mysteries of egyptian zodiacs - HiddenMysteries Information Central

40 2 Ancient Egyptian Zodiacs
Figure 2.19: Drawing of the Athribis zodiacs (Taken from [24])
Two more examples of Egyptian zodiacs are presented
on Figures 2.20 and 2.21. Notice that the constellations are
shown there using typical symbols, similar as on other Egyptian
zodiacs. However, the planets are symbolized by bust
portraits (what is quite unusual for Egyptian zodiacs in general).
These zodiacs were discovered in the middle of the
20th century in a supposedly ancient Egyptian sepulchre in
Petosiris. They were painted on the ceilings of the inner and
outer rooms of the tomb.
The dimensions of the whole picture with the zodiac located
in the inner room are, 2.12 m ×2.62 m.
Both of the Petosiris zodiacs were studied in the paper by
O. Neugebauer, R.A. Parker and D. Pingree, in which the authors
do not even make any attempt to understand the data
as an astronomical record, but assume that the only meaning
of these zodiacs is related to Mithraism — an ancient religion.
They indicate that the symbols of the zodiacs represent natural
forces, physical desire, rationality, intelligence and other
metaphysical concepts. The positions of the planets, according
to these authors, are determined by some symbolic meaning
of planets and constellations in Mithraism without any
connection to astronomy. We will dispute this point of view
and argue that there is a precise astronomical meaning in both
zodiacs. Each of them indicates a certain date. The complete
Figure 2.20: Photograph of the zodiac from the inner room of
the Petosiris tomb. (Taken from [5], Tafel 40)
analysis of the astronomical data contained in these zodiacs
and their dating will be presented later in this book.
Let us point out that not all Egyptian zodiacs contain a
horoscope. Some of them just show the zodiac constellations
without any planet. Of course the precise astronomical dating
of such zodiacs makes no sense, since there is no sufficient data
available.
However, in this situation an approximate zodiac’s age
can be estimated by comparing this zodiac with other similar
zodiacs for which precise astronomical dating can be done.
As an example we present in Figure 2.22 a picture of such a
zodiac without horoscope.
There are also some examples of old Egyptian zodiac
showing less than twelve zodiac constellations, some of which
are symbolized by unusual figures. For example, on some old
Egyptian zodiacs there was a figure of Raven among the zodiac
constellations, what may indicate that different type of
division of the ecliptic into zodiac constellations was used in
earlier times. Notice, that there is a constellation called Raven
neighboring the zodiac Virgo constellation. One of such untypical
zodiacs is illustrated on Figure 2.23. This old Egyptian
zodiac, which was made of schist, is called “Libyan Palette.”
There is a little doubt that this palette indeed represents a