Egypt: Temple of Dendera

[EGYPT 29585] 'Big Dipper, Draco and Capricorn on astronomical ceiling at Dendera.' This detail of the astronomical ceiling in the outer hypostyle hall of the Hathor Temple at Dendera shows several deities, most of which are related to heavenly bodies and the hours of the night. The astronomical ceiling consists of seven separate strips but here we are looking at a segment of the upper register of the WESTERNMOST STRIP. The bull-like figure on the right personifies the constellation of the Big Dipper. From other sources we know that he was called Meskhetiu and was associated with the evil god Seth. He is held captured by a chain which is attached to a mooring post that is watched over by a hippopotamus goddess. She is named Isis-Djamet and can be most likely identified with the constellation of Draco. The mooring post is the celestial pole around which the Big Dipper revolved in ancient Egyptian times. And thus the evil Seth/Big Dipper was unable to escape from the guard of Isis (the hippo) and wander off among the rest of the starry gods. (In the last 4000 years the celestial pole has moved away from Draco to the present Polestar, due to precession.) On the left, the two standing goddesses who have a star above their head are personifications of the first and second hour of the night. The goat-headed fish between them is the zodiac sign Capricorn. There are six zodiac signs depicted in the entire westernmost strip (see picture 29587 till 29590) and the other six can be found on the easternmost ceiling strip of the hall (see picture 29526). These signs are of Babylonic-Greek origin and are not found in Egypt before it was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, whereas the hippo and bull constellations are of ancient Egyptian origin. The bull-headed bird above the fish-goat personifies the planet Saturn. This part of the Dendera Temple was built during the Roman period (first century AD). Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[EGYPT 29586] 'Big Dipper and Draco on astronomical ceiling at Dendera.' This detail of the astronomical ceiling in the outer hypostyle hall of the Hathor Temple at Dendera shows several deities, most of which are related to heavenly bodies and the hours of the night. The astronomical ceiling consists of seven separate strips but here we are looking at a segment of the upper register of the WESTERNMOST STRIP. The bull-like figure in the centre personifies the constellation of the Big Dipper (its seven conspicuous stars are depicted around the figure). From other sources we know that he was called Meskhetiu and was associated with the evil god Seth. He is held captured by chain which is attached to a mooring post that is watched over by a hippopotamus goddess. She is named Isis-Djamet and can be most likely identified with the constellation of Draco. The mooring post is the celestial pole around which the Big Dipper revolved in ancient Egyptian times. And thus the evil Seth/ Big Dipper was unable to escape from the guard of Isis (the hippo) and wander off among the rest of the starry gods. (In the last 4000 years the celestial pole has moved away from Draco to the present Polestar, due to precession.) From the right the Seth bull is speared by a falcon-headed god who is named here "Horus, fighter against enemies". He is likely to represent one of the other circumpolar constellations. In Egyptian mythology Horus fought with Seth after the latter had killed Osiris, father of Horus. On the left and right, the two standing goddesses who have a star above their head are personifications of the second and third hour of the night. This part of the Dendera Temple was built during the Roman period (first century AD). Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[EGYPT 29587] 'Sagittarius on astronomical ceiling at Dendera.' A winged centaur-like creature portrays the zodiac sign Sagittarius on the astronomical ceiling in the outer hypostyle hall of the Hathor Temple at Dendera. The ceiling consists of seven separate strips but here we are looking at a detail of the upper register of the WESTERNMOST STRIP. Sagittarius is depicted with two heads, human in front, lion in back. He also has two tails, the upper one being a scorpion's tail, turned back. There are six zodiac signs depicted in the entire westernmost strip (see picture 29585 till 29590) and the other six can be found on the easternmost ceiling strip of the hall (see picture 29526). These signs are of Babylonic-Greek origin and are not found in Egypt before it was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. The falcon above Sagittarius is a personification of the planet Jupiter. Standing on either side of Sagittarius, the two goddesses who have a star above their head are personifications of the third and fourth hour of the night. On the left a falcon-headed god who is named "Horus, fighter against enemies" is spearing Seth (who is outside the frame of the picture, but see photo 29586). This Horus likely represents one of the circumpolar constellations. This part of the Dendera Temple was built during the Roman period (first century AD). Photo Mick Palarczyk.