Through the Eras

Philosophywriting of the verb “to tow” in Ramesses’IX tomb. Such intellectual puzzles mayhave spawned the Greek idea that all hieroglyphsare symbolic rather than phonetic,leading to the idea that hieroglyphsexpress only philosophical concepts.1075–945 Amulets made in the Twenty-first Dynastyare the first evidence that the stars couldeffect activities on earth and are perhapsa reflection of early astrology.874–830 Armbands from the tomb of Osorkon IIdepict the stars as protectors of the king,perhaps an early form of astrology.760–525 The God’s Wife of Amun, the chiefpriestess, takes responsibility for presentingmaat to the gods in the Twenty-fifthand Twenty-sixth Dynasties.716–702 The only copy of the Memphite Theologythat describes how Ptah created the worldfrom words is carved in stone during thereign of King Shabaka.525–404 The Greek historian Herodotus beginsthe tradition of describing the Egyptiansin Book Two of his collection, The Histories.Greek interpretations of Egyptiansociety will become the basis for Westernunderstanding until 1822 when Champolliondeciphers hieroglyphs.An Egyptian text first calls the god Thoth“very, very, very great” anticipating theGreek name for him “Trismegistus”meaning “thrice great.” The Greeks willconsider Hermes Trismegistus to be thesource of Egyptian philosophy.381–362 A shrine from the reign of Nectanebo Icontains an inscription suggesting thestars can effect wind and water and causeillness and sudden death. This is earlyevidence for Egyptian belief in astrology.305–30 The Egyptians compose and carve on thewalls of temples their first connected accountsof the creation of the world.Egyptian scribes invent intellectual puzzlesin hieroglyphs such as writing an entirehymn with only the crocodile sign.Such puzzles will mislead the Greeks intobelieving that hieroglyphs are completelysymbolic rather than phonetic and ultimatelyconvinced the Greeks that hieroglyphsonly could express philosophicalideas.Egyptian astrologers are active at the royalcourt, suggesting to the Greeks that astrologywas an ancient Egyptian belief.The Babylonian zodiac brought to Egyptat this time becomes a part of astrology.Arts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675 B.C.E.–332 B.C.E.) 183