Book 2
29
His mercenary troops he requested to forgo six days’ pay and rations each year, on the plea that on those days they were neither on garrison duty nor on the march nor did they incur any expense. (He referred to the days omitted from alternate months.As the moon’s cycle is completed in 29 1/2 days, it was customary to alternatehollow months of 29 days with thefull months of 30 days. Memnon paid his men by the month, but deducted a day’s pay everyhollow month.)
29
Moreover, being accustomed previously to issue his men’s rations of corn on the second day of the month, in the first month he postponed the distribution for three days, and in the second month for five; proceeding in this fashion until at length it took place on the last day of the month.
