.pdf|journal=Eur. Papers|volume=4|pages=839}}</ref>
Taken together, ''Google Spain'' and ''Google v. CNIL'' reflect a broader transformation in the role of search engines. Search engines do not merely host information; they structure access to it. By organizing and prioritizing content, they shape how individuals are represented and understood in the digital environment, making them central actors in the ongoing negotiation between privacy, free expression, and the architecture of public information online.
== <big>Spain in the AI Era</big> ==
===== Artificial Intelligence and the Crisis of Identity =====
Advances in artificial intelligence have begun to destabilize one of law’s most basic assumptions: that identity is fixed, knowable, and tied to a real person. Technologies such as deepfakes, voice cloning, and generative AI now make it possible to create highly realistic images, speech, and even entire personas that do not correspond to any actual individual.
Traditionally, identity has been linked to continuity; one body, one history, and one set of actions attributable to a single person. AI disrupts this model by allowing identity markers such as faces, voices, and personal data to be replicated or fabricated entirely. A deepfake video may falsely depict a person making a statement they never made, while synthetic identities can combine real and fabricated data to bypass verification systems.
These developments blur the line between authentic and artificial identity and raise a central question for law: whether identity remains grounded in objective reality or has become something increasingly constructed and controllable. Spain’s regulatory approach provides a useful lens for how legal systems are responding to this challenge.
===== Spain’s Regulatory Response to Artificial Intelligence =====
Spain does not yet have a standalone AI statute in force, it is governed by the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, which establishes a risk-based regulatory model.<ref name=":47">{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng|title=Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act).|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
Under this framework, AI systems are categorized by risk level. High-risk systems—such as those used in employment or public decision-making—must comply with strict requirements, including transparency, human oversight, and safeguards against bias.<ref name=":47" /> The classification of generative AI and legal decision-support tools turns on their intended use and the degree to which they influence legal or administrative decision-making.<ref name=":48">{{Cite journal|last=Rayón Ballesteros|first=María Concepción|date=2025|title=Generative AI for Lawyers in Spain: A balanced
approach to the legal framework, technical foundations
and best practices, combining technological innovation
with professional responsibility|url=https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/law-2025-0003|journal=Complutense University, Law and Business|volume=5|pages=12}}</ref>
At the national level, Spain is developing a Law on the “Good Use and Governance of Artificial Intelligence,” which will implement and supplement the EU framework.<ref name=":49">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cuatrecasas.com/es/spain/propiedad-intelectual/art/anteproyecto-ley-buen-uso-gobernanza-ia|title=Anteproyecto de Ley para el Buen Uso y la Gobernanza de la Inteligencia Artificial (Spain) (approved by Consejo de Ministros Mar. 11, 2025) (proposed law implementing the EU Artificial Intelligence Act).|website=Cuatrecasas|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The draft law establishes a national sanctioning regime and introduces mechanisms to suspend or withdraw AI systems that pose serious risks, including discriminatory outcomes.<ref name=":49" />
Institutionally, Spain has created the Agencia Española de Supervisión de Inteligencia Artificial (AESIA), operational since 2024, as its central AI regulator.<ref>{{Citation|title=Real Decreto 729/2023, de 22 de agosto, por el que se aprueba el Estatuto de la Agencia Española de Supervisión de Inteligencia Artificial|url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2023/08/22/729|date=2023-09-02|accessdate=2026-04-20|pages=122289–122316|issue=Real Decreto 729/2023|last=Ministerio de la Presidencia, Relaciones con las Cortes y Memoria Democrática}}</ref> AESIA oversees compliance, conducts inspections, and will exercise sanctioning authority. Spain has also implemented regulatory sandboxes under Royal Decree 817/2023, allowing high-risk AI systems to be tested in controlled environments before deployment.<ref>{{Citation|title=Real Decreto 817/2023, de 8 de noviembre, que establece un entorno controlado de pruebas para el ensayo del cumplimiento de la propuesta de Reglamento del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo por el que se establecen normas armonizadas en materia de inteligencia artificial|url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2023/11/08/817|date=2023-11-09|accessdate=2026-04-20|pages=149138–149168|issue=Real Decreto 817/2023|last=Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital}}</ref>
Spain’s approach also relies heavily on existing legal frameworks that indirectly regulate AI by protecting identity, privacy, and fairness. These frameworks include:
* '''Organic Law 3/2018 on Data Protection and Digital Rights''', which governs personal data processing and applies broadly to AI systems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2018-16673|title=BOE-A-2018-16673 Ley Orgánica 3/2018, de 5 de diciembre, de Protección de Datos Personales y garantía de los derechos digitales.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> For example, AI tools must comply with requirements of transparency, lawful processing, and data minimization, particularly when handling sensitive legal or personal information.<ref name=":48" />
* '''Organic Law 1/1982 on Honor, Privacy, and Self-Image''', which protects individuals from unauthorized use of their likeness—especially relevant in cases involving deepfakes.<ref name=":50">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1982-11196|title=BOE-A-1982-11196 Ley Orgánica 1/1982, de 5 de mayo, de protección civil del derecho al honor, a la intimidad personal y familiar y a la propia imagen.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Organic Law 2/1984 on the Right of Rectification''', allowing individuals to correct false or misleading information, including AI-generated content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1984-7248|title=BOE-A-1984-7248 Ley Orgánica 2/1984, de 26 de marzo, reguladora del derecho de rectificación.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Law 15/2022 on Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination''', which addresses algorithmic bias and requires fairness in automated decision-making.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2022-11589|title=BOE-A-2022-11589 Ley 15/2022, de 12 de julio, integral para la igualdad de trato y la no discriminación.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Law 34/2002 on Information Society Services''', regulating online platforms, including AI-driven services such as chatbots or recommendation systems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2002-13758|title=BOE-A-2002-13758 Ley 34/2002, de 11 de julio, de servicios de la sociedad de la información y de comercio electrónico.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Royal Legislative Decree 1/2007 on Consumer Protection''', which applies where AI-enabled products produce harmful or misleading outputs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2007-20555|title=BOE-A-2007-20555 Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2007, de 16 de noviembre, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley General para la Defensa de los Consumidores y Usuarios y otras leyes complementarias.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Royal Decree-Law 9/2021 on Labor laws''', including the Workers’ Statute and the “Rider Law,” which require transparency in algorithmic management, such as how platforms assign work or evaluate employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2021-7840|title=BOE-A-2021-7840 Real Decreto-ley 9/2021, de 11 de mayo, por el que se modifica el texto refundido de la Ley del Estatuto de los Trabajadores, aprobado por el Real Decreto Legislativo 2/2015, de 23 de octubre, para garantizar los derechos laborales de las personas dedicadas al reparto en el ámbito de plataformas digitales.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
Spain’s approach is particularly notable in the legal profession and judicial system, where regulation is reinforced by professional ethics. As one law review article explains, generative AI must be understood not only through public regulation, but also through the ethical duties governing lawyers.<ref name=":48" /> Spanish attorneys remain bound by obligations of confidentiality, diligence, and professional responsibility under the Estatuto General de la Abogacía Española and the Código Deontológico, even when using AI tools.<ref name=":48" /> AI may assist legal work, but it cannot replace professional judgment or excuse error.
This principle is reflected in judicial practice. Article 57 of Royal Decree-Law 6/2023 recognizes “assisted actions,” allowing AI to generate draft documents within judicial workflows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2023-25758|title=BOE-A-2023-25758 Real Decreto-ley 6/2023, de 19 de diciembre, por el que se aprueban medidas urgentes para la ejecución del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia en materia de servicio público de justicia, función pública, régimen local y mecenazgo.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref><ref name=":48" />However, such drafts have no legal effect unless validated by a competent authority, ensuring that AI remains subordinate to human decision-making.<ref name=":48" />
Recent cases illustrate the risks of inadequate oversight. In proceedings before the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Navarra, a lawyer submitted a filing that mistakenly cited foreign criminal law after relying on AI. Although the court declined to impose sanctions, it emphasized that AI use does not relieve lawyers of their duty to verify accuracy.<ref name=":48" /> Similarly, the Tribunal Constitucional dismissed an amparo appeal containing fabricated AI-generated citations and issued a formal reprimand, reaffirming that lawyers remain fully responsible for their filings.<ref name=":48" />
The legal framework is further reinforced by Organic Law 5/2024 on the Right of Defence, which requires that legal assistance meet standards of adequacy and quality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2024-23630|title=BOE-A-2024-23630 Ley Orgánica 5/2024, de 11 de noviembre, del Derecho de Defensa.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> Even where AI is used, lawyers must supervise and validate outputs, and failures of oversight may give rise to liability.<ref name=":48" />
More broadly, Spain’s AI governance operates across a comprehensive legal landscape, complemented by the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024 and international standards such as OECD and EU ethical guidelines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oecd.ai/en/policy-initiatives/national-ai-strategy-2024|title=Estrategia Nacional de Inteligencia Artificial 2024 (Spain), available at OECD AI Policy Dashboard|website=oecd.ai|language=en|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/ethics-guidelines-trustworthy-ai|title=Ethics guidelines for trustworthy AI {{!}} Shaping Europe’s digital future|website=digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> At its core, this framework reflects a deeper commitment: that identity, and the responsibility attached to it, remains grounded in the human individual, even as technology makes identity increasingly fluid and manipulable.
== <big>The Right to One’s Own Image in Spain: Identity, Control, and Communication</big> ==
===== Constitutional Right Rooted in Identity =====
In Spain, the right to one’s own image reflects a broader legal judgment about identity and communication. Article 18.1 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 guarantees the right to honor, personal and family privacy, and one’s own image, signaling that visual representation is treated as a core component of personhood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229#:~:text=24:%20#a18%5D-,Art%C3%ADculo%2018,2.|title=BOE-A-1978-31229 Constitución Española.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> Unlike reputation or privacy alone, this right governs how a person appears to others and, crucially, who controls that appearance.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sánchez de Diego|first=Manuel|date=2018|title=Right to One’s Own Image in Spain|url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a27f/307b2f817bef530288062007c8e898b0ca09.pdf|journal=J. Info. Pol’y|volume=8|pages=401}}</ref>
This protection is developed in Organic Law 1/1982, which provides civil remedies against “illegitimate interference.”<ref name=":51">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1982-11196|title=BOE-A-1982-11196 Ley Orgánica 1/1982, de 5 de mayo, de protección civil del derecho al honor, a la intimidad personal y familiar y a la propia imagen.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> Article 7.5 treats as unlawful the capture or publication of a person’s image in private contexts, while Article 7.6 prohibits the use of a person’s name, voice, or image for advertising, commercial, or analogous purposes.<ref name=":51" /> For example, publishing a photograph taken inside a private home without consent violates Article 7.5, while using an athlete’s image in a sponsorship campaign without permission falls squarely under Article 7.6.
The right is also autonomous. Spanish courts emphasize that liability does not depend on falsity or intrusion alone, but on loss of control over recognizable identity. In STS 60/1998, the Supreme Court clarified that the relevant question is whether a person can be identified, even if not with perfect clarity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/proteccion-fundamentales-imagen-as-17745878|title=STS 60-1998, 30 de Enero de 1998|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> This means that partial or stylized representations, such as silhouettes, blurred images, or distinctive features, may still trigger protection if recognition is possible.
At the same time, the right is not absolute. Article 8 of Organic Law 1/1982 provides exceptions where competing interests prevail, including when there is a “predominant and relevant” cultural or informational interest or when images of public figures are captured in public settings.<ref name=":50" /> Rather than applying rigid categories, courts weigh whether the use meaningfully contributes to public discourse or cultural life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/implico-aumento-erroneo-subsumirse-j-57557053|title=STS, 29 de Enero de 1999|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
===== From Control to Commerce: How Image Rights Are Monetized =====
These principles become especially concrete in contexts like sports, where image and identity are inseparable from commercial value. Athletes’ likenesses are routinely used by clubs, sponsors, and media, but Spanish law maintains that control over that use remains with the individual.<ref name=":52">{{Cite web|url=https://business-school.laliga.com/en/news/image-rights-in-football|title=Image Rights in Sports {{!}} LaLiga Business School|website=Liga de Fútbol Profesional|language=en|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> A footballer, for example, may authorize a club to use his image for team promotions, while separately licensing endorsement rights to a brand.
Spanish law structures this through a dual framework. First, individuals retain a negative right to block unauthorized uses of their image. Second, they hold a positive right to commercially exploit that image through licensing agreements.<ref name=":52" /> This explains why contracts in professional sports carefully define scope, duration, and purpose of any assignment.<ref name=":52" />
Crucially, Spanish law adopts a broad understanding of “commercial” use. As discussed in The Right to One’s Own Image, “fines comerciales” under Article 7.6 extends beyond traditional advertising to include uses embedded in profit-driven media.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barrnett|first=Stephen R.|date=1999|title=The Right to One's Own Image': Publicity and Privacy Rights in the United States and Spain|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=224628|journal=Am. J. Comp. L.|volume=47|pages=555}}</ref> For instance, a magazine that publishes a celebrity’s image in a feature designed to increase circulation may still be engaging in a commercial use, even if the image is not part of a formal advertisement.
This broader conception is illustrated by STS 816/1996. There, the City of Madrid used photographs of identifiable individuals in a public-awareness campaign promoting respect for the elderly. The Supreme Court held that the use was “publicitario” even without profit, because it relied on identifiable persons to convey its message.<ref name=":53">{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/intimidad-imagen-reproduccion-autorizada-17742790|title=STS 816-1996, 7 de Octubre de 1996|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The Court rejected the defense under Article 8.1, emphasizing that the campaign did not require the use of specific individuals’ images to achieve its purpose.<ref name=":53" />
By contrast, in SSTS 1152/1994, the Court allowed the reuse of a performer’s image to promote a revival of a traditional musical production.<ref name=":54">{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/propia-imagen-proteccion-constitucional-17740334|title=STS 1152-1994, 21 de Diciembre de 1994|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The distinguishing factor was context: the image directly related to the cultural work being promoted, and its use contributed to preserving a recognized artistic tradition.<ref name=":54" /> Together, these cases show that Spanish courts focus less on formal categories and more on whether the use is necessary and proportionate to its asserted purpose.
===== From Exposure to Use: When the Public Can Reproduce an Image =====
A central question in this doctrine is how far public visibility allows others to reproduce a person’s image. Spanish law recognizes a strong interest in freedom of information, particularly where images contribute to reporting on matters of public concern.
In STS 28 December 1996, a newspaper published a photograph of a criminal defendant leaving court. The Supreme Court held the publication lawful because it related to a matter of public interest and contributed to informing the public about judicial proceedings.<ref name=":55">{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/53408968|title=STS, 28 de Mayo de 1996|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The fact that the image was taken in a public setting reinforced this conclusion.<ref name=":55" />
However, public exposure does not eliminate the need for consent. This principle becomes especially important in the digital context. In STS 91/2017, a newspaper used a photograph taken from a victim’s Facebook profile when reporting a violent incident.<ref name=":56">{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/667177509|title=STS 91-2017, 15 de Febrero de 2017|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The Court held that this violated the right to one’s image, emphasizing that making a photograph accessible online does not amount to consent for its reuse. Consent must be specific to each use and cannot be inferred from general availability.<ref name=":56" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gdpr-info.eu/art-4-gdpr/|title=Art. 4 GDPR – Definitions|website=General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)|language=en-US|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
The limits of permissible use become even clearer in cases involving dignity and suffering. In STC 231/1988, the Constitutional Court held that distributing footage of a bullfighter dying after being gored violated the privacy rights of his widow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-T-1988-29203|title=BOE-T-1988-29203 Sala Segunda. Sentencia 231/1988, de 2 de diciembre. Recurso de amparo 1.247/1986. Contra Sentencia de la Sala Primera del Tribunal Supremo que anula la dictada en apelación por la Audiencia Territorial de Madrid, en autos sobre vulneración del derecho a la intimidad. Voto particular.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> Although the event occurred in a public arena, the Court concluded that the dissemination of images capturing extreme distress crossed the boundary of acceptable informational use.
Spanish courts are similarly cautious in the advertising context. In STS 21 June 1988, the Supreme Court suggested that even incidental references to a person in advertising may violate the right to one’s image.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/77589496|title=STS, 21 de Junio de 1988|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> At the same time, Article 8.2(b) recognizes an exception for caricature, allowing satirical or parodic uses where they contribute to expression rather than merely exploiting identity for commercial gain.
As of now, the Spanish right to one’s own image is best understood as a doctrine of controlled visibility. It protects an individual’s authority over how they are represented, even in public-facing contexts such as media, sports, and digital platforms. While the law accommodates competing interests, such as news reporting, cultural expression, and satire, it consistently resists the idea that visibility alone permits unrestricted use.
In an environment where images circulate rapidly and widely, this framework ensures that identity remains anchored in the individual rather than absorbed into the commercial or informational systems that reproduce it.
[[Category:Communication in Europe|Law in Spain]]
[[Category:Law in Europe]]
[[Category:Spain]]
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== '''<big>Communication Law in Spain</big>''' ==
===== Introduction =====
Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy located in southwestern Europe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229#:~:text=24%3A%20%23a18%5D-,Art%C3%ADculo%2018,2.|title=Constitución Española (1978)|website=www.constituteproject.org|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":36">{{Cite web|url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries/spain_en|title=Spain – EU country {{!}} European Union|website=european-union.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> While the monarch serves as head of state, political power is exercised through a democratic parliamentary system led by a prime minister and the national legislature known as the Cortes Generales. Spain is also a highly decentralized state composed of seventeen Autonomous Communities, each with its own regional government and authority over areas such as culture, language policy, and public broadcasting.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to its domestic institutions, Spain operates within a broader European legal framework as a member of the European Union and a party to international human rights agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights.<ref name=":36" />
Modern debates over communication law in Spain are also deeply influenced by the country’s twentieth-century history. From 1939 until 1975 Spain was governed by the authoritarian dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, during which the state exercised strict control over political speech and media institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/articles/francisco-franco|title=Francisco Franco - Biography, Facts & Death|last=Editors|first=HISTORY com|date=2009-11-09|website=HISTORY|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> Following Franco’s death, Spain underwent a democratic transition that culminated in the adoption of the 1978 Constitution, which established modern protections for freedom of expression and democratic pluralism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adst.org/2016/06/spains-post-franco-emergence-dictatorship-democracy/|title=Spain’s Post-Franco Emergence from Dictatorship to Democracy – Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These historical experiences continue to shape contemporary debates over speech, protest, and public memory in Spain.
== <big>Sources and Institutions Of Communication Law In Spain</big> ==
=== '''National Sources and Institutions''' ===
===== Constitutional Foundations of Communication Law =====
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the supreme legal authority governing communication rights in Spain.<ref name=":0" /> Only a few provisions directly address communication, but they shape disputes involving the press, privacy, defamation, surveillance, and protest.<ref name=":0" />
The first major provision is Article 20, which protects freedom of expression and information.<ref name=":0" /> It guarantees freedom of expression, creative and academic freedom, the right to communicate and receive truthful information, and the prohibition of prior censorship.<ref name=":0" /> This is the backbone of Spanish communication law.
But Article 20 is not a blank check. Article 20(4) makes clear that expression has limits when it collides with other constitutional rights. <ref name=":0" /> In other words, Spain builds speech protection and speech limits into the same constitutional design.
That leads to the second key provision: Article 18, which protects privacy, honor, and the secrecy of communications. Article 18 expressly protects the right to honor, personal and family privacy, personal image, and the secrecy of communications.<ref name=":0" /> These protections frequently arise in modern communication disputes. For example, in Spanish Constitutional Court decision STC 104/1986, the court examined whether a newspaper report accusing a businessman of misconduct violated his constitutional right to honor, emphasizing the need to balance expression with protection of reputation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hj.tribunalconstitucional.es/en/Resolucion/Show/104|title=HJ System - Decision: SENTENCIA 62/1982|website=hj.tribunalconstitucional.es|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
Another important principle in the Spanish constitutional system is the protection of the “essential content” of fundamental rights, often referred to as the ''núcleo esencial''. Rooted in Article 10 and Section I on fundamental rights, this principle holds that certain core aspects of rights cannot be undermined by the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/espana/leyfundamental/paginas/titulo_primero.aspx|title=Part I Fundamental Rights and Duties|website=www.lamoncloa.gob.es|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> The doctrine reflects Spain’s constitutional commitment to human dignity and the free development of personality. In practice, rights may be regulated but not restricted in ways that destroy their core substance. Rights such as expression, life, and physical integrity retain a protected core beyond ordinary political decision-making.
An interesting wrinkle in the Spanish Constitution is Article 10(2), often called the international interpretation clause.<ref name=":0" /> It requires that constitutional rights be interpreted in conformity with international human rights treaties ratified by Spain. That strengthens the influence of European and international human-rights standards inside Spain’s own constitutional system. For example, in ''Stern Taulats and Roura Capellera v. Spain'' (2018), the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Spain violated freedom of expression after protesters were convicted for burning photographs of the King during a political demonstration, illustrating how international courts shape constitutional speech protections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#%7B%22itemid%22:%5B%22001-181719%22%5D%7D|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
===== Regulatory Authorities =====
Spain relies on regulatory authorities to implement and supervise communication law.
The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) oversees telecommunications and audiovisual markets in Spain, with a role that blends sector oversight with competition regulation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnmc.es/|title=Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia {{!}} CNMC|website=www.cnmc.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) enforces the GDPR and Organic Law 3/2018, and it is one of the main places where “digital rights” become real—through guidance, enforcement, and sanctions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aepd.es/|title=Agencia Española de Protección de Datos {{!}} AEPD|website=www.aepd.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2018-16673|title=BOE-A-2018-16673 Ley Orgánica 3/2018, de 5 de diciembre, de Protección de Datos Personales y garantía de los derechos digitales.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital.gob.es/|title=Regulation - 2016/679 - EN - gdpr - EUR-Lex|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function plays a coordinating role for national telecommunications and digital policy, including the domestic implementation of EU digital regulation. The ministry also oversees the allocation of radio frequencies, a critical responsibility because the radio spectrum is a limited public resource used by mobile networks, television broadcasting, satellite communications, and other wireless technologies.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://digital.gob.es/|title=Portal MTDFP {{!}} Inicio|website=digital.gob.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":9" />
===== National Legislative Framework =====
Spain does not rely solely on the Constitution and international treaties to regulate communication.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.echr.coe.int/european-convention-on-human-rights|title=European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) - EUR-Lex|date=2009-12-01|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> Spain can pass national legislation governing communication as long as it stays consistent with superior constitutional and supranational law.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://curia.europa.eu/site/jcms/d2_5093/en/the-court-of-justice|title=Court of Justice of the European Union|website=curia|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The General Audiovisual Communication Law (Law 13/2022) regulates television, radio, and on-demand audiovisual services, including licensing, protection of minors, advertising standards, and media pluralism.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|title=Ley 13/2022, de 7 de julio, General de Comunicación Audiovisual|url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2022/07/07/13|date=2022-07-08|accessdate=2026-03-02|pages=96114–96220|issue=Ley 13/2022|last=Jefatura del Estado}}</ref> It also functions as Spain’s main implementation of AVMSD requirements.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":10" />
The General Telecommunications Law (Law 11/2022) regulates electronic communications networks and services, including spectrum allocation and operator licensing.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://ppp.worldbank.org/library/general-de-telecomunicaciones-ley-11-2022|title=General de Telecomunicaciones Ley 11/2022|website=PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Under Article 149.1.21 of the Constitution, telecommunications is an exclusive competence of the State.<ref name=":0" /> In other words, national control ensures consistent regulation of telecommunications across Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
On privacy, Spain applies the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and complements it through Organic Law 3/2018 (LOPDGDD), which regulates data processing and sets out digital rights in domestic law.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12" /> This framework includes digital rights such as the “right to erasure” (“right to be forgotten”).<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12" />
Finally, Organic Law 1/1982 on the Protection of Honor, Privacy, and Personal Image provides civil remedies when freedom of expression conflicts with personal dignity, basically, when speech unlawfully harms reputation or private life.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1982-11196|title=BOE-A-1982-11196 Ley Orgánica 1/1982, de 5 de mayo, de protección civil del derecho al honor, a la intimidad personal y familiar y a la propia imagen.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> This law operationalizes the protections in Article 18 in everyday disputes involving media reporting and personal reputation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" />
===== Regional (Autonomous Community) Regulation =====
[[File:Autonomous communities of Spain no names-gl.svg|thumb|'''The 17 Autonomous communities of Spain''']]
Spain is a decentralized state composed of 17 Autonomous Communities. While telecommunications remains a national competence under Article 149, Autonomous Communities still influence communication in meaningful ways, especially through public broadcasting and language policy.<ref name=":0" />
Autonomous Communities may create and regulate their own public broadcasting corporations. For example, Catalonia operates the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.3cat.cat/corporatiu/en/el-grup/|title=The Group - CCMA|last=3Cat|website=3Cat|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> and the Basque Country operates EITB.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eitb.eus/en/|title=EITB|website=www.eitb.eus|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> These bodies operate under regional frameworks but still sit under national and EU rules that shape audiovisual services more generally.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":10" />
Some regions also maintain audiovisual supervisory authorities. Catalonia, for example, has the Consell de l’Audiovisual de Catalunya (CAC), which oversees audiovisual services within the region and has a particular focus on standards tied to language and culture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cac.cat/|title=Consell de l'Auidovisual de Catalunya}}</ref>
Regional governments also regulate language and cultural policy. Autonomous Communities with co-official languages may adopt measures that promote regional-language media and broadcasting quotas.<ref name=":0" /> These policies shape what audiences actually see and hear day-to-day, but they still must remain consistent with Spain’s constitutional protections and EU standards.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" />
=== '''International''' '''Sources and Institutions''' ===
===== European Union Law =====
As an EU Member State, Spain is bound by European Union law, including the principle that EU law has primacy in areas where the EU has competence.<ref name=":4" /> EU rules increasingly shape digital communication and audiovisual markets.<ref name=":8">{{Citation|title=Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/char_2012/oj/eng|date=2012-10-26|accessdate=2026-03-02|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng|title=Regulation - 2022/2065 - EN - DSA - EUR-Lex|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Citation|title=Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) (Codified version) (Text with EEA relevance)|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2010/13/oj/eng|date=2010-03-10|accessdate=2026-03-02|volume=095|language=en}}</ref>
Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights protects freedom of expression and media pluralism.<ref name=":8" /> When acting within EU law, Spanish authorities must comply with these protections.
Two major EU instruments show how direct this influence can be. First, the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065) regulates online platforms and intermediary services across the EU, with transparency duties, processes for handling illegal content, and heightened obligations for very large online platforms.<ref name=":9" /> Spain must enforce these rules through its national system.
Second, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) sets EU-wide standards for television and on-demand audiovisual services, including advertising rules, protections for minors, and promotion of European content.<ref name=":10" /> Spain’s General Audiovisual Communication Law (2022) implements these European requirements in national law.<ref name=":1" />
===== International Obligations =====
Spain is also a party to major international human rights treaties that shape communication law.
Spain participates in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations that administers international systems for protecting intellectual property. WIPO maintains global databases for searching patents, trademarks, and industrial designs across jurisdictions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/|title=WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization|website=www.wipo.int|language=en|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> For example, the PATENTSCOPE database allows users to search millions of international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, while the Global Brand Database provides access to trademark records from national and international registries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf|title=WIPO - Search International and National Patent Collections|website=patentscope.wipo.int|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These tools help prevent conflicting claims and support cross-border protection of intellectual property.
Spain is also a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects freedom of expression in Article 19.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights|title=International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights|website=OHCHR|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Because of Article 10(2) of the Spanish Constitution, Spain’s courts must read domestic constitutional rights consistently with these kinds of international commitments.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":11" />
A key upshot of this layered legal system is that freedom of expression in Spain is not at the mercy of the national political process alone.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11" /> Because Spain operates within a broader European and international legal order, attempts to narrow expression face external legal constraints.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11" /> This layered system makes it less likely that core expressive freedoms will be reduced.
== <big>Freedom of Expression and Dignity in Spain</big> ==
===== Constitutional Balance: Expression and Honor =====
Spain protects freedom of expression under Article 20 of the 1978 Constitution, which guarantees the right to express and disseminate ideas and to communicate and receive truthful information, while prohibiting prior censorship.<ref name=":0" /> At the same time, Article 18 protects the right to honor, privacy, and personal image, protections that are further implemented through Organic Law 1/1982 on the Protection of Honor, Privacy, and Personal Image.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /> The substance of these two provisions often collide, especially because Spanish courts treat them as equally serious constitutional commitments.
Unlike systems that treat speech as nearly absolute, Spain’s Constitutional Court uses a balancing approach. When expression conflicts with dignity or reputation, courts weigh the competing rights while ensuring that the essential content (''núcleo esencial'') of each constitutional right is preserved, meaning that neither freedom of expression nor the protection of honor and privacy may be restricted in a way that destroys their core substance.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /> In practice, this can mean allowing strong criticism of public officials or institutions when it contributes to democratic debate, while still permitting legal remedies when speech crosses into false factual allegations or serious attacks on personal reputation. Spanish constitutional jurisprudence has repeatedly emphasized that freedom of expression has a “preferred position” in democratic debate, especially when speech concerns political issues or public officials.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> But that preferred position does not make it untouchable.
This framework reflects Spain’s transition to democracy after the Franco dictatorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/work-document/international-dimensions-of-democratisation-revisiting-the-spanish-case/|title=International dimensions of democratisation: revisiting the Spanish case|last=Powell|first=Charles|website=Elcano Royal Institute|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> The 1978 Constitution placed strong emphasis on open public debate as essential to pluralism.<ref name=":0" /> At the same time, dignity is considered a foundational value of the constitutional order. This dual commitment to democratic openness and protection of personal honor defines Spain’s speech doctrine.
===== The Importance of Veracity =====
One distinctive feature of Spanish law is the requirement of “veracity.” Veracity in ethics is the principle of truth-telling, requiring professionals to be honest, transparent, and accurate in all communications to foster trust. Article 20 protects the right to communicate “truthful information.”<ref name=":0" /> Courts do not interpret this to mean that journalists must prove absolute truth.<ref name=":13" /> Instead, they must show that they acted with reasonable diligence in verifying their information.
This standard recognizes human limits: reporters and witnesses cannot know “the whole truth.” What matters is whether they checked reliable sources and acted in good faith. If they do, even mistaken reporting may still be protected. If they fail to verify serious factual claims that harm someone’s reputation, liability may follow.<ref name=":13" />
The Constitutional Court has distinguished sharply between opinions and factual statements.<ref name=":13" /> Opinions, especially political opinions, receive strong protection, even when harsh or offensive. Factual allegations that damage someone’s honor are treated differently. In defamation cases, courts examine whether the information contributed to public debate or merely harmed reputation without public interest.<ref name=":13" />
===== Terrorism, the Monarchy, and Controversial Speech =====
The limits of Spain’s balancing approach become most visible in politically sensitive cases.
Following decades of violence by the Basque terrorist group ETA, Spain criminalized the glorification of terrorism and humiliation of victims under Article 578 of the Criminal Code.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/18760|title=Penal Code (Organic Law No. 10/1995 of November 23, 1995, as amended up to Organic Law No. 2/2019 of March 1, 2019), Spain, WIPO Lex|website=www.wipo.int|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://fibgar.es/en/the-human-rights-committee-urges-spain-to-protect-freedom-of-expression-and-human-rights-defenders/|title=The Human Rights Committee urges Spain to protect freedom of expression and human rights defenders|last=Fibgar|date=2025-08-06|website=FIBGAR|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Supporters argue that these laws protect democratic stability and the dignity of victims. Critics argue that they have sometimes been applied too broadly, including against musicians and social media users.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur41/001/2014/en/|title=Spain: The right to protest under threat|date=2014-04-24|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
In Otegi Mondragón v. Spain (2011), a Basque politician was convicted for referring to the King as the “chief of the torturers.”<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/spa?i=001-103951|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Spain’s courts upheld the conviction, but the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the conviction violated freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Strasbourg court emphasized that political speech, even when provocative, deserves heightened protection and that public institutions must tolerate stronger criticism.<ref name=":16" />
A similar controversy arose in Stern Taulats and Roura Capellera v. Spain (2018), involving protesters who burned photographs of the King during a political demonstration.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-181724|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Spanish courts treated the act as an insult to the Crown. The European Court again ruled that Spain had violated freedom of expression, finding that the act was symbolic political protest rather than incitement to violence.<ref name=":17" />
Artistic expression has also generated debate. The prosecution of rappers such as Valtonyc for lyrics praising terrorist groups or insulting state institutions sparked international criticism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arisa-project.eu/the-presumption-of-innocence-and-the-media-coverage-of-criminal-cases/|title=The Presumption of Innocence and the Media Coverage of Criminal Cases|last=admin|date=2021-05-13|website=Arisa|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://njc.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Putting-the-chill-in-media-freedom-and-free-speech-.pdf|title=Putting the chill in media freedom and free speech}}</ref>Some observers argued that criminal sanctions risked chilling artistic freedom.<ref name=":18" /> Others defended the prosecutions as necessary to prevent normalization of violence.<ref name=":14" />
These cases reveal a deeper tension in Spain over how far a democracy can go in protecting institutional dignity and social peace without narrowing the space for dissent.
===== Ongoing Debate: Dignity-Centered Democracy =====
Spain’s speech model is often described as dignity-centered. Human dignity is explicitly recognized in Article 10 of the Constitution as a foundational principle of the legal order.<ref name=":0" /> Courts therefore treat attacks on honor, reputation, or institutional integrity as constitutionally significant.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" />
Some scholars argue that this model reflects a mature constitutional democracy that refuses to sacrifice personal dignity in the name of absolute speech.[35][36] They see Spain’s approach as consistent with broader European human rights traditions, where proportionality and balancing are central.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":16" />
Others argue that criminal penalties for offensive speech, especially in political or artistic contexts, create a chilling effect and discourage open debate.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" /> They point to repeated rulings from the European Court of Human Rights pushing Spain toward stronger protection of political expression.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" />
Spain’s doctrine continues to evolve through judicial dialogue between national courts and European institutions.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":16" />The result is a system that seeks to protect democratic debate while also preserving the constitutional value of dignity, a balance that remains contested and actively debated.
== <big>Spain’s 2015 Citizen Security Law (“Gag Law”)</big> ==
[[File:Manifestación contra la Ley Mordaza en Madrid 20-12-2014 - 07.jpg|thumb|On December 20, 2014, protesters in Madrid demonstrated against Spain’s new Citizens Security Law, known as the "Gag Law" (Ley Mordaza)]]
The Citizen Security Law (Ley Orgánica 4/2015 de protección de la seguridad ciudadana) is a Spanish national law that entered into force on 1 July 2015.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2015-3442|title=BOE-A-2015-3442 Ley Orgánica 4/2015, de 30 de marzo, de protección de la seguridad ciudadana.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> It is widely known in public debate as the “Gag Law” (Ley Mordaza), a nickname given by critics who argue that it discourages protest and limits free expression through financial penalties rather than formal censorship.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/03/09/spain-reject-flawed-public-security-bill|title=Spain: Reject Flawed Public Security Bill {{!}} Human Rights Watch|date=2015-03-09|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/03/spain-two-pronged-assault-targets-rights-and-freedoms/|title=Spain: Two-pronged assault targets rights and freedoms of Spanish citizens, migrants and refugees|date=2015-03-26|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
The law was introduced by Spain’s government as a modernization of public-order regulations. Officials stated that it was designed to provide clearer rules for police operations, maintain public security, and respond to disruptive protest activity. Supporters emphasize that the law does not establish prior censorship and does not criminalize political opinions as such.<ref name=":19" />
Critics, however, argue that while the Constitution only prohibits prior censorship, the Gag Law creates a system of administrative fines imposed after expression, which can still discourage participation in protests and public criticism. They contend that heavy fines can have a chilling effect, especially on journalists and activists.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
===== Key Provisions of The Citizen Security Law =====
The Citizen Security Law establishes a detailed system of administrative infractions and sanctions. Fines range from several hundred euros to up to €600,000 in the most serious cases.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":34">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/12/spain-security-law-protesters-freedom-expression|title=Spain puts 'gag' on freedom of expression as senate approves security law|last=Kassam|first=Ashifa|date=2015-03-12|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Among the most controversial provisions are:
* Fines (up to €600) for holding public demonstrations without prior notification, even if peaceful
* Fines (up to €600) for protests that deviate from approved routes
* Fines (up to €30,000) for protests causing disturbances near Parliament or regional government buildings
* Fines (up to €600,000) for unauthorized protests near key infrastructure (airports, nuclear plants, refineries, transport hubs)
* Fines (up to €30,000) for obstructing police or officials carrying out evictions or court orders
* Fines (up to €30,000) for recording or publishing images of police officers if deemed to endanger their safety or an operation<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":34" />
Human rights organizations have argued that the wording of some provisions is broad and gives authorities significant discretion in enforcement.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
===== International Reaction =====
The “Gag law” was met with strong criticism from international human rights groups even before it entered into force. Human Rights Watch warned that the legislation undermined freedom of assembly and expression by allowing heavy fines for peaceful protest and for recording police conduct.<ref name=":20" />
Amnesty International described the law as a threat to civil liberties and warned that restrictions on filming police could weaken transparency and accountability.<ref name=":21" /> The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also raised concerns that the law could deter media coverage of demonstrations and police activity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpj.org/2015/05/why-spains-new-gag-law-is-threat-to-free-flow-of-i/|title=Why Spain's new gag law is threat to free flow of information|last=Blogger|first=Borja Bergareche/CPJ Guest|date=2015-05-01|website=Committee to Protect Journalists|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> In addition, United Nations Special Rapporteurs expressed concern that the law’s provisions were overly broad and risked arbitrary enforcement against peaceful protesters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2015/02/two-legal-reform-projects-undermine-rights-assembly-and-expression-spain-un|title=“Two legal reform projects undermine the rights of assembly and expression in Spain” - UN experts|website=OHCHR|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
===== Javier Bauluz Case =====
One widely cited case involved Spanish photojournalist Javier Bauluz, a Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer, who was fined €960 under the Citizen Security Law after a confrontation with police while documenting migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands in November 2020.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfrr.eu/spain-fine-against-photographer-underscores-urgent-need-for-reform-of-gag-law/|title=Spain: Fine against photographer underscores urgent need for reform of Gag Law|last=MFRR|date=2022-06-21|website=Media Freedom Rapid Response|language=en-GB|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> He had been photographing rescue boats arriving in Arguineguín, where thousands of migrants were being held in conditions later described by a judge as “deplorable.”<ref name=":22" /> Video of the incident shows officers grabbing him and ordering him to leave, and he was later fined for “disrespecting an agent” and “refusing to identify himself,” though he said he had complied and was simply doing his job.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/14/photographer-capturing-migrant-camp-fined-1000-under-spains-gag-law|title=Photographer capturing migrant camp fined €1,000 under Spain’s ‘gag law’|last=Kassam|first=Ashifa|date=2022-06-14|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":35" />
The fine arrived more than a year later and gave little explanation beyond citing provisions of the law. Bauluz rejected the sanction, arguing that police were limiting press access to prevent journalists from properly documenting the situation.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35" /> He criticized the Gag Law for converting disputes into administrative fines imposed directly by authorities rather than matters handled through criminal courts.<ref name=":22" />
The case became a symbol of broader concerns that the law can be used to penalize journalists reporting on police activity. Press freedomorganizations and media groups condemned the fine and called for reform, arguing that the law enables arbitrary sanctions and threatens freedom of expression.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":35" /> Although Spain’s Constitutional Court upheld most of the law in 2021, critics continue to argue that reform is necessary to bring it in line with international human rights standards.<ref name=":35" />
===== Constitutional Court Review =====
Spain’s Constitutional Court reviewed the Citizen Security Law following multiple constitutional challenges. In Constitutional Court decision STC 172/2020, the Court upheld most provisions of the law but clarified limits on its application, particularly regarding sanctions for the use or dissemination of images of police officers. The Court emphasized that penalties cannot be applied in ways that effectively restrict legitimate journalistic reporting or public documentation of police activity.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":37">{{Cite web|url=https://hj.tribunalconstitucional.es/HJ/es/Resolucion/Show/26498|title=Sistema HJ - Resolución: SENTENCIA 172/2020|website=hj.tribunalconstitucional.es|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> One of the most controversial aspects of the ruling was the Court’s decision to uphold the provision allowing administrative fines when photographs or videos of police officers are published in ways that could endanger an officer’s safety or interfere with an ongoing operation.
The Constitutional Court clarified that the mere act of recording or photographing police officers during public events or demonstrations is not automatically illegal. Instead, sanctions may only be imposed when the dissemination of those images creates a concrete risk to the safety of officers or interferes with a police operation.<ref name=":37" /> For example, publishing images that reveal the identity of undercover officers or expose the location of police units during an active operation could justify sanctions. By contrast, photographing police activity during public demonstrations for journalistic reporting or public accountability generally falls within the protections of freedom of expression.<ref name=":37" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://solermartinabogados.com/en/can-i-record-the-police-can-they-force-me-to-erase-the-images-i-have-recorded-of-them/|title=Can I record the police in Spain? rights, limits|date=2025-10-06|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
The Court emphasized that enforcement must respect constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and assembly. However, it did not invalidate the core structure of the law, leaving its administrative sanction framework intact.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.article19.org/resources/spain-time-to-end-to-repressive-gag-law/|title=Spain: Time to end repressive 'Gag Law'|date=2024-08-20|website=ARTICLE 19|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
===== The Ongoing Debate =====
The Citizen Security Law remains one of the most politically divisive laws in Spain’s contemporary democracy.
Supporters argue that the law provides necessary tools to maintain order and protect both police officers and the public. They stress that fines are administrative rather than criminal penalties and are subject to judicial review. From this perspective, the law regulates conduct rather than suppressing political ideas.
Critics, by contrast, argue that the law creates a climate of deterrence. Even without criminal prosecution, the risk of substantial fines may discourage citizens from participating in spontaneous demonstrations or from documenting police actions. Civil liberties groups describe this as a “chilling effect” on democratic participation.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" />
Reform efforts have repeatedly emerged in Spain’s national legislature, particularly from left-leaning parties that argue the law should be revised or partially repealed.<ref name=":38">{{Cite web|url=https://www.barrons.com/news/reform-of-spain-s-contested-security-law-fails-9b1f9a5|title=Reform Of Spain's Contested Security Law Fails|last=Presse|first=AFP-Agence France|website=barrons|language=en-us|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref> These parties contend that provisions related to protest, public demonstrations, and the recording of police activity give authorities too much discretion and risk discouraging political participation. By contrast, many right-leaning parties have defended the law, arguing that it provides necessary tools for maintaining public order and protecting police officers, especially during large demonstrations and periods of political unrest. As a result, proposals to substantially reform the law have often stalled due to political disagreement in parliament.<ref name=":38" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/csos-warn-decision-not-to-reform-gag-law-is-bad-news-for-human-rights-in-spain/|title=CSOs warn decision not to reform “Gag Law” is “bad news for human rights in Spain”|website=Civicus Monitor|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://russpain.com/en/news-3/spanish-parliament-stuck-on-security-law-reform-398037/|title=The political scene is heating up: growing disagreements, unexpected pressure and intrigue in parliament|last=Rubio|first=Ricardo|date=2026-02-23|website=RUSSPAIN.COM|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>
This divide reflects broader political tensions in Spain. Supporters of reform frequently frame the law as a legacy of a more security-focused approach to governance that emerged during periods of economic crisis and protest movements in the 2010s. Opponents of reform argue that weakening the law could undermine the ability of authorities to manage demonstrations and maintain public safety. Because these disagreements map closely onto Spain’s left-right political divide, efforts to significantly change the Citizen Security Law have proven difficult despite ongoing public debate.
== <big>Spain’s Historical Memory Act</big> ==
===== Historical Background and Democratic Transition =====
[[File:Francisco Franco 1930.jpg|thumb|'''Francisco Franco in 1930, when he was still a rising officer in the Spanish army, years before the Spanish Civil War brought him to power and led to his long dictatorship.''']]
Spain’s contemporary debate over historical memory is rooted in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and the subsequent dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, which lasted until 1975.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Owens|first=Lawrence S.|date=2021|title=Timoteo Mendieta Alcalá and the Pact of Forgetting: trauma analysis of execution victims from a Spanish Civil War mass burial site at Guadalajara, Castilla la Mancha|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212665/|journal=Forensic Science International. Synergy|volume=3|pages=100156|doi=10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100156|issn=2589-871X|pmc=8212665|pmid=34179739}}</ref> The war divided the country along political, ideological, and religious lines and resulted in widespread repression, imprisonment, and executions.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Owens|first=Lawrence S.|date=2021|title=Timoteo Mendieta Alcalá and the Pact of Forgetting: trauma analysis of execution victims from a Spanish Civil War mass burial site at Guadalajara, Castilla la Mancha|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212665/|journal=Forensic Science International. Synergy|volume=3|pages=100156|doi=10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100156|issn=2589-871X|pmc=8212665|pmid=34179739}}</ref><ref name=":24">{{Cite journal|last=Boyd|first=Carolyn P.|date=2008|title=The Politics of History and Memory in Democratic Spain|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25098018|journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science|volume=617|pages=133–148|issn=0002-7162}}</ref> After Franco’s victory, the regime promoted an official narrative that framed the conflict as a defense of national unity and Catholic identity.<ref name=":24" /> Public monuments, street names, memorials, and religious symbols commemorating the dictatorship were erected throughout Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dash.harvard.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/e113f9f5-d512-4bfa-bd72-9c150cec2d32/content|title=Historical Memory in Post-Franco
Spain: Remembering a Purposely
Forgotten Past through
Memorialization at the Valle de los
Caídos in Cuelgamuros}}</ref>
Following Franco’s death in 1975, Spain transitioned to democracy through a negotiated political process often referred to as the “Transition.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.drum.lib.umd.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/cda590b3-0ba4-45b8-98c4-4333e42f5ed6/content|title=MEMORY AND RECONCILIATION IN THE
SPANISH TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY:
1975-1982}}</ref> During this period, political leaders adopted what became known as the “Pact of Forgetting” (Pacto del Olvido), an informal political understanding that prioritized reconciliation and democratic stability over reopening Civil War-era grievances.<ref name=":25">{{Cite web|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/action/cookieAbsent|title=Sage Journals: Discover world-class research|website=Sage Journals|language=en|doi=10.1177/026569149702700303|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> The 1977 Amnesty Law granted broad amnesty for politically motivated crimes committed during the dictatorship.
By the early 2000s, civil society organizations began advocating for greater recognition of victims of Franco-era repression, including efforts to identify mass graves and remove public symbols associated with the dictatorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scispace.com/pdf/the-return-of-civil-war-ghosts-the-ethnography-of-2j8mponmed.pdf|title=The return of Civil War ghosts
The ethnography of exhumations in contemporary Spain}}</ref> Supporters argued that democratic consolidation required public acknowledgment of historical injustices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254084329_Determinants_of_Attitudes_Toward_Transitional_Justice_An_Empirical_Analysis_of_the_Spanish_Case|title=Determinants of Attitudes Toward Transitional Justice: An Empirical Analysis of the Spanish Case}}</ref> In response, Spain enacted Law 52/2007, commonly known as the Historical Memory Act.<ref name=":26">{{Cite web|url=https://reparations.qub.ac.uk/assets/uploads/Ley-52-2007-Spain-EN.pdf|title=Ley 52-2007 Spain EN.docx}}</ref>
===== The 2007 Historical Memory Act =====
Law 52/2007 recognizes and expands rights for individuals who suffered persecution or violence during the Civil War and dictatorship. Its preamble states that it is not the role of the legislator to impose a specific collective memory, but rather to promote democratic values and protect personal and family memory as expressions of democratic citizenship.<ref name=":26" />
At the same time, the law mandates the removal of “shields, insignia, plaques and other objects or commemorative mentions” that exalt the military uprising, Civil War, or repression of the dictatorship from public buildings and spaces.<ref name=":26" /> It also supports efforts to locate and identify victims of repression and provides symbolic recognition to those who suffered under the regime.
The Act represents a shift from the earlier policy of institutional silence toward a more active engagement with the legacy of the dictatorship.<ref name=":25" /><ref name=":26" />
The main provisions are:
* Official recognition of victims of political, religious, and ideological violence on both sides of the Civil War and under Franco’s rule
* Formal condemnation of the Franco regime
* Ban on political events at the Valley of the Fallen, where Franco was buried
* Removal of public symbols, plaques, statues, and insignia that celebrate the military coup or the dictatorship (with limited exceptions for artistic, architectural, or religious reasons)
* Government support for locating, identifying, and exhuming victims buried in mass graves
* Spanish citizenship granted to surviving members of the International Brigades without requiring them to give up their original nationality
* Declaration that Franco-era trials and laws lacked legitimacy
* Temporary changes to nationality rules allowing people who left Spain during the dictatorship — and their descendants — to reclaim Spanish citizenship
* Financial and symbolic assistance for victims and their families
===== Supporters’ and Critics’ Perspective =====
Supporters of the Historical Memory Act argue that it reflects a mature democratic commitment to historical justice and human dignity.<ref name=":27">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/05/spain-passes-law-to-bring-dignity-to-franco-era-victims|title=Spain passes law to bring ‘justice’ to Franco-era victims|last=Jones|first=Sam|date=2022-10-05|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":28">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/world/europe/28spain.html|title=Bill in Spanish Parliament Aims to End ‘Amnesia’ About Civil War Victims|last=Burnett|first=Victoria|date=2007-10-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> From this perspective, a constitutional democracy cannot maintain public symbols that glorify authoritarian rule. Removing such symbols is seen not as erasing history, but as ending official state endorsement of a particular political narrative.<ref name=":28" />
Advocates also emphasize the “right to truth” for victims and their families, aligning Spain with broader international human rights standards concerning recognition, memory, and accountability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swisspeace.ch/assets/publications/downloads/Gonzalez-Garcia_WorkingPaper_2_2023.pdf|title=The Search for Truth in Spain: Debates Around the Creation of a Truth Commission}}</ref> Reports by United Nations Special Rapporteurs have encouraged Spain to strengthen efforts related to truth, justice, and reparation for victims of Franco-era repression.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2014/02/461222|title=UN expert urges Spain to probe alleged atrocities during 1930's civil war}}</ref>
For supporters, the law corrects decades of imbalance in public memory and promotes constitutional values grounded in democracy and human rights.<ref name=":27" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur41/001/2013/en/|title=Spain: Supreme Court overturns ban on full-face veils; AI concerns remain about restrictions on headscarves in schools|date=2013-04-08|website=Amnesty International|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
Critics argue that the Historical Memory Act risks politicizing historical interpretation by privileging one narrative over others.<ref name=":29">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/09/17/the-spanish-government-proposes-a-new-law-on-history|title=The Spanish government proposes a new law on history|work=The Economist|access-date=2026-03-02|issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref name=":30">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/world/europe/24iht-spain.4.8039804.html|title=Spain undergoes wrenching awakening from 'amnesia'|last=Burnett|first=Victoria|date=2007-10-24|work=The New York Times|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Some scholars contend that legislative intervention in historical memory can transform contested historical debate into state-defined orthodoxy.<ref name=":30" /> Opponents also argue that removing monuments may constitute symbolic erasure rather than genuine reconciliation.<ref name=":29" /> They maintain that democratic societies should allow historical interpretation to evolve through open public discourse rather than through statutory mandates.<ref name=":30" />
Much of this debate has centered on the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen) memorial complex, one of the most prominent and controversial symbols associated with Spain’s Civil War and the Franco dictatorship. The massive monument, built after the war and located near Madrid, contains a basilica carved into a mountain and a large cross that dominates the surrounding landscape. For decades it served as the burial site of General Francisco Franco as well as thousands of victims from both sides of the Civil War.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50164806|title=Franco exhumation: Spanish dictator's remains moved|date=2019-10-24|website=www.bbc.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/24/franco-exhumation-spain-dictator-madrid|title='Spain is fulfilling its duty to itself': Franco's remains exhumed|last=Jones|first=Sam|date=2019-10-24|work=The Guardian|access-date=2026-03-02|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Supporters of Spain’s memory laws argue that the site symbolized the continued public prominence of Franco’s regime, while critics argue that the complex represents an important historical monument whose meaning should be debated rather than reshaped through legislation.
The controversy intensified when the Spanish government ordered the exhumation of Franco’s remains from the site in 2019, relocating them to a different cemetery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/presidente/news/Paginas/2019/20191024-statement.aspx|title=Institutional statement by Acting President of the Government regarding exhumation of Francisco Franco}}</ref> The government justified the decision as part of a broader democratic memory policy aimed at preventing the memorial from functioning as a place of political homage to the dictatorship. Critics, however, viewed the move as politically motivated and reflective of Spain’s continuing polarization over how the country should confront its past.
===== Ongoing Debate: Truth, Memory, and Democratic Pluralism =====
Spain’s memory laws have become one of the most visible and contested areas of contemporary public debate. The discussion centers on how a democracy should address a painful past and what role the state should play in shaping public memory. In Spain, this debate appears in disputes over monuments, commemorations, public spaces, and the official recognition of victims of the Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship.<ref name=":31">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/06/30/debate-rages-in-spain-over-how-to-rememberor-forgetfranco-dictatorship|title=Debate rages in Spain over how to remember—or forget—Franco's dictatorship|last=Coego|first=Alexandra F.|date=2023-06-30|website=The Art Newspaper - International art news and events|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/01/spain-memory-law-ghosts-francoism|title=Spain’s Memory Law Hasn’t Banished the Ghosts of Francoism|last=By|website=jacobin.com|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
Supporters of the Democratic Memory framework argue that removing Francoist symbols and formally recognizing victims strengthens democracy. They maintain that a constitutional state should not continue to honor an authoritarian regime in public spaces. From this perspective, memory laws do not erase history but instead end state endorsement of dictatorship and affirm the dignity of those who suffered repression.<ref name=":31" /><ref name=":33">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/spain-pays-tribute-francos-victims-50-years-after-his-death-2025-10-31/|title=Spain pays tribute to Franco's victims 50 years after his death}}</ref>
Critics argue that legislating memory can deepen political divisions. Some commentators warn that when the government takes an active role in defining historical meaning, it risks turning complex historical debates into partisan conflicts.<ref name=":32" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/01/spain-memory-law-ghosts-francoism|title=Spain’s Memory Law Hasn’t Banished the Ghosts of Francoism|last=By|website=jacobin.com|language=en-US|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref> Articles examining Spain’s evolving memory laws describe a society still divided over how to interpret the Civil War and Franco’s legacy, with disagreement over whether these reforms promote justice or contribute to polarization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enrs.eu/article/spanish-controversies-related-to-memory|title=Spanish controversies related to memory|website=ENRS|language=en|access-date=2026-03-02}}</ref>
In today’s Spain, historical memory is not only about the past. It remains tied to ongoing debates about national identity, democracy, and constitutional values.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":33" /> The regulation of collective memory shows how law, history, and public expression intersect in a modern democratic society.
== <big>Religious Freedom in Spain</big> ==
===== Historical Development =====
Spain’s religious history is defined less by steady liberalization than by repeated conflict over whether religious differences could be expressed in public. Although Christians, Muslims, and Jews at times coexisted, that coexistence never displaced the dominant push for religious conformity.<ref name=":39">{{Cite journal|last=Montserrat|first=Daniel B.|date=1995|title=The Constitutional Development of Religious Freedom in Spain: An Historical Analysis|url=https://ir.law.fsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1241&context=jtlp|journal=Fla. St. U. J. Transnat’l L. & Pol’y|volume=4|pages=27}}</ref> That unity was enforced not only through theology, but through law, restricting who could publicly practice religion and under what conditions.
The constitutional period (1812 to 1978) largely reproduced that pattern. Spain’s constitutional period from 1812 to 1978 was marked by recurring political instability, as constitutions were repeatedly created through revolutions or military coups and then repealed by subsequent regimes.
The Constitution of Cádiz (1812) combined political liberalism with explicit Catholic exclusivity, embedding religion into public institutions, civic oaths, and education.<ref name=":39" /> Public officials were required to swear to defend Catholicism, and religious instruction was mandated in schools. Religion was not simply protected, it was institutionally embedded in the structures through which ideas were transmitted.
Later constitutions softened these rules but did not eliminate them. Even when non Catholic worship was tolerated, it was often confined to private settings.<ref name=":39" /> Individuals could hold different beliefs, but the ability to organize, teach, or display those beliefs publicly remained restricted.
The Spanish Constitution of 1931 (1931) reversed course by limiting the Catholic Church’s role in public life, removing funding, dissolving certain religious orders, and restricting religious education.<ref name=":40">{{Cite journal|last=Combalia|first=Zolia|last2=Roca|first2=Maria|date=2010|title=Religion and the Secular State of Spain, in Religion and the Secular State|url=https://original.religlaw.org/content/blurb/files/Spain%202014.pdf|journal=(W. Cole Durham, Jr. & Javier Martínez-Torrón eds., 2015)|pages=661}}</ref> This shift did not produce neutrality so much as it reallocated control, narrowing the channels through which religion could be expressed in public institutions.
Under Franco, Catholicism again became central to the state. Public expressions of non Catholic religion were restricted, and Catholic doctrine shaped education and law.<ref name=":39" /><ref name=":40" /> Religious teaching, symbolism, and institutional presence were largely aligned with a single faith.
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 marks a decisive break. Article 16 provides:
“Freedom of ideology, religion and worship of individuals and communities is guaranteed… No one may be compelled to declare his ideology, religion or beliefs… No religion shall have a state character….”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229|title=Constitución Española art. 16 (1978), BOE-A-1978-31229|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
This provision restructures the legal framework in three ways. First, it protects both private belief and public religious activity. Second, it prohibits coercion or compelled disclosure. Third, it removes any formal identification between the state and a particular religion. At the same time, it permits cooperation with religious groups, allowing religion to remain present in public life without being directed by the state.<ref name=":41">{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/spain/|title=U.S. Dep’t of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Spain (May 1, 2024)|website=United States Department of State|language=en-US|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
Spain’s constitutional framework both prohibits discrimination based on religion and protects individuals from being compelled to reveal their beliefs, while still maintaining cooperative relationships with religious communities.<ref name=":41" />
===== Modern Spain: Public Expression, Institutional Practice, and European Context =====
Spain’s current system assumes that religion will appear in public life and focuses on regulating how it appears rather than removing it.
This is reflected in everyday legal structures. Spain permits religious instruction in public schools, recognizes religious marriages, provides chaplaincy services in state institutions, and allows religious organizations to operate schools and social services.<ref name=":40" /><ref name=":41" /> These are not abstract protections. They determine how religious ideas are taught, how communities organize, and how individuals access religious practice in public settings.
A simple example shows how the system works. A student in a public school may attend Catholic, Muslim, or Protestant instruction or opt out entirely. A prisoner may request a minister of their faith. A hospital may provide chaplaincy services across religions. The state does not dictate belief, but it allows religious expression to operate openly within public institutions.
Spanish law also protects the conditions under which that expression occurs. Disrupting religious services or publicly targeting religious groups can trigger criminal liability, and hate crime laws include religion as a protected category.<ref name=":41" /> These rules are designed to preserve the space in which religious expression can take place without interference.
At the same time, Spain operates within a broader European system that allows different countries to take different approaches.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lugato|first=Monica|date=2013|title=The “Margin of Appreciation” and Freedom of Religion|url=https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=jcls|journal=J. Cath. Legal Stud.|volume=52|pages=49}}</ref> The contrast with France is the clearest example. France prohibits visible religious symbols like hijabs or large crosses in public schools. Spain generally allows them. Both approaches are accepted under European human rights law.
Spain’s position reflects its history. After experiencing both enforced religious unity and aggressive secular restriction, it adopts a middle approach. Religion can be visible in public life, but the state cannot control or impose it.<ref name=":39" /><ref name=":40" />
This balance appears clearly in Fernández Martínez v. Spain. The European Court of Human Rights upheld Spain’s system allowing the Catholic Church to control who teaches Catholic doctrine in public schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-145068|title=Fernández Martínez v. Spain, App. No. 56030/07, Eur. Ct. H.R. (Grand Chamber June 12, 2014)|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The teacher lost his position after publicly opposing Church teachings, and the Court accepted that a religious institution must be able to define who represents its message.
The case shows how Spain treats religion as something that can be publicly taught while still allowing religious groups to control their own doctrine.
Despite formal equality, differences remain in practice. The Catholic Church retains broader institutional presence due to historical agreements and infrastructure.<ref name=":40" /><ref name=":42">{{Cite journal|last=Angón|first=Oscar Celador|date=2025|title=Cooperation Between the State and Religious Organizations:
Equality and Non-Discrimination on Religious Grounds in Spain|url=https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/11/1408|journal=Religions|volume=16(11)}}</ref> Religious instruction tied to Catholicism is more widely available, and some institutions have more developed access to public cooperation.
Government reporting reflects this reality. While the law guarantees equality, certain religious groups have more established relationships with the state, while others must rely on registration systems or cooperation agreements to access similar benefits.<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":42" />
At the same time, Spain is becoming more religiously diverse. Immigration has increased the presence of Islam, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestant communities.<ref name=":40" /> This creates new pressures on schools, workplaces, and public institutions to accommodate a wider range of religious practices.
In practice, the system operates through structured accommodation. Public institutions allow religious expression, but participation remains voluntary, and the state does not formally endorse any faith. Religion is not removed from public life, but its presence is shaped by neutrality, access, and institutional balance.
== <big>The Right to Be Forgotten</big> ==
===== Google Spain =====
A seminal case in modern data protection law arose from Spain and reshaped the relationship between privacy and access to information in the digital age. In ''Google Spain SL v. AEPD and Mario Costeja González'', Spain’s Audiencia Nacional referred questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) concerning whether EU data protection law could require a search engine to remove links to lawful, truthful information that appeared when a person’s name was searched.<ref name=":43">{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:62012CJ0131|title=Google Spain SL v. Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD), Case C-131/12 (CJEU 2014).|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
The dispute began with a 1998 newspaper notice published by ''La Vanguardia'' announcing the forced sale of property belonging to Mario Costeja González to recover social security debts. The publication was legally required and accurate. Years later, the newspaper digitized its archives, and the notice became searchable online. When Costeja’s name was entered into Google, the notice appeared prominently in search results, effectively reviving a long-resolved financial matter.<ref name=":43" />
Costeja first requested that the newspaper remove or alter the page, and then asked Google to remove the links from its results. The Spanish Data Protection Agency rejected the claim against the newspaper but upheld the complaint against Google, ordering it to remove the links. Google challenged that decision, leading to the reference before the CJEU.<ref name=":43" />
The CJEU ultimately held that individuals may request the removal of links where the information has become “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant,” even if the original publication remains lawful.<ref name=":43" /> That holding effectively created the modern European “right to be forgotten.”
The Court’s reasoning turned on a critical distinction between publishers and search engines. While the original newspaper publication remained lawful and could stay online, the Court treated Google as a separate “data controller” because it indexes, organizes, and presents personal data in response to name-based searches.<ref name=":43" />
In the Court’s view, the legal issue did not depend on whether the information was false or unlawfully published. Rather, it arose from the way search engines amplify and restructure access to information. By enabling users to retrieve dispersed personal data instantly and systematically, search engines create a new and distinct impact on privacy interests.
The Court also adopted a broad interpretation of EU data protection law’s territorial scope. Even though Google’s core search operations were based outside the European Union, its Spanish subsidiary’s advertising activities were considered “inextricably linked” to the processing of personal data, bringing the activity within EU law.<ref name=":43" /> This expansive approach ensured that data protection rules could apply effectively in a global digital environment.
===== The Expansion of Data Protection in Spain =====
The doctrinal foundation for the decision was Directive 95/46/EC, which defined “personal data” broadly and treated “processing” as including retrieval, organization, and dissemination of information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1995/46/oj/eng|title=Directive 95/46/EC arts. 2(a), 2(b).|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> It also required that personal data be relevant, not excessive, and not retained longer than necessary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1995/46/oj/eng|title=Directive 95/46/EC art. 6(1).|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
Applied to traditional databases, these principles reflect familiar administrative safeguards. But ''Google Spain'' extended them to search engines, which do not collect data for fixed purposes but instead organize access to information across the internet. This creates tension between purpose-limitation principles and the open, communicative nature of online information flows.<ref name=":44">{{Cite journal|last=Post|first=Robert C.|date=2017|title=Data Privacy and Dignitary Privacy: Google Spain, the Right to Be Forgotten, and the Construction of the Public Sphere|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2953468|journal=Yale Law School, Public Law Research Paper|volume=598}}</ref>
The case sits at the intersection of two key provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Article 7 guarantees the right to respect for private and family life, home, and communications, tracking the language of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.<ref name=":45">{{Cite journal|title=EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (ECHR) AND CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (CHARTER)|url=https://doi.org/10.4337/9781783476879.00029|journal=European Competition Law|pages=657–658|doi=10.4337/9781783476879.00029}}</ref> Article 8, however, goes further by establishing a distinct and freestanding right to the protection of personal data. It requires that personal data be processed fairly, for specified purposes, and on a legitimate legal basis, and it guarantees individuals rights of access and rectification, as well as oversight by independent authorities.<ref name=":45" />
This dual structure is significant. Article 7 protects against intrusions into personal life, while Article 8 governs the conditions under which personal data may be collected, used, and disseminated. Together, they reflect both traditional dignitary privacy concerns and a more modern regulatory framework focused on informational control. In ''Google Spain'', the Court relied on both provisions, effectively blending these concepts by treating the continued accessibility of personal information through search engines as a form of ongoing interference with protected interests.<ref name=":44" />
===== The Right to Be Forgotten =====
The right to be forgotten that emerged from ''Google Spain'' is therefore hybrid. It reflects data protection principles, limiting continued processing of irrelevant data, while also incorporating dignity-based concerns about reputation and personal identity over time.<ref name=":44" />
In practice, the doctrine operates through balancing. A data subject’s privacy and data protection rights must be weighed against the public’s interest in access to information. The Court suggested that privacy will generally prevail, but that the balance may shift where the individual plays a public role or the information retains public significance.<ref name=":43" />
The decision also reflects a critical institutional shift: the responsibility for performing this balancing was effectively transferred from public authorities to private search engines. This delegation raises concerns about legitimacy, consistency, and the risk that private entities become de facto arbiters of fundamental rights online.<ref name=":43" />
In practice, this means that search engines must decide whether particular information about individuals in Spain should remain accessible through name-based searches. A person may obtain removal of outdated private matters, such as old financial difficulties, while requests involving public roles, criminal conduct, or professional activity may be denied as still relevant to public discourse.
Because these determinations are made initially by private actors rather than courts or regulators, the contours of privacy and access to information are shaped through decentralized, case-by-case decisions. This creates the risk that similar claims in Spain, and across the European Union, will produce inconsistent outcomes depending on how individual platforms apply the balancing test.
===== From Google Spain to Google v. CNIL =====
A later case, Google v. CNIL, addressed the geographic scope of the right to be forgotten. The CJEU held that EU law does not require global de-referencing, but it must be effective within the European Union, including measures that prevent or seriously discourage users from bypassing removals through non-EU domains.<ref name=":46">{{Cite web|url=https://infocuria.curia.europa.eu/tabs/document?source=document&docid=218105&doclang=EN|title=Google v. CNIL, Case C-507/17 (CJEU 2019).|website=infocuria.curia.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The Court nevertheless left open the possibility of broader, even global, remedies in particular cases, reflecting an unresolved tension between territorially bounded legal authority and the global nature of online information.<ref name=":46" />
That tension highlights a deeper structural problem: the internet is borderless, while law remains jurisdictionally limited. Even effective EU-wide de-referencing cannot fully eliminate access to information through foreign domains or technological workarounds. At the same time, internal tensions persist within EU law itself. Although the GDPR aims to harmonize data protection standards, the balancing of privacy and access to information may vary across Member States, creating the possibility of divergent outcomes across the Union.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Samonte|first=Mary|date=2020|title=Google v. CNIL: The Territorial Scope of the Right
to Be Forgotten Under EU Law|url=https://www.europeanpapers.eu/system/files/pdf_version/EP_EF_2020_I_003_Mary_Samonte_00332.pdf|journal=Eur. Papers|volume=4|pages=839}}</ref>
Taken together, ''Google Spain'' and ''Google v. CNIL'' reflect a broader transformation in the role of search engines. Search engines do not merely host information; they structure access to it. By organizing and prioritizing content, they shape how individuals are represented and understood in the digital environment, making them central actors in the ongoing negotiation between privacy, free expression, and the architecture of public information online.
== <big>Spain in the AI Era</big> ==
===== Artificial Intelligence and the Crisis of Identity =====
Advances in artificial intelligence have begun to destabilize one of law’s most basic assumptions: that identity is fixed, knowable, and tied to a real person. Technologies such as deepfakes, voice cloning, and generative AI now make it possible to create highly realistic images, speech, and even entire personas that do not correspond to any actual individual.
Traditionally, identity has been linked to continuity; one body, one history, and one set of actions attributable to a single person. AI disrupts this model by allowing identity markers such as faces, voices, and personal data to be replicated or fabricated entirely. A deepfake video may falsely depict a person making a statement they never made, while synthetic identities can combine real and fabricated data to bypass verification systems.
These developments blur the line between authentic and artificial identity and raise a central question for law: whether identity remains grounded in objective reality or has become something increasingly constructed and controllable. Spain’s regulatory approach provides a useful lens for how legal systems are responding to this challenge.
===== Spain’s Regulatory Response to Artificial Intelligence =====
Spain does not yet have a standalone AI statute in force, it is governed by the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, which establishes a risk-based regulatory model.<ref name=":47">{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng|title=Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act).|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
Under this framework, AI systems are categorized by risk level. High-risk systems—such as those used in employment or public decision-making—must comply with strict requirements, including transparency, human oversight, and safeguards against bias.<ref name=":47" /> The classification of generative AI and legal decision-support tools turns on their intended use and the degree to which they influence legal or administrative decision-making.<ref name=":48">{{Cite journal|last=Rayón Ballesteros|first=María Concepción|date=2025|title=Generative AI for Lawyers in Spain: A balanced
approach to the legal framework, technical foundations
and best practices, combining technological innovation
with professional responsibility|url=https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/law-2025-0003|journal=Complutense University, Law and Business|volume=5|pages=12}}</ref>
At the national level, Spain is developing a Law on the “Good Use and Governance of Artificial Intelligence,” which will implement and supplement the EU framework.<ref name=":49">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cuatrecasas.com/es/spain/propiedad-intelectual/art/anteproyecto-ley-buen-uso-gobernanza-ia|title=Anteproyecto de Ley para el Buen Uso y la Gobernanza de la Inteligencia Artificial (Spain) (approved by Consejo de Ministros Mar. 11, 2025) (proposed law implementing the EU Artificial Intelligence Act).|website=Cuatrecasas|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The draft law establishes a national sanctioning regime and introduces mechanisms to suspend or withdraw AI systems that pose serious risks, including discriminatory outcomes.<ref name=":49" />
Institutionally, Spain has created the Agencia Española de Supervisión de Inteligencia Artificial (AESIA), operational since 2024, as its central AI regulator.<ref>{{Citation|title=Real Decreto 729/2023, de 22 de agosto, por el que se aprueba el Estatuto de la Agencia Española de Supervisión de Inteligencia Artificial|url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2023/08/22/729|date=2023-09-02|accessdate=2026-04-20|pages=122289–122316|issue=Real Decreto 729/2023|last=Ministerio de la Presidencia, Relaciones con las Cortes y Memoria Democrática}}</ref> AESIA oversees compliance, conducts inspections, and will exercise sanctioning authority. Spain has also implemented regulatory sandboxes under Royal Decree 817/2023, allowing high-risk AI systems to be tested in controlled environments before deployment.<ref>{{Citation|title=Real Decreto 817/2023, de 8 de noviembre, que establece un entorno controlado de pruebas para el ensayo del cumplimiento de la propuesta de Reglamento del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo por el que se establecen normas armonizadas en materia de inteligencia artificial|url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2023/11/08/817|date=2023-11-09|accessdate=2026-04-20|pages=149138–149168|issue=Real Decreto 817/2023|last=Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital}}</ref>
Spain’s approach also relies heavily on existing legal frameworks that indirectly regulate AI by protecting identity, privacy, and fairness. These frameworks include:
* '''Organic Law 3/2018 on Data Protection and Digital Rights''', which governs personal data processing and applies broadly to AI systems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2018-16673|title=BOE-A-2018-16673 Ley Orgánica 3/2018, de 5 de diciembre, de Protección de Datos Personales y garantía de los derechos digitales.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> For example, AI tools must comply with requirements of transparency, lawful processing, and data minimization, particularly when handling sensitive legal or personal information.<ref name=":48" />
* '''Organic Law 1/1982 on Honor, Privacy, and Self-Image''', which protects individuals from unauthorized use of their likeness—especially relevant in cases involving deepfakes.<ref name=":50">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1982-11196|title=BOE-A-1982-11196 Ley Orgánica 1/1982, de 5 de mayo, de protección civil del derecho al honor, a la intimidad personal y familiar y a la propia imagen.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Organic Law 2/1984 on the Right of Rectification''', allowing individuals to correct false or misleading information, including AI-generated content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1984-7248|title=BOE-A-1984-7248 Ley Orgánica 2/1984, de 26 de marzo, reguladora del derecho de rectificación.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Law 15/2022 on Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination''', which addresses algorithmic bias and requires fairness in automated decision-making.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2022-11589|title=BOE-A-2022-11589 Ley 15/2022, de 12 de julio, integral para la igualdad de trato y la no discriminación.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Law 34/2002 on Information Society Services''', regulating online platforms, including AI-driven services such as chatbots or recommendation systems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2002-13758|title=BOE-A-2002-13758 Ley 34/2002, de 11 de julio, de servicios de la sociedad de la información y de comercio electrónico.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Royal Legislative Decree 1/2007 on Consumer Protection''', which applies where AI-enabled products produce harmful or misleading outputs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2007-20555|title=BOE-A-2007-20555 Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2007, de 16 de noviembre, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley General para la Defensa de los Consumidores y Usuarios y otras leyes complementarias.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
* '''Royal Decree-Law 9/2021 on Labor laws''', including the Workers’ Statute and the “Rider Law,” which require transparency in algorithmic management, such as how platforms assign work or evaluate employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2021-7840|title=BOE-A-2021-7840 Real Decreto-ley 9/2021, de 11 de mayo, por el que se modifica el texto refundido de la Ley del Estatuto de los Trabajadores, aprobado por el Real Decreto Legislativo 2/2015, de 23 de octubre, para garantizar los derechos laborales de las personas dedicadas al reparto en el ámbito de plataformas digitales.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
Spain’s approach is particularly notable in the legal profession and judicial system, where regulation is reinforced by professional ethics. As one law review article explains, generative AI must be understood not only through public regulation, but also through the ethical duties governing lawyers.<ref name=":48" /> Spanish attorneys remain bound by obligations of confidentiality, diligence, and professional responsibility under the Estatuto General de la Abogacía Española and the Código Deontológico, even when using AI tools.<ref name=":48" /> AI may assist legal work, but it cannot replace professional judgment or excuse error.
This principle is reflected in judicial practice. Article 57 of Royal Decree-Law 6/2023 recognizes “assisted actions,” allowing AI to generate draft documents within judicial workflows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2023-25758|title=BOE-A-2023-25758 Real Decreto-ley 6/2023, de 19 de diciembre, por el que se aprueban medidas urgentes para la ejecución del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia en materia de servicio público de justicia, función pública, régimen local y mecenazgo.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref><ref name=":48" />However, such drafts have no legal effect unless validated by a competent authority, ensuring that AI remains subordinate to human decision-making.<ref name=":48" />
Recent cases illustrate the risks of inadequate oversight. In proceedings before the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Navarra, a lawyer submitted a filing that mistakenly cited foreign criminal law after relying on AI. Although the court declined to impose sanctions, it emphasized that AI use does not relieve lawyers of their duty to verify accuracy.<ref name=":48" /> Similarly, the Tribunal Constitucional dismissed an amparo appeal containing fabricated AI-generated citations and issued a formal reprimand, reaffirming that lawyers remain fully responsible for their filings.<ref name=":48" />
The legal framework is further reinforced by Organic Law 5/2024 on the Right of Defence, which requires that legal assistance meet standards of adequacy and quality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2024-23630|title=BOE-A-2024-23630 Ley Orgánica 5/2024, de 11 de noviembre, del Derecho de Defensa.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> Even where AI is used, lawyers must supervise and validate outputs, and failures of oversight may give rise to liability.<ref name=":48" />
More broadly, Spain’s AI governance operates across a comprehensive legal landscape, complemented by the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024 and international standards such as OECD and EU ethical guidelines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oecd.ai/en/policy-initiatives/national-ai-strategy-2024|title=Estrategia Nacional de Inteligencia Artificial 2024 (Spain), available at OECD AI Policy Dashboard|website=oecd.ai|language=en|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/ethics-guidelines-trustworthy-ai|title=Ethics guidelines for trustworthy AI {{!}} Shaping Europe’s digital future|website=digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> At its core, this framework reflects a deeper commitment: that identity, and the responsibility attached to it, remains grounded in the human individual, even as technology makes identity increasingly fluid and manipulable.
== <big>The Right to One’s Own Image in Spain: Identity, Control, and Communication</big> ==
===== Constitutional Right Rooted in Identity =====
In Spain, the right to one’s own image reflects a broader legal judgment about identity and communication. Article 18.1 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 guarantees the right to honor, personal and family privacy, and one’s own image, signaling that visual representation is treated as a core component of personhood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229#:~:text=24:%20#a18%5D-,Art%C3%ADculo%2018,2.|title=BOE-A-1978-31229 Constitución Española.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> Unlike reputation or privacy alone, this right governs how a person appears to others and, crucially, who controls that appearance.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sánchez de Diego|first=Manuel|date=2018|title=Right to One’s Own Image in Spain|url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a27f/307b2f817bef530288062007c8e898b0ca09.pdf|journal=J. Info. Pol’y|volume=8|pages=401}}</ref>
This protection is developed in Organic Law 1/1982, which provides civil remedies against “illegitimate interference.”<ref name=":51">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1982-11196|title=BOE-A-1982-11196 Ley Orgánica 1/1982, de 5 de mayo, de protección civil del derecho al honor, a la intimidad personal y familiar y a la propia imagen.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> Article 7.5 treats as unlawful the capture or publication of a person’s image in private contexts, while Article 7.6 prohibits the use of a person’s name, voice, or image for advertising, commercial, or analogous purposes.<ref name=":51" /> For example, publishing a photograph taken inside a private home without consent violates Article 7.5, while using an athlete’s image in a sponsorship campaign without permission falls squarely under Article 7.6.
The right is also autonomous. Spanish courts emphasize that liability does not depend on falsity or intrusion alone, but on loss of control over recognizable identity. In STS 60/1998, the Supreme Court clarified that the relevant question is whether a person can be identified, even if not with perfect clarity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/proteccion-fundamentales-imagen-as-17745878|title=STS 60-1998, 30 de Enero de 1998|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> This means that partial or stylized representations, such as silhouettes, blurred images, or distinctive features, may still trigger protection if recognition is possible.
At the same time, the right is not absolute. Article 8 of Organic Law 1/1982 provides exceptions where competing interests prevail, including when there is a “predominant and relevant” cultural or informational interest or when images of public figures are captured in public settings.<ref name=":50" /> Rather than applying rigid categories, courts weigh whether the use meaningfully contributes to public discourse or cultural life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/implico-aumento-erroneo-subsumirse-j-57557053|title=STS, 29 de Enero de 1999|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
===== From Control to Commerce: How Image Rights Are Monetized =====
These principles become especially concrete in contexts like sports, where image and identity are inseparable from commercial value. Athletes’ likenesses are routinely used by clubs, sponsors, and media, but Spanish law maintains that control over that use remains with the individual.<ref name=":52">{{Cite web|url=https://business-school.laliga.com/en/news/image-rights-in-football|title=Image Rights in Sports {{!}} LaLiga Business School|website=Liga de Fútbol Profesional|language=en|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> A footballer, for example, may authorize a club to use his image for team promotions, while separately licensing endorsement rights to a brand.
Spanish law structures this through a dual framework. First, individuals retain a negative right to block unauthorized uses of their image. Second, they hold a positive right to commercially exploit that image through licensing agreements.<ref name=":52" /> This explains why contracts in professional sports carefully define scope, duration, and purpose of any assignment.<ref name=":52" />
Crucially, Spanish law adopts a broad understanding of “commercial” use. As discussed in The Right to One’s Own Image, “fines comerciales” under Article 7.6 extends beyond traditional advertising to include uses embedded in profit-driven media.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barrnett|first=Stephen R.|date=1999|title=The Right to One's Own Image': Publicity and Privacy Rights in the United States and Spain|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=224628|journal=Am. J. Comp. L.|volume=47|pages=555}}</ref> For instance, a magazine that publishes a celebrity’s image in a feature designed to increase circulation may still be engaging in a commercial use, even if the image is not part of a formal advertisement.
This broader conception is illustrated by STS 816/1996. There, the City of Madrid used photographs of identifiable individuals in a public-awareness campaign promoting respect for the elderly. The Supreme Court held that the use was “publicitario” even without profit, because it relied on identifiable persons to convey its message.<ref name=":53">{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/intimidad-imagen-reproduccion-autorizada-17742790|title=STS 816-1996, 7 de Octubre de 1996|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The Court rejected the defense under Article 8.1, emphasizing that the campaign did not require the use of specific individuals’ images to achieve its purpose.<ref name=":53" />
By contrast, in SSTS 1152/1994, the Court allowed the reuse of a performer’s image to promote a revival of a traditional musical production.<ref name=":54">{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/propia-imagen-proteccion-constitucional-17740334|title=STS 1152-1994, 21 de Diciembre de 1994|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The distinguishing factor was context: the image directly related to the cultural work being promoted, and its use contributed to preserving a recognized artistic tradition.<ref name=":54" /> Together, these cases show that Spanish courts focus less on formal categories and more on whether the use is necessary and proportionate to its asserted purpose.
===== From Exposure to Use: When the Public Can Reproduce an Image =====
A central question in this doctrine is how far public visibility allows others to reproduce a person’s image. Spanish law recognizes a strong interest in freedom of information, particularly where images contribute to reporting on matters of public concern.
In STS 28 December 1996, a newspaper published a photograph of a criminal defendant leaving court. The Supreme Court held the publication lawful because it related to a matter of public interest and contributed to informing the public about judicial proceedings.<ref name=":55">{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/53408968|title=STS, 28 de Mayo de 1996|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The fact that the image was taken in a public setting reinforced this conclusion.<ref name=":55" />
However, public exposure does not eliminate the need for consent. This principle becomes especially important in the digital context. In STS 91/2017, a newspaper used a photograph taken from a victim’s Facebook profile when reporting a violent incident.<ref name=":56">{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/667177509|title=STS 91-2017, 15 de Febrero de 2017|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> The Court held that this violated the right to one’s image, emphasizing that making a photograph accessible online does not amount to consent for its reuse. Consent must be specific to each use and cannot be inferred from general availability.<ref name=":56" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gdpr-info.eu/art-4-gdpr/|title=Art. 4 GDPR – Definitions|website=General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)|language=en-US|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref>
The limits of permissible use become even clearer in cases involving dignity and suffering. In STC 231/1988, the Constitutional Court held that distributing footage of a bullfighter dying after being gored violated the privacy rights of his widow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-T-1988-29203|title=BOE-T-1988-29203 Sala Segunda. Sentencia 231/1988, de 2 de diciembre. Recurso de amparo 1.247/1986. Contra Sentencia de la Sala Primera del Tribunal Supremo que anula la dictada en apelación por la Audiencia Territorial de Madrid, en autos sobre vulneración del derecho a la intimidad. Voto particular.|website=www.boe.es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> Although the event occurred in a public arena, the Court concluded that the dissemination of images capturing extreme distress crossed the boundary of acceptable informational use.
Spanish courts are similarly cautious in the advertising context. In STS 21 June 1988, the Supreme Court suggested that even incidental references to a person in advertising may violate the right to one’s image.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vlex.es/vid/77589496|title=STS, 21 de Junio de 1988|website=vLex|language=es|access-date=2026-04-20}}</ref> At the same time, Article 8.2(b) recognizes an exception for caricature, allowing satirical or parodic uses where they contribute to expression rather than merely exploiting identity for commercial gain.
As of now, the Spanish right to one’s own image is best understood as a doctrine of controlled visibility. It protects an individual’s authority over how they are represented, even in public-facing contexts such as media, sports, and digital platforms. While the law accommodates competing interests, such as news reporting, cultural expression, and satire, it consistently resists the idea that visibility alone permits unrestricted use.
In an environment where images circulate rapidly and widely, this framework ensures that identity remains anchored in the individual rather than absorbed into the commercial or informational systems that reproduce it.
[[Category:Communication in Europe|Law in Spain]]
[[Category:Law in Europe]]
[[Category:Spain]]
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Patriarch Ages Curious Numerical Facts Response
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | Group 1
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="4" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | Group 1
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | Group 1
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1<br/>(4920)</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 2</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of '''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* The Grouping of Adam */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 2</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of [[w:Alulim|'''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage]].
*During the reign of '''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* The Grouping of Adam */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 2</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|some myths]], Adapa is associated with the first post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]], while in others, he is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]).
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of [[w:Alulim|'''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage]].
*During the reign of [[w:Alalngar|'''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage]].
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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/* The Grouping of Adam */
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 2</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Apkallu#Uanna_(Oannes)_or_Adapa?|some inscriptions]], Adapa is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]). In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|other myths]], Adapa is associated with the post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]].
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of [[w:Alulim|'''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage]].
*During the reign of [[w:Alalngar|'''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage]].
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts the mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 2</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Apkallu#Uanna_(Oannes)_or_Adapa?|some inscriptions]], Adapa is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]). In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|other myths]], Adapa is associated with the post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]].
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of [[w:Alulim|'''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage]].
*During the reign of [[w:Alalngar|'''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage]].
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was one hundred.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 2</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Apkallu#Uanna_(Oannes)_or_Adapa?|some inscriptions]], Adapa is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]). In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|other myths]], Adapa is associated with the post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]].
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of [[w:Alulim|'''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage]].
*During the reign of [[w:Alalngar|'''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage]].
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was an hundred years old.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 2</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Apkallu#Uanna_(Oannes)_or_Adapa?|some inscriptions]], Adapa is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]). In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|other myths]], Adapa is associated with the post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]].
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of [[w:Alulim|'''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage]].
*During the reign of [[w:Alalngar|'''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage]].
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was an hundred years old.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Also, where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
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{{Original research}}
This page extends the mathematical insights presented in the 2017 article, [https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ ''Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs''] by Paul D. While the original article provides compelling arguments, this analysis identifies areas where the underlying data and mathematical evidence are more robust than initially presented.
== Summary of Main Arguments ==
The ages of the patriarchs in Genesis are not historical records, but are a symbolic mathematical structure. Key points include:
* '''Artificial Mathematical Design:''' Patriarchal lifespans and event years are based on symbolic or "perfect" numbers (such as 7, 49, and 60) rather than biological or historical reality.
* '''The Universal Flood as a Later Insertion:''' Evidence suggests the universal scope of Noah's Flood was a later addition to a patriarchal foundation story. This insertion disrupted the original timelines, forcing recalibrations in the Masoretic Text (MT), Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), and Septuagint (LXX) to avoid chronological contradictions.
* '''Chronological Overlaps:''' In the original numerical framework (prior to recalibration for a universal flood), four patriarchs survived beyond the date of the Flood.
* '''Alignment with Sacred Cycles:''' The chronologies are designed to align significant events—such as the Exodus and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple—with specific "years of the world" (''Anno Mundi''), synchronizing human history with a divine calendar.
= ''Arichat Yamim'' (Long Life) =
Most of the patriarchs' lifespans in the Hebrew Bible exceed typical human demographics, and many appear to be based on rounded multiples of 101 years. For example, the combined lifespans of Seth, Enosh, and Kenan total '''2,727 years''' (27 × 101). Likewise, the sum for Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch is '''2,222 years''' (22 × 101), and for Methuselah and Noah, it is '''1,919 years''' (19 × 101).
This phenomenon is difficult to explain, as no known ancient number system features "101" as a significant unit. However, a possible explanation emerges if we assume the original chronographer arrived at these figures through a two-stage process: an initial prototype relying on Mesopotamian sexagesimal numbers, followed by a refined prototype rounded to the nearest Jubilee cycle.
In his 1989 London Bible College thesis, ''The Genealogies of Genesis: A Study of Their Structure and Function'', Richard I. Johnson argues that the cumulative lifespans of the patriarchs from Adam to Moses derive from a "perfect" Mesopotamian value: seven ''šar'' (7 × 3,600) or 420 ''šūši'' (420 × 60), divided by two. Using the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the calculation is structured as follows:
*:<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
\frac{7\,\text{šar}}{2} &= 3\,\text{šar}\,\,30\,\text{šūši} \\
&= \left(3 \times 60^2 \, \text{years} \right) + \left(30 \times 60^1 \,\text{years} \right) \\
&= 10,800 \, \text{years} + 1,800 \, \text{years} \\
&= 12,600 \, \text{years}
\end{aligned}
</math>
This 12,600-year total was partitioned into three allotments, each based on a 100-Jubilee cycle (4,900 years) but rounded to the nearest Mesopotamian ''šūši'' (multiples of 60).
==== Prototype 1: Initial "Mesopotamian" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #f0f4f7; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #009688;">
The initial "PT1" framework partitioned the 12,600-year total into three allotments based on 100-Jubilee cycles (rounded to the nearest ''šūši''):
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Six patriarchs allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''. This approximates 100 Jubilees (82 × 60 ≈ 100 × 49).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' These 17 patriarchs were also allotted a combined sum of '''82 ''šūši'' (4,920 years)'''.
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah were allotted the remaining '''46 ''šūši'' (2,760 years)''' (12,600 − 4,920 − 4,920).
</div>
----
==== Prototype 2: Refined "Jubilee" Allocation ====
----
<div style="background-color: #fdf7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 5px solid #9c27b0;">
Because the rounded Mesopotamian sums in Prototype 1 were not exact Jubilee multiples, the framework was refined by shifting 29 years from the "Remainder" to each of the two primary groups. This resulted in the "PT2" figures as follows:
* '''Group 1 (Seth to Enoch):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 2 (Adam, plus Shem to Moses):''' Increased to '''4,949 years''' (101 × 49-year Jubilees).
* '''Group 3 (The Remainder):''' Decreased by 58 years to '''2,702 years''' (12,600 − 4,949 − 4,949).
</div>
----
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that result in a patriarch surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Prototype Chronologies (Age at death)
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e0f2f1; border-bottom:2px solid #009688;" | PROTOTYPE 1<br/>(PT1)
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PROTOTYPE 2<br/>(PT2)
|-
| rowspan="6" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 1</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">45 šūši<br/>(2700)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2727</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">37 šūši<br/>(2220)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 15 (900)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2222</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 6 (360)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| rowspan="3" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 3</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">46 šūši<br/>(2760)</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">32 šūši<br/>(1920)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2702</div>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1919</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 16 (960)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 14 (840)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783
|-
| rowspan="18" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">Group 2</div>
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">82 šūši<br/>(4920)</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">40 šūši<br/>(2400)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 16 (960)
| rowspan="18" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">4949</div>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">2401</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 10 (600)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 7 (420)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">25 šūši<br/>(1500)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 8 (480)
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1525</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 4 (240)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">17 šūši<br/>(1020)</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | <div style="display:inline-block; transform:rotate(270deg);">1023</div>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 3 (180)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 2 (120)
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="6" | 210 šūši<br/>(12,600 years)
|}
==The Grouping of Adam==
The placement of Adam in Group 2 for lifespan allotments is surprising given his role as the first human male in the Genesis narrative. Interestingly, Mesopotamian mythology faces a similar ambiguity regarding the figure Adapa. In [[w:Apkallu#Uanna_(Oannes)_or_Adapa?|some inscriptions]], Adapa is linked to the first pre-flood king, Ayalu (often identified as [[w:Alulim|Alulim]]). In [[w:Adapa#Other_myths|other myths]], Adapa is associated with the post-flood king, [[w:Enmerkar|Enmerkar]].
In the [[w:Apkallu#Uruk_List_of_Kings_and_Sages|"Uruk List of Kings and Sages"]] (165 BC), discovered in 1959/60 in the Seleucid-era temple of Anu in Bīt Rēš, the text documents a clear succession of divine and human wisdom. It consists of a list of seven antediluvian kings and their associated semi-divine sages (apkallū), followed by a note on the 'Deluge' (see [[w:Gilgamesh_flood_myth|Gilgamesh flood myth]]). After this break, the list continues with eight more king-sage pairs representing the post-flood era, where the "sages" eventually transition into human scholars.
A tentative translation reads:
*During the reign of [[w:Alulim|'''Ayalu''', the king, '''Adapa''' was sage]].
*During the reign of [[w:Alalngar|'''Alalgar''', the king, '''Uanduga''' was sage]].
*During the reign of '''Ameluana''', the king, '''Enmeduga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Amegalana''', the king, '''Enmegalama''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeusumgalana''', the king, '''Enmebuluga''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Dumuzi''', the shepherd, the king, '''Anenlilda''' was sage.
*During the reign of '''Enmeduranki''', the king, '''Utuabzu''' was sage.
*After the flood, during the reign of '''Enmerkar''', the king, '''Nungalpirigal''' was sage . . .
*During the reign of '''Gilgamesh''', the king, '''Sin-leqi-unnini''' was scholar.
. . .
This list illustrates the traditional sequence of sages that parallels the biblical patriarchs, leading to several specific similarities in their roles and narratives.
==== Mesopotamian Similarities ====
*[[w:Adapa#As_Adam|Adam as Adapa]]: Possible parallels include the similarity in names (potentially sharing the same linguistic root) and thematic overlaps. Both accounts feature a trial involving the consumption of purportedly deadly food, and both figures are summoned before a deity to answer for their transgressions.
*[[w:En-men-dur-ana#Myth|Enoch as Enmeduranki]]: Enoch appears in the biblical chronology as the seventh pre-flood patriarch, while Enmeduranki is listed as the seventh pre-flood king in the Sumerian King List. The Hebrew [[w:Book of Enoch|Book of Enoch]] describes Enoch’s divine revelations and heavenly travels. Similarly, the Akkadian text ''Pirišti Šamê u Erṣeti'' (Secrets of Heaven and Earth) recounts Enmeduranki being taken to heaven by the gods Shamash and Adad to be taught the secrets of the cosmos.
*[[w:Utnapishtim|Noah as Utnapishtim]]: Similar to Noah, Utnapishtim is warned by a deity (Enki) of an impending flood and tasked with abandoning his possessions to build a massive vessel, the Preserver of Life. Both narratives emphasize the preservation of the protagonist's family, various animals, and seeds to repopulate the world after the deluge.
==== Conclusion ====
The dual association of Adapa—as both the first antediluvian sage and a figure linked to the post-flood king Enmerkar—provides a compelling mythological parallel to the numerical "surprise" of Adam’s grouping. Just as Adapa bridges the divide between the primordial era and the post-flood world, Adam’s placement in Group 2 suggests a similar thematic ambiguity. This pattern is further reinforced by the figure of Enoch, whose role as the seventh patriarch mirrors Enmeduranki, the seventh king; both serve as pivotal links between humanity and the divine realm. Together, these overlaps imply that the biblical lifespan allotments were influenced by ancient conventions that viewed the progression of kingship and wisdom as a fluid, structured tradition rather than a strictly linear history.
==The Universal Flood==
In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, four pre-flood patriarchs—[[w:Jared (biblical figure)|Jared]], [[w:Methuselah|Methuselah]], [[w:Lamech (Genesis)|Lamech]], and [[w:Noah|Noah]]—are attributed with exceptionally long lifespans, and late enough in the chronology that their lives overlap with the Deluge. This creates a significant anomaly where these figures survive the [[w:Genesis flood narrative|Universal Flood]], despite not being named among those saved on the Ark in the biblical narrative.
It is possible that the survival of these patriarchs was initially not a theological problem. For example, in the eleventh tablet of the ''[[w:Epic of Gilgamesh|Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', the hero [[w:Utnapishtim|Utnapishtim]] is instructed to preserve civilization by loading his vessel not only with kin, but with "all the craftsmen."
Given the evident Mesopotamian influences on early biblical narratives, it is possible that the original author of the biblical chronology may have operated within a similar conceptual framework—one in which Noah preserved certain forefathers alongside his immediate family, thereby bypassing the necessity of their death prior to the deluge. Alternatively, the author may have envisioned the flood as a localized event rather than a universal cataclysm, which would not have required the total destruction of human life outside the Ark.
Whatever the intentions of the original author, later chronographers were clearly concerned with the universality of the Flood. Consequently, chronological "corrections" were implemented to ensure the deaths of these patriarchs prior to the deluge. The lifespans of the problematic patriarchs are detailed in the table below. Each entry includes the total lifespan with the corresponding birth and death years (Anno Mundi, or years after creation) provided in parentheses.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Bible Chronologies: Lifespan (Birth year) (Death year)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| 847 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 962 <br/><small>(460)<br/>(1422)</small>
| colspan="4" | 962 <br/><small>(960)<br/>(1922)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 969 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1556)</small>
| 720 <br/> <small>(587)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 969 <br/> <small>(687)<br/>(1656)</small>
| colspan="5" | 969 <br/><small>(1287)<br/>(2256)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 783 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1437)</small>
| 653 <br/> <small>(654)<br/>(1307)</small>
| 777 <br/> <small>(874)<br/>(1651)</small>
| colspan = "3" | Varied <br/> <small>(1454 / 1474)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(707)<br/>(1657)</small>
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(1056)<br/>(2006)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 950 <br/> <small>(Varied)<br/>(Varied)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | The Flood
| colspan="2" | <small>(1307)</small>
| <small>(1656)</small>
| colspan="3" |<small>(Varied)</small>
|}
=== Samaritan Adjustments ===
As shown in the table above, the '''Samaritan Pentateuch''' (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech while leaving their birth years unchanged (460 AM, 587 AM, and 654 AM respectively). This adjustment ensures that all three patriarchs die precisely in the year of the Flood (1307 AM), leaving Noah as the sole survivor.
While this mathematically resolves the overlap, the solution is less than ideal from a theological perspective; it suggests that these presumably righteous forefathers were swept away in the same judgment as the wicked generation, perishing in the same year as the Deluge.
=== Masoretic Adjustments ===
The '''Masoretic Text''' (MT) maintains the original lifespan and birth year for Jared, but implements specific shifts for his successors. It moves Methuselah's birth and death years forward by exactly '''one hundred years'''; he is born in year 687 AM (rather than 587 AM) and dies in year 1656 AM (rather than 1556 AM).
Lamech's birth year is moved forward by '''two hundred and twenty years''', and his lifespan is reduced by six years, resulting in a birth in year 874 AM (as opposed to 654 AM) and a death in year 1651 AM (as opposed to 1437 AM). Finally, Noah's birth year and the year of the flood are moved forward by '''three hundred and forty-nine years''', while his original lifespan remains unchanged.
These adjustments shift the timeline of the Flood forward sufficiently so that Methuselah's death occurs in the year of the Flood and Lamech's death occurs five years prior, effectively resolving the overlap. However, this solution is less than ideal because it creates significant irregularities in the ages of the fathers at the birth of their successors (see table below). In particular, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech are respectively '''162''', '''187''', and '''182''' years old at the births of their successors—ages that are notably higher than those of the adjacent patriarchs.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" | 67
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="3" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" | 53
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|}
=== Septuagint Adjustments ===
In his article ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', the author Paul D makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint (LXX):
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter.”</blockquote>
The Septuagint solution avoids the Samaritan issue where multiple righteous forefathers were swept away in the same year as the wicked. It also avoids the Masoretic issue of having disparate fathering ages.
However, the Septuagint solution of adding hundreds of years to the chronology subverts mathematical motifs upon which the chronology was originally built. In particular, Abraham fathering Isaac at the age of 100 is presented as a miraculous event within the post-flood Abraham narrative; yet, having a long line of ancestors who begat sons when well over a hundred significantly dilutes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth.
=== Flood Adjustment Summary ===
In summary, there was no ideal methodology for accommodating a universal flood within the various textual traditions.
* In the '''Prototype 2''' chronology, multiple ancestors survive the flood alongside Noah. This dilutes Noah's status as the sole surviving patriarch, which in turn weakens the legitimacy of the [[w:Covenant_(biblical)#Noahic|Noahic covenant]]—a covenant predicated on the premise that God had destroyed all humanity in a universal reset.
* The '''Samaritan''' solution was less than ideal because Noah's presumably righteous ancestors perish in the same year as the wicked, which appears to undermine the discernment of God's judgments.
* The '''Masoretic''' and '''Septuagint''' solutions, by adding hundreds of years to begettal ages, normalize what is intended to be the miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham was an hundred years old.
== Additional Textual Evidence ==
Because no single surviving manuscript preserves the original PT2 in its entirety, it must be reconstructed using internal textual evidence. As described previously, a primary anchor for this reconstruction is the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Seth-to-Enoch group (Group 1), which is preserved across nearly all biblical records. Also, where traditions diverge from this sum, they do so in predictable patterns that reveal the editorial intent of later redactors, as shown in the following tables (While most values are obtained directly from the primary source texts listed in the header, the '''Armenian Eusebius''' chronology does not explicitly record lifespans for Levi, Kohath, and Amram. These specific values are assumed to be shared across other known ''Long Chronology'' traditions.)
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Group ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Patriarch Group Lifespan Duration Sum)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Patriarch Groups
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic<br/>(MT)
! style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan<br/>(SP)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus<br/>(94 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius<br/>(325 AD)
! style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint<br/>(LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Group 1: Seth to Enoch<br/><small>(6 Patriarchs)</small>
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Group 3: Methuselah, Lamech, Noah<br/><small>(The Remainder)</small>
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2702
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2696<br/><small>(2702 - 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2323<br/><small>(2702 - 379)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2626<br/><small>(2702 - 76)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2642<br/><small>(2702 - 60)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 2672<br/><small>(2702 - 30)</small>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Group 2: Adam & Shem to Moses<br/><small>(The "Second Half")</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9; font-weight:bold;" | 4949
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4955<br/><small>(4949 + 6)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 4834<br/><small>(4949 - 115)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | —
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5609<br/><small>(4949 + 660)</small>
| style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 5930<br/><small>(4949 + 981)</small>
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px;"
! LIFESPAN DURATION SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| 11,991
| —
| 13,200
| 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
* '''The Masoretic Text (MT):''' This tradition shifted 6 years from the "Remainder" to Group 2. This move broke the original symmetry but preserved the '''4,949-year sum''' for the Group 1 block.
* '''The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP):''' This tradition reduced both Group 1 and Group 2 by exactly 115 years each. While this maintained the underlying symmetry between the two primary blocks, the 101-Jubilee connection was lost.
* '''The Armenian Eusebius Chronology:''' This tradition reduced the Remainder by 60 years while increasing Group 2 by 660 years. This resulted in a net increase of exactly 600 years, or '''10 ''šūši''''' (base-60 units).
* '''The Septuagint (LXX):''' This tradition adds 981 years to Group 2 while subtracting 30 years from the Remainder. This breaks the symmetry of the primary blocks and subverts any obvious connection to sexagesimal (base-60) influence.
The use of rounded Mesopotamian figures in the '''Armenian Eusebius Chronology''' suggests it likely emerged prior to the Hellenistic conquest of Persia. Conversely, the '''Septuagint's''' divergence indicates a later development—likely in [[w:Alexandria|Alexandria]]—where Hellenized Jews were more focused on correlating Hebrew history with Greek and Egyptian chronologies than on maintaining Persian-era mathematical motifs.
=== Lifespan Adjustments by Individual Patriarch ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center;"
|+ Comparison of Chronological Traditions (Individual Patriarch Lifespans)
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | Patriarch
! colspan="1" rowspan = "2" style="background-color:#f3e5f5; border-bottom:2px solid #9c27b0;" | PT2
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 912
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 905
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 910
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 895
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
| 847
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 962
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 365
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
| 720
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 969
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 950
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 783
| 777
| 653
| 707
| 723
| 753
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 930
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
| rowspan="9" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 600
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arpachshad
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 438
| 538
| 535
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan (II)
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | —
| —
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 433
| 536
| 460
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 464
| 404
| 567
| colspan="2" | 404
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| colspan="2" | 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 239
| 342
| 339
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 230
| colspan="2" | 330
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 148
| 198
| 304
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
| 145
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 205
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abraham
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 175
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Isaac
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
| 185
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 180
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jacob
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 147
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Levi
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
| rowspan="3" | —
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 137
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kohath
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 133
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Amram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 131
| 137
| 136
| colspan="2" | 132
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Moses
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8; font-weight:bold; color:#555;" | 120
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! style="text-align:left; color:black;" | LIFESPAN<br/>DURATION<br/>SUM
| colspan="2" | 12,600
| colspan="1" | 11,991
| —
| colspan="1" | 13,200
| colspan="1" | 13,551
|}
<small>* '''Dash (—)''' indicates where primary sources do not provide complete death data.</small>
=== Samaritan Adjustment Details ===
As shown in the above table, the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) systematically reduces the total lifespans of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech so that all three die precisely in the year of the Flood, leaving Noah as the sole survivor. The required reduction in Jared's lifespan was '''115 years'''. Interestingly, as noted previously, the Samaritan tradition also reduces the lifespans of later patriarchs by a combined total of 115 years, seemingly to maintain a numerical balance between the "Group 1" and "Group 2" patriarchs.
Specifically, this balance was achieved through the following adjustments:
* '''Eber''' and '''Terah''' each had their lifespans reduced by 60 years (one ''šūši'' each).
* '''Amram's''' lifespan was increased by five years.
This net adjustment of 115 years (60 + 60 - 5) suggests a deliberate schematic balancing.
=== Masoretic Adjustment Details ===
In the 2017 article, "[https://wordpress.com Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]," Paul D. describes a specific shift in Lamech's death age in the Masoretic tradition:
<blockquote>"The original age of Lamech was 753, and a late editor of the MT changed it to the schematic 777 (inspired by Gen 4:24, it seems, even though that is supposed to be a different Lamech: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold). (Hendel 2012: 8; Northcote 251)"</blockquote>
While Paul D. accepts 753 as the original age, this conclusion creates significant tension within his own numerical analysis. A central pillar of his article is the discovery that the sum of all patriarchal ages from Adam to Moses totals exactly '''12,600 years'''—a result that relies specifically on Lamech living 777 years. To dismiss 777 as a late "tweak" in favor of 753 potentially overlooks the intentional mathematical architecture that defines the Masoretic tradition. As Paul D. acknowledges:
<blockquote>"Alas, it appears that the lifespan of Lamech was changed from 753 to 777. Additionally, the age of Eber was apparently changed from 404 (as it is in the LXX) to 464... Presumably, these tweaks were made after the MT diverged from other versions of the text, in order to obtain the magic number 12,600 described above."</blockquote>
==== ''Lectio Difficilior Potior'' ====
The principle of ''[[Wikipedia:Lectio difficilior potior|Lectio Difficilior Potior]]'' (the "harder reading is stronger") suggests that scribes tend to simplify or "smooth" texts by introducing patterns. Therefore, when reconstructing an earlier tradition, the critic should often favor the reading with the least amount of artificial internal structure. This concept is particularly useful in evaluating major events in Noah's life.
In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) tradition, Noah is born in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:28,31%7Cversion=SPE Lamech’s 53rd year and Lamech dies when he is 653]. In the Septuagint tradition Lamech dies [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:31%7Cversion=AB when he is 753, exactly one hundred years later than the Samaritan tradition]. If we combine that with the 500-year figure for Noah's age at the birth of his sons, a suspiciously neat pattern emerges:
* '''Year 500 (of Noah):''' Shem is born.
* '''Year 600 (of Noah):''' The Flood occurs.
* '''Year 700 (of Noah):''' Lamech dies.
This creates a perfectly intervalic 200-year span (500–700) between the birth of the heir and the death of the father. Such a "compressed chronology" (500–600–700) is a hallmark of editorial smoothing. Applying ''Lectio Difficilior'', one might conclude that these specific figures (53, 653, and 753) are secondary schematic developments rather than original data. In the reconstructed prototype chronology (PT2), it is proposed that Lamech's original lifespan was '''783 years'''—a value not preserved in any surviving tradition. Under this theory, Lamech's lifespan was reduced by six years in the Masoretic tradition to reach the '''777''' figure described previously, while Amram's was increased by six years in a deliberate "balancing" of total chronological years.
=== Armenian Eusebius Adjustments ===
Perhaps the most surprising adjustments of all are those found in the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology. Eusebius's original work is dated to 325 AD, and the Armenian recension is presumed to have diverged from the Greek text approximately a hundred years later. It is not anticipated that the Armenian recension would retain Persian-era mathematical motifs; however, when the lifespan durations for all of the patriarchs are added up, the resulting figure is 13,200 years, which is exactly 600 years (or 10 ''šūši'') more than the Masoretic Text. Also, the specific adjustments to lifespans between the Prototype 2 (PT2) chronology and the Armenian recension of Eusebius's Long Chronology appear to be formulated using the Persian 60-based system.
Specifically, the following adjustments appear to have occurred for Group 2 patriarchs:
* '''Arpachshad''', '''Peleg''', and '''Serug''' each had their lifespans increased by 100 years.
* '''Shelah''', '''Eber''', and '''Reu''' each had their lifespans increased by 103 years.
* '''Nahor''' had his lifespan increased by 50 years.
* '''Amram''' had his lifespan increased by 1 year.
The sum total of the above adjustments amounts to 660 years, or 11 ''šūši''. When combined with the 60-year reduction in Lamech's life (from 783 years to 723 years), the combined final adjustment is 10 ''šūši''.
= It All Started With Grain =
[[File:Centres_of_origin_and_spread_of_agriculture_labelled.svg|thumb|500px|Centres of origin of agriculture in the Neolithic revolution]]
The chronology found in the ''Book of Jubilees'' has deep roots in the Neolithic Revolution, stretching back roughly 14,400 years to the [https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/ancient-bread-jordan/ Black Desert of Jordan]. There, Natufian hunter-gatherers first produced flatbread by grinding wild cereals and tubers into flour, mixing them with water, and baking the dough on hot stones. This original flour contained a mix of wild wheat, wild barley, and tubers like club-rush (''Bolboschoenus glaucus''). Over millennia, these wild plants transformed into domesticated crops.
The first grains to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, appearing around 10,000–12,000 years ago, were emmer wheat (''Triticum dicoccum''), einkorn wheat (''Triticum monococcum''), and hulled barley (''Hordeum vulgare''). Early farmers discovered that barley was essential for its early harvest, while wheat was superior for making bread. The relative qualities of these two grains became a focus of early biblical religion, as recorded in [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Lev.23:10-21 Leviticus 23:10-21], where the people were commanded to bring the "firstfruits of your harvest" (referring to barley) before the Lord:
<blockquote>"then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord"</blockquote>
To early farmers, for whom hunger was a constant reality and winter survival uncertain, that first barley harvest was a profound sign of divine deliverance from the hardships of the season. The commandment in Leviticus 23 continues:
<blockquote>"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord."</blockquote>
[[File:Ghandum_ki_katai_-punjab.jpg|thumb|500px|[https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.]]
These seven sabbaths amount to forty-nine days. The number 49 is significant because wheat typically reaches harvest roughly 49 days after barley. This grain carried a different symbolism: while barley represented survival and deliverance from winter, wheat represented the "better things" and the abundance provided to the faithful. [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Deu.16:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:9-10] similarly commands the people to count seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, celebrating the feast on the fiftieth day.
This 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests was so integral to ancient worship that it informed the timeline of the Exodus. Among the plagues of Egypt, [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Exo.9:31-32 Exodus 9:31-32] describes the destruction of crops:
<blockquote>"And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye <small>(likely emmer wheat or spelt)</small> were not smitten: for they were not grown up."</blockquote>
This text establishes that the Exodus—God's deliverance from slavery—began during the barley harvest. Just as the barley harvest signaled the end of winter’s hardship, it symbolized Israel's release from bondage.
The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th of Nisan (the first month) and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on the 1st of Sivan (the third month), 45 days later. In Jewish tradition, the giving of the Ten Commandments is identified with the 6th or 7th of Sivan—exactly 50 days after the Exodus. Thus, the Exodus (deliverance) corresponds to the barley harvest and is celebrated as the [[wikipedia:Passover|Passover]] holiday, while the Law (the life of God’s subjects) corresponds to the wheat harvest and is celebrated as [[wikipedia:Shavuot|Shavuot]]. This pattern carries into Christianity: Jesus was crucified during Passover (barley harvest), celebrated as [[wikipedia:Easter|Easter]], and fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was sent at [[wikipedia:Pentecost|Pentecost]] (wheat harvest).
=== The Mathematical Structure of Jubilees ===
The chronology of the ''Book of Jubilees'' is built upon this base-7 agricultural cycle, expanded into a fractal system of "weeks":
* '''Week of Years:''' 7<sup>1</sup> = 7 years
* '''Jubilee of Years:''' 7<sup>2</sup> = 49 years
* '''Week of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>3</sup> = 343 years
* '''Jubilee of Jubilees:''' 7<sup>4</sup> = 2,401 years
The author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology envisions the entirety of early Hebraic history, from the creation of Adam to the entry into Canaan, as occurring within a Jubilee of Jubilees, concluding with a fiftieth Jubilee of years. In this framework, the 2,450-year span (2,401 + 49 = 2,450) serves as a grand-scale reflection of the agricultural transition from the barley of deliverance to the wheat of the Promised Land.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology]]
The above diagram illustrates the reconstructed Jubilee of Jubilees fractal chronology. The first twenty rows in the left column respectively list 20 individual patriarchs, with parentheses indicating their age at the birth of their successor. Shem, the 11th patriarch and son of Noah, is born in reconstructed year 1209, which is roughly halfway through the 2,401-year structure. Abram is listed in the 21st position with a 77 in parentheses, indicating that Abram entered Canaan when he was 77 years old. The final three rows represent the Canaan, Egypt, and 40-year Sinai eras. Chronological time flows from the upper left to the lower right, utilizing 7x7 grids to represent 49-year Jubilees within a larger, nested "Jubilee of Jubilees" (49x49). Note that the two black squares at the start of the Sinai era mark the two-year interval between the Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle.
* The '''first Jubilee''' (top-left 7x7 grid) covers the era from Adam's creation through his 49th year.
* The '''second Jubilee''' (the adjacent 7x7 grid to the right) spans Adam's 50th through 98th years.
* The '''third Jubilee''' marks the birth of Seth in the year 130, indicated by a color transition within the grid.
* The '''twenty-fifth Jubilee''' occupies the center of the 49x49 structure; it depicts Shem's birth and the chronological transition from pre-flood to post-flood patriarchs.
== The Birth of Shem (A Digression) ==
Were Noah's sons born when Noah was 500 or 502?
==== The 502 Calculation ====
While [https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.5:32 Genesis 5:32] states that "Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth," this likely indicates the year Noah ''began'' having children rather than the year all three were born. Shem’s specific age can be deduced by comparing other verses:
# Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.7:6 Genesis 7:6]).
# Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood ([https://www.stepbible.org/?q=reference=Gen.11:10 Genesis 11:10])
'''The Calculation:''' If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, he was 98 when the flood began. Subtracting 98 from Noah’s 600th year (600 - 98) results in '''502'''. This indicates that either Japheth or Ham was the eldest son, born when Noah was 500, followed by Shem two years later. Shem is likely listed first in the biblical text due to his status as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples.
== The Mathematical relationship between 40 and 49 ==
As noted previously, the ''Jubilees'' author envisions early Hebraic history within a "Jubilee of Jubilees" fractal chronology (2,401 years). Shem is born in year 1209, which is a nine-year offset from the exact mathematical center of 1200. To understand this shift, one must look at a mathematical relationship that exists between the foundational numbers 40 and 49. Specifically, 40 can be expressed as a difference of squares derived from 7; using the distributive property, the relationship is demonstrated as follows:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
(7-3)(7+3) &= 7^2 - 3^2 \\
&= 49 - 9 \\
&= 40
\end{aligned}
</math>
The following diagram graphically represents the above mathematical relationship. A Jubilee may be divided into two unequal portions of 9 and 40.
[[File:Jubilee_to_Generation_Division.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram illustrating the division of a Jubilee into unequal portions of 9 and 40.]]
Shem's placement within the structure can be understood mathematically as the first half of the fractal plus nine pre-flood years, followed by the second half of the fractal plus forty post-flood years, totaling the entire fractal plus one Jubilee (49 years):
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Book_of_Jubilees_Early_Patriarchs_split.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of early Hebraic history as envisioned by the author of the ''Jubilees'' chronology with a split fractal framework]]
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan)'''
** Pre-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 - 1}{2} + 3^2 = 1200 + 9 = 1209</math>
** Post-Flood Patriarch years:
*:<math display="block">\frac{7^4 + 1}{2} + (7^2 - 3^2) = 1201 + 40 = 1241</math>
** Total Years:
*:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450</math>
</div>
== The Samaritan Pentateuch Connection ==
Of all biblical chronologies, the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' share the closest affinity during the pre-flood era, suggesting that the Jubilee system may be a key to unlocking the SP’s internal logic. The diagram below illustrates the structural organization of the patriarchs within the Samaritan tradition.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Jubilees mathematical framework]]
=== Determining Chronological Priority ===
A comparison of the begettal ages in the above Samaritan diagram with the Jubilees diagram reveals a deep alignment between these systems. From Adam to Shem, the chronologies are nearly identical, with minor discrepancies likely resulting from scribal transmission. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are born in year 1207 (with Shem's reconstructed birth year as 1209), maintaining a birth position within the 25th Jubilee—the approximate center of the 49x49 "Jubilee of Jubilees."
This raises a vital question of chronological priority: which system came first? Shem’s placement at the center of the 49x49 grid suggests that the schematic framework of the Book of Jubilees may have influenced the Samaritan Pentateuch's chronology, even if the latter's narratives are older. It is highly probable that Shem's "pivot" position was an intentional design feature inherited or shared by the Samaritan tradition, rather than a coincidental alignment.
=== The 350-Year Symmetrical Extension ===
Post-flood begettal ages differ significantly between these two chronologies. In the Samaritan Pentateuch, the ages of six patriarchs at the birth of their successors are significantly higher than those in the ''Book of Jubilees'', extending the timeline by exactly 350 years (assuming the inclusion of a six-year conquest under Joshua, represented by the black-outlined squares in the SP diagram). This extension appears to be a deliberate, symmetrical addition: a "week of Jubilees" (343 years) plus a "week of years" (7 years).
<div style="line-height: 1.5;">
* '''Book of Jubilees (Adam to Canaan):'''
:<math display="block">7^4 + 7^2 = 2401 + 49 = 2450 \text{ years}</math>
* '''Samaritan Pentateuch (Adam to Conquest):'''
:<math display="block">\begin{aligned} \text{(Base 49): } & 7^4 + 7^3 + 7^2 + 7^1 = 2401 + 343 + 49 + 7 = 2800 \\ \text{(Base 40): } & 70 \times 40 = 2800 \end{aligned}</math>
</div>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Early Samaritan Chronology ===
To understand the motivation for the 350-year variation between the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the SP, a specific mathematical framework must be considered. The following diagram illustrates the Samaritan tradition using a '''40-year grid''' (4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks each):
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) contains 25 blocks, representing exactly '''1,000 years'''.
* '''The second cluster''' represents a second millennium.
* '''The final set''' contains 20 blocks (4x5), representing '''800 years'''.
Notably, when the SP chronology is mapped to this 70-unit format, the conquest of Canaan aligns precisely with the end of the 70th block. This suggests a deliberate structural design—totaling 2,800 years—rather than a literal historical record.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Early_Patriarchs_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of Hebraic history as presented in ''the Samaritan Pentateuch'' chronology, organized into a Generational (4x10 year blocks) mathematical framework]]
== Living in the Rough ==
[[File:Samaritan Passover sacrifice IMG 1988.JPG|thumb|350px|A Samaritan Passover Sacrifice 1988]]
As explained previously, 49 (a Jubilee) is closely associated with agriculture and the 49-day interval between the barley and wheat harvests. The symbolic origins of the number '''40''' (often representing a "generation") are less clear, but the number is consistently associated with "living in the rough"—periods of trial, transition, or exile away from the comforts of civilization.
Examples of this pattern include:
* '''Noah''' lived within the ark for 40 days while the rain fell;
* '''Israel''' wandered in the wilderness for 40 years;
* '''Moses''' stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights without food or water.
Several other prophets followed this pattern, most notably '''Jesus''' in the New Testament, who fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning his ministry. In each case, the number 40 marks a period of testing that precedes a new spiritual or national era.
Another recurring theme in the [[w:Pentateuch|Pentateuch]] is the tension between settled farmers and mobile pastoralists. This friction is first exhibited between Cain and Abel: Cain, a farmer, offered grain as a sacrifice to God, while Abel, a pastoralist, offered meat. When Cain’s offering was rejected, he slew Abel in a fit of envy. The narrative portrays Cain as clever and deceptive, whereas Abel is presented as honest and earnest—a precursor to the broader biblical preference for the wilderness over the "civilized" city.
In a later narrative, Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, further exemplify this dichotomy. Jacob—whose name means "supplanter"—is characterized as clever and potentially deceptive, while Esau is depicted as a rough, hairy, and uncivilized man, who simply says what he feels, lacking the calculated restraint of his brother. Esau is described as a "skillful hunter" and a "man of the field," while Jacob is "dwelling in tents" and cooking "lentil stew."
The text draws a clear parallel between these two sets of brothers:
* In the '''Cain and Abel''' narrative, the plant-based sacrifice of Cain is rejected in favor of the meat-based one.
* In the '''Jacob and Esau''' story, Jacob’s mother intervenes to ensure he offers meat (disguised as game) to secure his father's blessing. Through this "clever" intervention, Jacob successfully secures the favor that Cain could not.
Jacob’s life trajectory progresses from the pastoralist childhood he inherited from Isaac toward the most urbanized lifestyle of the era. His son, Joseph, ultimately becomes the vizier of Egypt, tasked with overseeing the nation's grain supply—the ultimate symbol of settled, agricultural civilization.
This path is juxtaposed against the life of Moses: while Moses begins life in the Egyptian court, he is forced into the wilderness after killing a taskmaster. Ultimately, Moses leads all of Israel back into the wilderness, contrasting with Jacob, who led them into Egypt. While Jacob’s family found a home within civilization, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land, eventually dying in the "rough" of the wilderness.
Given the contrast between the lives of Jacob and Moses—and the established associations of 49 with grain and 40 with the wilderness—it is likely no coincidence that their lifespans follow these exact mathematical patterns. Jacob is recorded as living 147 years, precisely three Jubilees (3 x 49). In contrast, Moses lived exactly 120 years, representing three "generations" (3 x 40).
The relationship between these two "three-fold" lifespans can be expressed by the same nine-year offset identified in the Shem chronology:
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
3(49 - 9) &= 3(40) \\
147 - 27 &= 120
\end{aligned}
</math>
[[File:Three_Jubilees_vs_Three_Generations.png|thumb|center|500px|Jacob lived for 147 years, or three Jubilees of 49 years each as illustrated by the above 7 x 7 squares. Jacob's life is juxtaposed against the life of Moses, who lived 120 years, or three generations of 40 years each as illustrated by the above 4 x 10 rectangles.]]
Samaritan tradition maintains a unique cultural link to the "pastoralist" ideal: unlike mainstream Judaism, Samaritans still practice animal sacrifice on Mount Gerizim to this day. This enduring ritual focus on meat offerings, rather than the "grain-based" agricultural system symbolized by the 49-year Jubilee, further aligns the Samaritan identity with the symbolic number 40. Building on this connection to "wilderness living," the Samaritan chronology appears to structure the era prior to the conquest of Canaan using the number 40 as its primary mathematical unit.
=== A narrative foil for Joshua ===
As noted in the previous section, the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' structures the era prior to Joshua using 40 years as a fundamental unit; in this system, Joshua completes his six-year conquest of Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after the creation of Adam. It was also observed that the Bible positions Moses as a "foil" for Jacob: Moses lived exactly three "generations" (3x40) and died in the wilderness, whereas Jacob lived three Jubilees (3x49) and died in civilization.
This symmetry suggests an intriguing possibility: if Joshua conquered Canaan exactly 70 units of 40 years (2,800 years) after creation, is there a corresponding "foil" to Joshua—a significant event occurring exactly 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) after the creation of Adam?
<math display="block">
\begin{aligned}
49 - 9 &= 40 \\
70(49 - 9) &= 70(40) \\
3,430 - 630 &= 2,800
\end{aligned}
</math>
Unfortunately, unlike mainstream Judaism, the Samaritans do not grant post-conquest writings the same scriptural status as the Five Books of Moses. While the Samaritans maintain various historical records, these were likely not preserved with the same mathematical rigor as the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' itself. Consequently, it remains difficult to determine with certainty if a specific "foil" to Joshua existed in the original architect's mind.
The Samaritans do maintain a continuous, running calendar. However, this system uses a "Conquest Era" epoch—calculated by adding 1,638 years to the Gregorian date—which creates a 1639 BC (there is no year 0 AD) conquest that is historically irreconcilable. For instance, at that time, the [[w:Hyksos|Hyksos]] were only beginning to establish control over Lower Egypt. Furthermore, the [[w:Amarna letters|Amarna Letters]] (c. 1360–1330 BC) describe a Canaan still governed by local city-states under Egyptian influence. If the Samaritan chronology were a literal historical record, the Israelite conquest would have occurred centuries before these letters; yet, neither archaeological nor epistolary evidence supports such a massive geopolitical shift in the mid-17th century BC.
There is, however, one more possibility to consider: what if the "irreconcilable" nature of this running calendar is actually the key? What if the Samaritan chronographers specifically altered their tradition to ensure that the Conquest occurred exactly 2,800 years after Creation, and the subsequent "foil" event occurred exactly 3,430 years after Creation?
As it turns out, this is precisely what occurred. The evidence for this intentional mathematical recalibration was recorded by none other than a Samaritan High Priest, providing a rare "smoking gun" for the artificial design of the chronology.
=== A Mystery Solved ===
In 1864, the Rev. John Mills published ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', documenting his time spent with the Samaritans in 1855 and 1860. During this period, he consulted regularly with the High Priest Amram. In Chapter XIII, Mills records a specific chronology provided by the priest.
The significant milestones in this timeline include:
* '''Year 1''': "This year the world and Adam were created."
* '''Year 2801''': "The first year of Israel's rule in the land of Canaan."
* '''Year 3423''': "The commencement of the kingdom of Solomon."
According to 1 Kings 6:37–38, Solomon began the Temple in his fourth year and completed it in his eleventh, having labored for seven years. This reveals that the '''3,430-year milestone'''—representing exactly 70 Jubilees (70 × 49) after Creation—corresponds precisely to the midpoint of the Temple’s construction. This chronological "anchor" was not merely a foil for Joshua; it served as a mathematical foil for the Divine Presence itself.
In Creation Year 2800—marking exactly 70 "generations" of 40 years—God entered Canaan in a tent, embodying the "living rough" wilderness tradition symbolized by the number 40. Later, in Creation Year 3430—marking 70 "Jubilees" of 49 years—God moved into the permanent Temple built by Solomon, the ultimate archetype of settled, agricultural civilization. Under this schema, the 630 years spanning Joshua's conquest to Solomon's temple are not intended as literal history; rather, they represent the 70 units of 9 years required to transition mathematically from the 70<sup>th</sup> generation to the 70<sup>th</sup> Jubilee:
:<math>70 \times 40 + (70 \times 9) = 70 \times 49</math>
=== Mathematical Structure of the Later Samaritan Chronology ===
The following diagram illustrates 2,400 years of reconstructed chronology, based on historical data provided by the Samaritan High Priest Amram. This system utilizes a '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 10 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,400''' after Creation.
The 70th generation and 70th Jubilee are both marked with callouts in this diagram. There is a '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''', which is composed of:
* The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness;
* The 6 years of the initial conquest;
* The 630 years between the conquest and the completion of Solomon’s Temple.
Following the '''676-year "Tabernacle" era''' is a '''400-year "First Temple" era''' and a '''70-year "Exile" era''' as detailed in the historical breakdown below.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Samaritan_Pentateuch_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Samaritan chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Book of Daniel states: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it" (Daniel 1:1). While scholarly consensus varies regarding the historicity of this first deportation, if historical, it occurred in approximately '''606 BC'''—ten years prior to the second deportation of '''597 BC''', and twenty years prior to the final deportation and destruction of Solomon’s Temple in '''586 BC'''.
The '''539 BC''' fall of Babylon to the Persian armies opened the way for captive Judeans to return to their homeland. By '''536 BC''', a significant wave of exiles had returned to Jerusalem—marking fifty years since the Temple's destruction and seventy years since the first recorded deportation in 606 BC. A Second Temple (to replace Solomon's) was completed by '''516 BC''', seventy years after the destruction of the original structure.
High Priest Amram places the fall of Babylon in year '''3877 after Creation'''. If synchronized with the 539 BC calculation of modern historians, then year '''3880''' (three years after the defeat of Babylon) corresponds with '''536 BC''' and the initial return of the Judeans.
Using this synchronization, other significant milestones are mapped as follows:
* '''The Exile Period (Years 3810–3830):''' The deportations occurred during this 20-year window, represented in the diagram by '''yellow squares outlined in red'''.
* '''The Desolation (Years 3830–3880):''' The fifty years between the destruction of the Temple and the initial return of the exiles are represented by '''solid red squares'''.
* '''Temple Completion (Years 3880–3900):''' The twenty years between the return of the exiles and the completion of the Second Temple are marked with '''light blue squares outlined in red'''.
High Priest Amram places the founding of Alexandria in the year '''4100 after Creation'''. This implies a 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning years 3900 to 4100). While this duration is not strictly historical—modern historians date the founding of Alexandria to 331 BC, only 185 years after the completion of the Second Temple in 516 BC—it remains remarkably close to the scholarly timeline.
The remainder of the diagram represents a 300-year "Second Temple Hellenistic Era," which concludes in '''Creation Year 4400''' (30 BC).
=== Competing Temples ===
There is one further significant aspect of the Samaritan tradition to consider. In High Priest Amram's reconstructed chronology, the year '''4000 after Creation'''—representing exactly 100 generations of 40 years—falls precisely in the middle of the 200-year "Second Temple Persian Era" (spanning creation years 3900 to 4100, or approximately 516 BC to 331 BC). This alignment suggests that the 4000-year milestone may have been significant within the Samaritan historical framework.
According to the Book of Ezra, the Samaritans were excluded from participating in the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple:
<blockquote>"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel" (Ezra 4:3).</blockquote>
After rejection in Jerusalem, the Samaritans established a rival sanctuary on '''[[w:Mount Gerizim|Mount Gerizim]]'''. [[w:Mount Gerizim Temple|Archaeological evidence]] suggests the original temple and its sacred precinct were built around the mid-5th century BC (c. 450 BC). For nearly 250 years, this modest 96-by-98-meter site served as the community's religious center. However, the site was transformed in the early 2nd century BC during the reign of '''Antiochus III'''. This massive expansion replaced the older structures with white ashlar stone, a grand entrance staircase, and a fortified priestly city capable of housing a substantial population.
[[File:Archaeological_site_Mount_Gerizim_IMG_2176.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Mount Gerizim Archaeological site, Mount Gerizim.]]
This era of prosperity provides a plausible window for dating the final '''[[w:Samaritan Pentateuch|Samaritan Pentateuch]]''' chronological tradition. If the chronology was intentionally structured to mark a milestone with the year 4000—perhaps the Temple's construction or other significant event—then the final form likely developed during this period. However, this Samaritan golden age had ended by 111 BC when the Hasmonean ruler '''[[w:John Hyrcanus|John Hyrcanus I]]''' destroyed both the temple and the adjacent city. The destruction was so complete that the site remained largely desolate for centuries; consequently, the Samaritan chronological tradition likely reached its definitive form sometime after 450 BC but prior to 111 BC.
= The Rise of Zadok =
The following diagram illustrates 2,200 years of reconstructed Masoretic chronology. This diagram utilizes the same system as the previous Samaritan diagram, '''40-year grid''' (modeled on 4x10 year blocks) organized into 5x5 clusters (25 blocks per cluster), where each cluster represents exactly 1,000 years:
* '''The first cluster''' (outlined in dark grey) spans years '''2,000 to 3,000''' after Creation.
* '''The second cluster''' spans years '''3,000 to 4,000''' after Creation.
* '''The final set''' contains 5 individual blocks representing the period from '''4,000 to 4,200''' after Creation.
The Masoretic chronology has many notable distinctions from the Samaritan chronology described in the previous section. Most notable is the absence of important events tied to siginificant dates. There was nothing of significance that happened on the 70th generation or 70th Jubilee in the Masoretic chronology. The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Conquest of Canaan are shown in the diagram, but the only significant date associated with these events in the exodus falling on year 2666 after creation. The Samaritan chronology was a collage of spiritual history. The Masoretic chronology is a barren wilderness. To understand why the Masoretic chronology is so devoid of featured dates, it is important to understand the two important dates that are featured, the exodus at 2666 years after creation, and the 4000 year event.
[[File:Schematic_Diagram_Masoretic_Text_Late_Era_40.png|thumb|center|500px|Schematic of later Hebraic history based on Masoretic chronology, demonstrating a generational mathematical framework.]]
The Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) was a successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire that regained religious freedom and eventually established an independent Jewish kingdom in Judea. Triggered by the oppressive policies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the uprising is the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its liberation. In particular, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 164 BC, cooresponding to creation year 4000.
= Hellenized Jews =
Hellenized Jews were
ancient Jewish individuals, primarily in the Diaspora (like Alexandria) and some in Judea, who adopted Greek language, education, and cultural customs after Alexander the Great's conquests, particularly between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. While integrating Hellenistic culture—such as literature, philosophy, and naming conventions—most maintained core religious monotheism, avoiding polytheism while producing unique literature like the Septuagint.
= End TBD =
'''Table Legend:'''
* <span style="color:#b71c1c;">'''Red Cells'''</span> indicate figures that could result in patriarchs surviving beyond the date of the Flood.
* <span style="color:#333333;">'''Blank Cells'''</span> indicate where primary sources do not provide specific lifespan or death data.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Pre-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="1" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Adam
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 230
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Seth
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 105
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 205
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enosh
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 90
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 190
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Kenan
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 170
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Mahalalel
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 66
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Jared
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 62
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 162
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Enoch
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 65
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 165
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Methuselah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 65
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 67
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 187
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 167 / 187
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Lamech
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 55
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffcdd2; color:#b71c1c; font-weight:bold; border:2px solid #ef5350;" | 53
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 188
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 182 / 188
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Noah
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 602
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 600
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shem
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-family:sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|+ Comparison of Post-Flood Chronological Traditions (Age at birth of son)
|-
! colspan="1" rowspan="2" | Patriarch
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#e3f2fd; border-bottom:2px solid #2196f3;" | SHORT CHRONOLOGY
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#fff3e0; border-bottom:2px solid #ff9800;" | LONG CHRONOLOGY
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Jubilees <br/> (Jub)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Masoretic <br/> (MT)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#e3f2fd;" | Samaritan <br/> (SP)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Demetrius <br/> (204 BC)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Africanus <br/> (221 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Theophilus <br/> (192 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Septuagint <br/> (LXX)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Eusebius <br/> (325 AD)
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#fff3e0;" | Josephus <br/> (94 AD)
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | Pre-Flood
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 1656
| colspan="1" | 1309
| colspan="1" | 2264
| colspan="1" | 2262
| colspan="1" | 2242
| colspan="3" | Varied
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Arphaxad
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 66
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 35
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Cainan II
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 130
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | -
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Shelah
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 71
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Eber
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 64
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 34
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 134
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Peleg
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 61
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Reu
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 59
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 32
| colspan="5" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 135
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Serug
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 57
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 30
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 130
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 132
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Nahor
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 62
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 29
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79 / 179
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 79
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 120
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Terah
| colspan="9" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 70
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Abram
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 78
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 75
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Canaan
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 218
| colspan="8" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Egypt
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 238
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 430
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 215
|-
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; background-color:#f9f9f9;" | Sinai +/-
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | 40
| colspan="1" style="background-color:#f9f9f9;" | -
| colspan="3" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 46
| colspan="4" style="background-color:#e8e8e8;" | 40
|- style="background-color:#333; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:15px;"
! colspan="1" style="text-align:left; color:black;" | GRAND TOTAL
| colspan="1" | 2450
| colspan="1" | 2666
| colspan="1" | 2800
| colspan="1" | 3885
| colspan="1" | 3754
| colspan="1" | 3938
| colspan="3" | Varied
|}
== The Septuagint Chronology ==
While the chronologies of the ''Book of Jubilees'' and the ''Samaritan Pentateuch'' are anchored in Levant-based agricultural cycles and the symbolic interplay of the numbers 40 and 49, the Septuagint (LXX) appears to have been structured around a different set of priorities. Specifically, the LXX's chronological framework seems designed to resolve a significant textual difficulty: the mathematical anomaly of patriarchs potentially outliving the Flood. In the 2017 article, ''[https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/some-curious-numerical-facts-about-the-ages-of-the-patriarchs/ Some Curious Numerical Facts about the Ages of the Patriarchs]'', author Paul D. makes the following statement regarding the Septuagint:
<blockquote>“The LXX’s editor methodically added 100 years to the age at which each patriarch begat his son. Adam begat Seth at age 230 instead of 130, and so on. This had the result of postponing the date of the Flood by 900 years without affecting the patriarchs’ lifespans, which he possibly felt were too important to alter. Remarkably, however, the editor failed to account for Methuselah’s exceptional longevity, so old Methuselah still ends up dying 14 years after the Flood in the LXX. (Whoops!)”</blockquote>
While Paul D.’s "Whoops Theory" suggests the LXX editor intended to "fix" the timeline but failed in the case of Methuselah, this interpretation potentially overlooks the systemic nature of the changes. If an editor is methodical enough to systematically alter multiple generations by exactly one hundred years, a single "failure" to fix Methuselah could suggest the avoidance of a post-Flood death was not the primary objective.
Fortunately, in addition to the biblical text traditions themselves, the writings of early chronographers provide insight into how these histories were developed. The LXX was the favored source for most Christian scholars during the early church period. Consider the following statement by Eusebius in his ''Chronicon'':
<blockquote>"Methusaleh fathered Lamech when he was 167 years of age. He lived an additional 802 years. Thus he would have survived the flood by 22 years."</blockquote>
This statement illustrates that Eusebius, as early as 325 AD, was aware of these chronological tensions. If he recognized the discrepancy, it is highly probable that earlier chronographers would also have been conscious of the overlap, suggesting it was not part of the earliest traditions but was a later development.
=== Demetrius the Chronographer ===
Demetrius the Chronographer, writing as early as the late 3rd century BC (c. 221 BC), represents the earliest known witness to biblical chronological calculations. While only fragments of his work remain, they are significant; Demetrius explicitly calculated 2,264 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. This presumably places the birth of Shem at 2,164 years—exactly one hundred years before the Flood—aligning his data with the "Long Chronology" of the Septuagint.
In the comment section of the original article, in response to evidence regarding this longer tradition (provided by commenter Roger Quill), Paul D. reaffirms his "Whoops Theory" by challenging the validity of various witnesses to the 187-year begettal age of Methuselah. In this view, Codex Alexandrinus is seen as the lone legitimate witness, while others are discounted:
* '''Josephus:''' Characterized as dependent on the Masoretic tradition.
* '''Pseudo-Philo:''' Dismissed due to textual corruption ("a real mess").
* '''Julius Africanus:''' Questioned because his records survive only through the later intermediary, Syncellus.
* '''Demetrius:''' Rejected as a witness because his chronology contains an additional 22 years (rather than the typical 20-year variance) whose precise placement remains unknown.
The claim that Julius Africanus is invalidated due to his survival through an intermediary, or that Demetrius is disqualified by a 22-year variance, is arguably overstated. A plausible explanation for the discrepancy in Demetrius's chronology is the ambiguity surrounding the precise timing of the Flood in relation to the births of Shem and Arphaxad. As explored later in this resource, chronographers frequently differ on whether Arphaxad was born two years after the Flood (Gen 11:10) or in the same year—a nuance that can easily account for such variances without necessitating the rejection of the witnesses.
=== The Correlations ===
An interesting piece of corroborating evidence exists in the previously mentioned 1864 publication by Rev. John Mills, ''Three Months' Residence at Nablus'', where High Priest Amram records his own chronological dates based on the Samaritan Pentateuch. Priest Amram lists the Flood date as 1307 years after creation, but then lists the birth of Arphaxad as 1309 years—exactly two years after the Flood—which presumably places Shem's birth in year 502 of Noah's life (though Shem's actual birth date in the text is obscured by a typo).
The internal tension in Priest Amram's calculations likely reflects the same two-year variance seen between Demetrius and Africanus. Priest Amram lists the birth years of Shelah, Eber, and Peleg as 1444, 1574, and 1708, respectively. Africanus lists those same birth years as 2397, 2527, and 2661. In each case, the Priest Amram figure differs from the Africanus value by exactly 953 years. While the chronology of Africanus may reach us through an intermediary, as Paul D. notes, the values provided by both Demetrius and Africanus are precisely what one would anticipate to resolve the "Universal Flood" problem.
[[Category:Religion]]
5udw5yimxjscffdj4ut2o7maitsxsj9
User:ThinkingScience
2
328661
2805617
2805427
2026-04-20T09:14:05Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
To encourage me to break "writer's block". New experiment. Use talk page if you find this disturbing
2805617
wikitext
text/x-wiki
== April 20th experiment, "AI Decisions, sure. AI-generation NEVER" ==
Starting today on April 20th after 08:46 Time, I'll begin by editing Wikiversity resources by being more encouraged by "yeah, do that" comments by Large Language Models.
Nothing of it will be "AI-generated" but the decisions I take: the reason for the decisions I take may be because of "AI-generation" but of course I will try to stay away from clear stupidity like if the AI-generation says "jump off a cliff". An extreme example, but I wanted to make a point that I won't take any decision and I will question the "AI/LLM" if it suggests something that to me sounds insane.
If you see anything weird please comment on my talk page after you've reverted my edits.
When this experiment ends, I don't have a plan for that yet. User input might help.
== Main focus: my "idea" ==
* This is my [[Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea]]. There goes the "main effort" based on my other smaller effort in various places and also by using the methodology I one day hope I will make.
* [[User:ThinkingScience/ND_Inspired_Idea_Notebook|Daily Diary of ND Inspired Idea]]
== Will look into this later... ==
Today April 16, 2026 my contributions contain a lot of spelling mistakes. They may be present other days too. You'll probably spot spelling mistakes all over.
My studying schedule as I've understood it so far(studying with my mother):
This schedule is not reliable(cause my studying partner keeps changing the time, which is not necessarily bad):
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
These are my course notes: [[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/Coursera]]
== I'm studying on Coursera and about their Terms of Use ==
'''Nothing here is legal advice'''. This is very important.
Nothing in this "Wikisection" constitutes legal advice! Please don't blindly follow my advice and if someone copies some parts of this text without providing context then they are responsible for what they share! If you have been tricked by scammers that's sad but I am NOT responsible for illegal activities.
* web.archive.org/web/20260325233813/https://www.coursera.org/about/terms
"When you create your Coursera account, and when you subsequently use certain features, you must provide us with accurate and complete information, and you agree to update your information to keep it accurate and complete."
My interpretation of that is that on Coursera I have to provide a real name. There is a field for "Full name"(retrieved 2026-04-09 UTC YYYY-MM-DD). How does that correspond to these terms? It doesn't say "Real name" but even if it did, what if I choose a name for myself and I'd like to call myself ThinkingScience? Is it still accurate?
They don't specify what I actually have to do, just based on my quote. It would be nice for me and other Coursera learners to know what is true. Is the privacy on Wikiversity better? I'd say it is because on Coursera we are forced to provide an email address to create an account. We are not forced to do that on Wikiversity, Wikidata etc.
== notes about this account ==
This account is an alternative account on a computer I don't trust. It should never be allowed to vote and if it does please block this account.
It's an alt of [[User:Dekatriofovia]] which unfortunately I have to prove right now despite me being in a hurry...so I'll edit my account at Dekatriofovia at the same time almost and publish at the same time...so you know it's me.
The reason for this account is it's on a computer with a bigger screen so I can more easily read books and documents.
== a thing I may regret ==
This may be blathering but it ends with another Wikilink where I will pass my "idea" through '''Wikiversity:Research ethics''' and through anything else that might be required before anything enters Draft space. The "idea" is "'''The Neurodiversity-inspired idea'''".
[[Protoscience]] was an interesting read. I think it will be calming for me if my idea is proven to be pseudoscience cause I can stop worrying about it and leave it behind me. "The Neurodiversity-inspired idea"(in lack for a better name, for now) will not be published in main space, only in draft space.
[[Wikiversity:Original research]] made me think "I may be way over my head" (though I stumbled around a bit due to not knowing English at an advanced enough level...this parenthesis is about some unimportant trivia).
I'm gonna place everything regarding "The Neurodiversity-inspired idea" into draft space and pass it through '''Wikiversity:Research ethics'''(sorry for repeating myself) and anything else I can find and also ask the community here on Wikiversity what else to place it through.
I thought I was gonna create [[User:ThinkingScience/The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea]] and maybe that would be the right way of doing it but I'm gonna try something risky(actually no, I changed my mind, I'll focus on communication with the Wikiversity community first).
'''Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea''' that probably is in line with "be bold".
=== It happened, a small burden has been lifted ===
I posted to the [[Wikiversity:Colloquium]] https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=Wikiversity:Colloquium&oldid=2805080
Thing may be archive in the future. I've lost many things that way.(but also re-discovered many things that landed in the archive that I had posted too!)
One week. One small burden lifted. It was the only way forward. I may have been driven insane otherwise or this is just a very bad day I'm having. Full of things that "real life" is demanding of me.
More specifically, this is what I posted [[Wikiversity:Colloquium#Advice_needed:_A_Neurodiversity-inspired_Idea/observation]]
aqojqxc1sxx6r4m22khuytz6v27rrpy
2805618
2805617
2026-04-20T09:15:40Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* Will look into this later... */ change it to a title I understand
2805618
wikitext
text/x-wiki
== April 20th experiment, "AI Decisions, sure. AI-generation NEVER" ==
Starting today on April 20th after 08:46 Time, I'll begin by editing Wikiversity resources by being more encouraged by "yeah, do that" comments by Large Language Models.
Nothing of it will be "AI-generated" but the decisions I take: the reason for the decisions I take may be because of "AI-generation" but of course I will try to stay away from clear stupidity like if the AI-generation says "jump off a cliff". An extreme example, but I wanted to make a point that I won't take any decision and I will question the "AI/LLM" if it suggests something that to me sounds insane.
If you see anything weird please comment on my talk page after you've reverted my edits.
When this experiment ends, I don't have a plan for that yet. User input might help.
== Main focus: my "idea" ==
* This is my [[Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea]]. There goes the "main effort" based on my other smaller effort in various places and also by using the methodology I one day hope I will make.
* [[User:ThinkingScience/ND_Inspired_Idea_Notebook|Daily Diary of ND Inspired Idea]]
== Coursera schedule and notes ==
Today April 16, 2026 my contributions contain a lot of spelling mistakes. They may be present other days too. You'll probably spot spelling mistakes all over.
My studying schedule as I've understood it so far(studying with my mother):
This schedule is not reliable(cause my studying partner keeps changing the time, which is not necessarily bad):
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
These are my course notes: [[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/Coursera]]
== I'm studying on Coursera and about their Terms of Use ==
'''Nothing here is legal advice'''. This is very important.
Nothing in this "Wikisection" constitutes legal advice! Please don't blindly follow my advice and if someone copies some parts of this text without providing context then they are responsible for what they share! If you have been tricked by scammers that's sad but I am NOT responsible for illegal activities.
* web.archive.org/web/20260325233813/https://www.coursera.org/about/terms
"When you create your Coursera account, and when you subsequently use certain features, you must provide us with accurate and complete information, and you agree to update your information to keep it accurate and complete."
My interpretation of that is that on Coursera I have to provide a real name. There is a field for "Full name"(retrieved 2026-04-09 UTC YYYY-MM-DD). How does that correspond to these terms? It doesn't say "Real name" but even if it did, what if I choose a name for myself and I'd like to call myself ThinkingScience? Is it still accurate?
They don't specify what I actually have to do, just based on my quote. It would be nice for me and other Coursera learners to know what is true. Is the privacy on Wikiversity better? I'd say it is because on Coursera we are forced to provide an email address to create an account. We are not forced to do that on Wikiversity, Wikidata etc.
== notes about this account ==
This account is an alternative account on a computer I don't trust. It should never be allowed to vote and if it does please block this account.
It's an alt of [[User:Dekatriofovia]] which unfortunately I have to prove right now despite me being in a hurry...so I'll edit my account at Dekatriofovia at the same time almost and publish at the same time...so you know it's me.
The reason for this account is it's on a computer with a bigger screen so I can more easily read books and documents.
== a thing I may regret ==
This may be blathering but it ends with another Wikilink where I will pass my "idea" through '''Wikiversity:Research ethics''' and through anything else that might be required before anything enters Draft space. The "idea" is "'''The Neurodiversity-inspired idea'''".
[[Protoscience]] was an interesting read. I think it will be calming for me if my idea is proven to be pseudoscience cause I can stop worrying about it and leave it behind me. "The Neurodiversity-inspired idea"(in lack for a better name, for now) will not be published in main space, only in draft space.
[[Wikiversity:Original research]] made me think "I may be way over my head" (though I stumbled around a bit due to not knowing English at an advanced enough level...this parenthesis is about some unimportant trivia).
I'm gonna place everything regarding "The Neurodiversity-inspired idea" into draft space and pass it through '''Wikiversity:Research ethics'''(sorry for repeating myself) and anything else I can find and also ask the community here on Wikiversity what else to place it through.
I thought I was gonna create [[User:ThinkingScience/The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea]] and maybe that would be the right way of doing it but I'm gonna try something risky(actually no, I changed my mind, I'll focus on communication with the Wikiversity community first).
'''Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea''' that probably is in line with "be bold".
=== It happened, a small burden has been lifted ===
I posted to the [[Wikiversity:Colloquium]] https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=Wikiversity:Colloquium&oldid=2805080
Thing may be archive in the future. I've lost many things that way.(but also re-discovered many things that landed in the archive that I had posted too!)
One week. One small burden lifted. It was the only way forward. I may have been driven insane otherwise or this is just a very bad day I'm having. Full of things that "real life" is demanding of me.
More specifically, this is what I posted [[Wikiversity:Colloquium#Advice_needed:_A_Neurodiversity-inspired_Idea/observation]]
2423mexmozatwkfnp1jpkvezl1mbldo
User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/Coursera
2
328662
2805619
2804824
2026-04-20T09:16:29Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app */ == w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
2805619
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
secjfw66ku5c5jqdw3x29mwik7f3ntv
2805620
2805619
2026-04-20T09:27:11Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */
2805620
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
7sildn703yxu0t38eibgs1k1v5ikvfh
2805621
2805620
2026-04-20T09:31:10Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */
2805621
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
tbk9xxqlj7geaq7n3os5zt0x6gaag26
2805622
2805621
2026-04-20T09:37:57Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */ read-only Quiz for her at least
2805622
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
r8qr7pqv8zb5crkxqi2f6typdmgt10w
2805623
2805622
2026-04-20T09:39:56Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */ good news!
2805623
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
* She can also choose the answers she now tells me. Great progress! We have worked through the Coursera bug she got!
ftwqsbl0vyfb8fbq8rtbywvvn0xuvam
2805624
2805623
2026-04-20T09:44:31Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */ Now this note is done. Very Important!
2805624
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
* She can also choose the answers she now tells me. Great progress! We have worked through the Coursera bug she got!
* I'm missing a vital detail: I sent her the exact link to the quiz from the web and '''that helped her'''! I missed that vital part! I need to always send her the permalink of every module.
035ahtn1u0emp4lcgi3wyhn2q6ucuc5
2805625
2805624
2026-04-20T10:04:33Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */ new realization that may push me forward and may ease the pressure
2805625
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
* She can also choose the answers she now tells me. Great progress! We have worked through the Coursera bug she got!
* I'm missing a vital detail: I sent her the exact link to the quiz from the web and '''that helped her'''! I missed that vital part! I need to always send her the permalink of every module.
A healthy way to see how we study together: See us as "one unit" rather than separate. Pooling our resources. That we are "one being" conceptually and that this will help us in the long run based on what we learn.
h0cr7i5em1pm0m83dkrvxwq963n4j82
2805627
2805625
2026-04-20T10:38:18Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */
2805627
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
* She can also choose the answers she now tells me. Great progress! We have worked through the Coursera bug she got!
* I'm missing a vital detail: I sent her the exact link to the quiz from the web and '''that helped her'''! I missed that vital part! I need to always send her the permalink of every module.
A healthy way to see how we study together: See us as "one unit" rather than separate. Pooling our resources. That we are "one being" conceptually and that this will help us in the long run based on what we learn.
We are probably not aware how powerful of an influence Google has over Android.
ijomfwfi7wqjgrdrx3ngnaufppbmoo4
2805628
2805627
2026-04-20T10:52:11Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */ Google has an indirect extra "power of influence" due to the "Digital Divide"...I'm raising attention to this in my course notes
2805628
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
* She can also choose the answers she now tells me. Great progress! We have worked through the Coursera bug she got!
* I'm missing a vital detail: I sent her the exact link to the quiz from the web and '''that helped her'''! I missed that vital part! I need to always send her the permalink of every module.
A healthy way to see how we study together: See us as "one unit" rather than separate. Pooling our resources. That we are "one being" conceptually and that this will help us in the long run based on what we learn.
We are probably not aware how powerful of an influence Google has over Android and the older generation to what is known as the "Digital Divide".
7gow2u2iuid7p49mdswom1po26mgrjh
2805629
2805628
2026-04-20T10:54:01Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */ a fear/feeling and this is not the first time. The amount of influence companies have over individual minds
2805629
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
* She can also choose the answers she now tells me. Great progress! We have worked through the Coursera bug she got!
* I'm missing a vital detail: I sent her the exact link to the quiz from the web and '''that helped her'''! I missed that vital part! I need to always send her the permalink of every module.
A healthy way to see how we study together: See us as "one unit" rather than separate. Pooling our resources. That we are "one being" conceptually and that this will help us in the long run based on what we learn.
We are probably not aware how powerful of an influence Google has over Android and the older generation to what is known as the "Digital Divide". The older generation may see computer technology as a "diety" that cannot be "comprehended". This could be a great danger to our society that may be actively destabilizing it.(fear/feeling)
9wlo5c7ebk0lssrkkh9zsc25te7f371
2805630
2805629
2026-04-20T11:15:59Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */ this is emotionally challenging for me but I think we are doing some progress
2805630
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
* She can also choose the answers she now tells me. Great progress! We have worked through the Coursera bug she got!
* I'm missing a vital detail: I sent her the exact link to the quiz from the web and '''that helped her'''! I missed that vital part! I need to always send her the permalink of every module.
A healthy way to see how we study together: See us as "one unit" rather than separate. Pooling our resources. That we are "one being" conceptually and that this will help us in the long run based on what we learn.
We are probably not aware how powerful of an influence Google has over Android and the older generation to what is known as the "Digital Divide". The older generation may see computer technology as a "diety" that cannot be "comprehended". This could be a great danger to our society that may be actively destabilizing it.(fear/feeling)
"Turning on app archiving on the tablet is a GREAT choice!" I think I wanted to say to my mother but I don't feel like I get many answers or feedback to what I'm saying to her but that's ok. Neurodiversity is extremely complex!
My mother's comments: Coursera is a very isolated place. There is nobody to communicate with. Coursera isolates people? How can Coursera be improved or what can we do on Wikiversity so that students who are stuck on Coursera can find help? Here on Wikiversity?
Now we are updating Google Chrome on the tablet which is great news!
6b4o4517e0q3uugazh2cayszyua8w9s
2805635
2805630
2026-04-20T11:54:43Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
/* w 17, Monday, April 20 */ Maybe I caused a lot of distress for myself today but the conclusion was mutually good
2805635
wikitext
text/x-wiki
All times noted down are UTC, Universal Time Coordinated.
This is a continuation of [[User:Dekatriofovia/Draftspace/Coursera]].
I'm continuing to make notes on a computer with a screen that allows me to see text more clearly.
== w 13, Thursday, March 26, 2026 ==
March 26: We are still at the transcripts and I'm supposed to read from page 4 to page 16...which I doubt I'll be able to do since I have much less time right now. Tomorrow or later in the future I can reflect on how this went if I don't gain any more insights today.
Me and my mother made this more organized this time. We decided that during certain days and hours of the week we will 'study together' but that also includes homework. My homework was page 4-16. We'll see how that goes...
Today was a day we had scheduled. 2 hours studying, taking turns reading paragraphs.
We began at page 16, which is 2 pages after a chapter about Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith begins, and went until page 25 of the transcript where the chapter about Auguste Comte begins.
Now we got a new day scheduled along with a suitable time and then we'll read another 2 hours I guess.
== w 13, Saturday, March 28 ==
This is the 2nd day we studied for 2 hours at a specific day and a specific hour. With other words before March 26 we managed to make a schedule and now the schedule is complete. 6 hours per week, 3 days a week and 2 hours per day.
We read from page 16 and until page 33 where "3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity" begins.
== w 14, Monday, March 30 ==
Our study technique has changed now as we have started to view the videos instead of only focusing on the transcript. The videos contain the transcript so it makes sense and the videos automatically pause when there's a question to ask the student whether they've understood the material so far.
The two previous days, Thursday and Saturday our "study technique" was to read the transcript, one paragraph each person in our own pace and if we asked the other we needed more time we gave that time to the other person. You don't need a family relationship for this. Any two persons can agree to do that as long as there is mutual respect.
My mother was better at listening with focus on her end to what our teacher "Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen" said and showed on his media slides.
== w 14, Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3 ==
I'm still getting used to learning our new way which I'm trying to get used to. My mother did not find that watching the video helped very much with understanding and she opted to read the text first then watch the video.
Myself I try to do the same. So sad that what I'm studying isn't on Wikiversity. Maybe what I learn I can later use here on Wikiversity? ie. if I learn about Adam Smith on my own using my own sources I could create a "course" too but on Wikiversity with knowledge for everyone. Though with my attention span who knows if that will ever be completed haha. Dreams to dream.
Though let's talk tech and problems(both in a good way problems and in a bad way problems and perhaps even neutral way problems) on Coursera. If I gather enough interesting problems maybe that might lead to some sort of "portal" of information for a particular subject, ie. Coursera. What studying methods do they use? What studying methods do the universities and other institutions use through them?
[[User:ThinkingScience/Draftspace/CourseraHeadscratchers]] - This is for personal notes that are about problems or "bugs" on the site or me making notes of things I found helpful or less helpful in regards to the "system". If I gather enough notes that might make it worth to make a page on Wikiversity all for the better. If not, at least I tried and I told you what I find interesting and what I find less interesting and more toward 'what can be improved'.
== w 15(easter caused disruptions in the schedule), Monday, April 6 ==
It did not go very well as I fell into my "old habits", so for a future "studying together" I will now propose to my mother that we can study together but text only, no voice.
On Monday my mother was "confused" regarding how we learn best and I've not figured that out for myself yet. Part of it though is probably reading with another student/human being and taking turns, I read one paragraph, my studying partner reads the next and so forth rinse and repeat. Trying something new to discover if perhaps I'm better at studying reading alone but actively collaborating with another student might be the way to go.
She used to read alone and that was good for her but this Monday when she was extra stressed due to her personal life with scheduled stuff, I felt her stress and then the rest of that day was "destroyed" for me.
I don't think I learnt anything yesterday on Monday April 6. Thus I think it is important to try new things and "text only collaborative studying" might do the trick. Perhaps combining this with an Etherpad session might help, for note-taking.
Last time I hesitated showing my schedule but this time I think it would just be common sense so here it is:
UTC TIME: 07:30 - 09:30 (2 hours a day, 6 hours a week)
* Monday
* Thursday
* Saturday
== w 15, Thursday, April 9 ==
I insisted on trying the new "study technique" where we do not talk at each other but my mother had a greater need in talking. So it happened all through a conversation:
* She: "Lets talk for a while"
* Me: "But do you think it will help you learn?" and "If you believe it helps you sure let's talk"
* She: "Ok"
* Me: "but I will connect because of your learning"
That's what happened, then we talked using 'live' voice chat.(not through Coursera)
It did not go as I had planned with other words but since I'm not only here for me but I am mainly a "group person" and if I'm alone I'll need "hand-holding" even if I'm an adult cause I feel like I have a "similar to PTSD" background that somehow made it very hard for me to study in my earlier years and I wouldn't be able to take this course solo because of that, I need a "study buddy" cause otherwise I easily isolate myself from the outside world.
She learnt with my help that the "Discussion Forums" posts she made were "breaking a silence" of "a year ago" and she laughed and I intended it as a joke to lighten up the mood after we found it difficult to reach fellow classmates through the forums.
The most recent post I can find now is from 4 months ago from another user. That probably means there are probably other classmates too but the forum inactivity(not exactly "alive" with activity at 2026-04-09 UTC) might mean there is nobody to collaborate with right now.
Also I have noticed users on the forums with the label "unenrolled". Perhaps the change to charge for every lesson happened within last year?
Today we started with 1.8 and read until the end but then we had an argument about continuing to module 2 or first doing the Readings and Quiz before we go on to module 2 and that took some time. That's where we stopped. It took us our usual 2 hours. As another Wikiversity user told me( this is my interpretation of what they told me: ) Coursera's user interface may be difficult to work with, it may take some time to learn how to use it.
Tomorrow we will study together instead of on Saturday because "real life" caught up with at least me regarding that day.
== w 15, Friday, April 10 ==
I made a mistake. When my mother found something on Wikibooks it was actually referenced in the Coursera course.
I'm happy though it was Wikibooks...any Wikimedia project that we get involved in I think is a good thing!
We read on Wikibooks for the full 2 hours we had. [[wikibooks:Introduction to Sociology|Introduction to Sociology]].
The PDF file is called "Introduction_to_Sociology-v3.0.pdf". It is version 3 of the Introduction to Sociology.
We gotta read from page 5-15 but these are not "technical page numbers". The actual page numbers are 11-21 of 443.
Next we're gonna read "2.2.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology". That we might do on Sunday instead of Monday.
== w 16, Tuesday, April 14 - Learn button super important on the app! ==
'''Learn''' on Coursera is a button on the app.
Super important. It took us almost an hour to figure out it was that button.
My mother made an observation: if she reads the text out loud it may be harder to understand it so she reads silently after the reading out loud part. I'm not sure I learn well while reading out loud but it creates a sort of "human connection with the material" that I guess is a "placeholder" for me until I figure out how I learn best.
We studied for 2 hours. My mother continues cause she dislikes "leaving something in the middle".
Tomorrow we study at 7:30.
Next time we/I read from:
"2.4 Sociology Today" page 14 (20 of 443 "A4 paper")
== w 16, Wednesday, April 15 - Coursera, fix my mother's problems in your app ==
April 14 notes were *SUPER IMPORTANT*. I got help from it today and it helped me a lot! Otherwise who knows how the next hour will be lost and the next and the next?
My mother is very upset with Coursera not being helpful. Too much "ChatGPT coach" and not enough "tech support" I guess cause, we are talking right now and she is clearly upset but learning how to make notes while listening to somebody/my mother being upset is a good challenge, for me to stay calm while this is happening.
08:15 Coursera is causing us problems. Discrepancy in what is shown to a user.
The discrepancy is specifically about the "ChatGPT coach" appearing in one of our apps and not in the other. So we are not synced.
08:59 My mother *ACTUALLY* got a bug on her version of Coursera. She presses on Start on the quiz and nothing happens. All she got was a "ChatGPT coach".
So:
1. Find coursera support and attach the image of nothing happening
2. Email the university that put the course on coursera
My mother doesn't want to take a video of her pushing the "Start" button. So we'll just tell them what we did and that nothing happened. She has internet because she could open Wikibooks moments before which requires internet.
09:31 we are done. We have studied what we could. Our next thing was watching the video "2.1 The Fable of the Bees".
I could not concentrate based on what happened today. I'm still in "distress" but I did what I could on my end.
Also that the person in the video is ... I need to research this. Maybe I can help Wikidata in adding accurate data about whatever that was about
In Memoriam: bartvanheerikhuizen.nl/2023/02/in-memoriam/ I read that today. That may be the reference I add if it needs to be added on Wikidata.
I'm just happy with whatever opportunity I have to stay on Wikimedia projects, that is my ultimate goal.
== w 17, Monday, April 20 ==
Module 1, "Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction", the quiz part which is the final part of Module 1. My mother had a bug on her end so I suggested today that we do it together from my end by me telling her loudly. This is what I'll try to do now.
My mother's relation to technical problems and the digital divide:
* No, she doesn't need to input her email. She only needs to login with Google. It looks by what she tells me that she must have done that. I'm assuming by what she tells me that she has logged in.
* She can see the questions, with other words she can at least read the Quiz now. Before she couldn't.
* She can also choose the answers she now tells me. Great progress! We have worked through the Coursera bug she got!
* I'm missing a vital detail: I sent her the exact link to the quiz from the web and '''that helped her'''! I missed that vital part! I need to always send her the permalink of every module.
A healthy way to see how we study together: See us as "one unit" rather than separate. Pooling our resources. That we are "one being" conceptually and that this will help us in the long run based on what we learn.
We are probably not aware how powerful of an influence Google has over Android and the older generation to what is known as the "Digital Divide". The older generation may see computer technology as a "diety" that cannot be "comprehended". This could be a great danger to our society that may be actively destabilizing it.(fear/feeling)
"Turning on app archiving on the tablet is a GREAT choice!" I think I wanted to say to my mother but I don't feel like I get many answers or feedback to what I'm saying to her but that's ok. Neurodiversity is extremely complex!
My mother's comments: Coursera is a very isolated place. There is nobody to communicate with. Coursera isolates people? How can Coursera be improved or what can we do on Wikiversity so that students who are stuck on Coursera can find help? Here on Wikiversity?
Now we are updating Google Chrome on the tablet which is great news!
Etherpad has helped me immensely in giving her links and making sure we are opening the right apps and knowing what apps we are using on the tablet. I don't have physical access to the tablet so I need to give links to make sure she is opening the right apps.
I got a "crazy idea" that might work or maybe won't work but maybe will work if I work hard enough on it. Social networking with her contacts. Asking her social contacts if they would find "Classical Sociological Theory" interesting and if they'd like to study it with my mother because two minds are better than 1 when tackling difficult technical challenges like it is for people who have to deal with the "Digital Divide".
Despite the distress that I caused for myself I feel good about the time we spent on this today and the feeling was mutual!
Next time we begin on chapter 2.1. So basically module 2.
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<div style="display:block;border:1px solid #aaaaaa;vertical-align: top;width:99%; background-color:#f9f9ff; {{Text color default}};margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:5px;padding-left:5px;padding-right:4px;">
<h2 style="padding:3px; background:#aaccff; {{Text color default}}; color:#000; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:100%; margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:0;margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-4px;">Philippine Languages Department</h2 >
[[Image:Globe of letters.svg|right|88px|Languages]]
Welcome to the '''Bikol Department''' at Wikiversity, part of the [[Portal:Foreign Language Learning|Center for Foreign Language Learning]] and the [[School:Language and Literature|School of Language and Literature]].
Bikol is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines particularly on the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon. Standard Bikol is based on the dialect of Naga City and is spoken in a wide area stretching from Camarines Norte, most of Camarines Sur, the entire east coast of Albay (including Legazpi City and Tabaco City) and northern Sorsogon. Standard Bikol is generally understood by other Bikol speakers and is the regional lingua franca.
</div>
<div style="display:block;border:1px solid #aaaaaa;vertical-align: top;width:100%; background-color:#f9f9ff; {{Text color default}};margin-bottom:10px;padding-bottom:5px;padding-left:5px;padding-right:4px;">
<h2 style="padding:3px; background:#aaccff; {{Text color default}}; color:#000; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:100%; margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:0;margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-4px;">Courses</h2 >
[[Image:Crystal128-kanagram.svg|right|44px|]]
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol 1|Bikol 1]] - you will learn how to greet and introduce yourself in Bikol.<br>
''Province focus: Albay''</br>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol 2|Bikol 2]] - get to know the alphabets and how they are pronounced in Bikol.<br>
''Province focus: Sorsogon''</br>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol 3|Bikol 3]] - learn how time is being said in Bikol.<br>''Province focus: Catanduanes''</br>
<div style="display:block;width:99%;float:left">
<div style="width:50%;display:block;float:left;">
<div>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol/Lesson:Vocabulary|Vocabulary]] - this lesson will give you some useful words and phrases in Bikol.<br>''Province focus: Camarines Sur''</br>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol/Lesson:Grammar|Grammar]] - this lesson will answer your curiosity on how words are being joined together in Bikol.<br>''Province focus: Camarines Norte''</br>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol/Lesson:Quiz|Quiz]] - challenge yourself on how well you familiarize the grammar in Bikol.<br>''Province focus: Masbate''</br></div>
<div style="display:block;border:1px solid #aaaaaa;vertical-align: top;width:100%; background-color:#f9f9ff; {{Text color default}};margin-bottom:10px;padding-bottom:5px;padding-left:5px;padding-right:4px;">
<h2 style="padding:3px; background:#aaccff; {{Text color default}}; color:#000; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:100%; margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:0;margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-4px;">Division News</h2 >
[[Image:Nuvola apps knewsticker.png|right|50px|]]* '''April 8, 2026 ''' - Department founded!</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<h2 style="padding:3px; background:#aaccff; {{Text color default}}; color:#000; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:100%; margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:0;margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-4px;">See also</h2 >
[[Image:Nuvola apps bookcase.svg|right|44px|]]
[[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol]]</div>
<div style="float: right; margin: 2px;">
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
|{{center|'''Additional Wikimedia resources'''}}
|-
! style="background: #lime; {{text color default}}" colspan="6" | [[:b:Bikol|Textbook]] at Wikibooks
|-
! style="background: #lime" colspan="6" | {{w|Central Bikol|Article}} at Wikipedia
|-
! style="background: #lime" colspan="6" | [[:b:Wikivoyage|Bikol phrasebook]] at Wikivoyage
|}</div>
</div>
__NOEDITSECTION__
__NOTOC__
[[Category:Philippine languages]]
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<div style="display:block;border:1px solid #aaaaaa;vertical-align: top;width:99%; background-color:#f9f9ff; {{Text color default}};margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:5px;padding-left:5px;padding-right:4px;">
<h2 style="padding:3px; background:#aaccff; {{Text color default}}; color:#000; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:100%; margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:0;margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-4px;">Philippine Languages Department</h2 >
[[Image:Globe of letters.svg|right|88px|Languages]]
Welcome to the '''Bikol Department''' at Wikiversity, part of the [[Portal:Foreign Language Learning|Center for Foreign Language Learning]] and the [[School:Language and Literature|School of Language and Literature]].
Bikol is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines particularly on the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon. Standard Bikol is based on the dialect of Naga City and is spoken in a wide area stretching from Camarines Norte, most of Camarines Sur, the entire east coast of Albay (including Legazpi City and Tabaco City) and northern Sorsogon. Standard Bikol is generally understood by other Bikol speakers and is the regional lingua franca.
</div>
<div style="display:block;border:1px solid #aaaaaa;vertical-align: top;width:100%; background-color:#f9f9ff; {{Text color default}};margin-bottom:10px;padding-bottom:5px;padding-left:5px;padding-right:4px;">
<h2 style="padding:3px; background:#aaccff; {{Text color default}}; color:#000; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:100%; margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:0;margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-4px;">Courses</h2 >
[[Image:Crystal128-kanagram.svg|right|44px|]]
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol 1|Bikol 1]] - you will learn how to greet and introduce yourself in Bikol.<br>
''Province focus: Albay''</br>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol 2|Bikol 2]] - get to know the alphabets and how they are pronounced in Bikol.<br>
''Province focus: Sorsogon''</br>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol 3|Bikol 3]] - learn how time is being said in Bikol.<br>''Province focus: Catanduanes''</br>
<div style="display:block;width:99%;float:left">
<div style="width:50%;display:block;float:left;">
<div>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol/Lesson:Vocabulary|Vocabulary]] - this lesson will give you some useful words and phrases in Bikol.<br>''Province focus: Camarines Sur''</br>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol/Lesson:Grammar|Grammar]] - this lesson will answer your curiosity on how words are being joined together in Bikol.<br>''Province focus: Camarines Norte''</br>
* [[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol/Lesson:Quiz|Quiz]] - challenge yourself on how well you familiarize the grammar in Bikol.<br>''Province focus: Masbate''</br></div>
<div style="display:block;border:1px solid #aaaaaa;vertical-align: top;width:100%; background-color:#f9f9ff; {{Text color default}};margin-bottom:10px;padding-bottom:5px;padding-left:5px;padding-right:4px;">
<h2 style="padding:3px; background:#aaccff; {{Text color default}}; color:#000; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:100%; margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:0;margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-4px;">Division News</h2 >
[[Image:Nuvola apps knewsticker.png|right|50px|]]* '''April 8, 2026 ''' - Department founded!</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<h2 style="padding:3px; background:#aaccff; {{Text color default}}; color:#000; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:100%; margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:0;margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-4px;">See also</h2 >
[[Image:Nuvola apps bookcase.svg|right|44px|]]
[[Southeast Asian Languages/Philippine Languages/Bikol]]</div>
<div style="float: right; margin: 2px;">
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
|{{center|'''Additional Wikimedia resources'''}}
|-
! style="background: #lime; {{text color default}}" colspan="6" | [[:b:Bikol|Textbook]] at Wikibooks
|-
! style="background: #lime;{{text color default}}" colspan="6" | {{w|Central Bikol|Article}} at Wikipedia
|-
! style="background: #lime;{{text color default}}" colspan="6" | [[:b:Wikivoyage|Bikol phrasebook]] at Wikivoyage
|}</div>
</div>
__NOEDITSECTION__
__NOTOC__
[[Category:Philippine languages]]
shysy4euiqzuboqujfy4andxn814dim
User:Atcovi/OGM & Suicide
2
329164
2805527
2805394
2026-04-19T14:47:58Z
Atcovi
276019
/* Jiang, W., Hu, G., Zhang, J. et al. Distinct effects of over-general autobiographical memory on suicidal ideation among depressed and healthy people. BMC Psychiatry 20, 501 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02877-6 */
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== Research ==
=== [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02877-6 Jiang, W., Hu, G., Zhang, J. ''et al.'' Distinct effects of over-general autobiographical memory on suicidal ideation among depressed and healthy people. ''BMC Psychiatry'' '''20''', 501 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02877-6] ===
'''Background'''
* Mentions [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6053985/ the integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour] by O'Conner<ref>The '''integrated motivational-volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behavior''', dividing it into three phases: pre-motivational, motivational, and volitional. Firstly, the pre-motivational phase is composed of diathesis, environment, and life events, describing the background factors and triggering events. Secondly, the motivational phase focuses on the psychological processes of suicidal ideation and intent. Finally, the volitional phase governs the transition from suicidal ideation to suicide attempts.</ref>.
* Mentions number of studies associating OGM with suicide: "''...it could be inferred that OGM mediates the suicidal process by preventing the individuals from solving problems and envisioning the future by searching in the past experience, thereby creating a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness.''"
* [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X21000129 MeST] ↑ generalization of autobiographical memory ↓
* '''Research question(s)?''' No clear evidence to show how childhood trauma & OGM interact in the suicidal process and whether depression is a ''moderating'' effect.
* '''Hypothesis?''' OGM has different effects on the suicide process in depression patients and healthy individuals.
* '''Purpose of study?''' Aimed to compare childhood trauma, OGM, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior between depression patients and healthy individuals, and explore the differences caused by depression in suicidal pathways.
'''Method'''
* '''356 Chinese participants'''.
** '''180 depressed participants''': (''n'' = 121) 67.2% of the depressed patients were depressed for more than a year.
** '''176 healthy individuals'''
'''Measures'''
* '''Depressive symptoms''': BDI-II [Beck Depression Inventory-II]; 21-item self-report survey that asses depression severity symptoms for past 2 weeks, using a four point Likert scale of 0-3.
* '''OGM''': OGMQ; 19-item self-report tool that assesses the specificity of autobiographical memory using a four-point Likert scale (1 = perfect math; 4 = not a match). Total scores range from 19-76, with higher the score, the more frequent general, non-specific memories come into play.
* '''Childhood trauma''': [CTQ-SF]; 28-item self-report survey measuring maltreatment and trauma experience before age 16 using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = never; 5 = always). The five subscales include sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect.
* '''Suicidal ideation''': [BSI-CV]; 19-item self-report questionnaire that evaluates the thoughts about life and death and the severity of SI, using a three-point scale of 0-2. Range: 0-38.
** If the score of item 4 or 5 is NOT 0, it indicates suicidal ideation.
** ↑ BSI-CV score ↑ SI
* '''PSB:''' ...or previous suicidal behavior; 4-point scale was used (0 = never, 1 = once; 2 = twice; 3 = more than twice). Question asked was: "how many times did you induce self-injury or suicidal behaviors, such as taking medicine or cutting your wrists in the past?".
'''Results'''
* Participants in the depression group reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms as compared to healthy individuals (t = 24.42, ''P'' < 0.001).
* In the depression group, the ratios of ''CSI'' (current suicidal ideation), ''WSI'' (worst-point suicidal ideation)'','' and ''PSB'' (past suicidal behavior) were much higher than those in the healthy group (''P'' < 0.001).
* In depression group, all the correlations between variables were significant except those between OGM and PSB. In the healthy group, childhood trauma was significantly correlated with suicidal ideations, OGM was significantly correlated with WSI and PSB, and WSI was significantly correlated with PSB and CSI.
'''Discussion'''
* [according to the author] appears to be the first study that connects CSI and WSI of depressed and healthy control groups with suicidal behavior, childhood trauma, and autobiographical memory together.
* '''Results?''' Suggests that SI and behavior od epression patients are significantly HIGHER than of healthy individuals. Background factors, such as childhood trauma, and the moderator of suicide, such as OGM, are more severe in depression patients.
** ONLY in depression patients, OGM significantly affects the CSI and acts an intermediary between childhood trauma and CSI.
** ...but NO significant effect of OGM on CSI in healthy individuals, indicating that OGM plays different roles in the emergence of suicidal ideation in different populations. <-- appears to be relevant only with other paired vulnerabilities (ex, trauma).
** OGM as a stable trait of depression was more severe in the depression group vs. healthy control.
** Childhood trauma & OGM were correlated with WSI, indicating that they are critical factors of SI in accordance with the IMV model.
** PSB was strongly correlated to WSI. WSI might be an independent predictor of follow-up suicidal ideation intensity.
** Another finding was that PSB was negatively correlated with CSI and less affected by WSI in the healthy group. One reason might be that most proportion of suicides in healthy people are impulsive attempts, which do not follow the depression-hopelessness path to suicidal behavior, with lower expectations of death and suicidal ideation.
* Improving the specificity of autobiographical memory may be an effective way to prevent suicidal ideation for depression. These could be achieved through life-review therapy & MeST, both geared towards recalling memories in detail.
* '''Limitations?''' Low sample size, cross-sectional study, suicide's complex nature makes it difficult to account for all possible biological and psychological factors.
* '''Conclusion?''' This study identified the different roles of OGM in the suicidal ideation of depressed and healthy people. In depression patients, it affects the CSI and WSI and mediates the CSI due to the effect of childhood trauma. In healthy people, it can only affect the WSI. As an adjustable risk factor, the autobiographical memory might be a target of intervention for suicidal ideation in depression patients. Since training in specific memory retrieval has been proven to be effective in depression, future studies should consider whether it can reduce the emergence of suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior.
== Narratives? ==
== See also ==
* [[w:Overgeneral_autobiographical_memory|Overgeneral autobiographical memory (WP link)]]
== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}
baif4420gg01tr0172oiqz17zo235iu
User:ThinkingScience/ND Inspired Idea Notebook
2
329177
2805597
2805495
2026-04-20T08:22:41Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
"Methodology" is this just "AI Hallucination"?
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{{Draft}}
{{underconstruction}}
On this page I plan to add daily notes regarding [[Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea]].
== "Diary" ==
== April 18, 2026 ==
A suggestion I got was that it may help the project if I provide some questions along with the idea. Also to make a main space where I gather info about my progress but that will probably be the draft itself if I move forward. Now if I write a "diary" that will be only regarding the project.
Turned "me language" into expressing that everyone is welcome, that I don't "own" [[Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea]]. Now everything that says "I did this" "I did that" should be gone. I think this was an improvement of some sort.
Plan for next edits on the draft page: Add an <nowiki>" == Old Methodology needing updating == "</nowiki> where I will add old methodologies where I had not planned ahead too good and the "Do no harm" I did not know about or could not focus on. That was before I created my own Draft that feels like it only happened some days ago.
Interaction I thought was an efficient method but how would methodology be modified today with what I know now and will know in the future?
== April 20, 2026 ==
Why does it seem like I'm the only one using the word "methodology"? Did the [[Wikiversity:Research ethics]] mention it?
* I cannot find it! I checked all infoboxes! It must have been generated and I probably never questioned it...until now.
btkyvt5qw32ohev8zns1y1ahffaw8ld
2805598
2805597
2026-04-20T08:24:17Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
Instead of applying templates to the page I have them as template links
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Template Links:
* {{tl|Draft}}
* {{tl|underconstruction}}
'''On this page I plan to add daily notes regarding [[Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea]].'''
== "Diary" ==
== April 18, 2026 ==
A suggestion I got was that it may help the project if I provide some questions along with the idea. Also to make a main space where I gather info about my progress but that will probably be the draft itself if I move forward. Now if I write a "diary" that will be only regarding the project.
Turned "me language" into expressing that everyone is welcome, that I don't "own" [[Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea]]. Now everything that says "I did this" "I did that" should be gone. I think this was an improvement of some sort.
Plan for next edits on the draft page: Add an <nowiki>" == Old Methodology needing updating == "</nowiki> where I will add old methodologies where I had not planned ahead too good and the "Do no harm" I did not know about or could not focus on. That was before I created my own Draft that feels like it only happened some days ago.
Interaction I thought was an efficient method but how would methodology be modified today with what I know now and will know in the future?
== April 20, 2026 ==
Why does it seem like I'm the only one using the word "methodology"? Did the [[Wikiversity:Research ethics]] mention it?
* I cannot find it! I checked all infoboxes! It must have been generated and I probably never questioned it...until now.
8ghl2745mzfi8ey66i766solb54ruqd
Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea/AI Prompt History for Questions
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ThinkingScience
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new input, output did not make sense
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How questions were generated appear on this page for transparency reasons. The input and output questions are documented.
I'm intending for this to be a page where one can get a question and then work further to refine the question. This is some disorganized inputs and outputs. Inputs are sent to an AI/LLM and outputs is about what the AI/LLM gives the user.
When it says "'''human output'''" that means that a user thought of a question based on an AI's/LLM's question. Simply a follow-up question to an AI's/LLM's question.
== "AI Mode" by Google inputs/outputs ==
* input April 18, 2026: I have an idea and I'm developing the idea here on English Wikiversity: Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea. What kind of questions might I need to move forward. I'm looking for academic feedback. The problem is "people don't understand themselves" and have to go through "dragged-out diagnosis processes" by psychiatrists. The problem to be solved: how the brain works and presenting a system how it can be mapped.
** output Purpose: "What specific problem does this idea solve for the reader?"
** output Reach: "Who is the primary 'student' for this draft?"
*** human output: Who is the target audience for this draft?
** output Validation: "What existing research or lived experience supports this claim?"
** output Interactivity: "What can a reader do with this information right now?"
* input: Is a "neurotype" up for debate? Does every researcher have their own definition of what a "neurotype" is? Based on this input can you suggest better questions?
* input April 19, 2026 to: I'm looking for an English-Wikiversity-compliant methodology to study famous people in video interviews while "being allowed" to group them together without it being "heresy" in scientific communities. Can you formulate that as a question?
** output didn't make sense
2wrc3jebywa2cuebkn77y1jhbepopow
2805599
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2026-04-20T08:31:44Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
Assuming everything is "AI-generated" unless otherwise noted might make my work easier...
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text/x-wiki
{{AI-generated}}
For practical purposes we can assume that everything on this page is "AI-generated". Where it is not, it will be stated.
How questions were generated appear on this page for transparency reasons. The input and output questions are documented.
I'm intending for this to be a page where one can get a question and then work further to refine the question. This is some disorganized inputs and outputs. Inputs are sent to an AI/LLM and outputs is about what the AI/LLM gives the user.
When it says "'''human output'''" that means that a user thought of a question based on an AI's/LLM's question. Simply a follow-up question to an AI's/LLM's question.
== "AI Mode" by Google inputs/outputs ==
Please feel free to add subsections here.
* human input April 18, 2026: I have an idea and I'm developing the idea here on English Wikiversity: Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea. What kind of questions might I need to move forward. I'm looking for academic feedback. The problem is "people don't understand themselves" and have to go through "dragged-out diagnosis processes" by psychiatrists. The problem to be solved: how the brain works and presenting a system how it can be mapped.
** output Purpose: "What specific problem does this idea solve for the reader?"
** output Reach: "Who is the primary 'student' for this draft?"
*** human output: Who is the target audience for this draft?
** output Validation: "What existing research or lived experience supports this claim?"
** output Interactivity: "What can a reader do with this information right now?"
* human input: Is a "neurotype" up for debate? Does every researcher have their own definition of what a "neurotype" is? Based on this input can you suggest better questions?
=== Methodology questions ===
* human input April 20, 2026: On Wikiversity they say "ask the right questions with your idea". I got an idea, this is my idea: "The Neurodiversity-inspired idea". My methodology is about watching videos of famous people but I want to do the public notes in a way that doesn't "offend the famous people" when I compare them with other famous people.
** output: "How does this person's way of processing information differ from or similar to the other person in this comparison?", "What strengths or 'superpowers' are evident in how they navigate this specific situation?". Strategy for Non-Offensive Public Notes. Focus on Behaviours, Not Diagnoses: Only comment on observed actions or statements. Use phrases like, "Their speaking style is consistent with..." rather than "They are...".
'''Methodology questions'''
* How does this person's way of processing information differ from or similar to the other person in this comparison?
* What strengths or 'superpowers' are evident in how they navigate this specific situation?
==== Failures in output we can learn from in Methodology questions to AIs/LLMs ====
It's not always easy to find the right questions. When the question has some problems that causes an output that doesn't make sense they can be put in this section.
* human input April 19, 2026: I'm looking for an English-Wikiversity-compliant methodology to study famous people in video interviews while "being allowed" to group them together without it being "heresy" in scientific communities. Can you formulate that as a question?
** output "didn't make sense" / "was irrelevant" (conclusion by human contributor)
j2a3tfry9ti2tzbqwa9r760j28nui5q
2805602
2805599
2026-04-20T08:40:31Z
ThinkingScience
3061446
I hope more progress
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wikitext
text/x-wiki
{{AI-generated}}
For practical purposes we can assume that everything on this page is "AI-generated". Where it is not, it will be stated.
How questions were generated appear on this page for transparency reasons. The input and output questions are documented.
This is a page where one can get a question and then work further to refine the question. This is some disorganized inputs and outputs. Inputs are sent to an AI/LLM and outputs is about what the AI/LLM gives the user.
When it says "'''human output'''" that means that a user thought of a question based on an AI's/LLM's question. Simply a follow-up question to an AI's/LLM's question.
== "AI Mode" by Google inputs/outputs ==
Please feel free to add subsections here.
* human input April 18, 2026: I have an idea and I'm developing the idea here on English Wikiversity: Draft:The Neurodiversity-inspired Idea. What kind of questions might I need to move forward. I'm looking for academic feedback. The problem is "people don't understand themselves" and have to go through "dragged-out diagnosis processes" by psychiatrists. The problem to be solved: how the brain works and presenting a system how it can be mapped.
** output Purpose: "What specific problem does this idea solve for the reader?"
** output Reach: "Who is the primary 'student' for this draft?"
*** human output: Who is the target audience for this draft?
** output Validation: "What existing research or lived experience supports this claim?"
** output Interactivity: "What can a reader do with this information right now?"
* human input: Is a "neurotype" up for debate? Does every researcher have their own definition of what a "neurotype" is? Based on this input can you suggest better questhe tions?
=== Methodology questions ===
* human input April 20, 2026: On Wikiversity they say "ask the right questions with your idea". I got an idea, this is my idea: "The Neurodiversity-inspired idea". My methodology is about watching videos of famous people but I want to do the public notes in a way that doesn't "offend the famous people" when I compare them with other famous people.
** output: "How does this person's way of processing information differ from or similar to the other person in this comparison?", "What strengths or 'superpowers' are evident in how they navigate this specific situation?". Strategy for Non-Offensive Public Notes. Focus on Behaviours, Not Diagnoses: Only comment on observed actions or statements. Use phrases like, "Their speaking style is consistent with..." rather than "They are...".
'''Methodology questions'''
When watching a famous person in a video interview in the current "methodology":
* How does this person's way of processing information differ to another person in this comparison? (modified by a human)
* What strengths or 'superpowers' are evident in how they navigate this specific situation?
==== Failures in output we can learn from in Methodology questions to AIs/LLMs ====
It's not always easy to find the right questions. When the question has some problems that causes an output that doesn't make sense they can be put in this section.
* human input April 19, 2026: I'm looking for an English-Wikiversity-compliant methodology to study famous people in video interviews while "being allowed" to group them together without it being "heresy" in scientific communities. Can you formulate that as a question?
** output "didn't make sense" / "was irrelevant" (conclusion by human contributor)
6v3c3nb8tq793hx3c72e3a366fe02ob
User:SunKissedMocha
2
329183
2805563
2026-04-19T21:21:33Z
SunKissedMocha
3067192
created user bio
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Hello! I am a student graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and a Secure Computing and Networks Minor. I find the mission and purpose of wikiversity to be inspirational and want to contribute wherever I can. As of right now I plan on going through all of the IT related courses and updating them where I can.
1wmvmdzi3hotvvtmzjug63f3ow4sco1
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2026-04-19T21:22:24Z
SunKissedMocha
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included what I am currently working on
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Hello! I am a student graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and a Secure Computing and Networks Minor. I find the mission and purpose of wikiversity to be inspirational and want to contribute wherever I can. As of right now I plan on going through all of the IT related courses and updating them where I can. Currently working on the "Computer Skills" course.
ps56yl6jwoyx49s2jmikq3gc5c7a85s
User talk:MM0665
3
329184
2805566
2026-04-19T21:47:55Z
MM0665
3067389
Created page with "The evolution of technology in baseball How baseball was looked before the improvements of technology Before the improvements of technology, hitters were always told to hit the ball on the ground, and that having a high batting average was the only thing that was needed to be good. For pitchers, it was always doing drills over and over and throwing bullpens so that they can get a feel for the mound and throwing strikes. What do we use now for players to become better..."
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The evolution of technology in baseball
How baseball was looked before the improvements of technology
Before the improvements of technology, hitters were always told to hit the ball on the ground, and that having a high batting average was the only thing that was needed to be good. For pitchers, it was always doing drills over and over and throwing bullpens so that they can get a feel for the mound and throwing strikes.
What do we use now for players to become better?
With the advances of technology, hitters are now able to see how they can make their swings better, with the editions of video replay and launch angle. Hitters are also not as praised anymore by how good their batting average is, but more so how hard they hit the ball and how often they get on base. For pitchers, they look at similar things, with video replay and something like launch angle, called spin rate. The more a pitch moves, the less likely a hitter is going to hit it
What else has changed about baseball since the improvements?
Before the 2000s, fans were only able to watch 1 or so game on television. Now you are able to watch almost any game that is going on. We also have the new editions of replay review, which started in 2008, and have an Automated Ball-Strike zone, which has been implemented this year. Going beyond the MLB, the world of recruiting has also changed quite a bit since the creation of social media. Young high school or college players will put out highlights of themselves playing in hopes that a scout sees that and becomes interested in the player.
What can we expect to see in the future
It is unsure what we can expect to see, but with how much the game is changing and the evolution of the skill that these players have, we can only see a rise from here with new resources and improvements of technology as time goes on.
Resources:
“The Official Site of Major League Baseball.” MLB.Com, www.mlb.com/. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Modern Baseball: A Look at the Tech Driving the Game Forward – Baseball Egg, baseballegg.com/2024/07/30/modern-baseball-a-look-at-the-tech-driving-the-game-forward/. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Reshaping Baseball: The Impact of Analytics and Technology | Orms Today, pubsonline.informs.org/do/10.1287/orms.2025.02.07/full/. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
10tqv0592n6prgda5ff9fbv3arlq4r4
AI-assisted game creation
0
329186
2805578
2026-04-20T03:19:39Z
Workusesm
3067427
Create main course page
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= AI-assisted game creation =
== Course overview ==
This learning resource introduces AI-assisted game creation for beginners. It focuses on idea development, tool selection, prompting basics, simple workflow planning, and early prototype thinking.
== Learning goals ==
By the end of this resource, learners should be able to:
* explain what AI-assisted game creation is
* identify the main stages of an AI-assisted workflow
* choose suitable beginner-friendly tools
* write simple prompts for early game concepts
* plan a basic prototype workflow
== Who this is for ==
This resource is for beginners, creators, students, and non-coders who want to understand how AI can support game creation.
== Lessons ==
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation?|Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation?]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 2: Choosing tools|Lesson 2: Choosing tools]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 3: Prompting basics|Lesson 3: Prompting basics]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 4: Prototype workflow|Lesson 4: Prototype workflow]]
== Activities ==
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Activity 1: Draft your first game idea|Activity 1: Draft your first game idea]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Activity 2: Compare two AI tool workflows|Activity 2: Compare two AI tool workflows]]
== Notes ==
This page is intended as an educational learning resource.
qatd08pe820y6g1385xji8lrz3iuu45
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2026-04-20T03:46:30Z
Workusesm
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Create main course page
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wikitext
text/x-wiki
= AI-assisted game creation =
== Course overview ==
This learning resource introduces AI-assisted game creation for beginners. It is designed for learners who want to use AI to make games, understand the meaning of an AIGD platform, and explore how an AI game development platform or AI game maker platform can support early-stage game creation.
== What this resource covers ==
This course explains how to make a game with AI for beginners, how to build a game with AI tools, and how AI-assisted workflows can help non-coders explore game concepts. It also introduces how an AI game generator may be used for ideation, planning, and early prototype support.
== Learning goals ==
By the end of this resource, learners should be able to:
* explain what AI-assisted game creation means
* understand what an AIGD platform is in a learning context
* identify the role of an AI game development platform
* compare an AI game maker platform with other tool workflows
* understand how beginners create games with AI no coding
* evaluate beginner options among the best AI game development tools 2026
== Who this is for ==
This resource is for beginners, creators, students, indie builders, and non-coders who want to learn how to use AI to make games in a structured way.
== Lessons ==
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation?|Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation?]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 2: Choosing tools|Lesson 2: Choosing tools]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 3: Prompting basics|Lesson 3: Prompting basics]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 4: Prototype workflow|Lesson 4: Prototype workflow]]
== Activities ==
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Activity 1: Draft your first game idea|Activity 1: Draft your first game idea]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Activity 2: Compare two AI tool workflows|Activity 2: Compare two AI tool workflows]]
== Notes ==
This page is written as an educational learning resource. It discusses AI game development platform ideas, AI game generator workflows, and beginner-friendly methods without treating them as advertisements.
afkje9uy67kqw30aykerqh1atwnj89n
2805605
2805581
2026-04-20T08:58:09Z
Workusesm
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2805605
wikitext
text/x-wiki
= AI-assisted game creation =
== Course overview ==
This learning resource introduces AI-assisted game creation for beginners. It is designed for learners who want to use AI to make games, understand the meaning of an AIGD platform, and explore how an AI game development platform or AI game maker platform can support early-stage game creation.
== What this resource covers ==
This course explains how to make a game with AI for beginners, how to build a game with AI tools, and how AI-assisted workflows can help non-coders explore game concepts. It also introduces how an AI game generator may be used for ideation, planning, and early prototype support.
== Learning goals ==
By the end of this resource, learners should be able to:
* explain what AI-assisted game creation means
* understand what an AIGD platform is in a learning context
* identify the role of an AI game development platform
* compare an AI game maker platform with other tool workflows
* understand how beginners create games with AI no coding
* evaluate beginner options among the best AI game development tools 2026
== Who this is for ==
This resource is for beginners, creators, students, indie builders, and non-coders who want to learn how to use AI to make games in a structured way.
== Lessons ==
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation?|Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation?]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 2: Choosing tools|Lesson 2: Choosing tools]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 3: Prompting basics|Lesson 3: Prompting basics]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 4: Prototype workflow|Lesson 4: Prototype workflow]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 5|Lesson 5: AI Game Creation and the Southeast Asia Creator Economy]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 6|Lesson 6: Understanding Monetization as a Learning Goal]]
== Activities ==
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Activity 1: Draft your first game idea|Activity 1: Draft your first game idea]]
* [[AI-assisted game creation/Activity 2: Compare two AI tool workflows|Activity 2: Compare two AI tool workflows]]
== Notes ==
This page is written as an educational learning resource. It discusses AI game development platform ideas, AI game generator workflows, and beginner-friendly methods without treating them as advertisements.
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AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation?
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= Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation? =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand the meaning of AI-assisted game creation
* Recognize the difference between traditional and AI-assisted workflows
* Identify common beginner use cases
== Introduction ==
AI-assisted game creation refers to the use of artificial intelligence tools to support parts of the game creation process. These tools may help with idea generation, writing, visual concept development, dialogue drafting, audio experimentation, testing support, and workflow planning.
== Traditional vs AI-assisted workflow ==
A traditional workflow often depends fully on manual planning and production at every stage. An AI-assisted workflow still needs human direction, but it can speed up brainstorming, early drafting, concept exploration, and iteration.
== Common beginner use cases ==
* brainstorming game ideas
* generating story directions
* drafting character concepts
* exploring art directions
* organizing feature lists
* building early prototype logic
== Key takeaway ==
AI does not replace the creator. It supports the creator by reducing friction in early-stage thinking and experimentation.
== Reflection questions ==
* Which part of game creation feels hardest for beginners?
* Where could AI save time without reducing quality?
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= Lesson 1: What is AI-assisted game creation? =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand the meaning of AI-assisted game creation
* Recognize how learners use AI to make games
* Understand why many beginners look for an AIGD platform or AI game development platform
* Identify common beginner use cases
== Introduction ==
AI-assisted game creation refers to the use of artificial intelligence tools to support parts of the game creation process. Learners may use AI to make games by combining writing tools, visual tools, planning tools, and prototyping workflows. In many discussions, these tool ecosystems are described as an AIGD platform, an AI game development platform, or an AI game maker platform.
== Why this topic matters ==
Many beginners want to know how to make a game with AI for beginners without needing a full traditional game studio workflow. Others want to create games with AI no coding, or at least reduce the technical barrier during the idea and planning stage.
== Traditional vs AI-assisted workflow ==
A traditional workflow often depends fully on manual planning and production at every stage. An AI-assisted workflow still needs human direction, but it can accelerate brainstorming, drafting, concept exploration, and iteration.
== Common beginner use cases ==
* using AI to make games from rough ideas
* drafting character and world concepts
* creating early visual direction with an AI game generator
* testing possible flows for a simple AI game development platform workflow
* building structured ideas before moving into production tools
== Regional context ==
In some regions, including Southeast Asia, learners and creators are increasingly interested in beginner-friendly AI game development platform options because they lower the entry barrier for experimentation and learning.
== Key takeaway ==
AI does not replace the creator. It supports the creator by reducing friction in early-stage thinking, exploration, and testing.
== Reflection questions ==
* Why do so many beginners search for terms such as AIGD platform or AI game maker platform?
* What is the difference between using AI for support and letting AI define the whole creative direction?
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AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 2: Choosing tools
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= Lesson 2: Choosing tools =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand different categories of AI tools used in game creation
* Choose tools based on beginner needs
* Avoid selecting too many tools at once
== Main tool categories ==
=== Idea and writing tools ===
These tools help with brainstorming, dialogue drafting, quest ideas, naming, and story structure.
=== Visual concept tools ===
These tools help generate concept references, style directions, environment ideas, and character moodboards.
=== Audio tools ===
These tools help experiment with voice, music, and sound directions.
=== Workflow and planning tools ===
These tools help organize tasks, features, production stages, and iteration plans.
== Beginner rule ==
Start with one tool for ideas, one tool for visuals, and one tool for planning. A simple stack is easier to learn than a complex stack.
== Tool selection checklist ==
* Is it beginner-friendly?
* Does it save time for your current stage?
* Can you explain why you are using it?
* Does it fit your workflow instead of distracting you?
== Key takeaway ==
The best tool is not the most advanced one. It is the one that helps you move your project forward clearly and consistently.
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= Lesson 2: Choosing tools =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand different categories of AI tools used in game creation
* Compare beginner-friendly options
* Understand what people usually mean by an AI game development platform
* Explore how to evaluate the best AI game development tools 2026
== Introduction ==
A beginner does not need every tool at once. The goal is to choose a small, useful workflow that supports learning. Some people look for a single AI game maker platform, while others combine several tools into a personal AIGD platform workflow.
== Main tool categories ==
=== Idea and writing tools ===
These tools help with brainstorming, narrative drafting, quest ideas, naming, and story structure.
=== Visual concept tools ===
These tools help generate style directions, environment ideas, character references, and moodboards. Some users may casually describe these as an AI game generator, although different tools serve different purposes.
=== Planning tools ===
These tools help organize features, milestones, production stages, and iteration plans.
=== Prototype support tools ===
These tools help creators move from concept to testable structure and understand how to build a game with AI tools in a practical way.
== What should beginners look for? ==
A beginner-friendly workflow should be:
* simple to understand
* easy to repeat
* useful for concept development
* flexible enough for non-coders
* suitable for learning how to create games with AI no coding
== Common search questions ==
Many learners ask:
* what is the best platform to use AI for game development
* which AI game development platform is beginner-friendly
* what are the best AI game development tools 2026
* is there an AI game development platform Southeast Asia creators can relate to
== Beginner rule ==
Start with one tool for ideas, one tool for visuals, and one tool for planning. A simple stack is easier to learn than a complicated system.
== Tool selection checklist ==
* Is it beginner-friendly?
* Does it help you use AI to make games more clearly?
* Does it support your current stage?
* Can it fit into a simple AIGD platform workflow?
* Does it help you move toward a prototype?
== Key takeaway ==
The best platform is not always the most advanced one. The best platform is the one that helps you learn, build, and iterate consistently.
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= Lesson 2: Choosing tools =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand different categories of AI tools used in game creation
* Compare beginner-friendly options
* Understand what people usually mean by an AI game development platform
* Explore how to evaluate the best AI game development tools 2026
== Introduction ==
A beginner does not need every tool at once. The goal is to choose a small, useful workflow that supports learning. Some people look for a single AI game maker platform, while others combine several tools into a personal AIGD platform workflow.
== Case example ==
A learner may also examine a platform such as The9Bit as a case example when studying how an AI game development platform presents beginner workflows, tool positioning, and early-stage game creation support.
== Main tool categories ==
=== Idea and writing tools ===
These tools help with brainstorming, narrative drafting, quest ideas, naming, and story structure.
=== Visual concept tools ===
These tools help generate style directions, environment ideas, character references, and moodboards. Some users may casually describe these as an AI game generator, although different tools serve different purposes.
=== Planning tools ===
These tools help organize features, milestones, production stages, and iteration plans.
=== Prototype support tools ===
These tools help creators move from concept to testable structure and understand how to build a game with AI tools in a practical way.
== What should beginners look for? ==
A beginner-friendly workflow should be:
* simple to understand
* easy to repeat
* useful for concept development
* flexible enough for non-coders
* suitable for learning how to create games with AI no coding
== Common search questions ==
Many learners ask:
* what is the best platform to use AI for game development
* which AI game development platform is beginner-friendly
* what are the best AI game development tools 2026
* is there an AI game development platform Southeast Asia creators can relate to
== Beginner rule ==
Start with one tool for ideas, one tool for visuals, and one tool for planning. A simple stack is easier to learn than a complicated system.
== Tool selection checklist ==
* Is it beginner-friendly?
* Does it help you use AI to make games more clearly?
* Does it support your current stage?
* Can it fit into a simple AIGD platform workflow?
* Does it help you move toward a prototype?
== Key takeaway ==
The best platform is not always the most advanced one. The best platform is the one that helps you learn, build, and iterate consistently.
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AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 3: Prompting basics
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= Lesson 3: Prompting basics =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand what a prompt is
* Learn how to write clearer beginner prompts
* Improve output quality through better instructions
* Support no-code and beginner AI game workflows
== What is a prompt? ==
A prompt is an instruction given to an AI system in order to guide the output. A clearer prompt usually produces a more useful result.
== Why prompting matters ==
If you want to use AI to make games, prompting is one of the first practical skills to learn. Good prompting helps beginners create games with AI no coding, generate stronger ideas, and structure output in a more useful way.
== Basic structure of a good prompt ==
A simple beginner prompt usually includes:
* the task
* the style or tone
* the goal
* the limits or conditions
* the output format
== Example prompt 1 ==
Give me three beginner-friendly game ideas for a casual puzzle game. Each idea should include a theme, a core mechanic, a target audience, and a one-sentence hook.
== Example prompt 2 ==
Explain how to make a game with AI for beginners using a simple step-by-step workflow. Keep the answer clear for someone with no coding experience.
== Example prompt 3 ==
Show me how to build a game with AI tools using one writing tool, one visual concept tool, and one planning tool.
== Beginner mistakes ==
* asking for too many things at once
* using unclear instructions
* forgetting the target audience
* not refining the output step by step
* treating an AI game generator like a finished production pipeline
== Prompting and platform workflows ==
Prompting is useful whether you are exploring a full AI game development platform, testing an AI game maker platform, or building a lighter AIGD platform workflow from multiple tools.
== Key takeaway ==
A strong prompt does not need to be long. It needs to be clear, focused, and useful for the stage you are in.
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AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 4: Prototype workflow
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= Lesson 4: Prototype workflow =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand a simple beginner prototype workflow
* Learn how AI can support early-stage game planning
* Organize the path from idea to testable concept
* Understand common beginner questions about value and outcomes
== What is a prototype? ==
A prototype is an early version of a game idea. It does not need to be complete. Its purpose is to test whether the idea works.
== Why prototypes matter ==
Many beginners search for answers to questions such as can I make a game using AI and earn money. Before asking about revenue, it is more useful to learn whether the game idea is clear, playable, and worth developing further. A prototype helps answer that question.
== Simple prototype workflow ==
=== Step 1: Define the game idea ===
Write down the genre, player action, objective, setting, and target audience.
=== Step 2: Use AI for concept support ===
Use AI to brainstorm mechanics, level ideas, visual directions, naming options, and feature priorities.
=== Step 3: Select the core feature ===
Decide what the player must do repeatedly. This is the heart of the prototype.
=== Step 4: Remove unnecessary features ===
Keep only the minimum features needed to test the concept.
=== Step 5: Review and improve ===
Test the idea, identify weak points, and refine the plan.
== AI and value creation ==
Some learners are curious about earn money making games with AI, or whether AI-assisted creation can support future commercial projects. That is a separate question from learning. In an educational context, the first goal is to understand the workflow, the design logic, and the process of building something playable.
== AI-assisted prototype support ==
An AI game generator may help with early concept directions. An AI game maker platform may support rapid idea development. A wider AI game development platform may combine writing, planning, and design support into one workflow.
== Key takeaway ==
The goal of a prototype is not perfection. The goal is clarity, learning, and direction.
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AI-assisted game creation/Activity 1: Draft your first game idea
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= Activity 1: Draft your first game idea =
== Goal ==
Use a simple structure to define your first AI-assisted game concept.
== Instructions ==
Write down the following:
* Game genre:
* Core player action:
* Main objective:
* Setting:
* Visual style:
* Target audience:
* Which AI game development platform or AIGD platform idea fits this concept:
* Where AI may help you most:
* Whether you want to create games with AI no coding or with partial technical tools:
== Example ==
* Game genre: puzzle adventure
* Core player action: solve room-based logic challenges
* Main objective: escape a shifting digital maze
* Setting: futuristic archive world
* Visual style: clean neon minimalism
* Target audience: casual PC players
* Which AI game development platform or AIGD platform idea fits this concept: a simple workflow using one writing tool, one visual tool, and one planning tool
* Where AI may help most: concept ideation and environmental art direction
* Whether you want to create games with AI no coding or with partial technical tools: no coding first, technical tools later
== Extra task ==
Write one short sentence answering this question: How would you use AI to make games more efficiently at the idea stage?
== Reflection ==
Which part of the idea feels clear, and which part still needs work?
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AI-assisted game creation/Activity 2: Compare two AI tool workflows
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= Activity 2: Compare two AI tool workflows =
== Goal ==
Compare two possible AI-assisted workflows for beginner game creation.
== Instructions ==
Choose two possible workflows and compare them using the points below:
* Idea generation
* Visual concept support
* Planning support
* Ease of use
* Best use case
* Whether it feels more like an AI game maker platform, an AI game development platform, or a lighter AIGD platform workflow
* Whether it helps beginners who want to use AI to make games
== Example comparison ==
=== Workflow A ===
* Idea generation: strong
* Visual concept support: medium
* Planning support: strong
* Ease of use: beginner-friendly
* Best use case: early concept development
* Platform type: lightweight AIGD platform workflow
* Beginner value: useful for people learning how to make a game with AI for beginners
=== Workflow B ===
* Idea generation: medium
* Visual concept support: strong
* Planning support: medium
* Ease of use: moderate
* Best use case: visual direction exploration
* Platform type: AI game maker platform style workflow
* Beginner value: useful for creators exploring an AI game generator approach
== Discussion ==
After the comparison, write a short note on this question: What is the best platform to use AI for game development for your current stage, and why?
== Reflection ==
Which workflow is more useful for your current stage, and which one would you recommend to another beginner?
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== About me ==
I contribute learning materials about AI-assisted game creation and beginner-friendly digital production.
== Disclosure ==
I may edit topics related to platforms or projects connected to my professional work. Where required, I disclose relevant employer, client, or affiliation information.
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AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 5
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= Lesson 5: AI Game Creation and the Southeast Asia Creator Economy =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand why AI game creation tools are relevant to Southeast Asia creators
* Identify characteristics of the Southeast Asia creator economy that affect platform choice
* Evaluate how an AI game development platform Southeast Asia creators use may differ from tools designed for other markets
* Recognize regional factors that shape beginner-friendly AI workflows
== Introduction ==
Interest in AI-assisted game creation is growing across many regions, but Southeast Asia represents a particularly active area of development. Learners and creators in this region are increasingly searching for beginner-friendly AI game development platform options that fit their specific context, including mobile-first habits, localized payment preferences, and community-driven participation models.
This lesson examines the regional dimensions of AI game creation as an educational topic, not as a product recommendation exercise.
== Characteristics of the Southeast Asia creator economy ==
The creator economy in Southeast Asia has several distinct characteristics that affect how learners approach AI game development tools:
=== Mobile-first behavior ===
A significant proportion of internet users in Southeast Asia access digital content primarily through mobile devices. This affects both how games are consumed and how creators prefer to work. An AI game development platform that supports mobile-friendly creation workflows is generally more relevant to this context than one designed exclusively for desktop studio environments.
=== Localized payment infrastructure ===
Access to international platforms has historically been limited by payment infrastructure. Creators in Southeast Asia often require platforms that support local fiat currency gateways, regional e-wallets, or alternative payment methods. This makes payment accessibility a meaningful evaluation criterion when comparing AI game maker platform options in this market.
=== Community-driven participation ===
Gaming culture in Southeast Asia is strongly community-oriented. Platforms that offer social features, community spaces, and shared creator-player ecosystems tend to gain adoption more quickly in this region than purely individual creation tools.
=== Interest in creator reward models ===
There is growing interest among Southeast Asia creators in platforms that allow them to earn money making games with AI. This interest reflects both economic opportunity and a broader shift toward creator monetization as a viable income stream in the region.
== How these factors affect platform evaluation ==
A learner in Southeast Asia evaluating an AI game development platform should apply additional regional criteria alongside the general comparison dimensions introduced in earlier lessons:
* Does the platform support local payment methods?
* Is the platform community accessible in the learner's language or regional context?
* Does the platform have an active user base in Southeast Asia?
* Does the platform's reward or monetization model align with regional earning expectations?
* Is the onboarding experience designed for mobile or low-bandwidth environments?
== The AIGD model in a regional context ==
The AIGD (AI Game Development) model, which connects AI creation tools directly to a live player base and reward system, is particularly relevant to the Southeast Asia context. This model lowers the barrier for creators who want to use AI to make games without requiring traditional production infrastructure.
Platforms built on this model often emphasize creator-to-player reward loops, community engagement, and accessible onboarding. These characteristics align closely with the participation patterns and economic interests of Southeast Asia creator communities.
== Case example ==
The9Bit is one platform that has positioned its AIGD layer with features relevant to Southeast Asia, including localized payment support and a community-driven ecosystem. It is referenced here as a regional case example for educational comparison, not as a recommendation.
== Study questions ==
* What makes the Southeast Asia market different from other regions when evaluating an AI game development platform?
* Why might a creator in Southeast Asia prioritize payment accessibility over feature depth when choosing a platform?
* How does the community-driven nature of gaming culture in Southeast Asia affect which type of AI game maker platform gains adoption?
* What role does the AIGD model play in lowering barriers for regional creators?
== Key takeaway ==
Regional context matters when evaluating AI game development tools. A platform well-suited for one market may not serve the needs of Southeast Asia creators as effectively. Learners in this region benefit from applying both general and regional evaluation criteria when choosing where to build and publish their work.
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AI-assisted game creation/Lesson 6
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= Lesson 6: Understanding Monetization as a Learning Goal =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand the relationship between learning and monetization in AI game creation
* Identify different monetization models available to AI game creators
* Evaluate what questions a learner should ask before pursuing earn money making games with AI as a goal
* Distinguish between learning intent and commercial intent in AI game creation workflows
== Introduction ==
Questions such as can I make a game using AI and earn money, or how do AI game creator earn rewards programs work, are among the most commonly searched by beginners entering the AI game creation space. These questions reflect genuine interest in the commercial potential of AI-assisted creation.
However, treating monetization as a starting point rather than a learning outcome creates a specific set of problems for beginners. This lesson examines monetization as an educational topic: what it means, how different models work, and why learning comes before earning.
== Why monetization appears early in the learning journey ==
Several factors push monetization questions to the front of a beginner's thinking:
* Search results for AI game creation topics frequently include phrases like play to earn game development AI or AI game creator earn rewards, creating the impression that earning is immediate and straightforward
* Social media content often highlights exceptional creator outcomes without showing the workflow, learning curve, or failure rate behind them
* The phrase earn money making games with AI implies that AI removes most of the traditional barriers to game production, including skill development and iteration time
These impressions are worth examining critically. Understanding them is part of AI game creation literacy.
== Monetization models: a framework ==
There are several distinct monetization models available to AI game creators. Each has different requirements, risk levels, and timelines:
=== Platform revenue sharing ===
Some AI game development platforms share advertising or subscription revenue with creators based on engagement metrics. The creator publishes a game, players engage with it, and the platform distributes a portion of the revenue generated.
=== Token-based reward systems ===
Some platforms use native tokens as the reward mechanism for both creators and players. In these systems, a creator who publishes a game and attracts player engagement may receive tokens that hold utility or exchange value within the ecosystem. This is the model often associated with play to earn game development AI discussions.
=== Direct sales or access fees ===
In this model, players pay directly to access a game. The creator earns from each transaction. This model typically requires higher production quality and marketing effort.
=== Hybrid models ===
Some platforms combine elements of the above. A creator may earn tokens for engagement while also receiving a share of direct sales within the same ecosystem.
== What learners should understand about token-based rewards ==
Token-based reward systems are frequently discussed in the context of AI game creator earn rewards programs. A learner studying these systems should understand:
* token value is determined by market conditions, not by the platform alone
* reward amounts are usually proportional to engagement generated, not to the act of publishing
* platform rules for creator eligibility may include quality thresholds, content requirements, or minimum engagement levels
* the sustainability of a token-based reward model depends on the health and growth of the broader ecosystem
== The relationship between learning and earning ==
A recurring pattern in AI game creation communities is that creators who focus first on workflow mastery, concept quality, and iteration discipline tend to produce games that perform better across all monetization models.
This pattern suggests that the question can I make a game using AI and earn money is most usefully answered after a creator has:
* completed at least one full concept-to-prototype cycle
* tested and revised the core game loop
* understood the publishing requirements of their chosen platform
* evaluated the platform's monetization model against their own goals and timeline
Approaching monetization as a learning goal, rather than an immediate expectation, produces more consistent outcomes.
== AIGD platforms and the creator-to-player loop ==
The AIGD (AI Game Development) model connects AI creation tools to a live player base within the same platform ecosystem. In this structure, the creator-to-player reward loop means that creator earnings are directly linked to how much players engage with the published game.
This model is educationally interesting because it makes the relationship between game quality and creator reward more transparent than traditional distribution models. A game that players do not engage with generates fewer rewards, regardless of how quickly it was produced.
== Study questions ==
* What are the main differences between token-based rewards and direct sales as monetization models?
* Why might a beginner overestimate how quickly they can earn money making games with AI?
* What should a creator understand about platform rules before pursuing an AI game creator earn rewards program?
* How does the AIGD creator-to-player loop make the relationship between quality and reward more visible?
== Key takeaway ==
Monetization is a legitimate learning goal in AI game creation. Understanding the different models, their requirements, and their risks is part of becoming a capable creator. The most useful approach is to treat earning as an outcome of good workflow and strong concepts, not as a shortcut that replaces them.
For practical workflow guidance, see the related Wikibooks resource on AI-Assisted Game Creation for Beginners.
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= Lesson 6: Understanding Monetization as a Learning Goal =
== Learning objectives ==
* Understand the relationship between learning and monetization in AI game creation
* Identify different monetization models available to AI game creators
* Evaluate what questions a learner should ask before pursuing earn money making games with AI as a goal
* Distinguish between learning intent and commercial intent in AI game creation workflows
== Introduction ==
Questions such as can I make a game using AI and earn money, or how do AI game creator earn rewards programs work, are among the most commonly searched by beginners entering the AI game creation space. These questions reflect genuine interest in the commercial potential of AI-assisted creation.
However, treating monetization as a starting point rather than a learning outcome creates a specific set of problems for beginners. This lesson examines monetization as an educational topic: what it means, how different models work, and why learning comes before earning.
== Why monetization appears early in the learning journey ==
Several factors push monetization questions to the front of a beginner's thinking:
* Search results for AI game creation topics frequently include phrases like play to earn game development AI or AI game creator earn rewards, creating the impression that earning is immediate and straightforward
* Social media content often highlights exceptional creator outcomes without showing the workflow, learning curve, or failure rate behind them
* The phrase earn money making games with AI implies that AI removes most of the traditional barriers to game production, including skill development and iteration time
These impressions are worth examining critically. Understanding them is part of AI game creation literacy.
== Monetization models: a framework ==
There are several distinct monetization models available to AI game creators. Each has different requirements, risk levels, and timelines:
=== Platform revenue sharing ===
Some AI game development platforms share advertising or subscription revenue with creators based on engagement metrics. The creator publishes a game, players engage with it, and the platform distributes a portion of the revenue generated.
=== Token-based reward systems ===
Some platforms use native tokens as the reward mechanism for both creators and players. In these systems, a creator who publishes a game and attracts player engagement may receive tokens that hold utility or exchange value within the ecosystem. This is the model often associated with play to earn game development AI discussions.
=== Direct sales or access fees ===
In this model, players pay directly to access a game. The creator earns from each transaction. This model typically requires higher production quality and marketing effort.
=== Hybrid models ===
Some platforms combine elements of the above. A creator may earn tokens for engagement while also receiving a share of direct sales within the same ecosystem.
== What learners should understand about token-based rewards ==
Token-based reward systems are frequently discussed in the context of AI game creator earn rewards programs. A learner studying these systems should understand:
* token value is determined by market conditions, not by the platform alone
* reward amounts are usually proportional to engagement generated, not to the act of publishing
* platform rules for creator eligibility may include quality thresholds, content requirements, or minimum engagement levels
* the sustainability of a token-based reward model depends on the health and growth of the broader ecosystem
== The relationship between learning and earning ==
A recurring pattern in AI game creation communities is that creators who focus first on workflow mastery, concept quality, and iteration discipline tend to produce games that perform better across all monetization models.
This pattern suggests that the question can I make a game using AI and earn money is most usefully answered after a creator has:
* completed at least one full concept-to-prototype cycle
* tested and revised the core game loop
* understood the publishing requirements of their chosen platform
* evaluated the platform's monetization model against their own goals and timeline
Approaching monetization as a learning goal, rather than an immediate expectation, produces more consistent outcomes.
== AIGD platforms and the creator-to-player loop ==
The AIGD (AI Game Development) model connects AI creation tools to a live player base within the same platform ecosystem. In this structure, the creator-to-player reward loop means that creator earnings are directly linked to how much players engage with the published game.
This model is educationally interesting because it makes the relationship between game quality and creator reward more transparent than traditional distribution models. A game that players do not engage with generates fewer rewards, regardless of how quickly it was produced.
== Study questions ==
* What are the main differences between token-based rewards and direct sales as monetization models?
* Why might a beginner overestimate how quickly they can earn money making games with AI?
* What should a creator understand about platform rules before pursuing an AI game creator earn rewards program?
* How does the AIGD creator-to-player loop make the relationship between quality and reward more visible?
== Key takeaway ==
Monetization is a legitimate learning goal in AI game creation. Understanding the different models, their requirements, and their risks is part of becoming a capable creator. The most useful approach is to treat earning as an outcome of good workflow and strong concepts, not as a shortcut that replaces them.
For practical workflow guidance, see the related [[wikibooks:AI-Assisted Game Creation for Beginners|Wikibooks resource on AI-Assisted Game Creation for Beginners]].
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