mysteries of egyptian zodiacs - HiddenMysteries Information Central
mysteries of egyptian zodiacs - HiddenMysteries Information Central
mysteries of egyptian zodiacs - HiddenMysteries Information Central
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8.5 Dating <strong>of</strong> the Zodiac from the Tomb <strong>of</strong> Ramses VI 265<br />
Figure 8.31: Plan <strong>of</strong> the tomb <strong>of</strong> Ramses VI located in the Valley <strong>of</strong> the Kings. (The picture was taken from [180])<br />
In order to explain the structure <strong>of</strong> the zodiac (RS), let<br />
us point out that the Lower Part <strong>of</strong> the zodiac is divided into<br />
12 sectors,which are separated by vertical “lines.” It comes<br />
immediately to mind that we have here a symbolic representation<br />
<strong>of</strong> the ecliptic divided into 12 zodiacal constellations.<br />
All these constellations are shown as the vertical sectors in<br />
the Lower Part <strong>of</strong> the zodiac (RS). Of course, we need to<br />
recognize for each zodiacal constellation, what is the corresponding<br />
sector on the zodiac. Since we do not find here even<br />
one usual symbol <strong>of</strong> a zodiacal constellation, which waqs used<br />
on the other Egyptian zodiac, it is not a trivial problem. Nevertheless,<br />
it is possible to give the answer to this question. In<br />
fact, there is only one way the constellations on the Ramses<br />
VI zodiac can be recognized.<br />
Notice that in the first 11 sectors <strong>of</strong> the zodiac, beginning<br />
from the head <strong>of</strong> the goddess Nut, all the figures are arranged<br />
in sequences indicating the same common direction. In each <strong>of</strong><br />
these sector there is a large boat. However, the 12th sector,<br />
which is the sector right next to the goddess Nut legs, is<br />
different. Instead <strong>of</strong> one large boat, there are two small boats<br />
in vertical positions — contrary to the boats in the other<br />
11 sectors, which are shown horizontally (see Figure 8.32).<br />
These 11 boats are most probably the symbols <strong>of</strong> the zodiacal<br />
constellations, and since the 12th sector contains two identical<br />
boats, it comes to mind that it could be Gemini. Of course,<br />
we would like to have a confirmation for this identification <strong>of</strong><br />
Gimini. Notice that in the 12th sector, under the symbols <strong>of</strong><br />
two boats, there are two human figures holding hands. There<br />
is also a disc resting on their hands. It is not hard to see<br />
that it is a typical symbol <strong>of</strong> Gemini, which is in fact very<br />
similar to the figure <strong>of</strong> Gemini on the Long Denderah zodiac<br />
(See Figures 5.4 and 5.5). On the other hand, above the boats<br />
there is a typical symbol <strong>of</strong> the summer solstice — the Sun<br />
on the pole. We have seen similar symbols on other Egyptian<br />
<strong>zodiacs</strong>. For example, on the Denderah <strong>zodiacs</strong>, there was a<br />
bird sitting on a pole (see section 5.8.4). Here, the Sun is<br />
symbolized by a beetle sitting on the pole 18 , which can be<br />
interpreted as the point <strong>of</strong> the heighest elevation <strong>of</strong> the Sun.<br />
It is clear that it has to be the summer solstice point.<br />
18 See [182], p.84.<br />
Figure 8.34: Symbols <strong>of</strong> the zodiacal constellations on the<br />
Ramses VI zodiac (RS).<br />
As we have already explained in Chapter 5, on the Egyptian<br />
<strong>zodiacs</strong>, the summer solstice was always shown in Gemini.<br />
Consequently, the last sector <strong>of</strong> the zodiac could be indeed<br />
Gemini, which implies that the other 11 sectors should symbolize<br />
the remaining 11 zodiacal constellations. There more<br />
arguments in support <strong>of</strong> this claim.<br />
Let us continue our analysis <strong>of</strong> the Ramses VI zodiac. If<br />
Gemini is indeed the last sector on the right, then there are<br />
exactly two possible ways all the remaining 11 constellation