The term astronomical diagram is used on this site to describe a particular type of ancient Egyptian decoration, found on temple and tomb ceilings and on the outer surface of water clocks. A key feature of astronomical diagrams is the inclusion of decans. Diagrams may or may not contain other elements, such as diagonal star tables, Ramesside star clock tables, and transit star clock tables, which are or will be described in detail in this database. Each astronomical diagram is unique, with variations found even when one diagram is a direct copy of another.
The extant diagrams fall into two groups, which in this database we will refer to as "astronomical representations" and "astronomical processions", with astronomical representations being the older and more long-lived variety. The rationale and definitions for this classification system is contained in Symons (2015b). The colours and letter codes in the tables are used in the schematic drawings of the more complete astronomical representations. Areas of damage will be indicated by grey shading.
Features of Astronomical Processions
Astronomical processions display more variation in content than astronomical representations, with some examples being very abbreviated. In general, they contain personifications of the decans and do NOT contain the deities attending the circumpolar group, with one exception (Ramses II B - one set of Ramesseum architraves). The following elements may appear:
| C | Circumpolar group of constellations | Figures including a bovine foreleg (sometimes represented as a complete ox), a mooring post, and a hippo. A selection of additional figures may also be present. | |
| D | Decans | Representations of decan stars. Both ordinary and triangle decans are included, with the triangle decans separated from the ordinary decans by the intervention of the superior planets. The decans can be represented by one or more of the following elements: | |
| Decan names. | |||
| Decanal stars: a number of star or dot symbols. | |||
| Depictions of decanal constellations. | |||
| Cluster numbers of some decanal constellations. | |||
| The names of related decanal deities. | |||
| Figures of the decanal deities. | |||
| Personifications of the decans as humans or as snakes/other forms of deites. | |||
| Pseudo-decans. | |||
| Personifications of the decans - either as humans or as snakes/other forms of deites. | |||
| P | Planets | Representations of the five planets Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury, and Venus as deities. | |
| M | Calendrical ("month") elements | Lunar months: figures and/or names. | |
| N | The sky-goddess Nut | The figure of the goddess may be included either as an enclosing border or as a central figure. | |
| Z | Signs of the zodiac. | ||
| O | Depictions of other (non-circumpolar, non-decanal, non-zodiac) constellations. | ||
| X | Other cosmic deities, including Geb, the four winds, figures from the Book of the Night, deities of the epact, lunar staircase, hours of the day and night, etc. | ||
| Damaged area | |||
List of Astronomical Processions
The table below divides the astronomical processions by time period. It also lists the name given to each in EAT3 and the decan list family from EAT3. The decanal content and details for each astronomical procession will be included in a future update of this database.
New Kingdom
|
Title | EAT3 Number & Name | Location | EAT 3 Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb of Rameses V/VI (Chamber K) | 25 Ramses VI E | KV 9 Chamber K, Valley of the Kings | Misc |
Third Intermediate Period
|
Title | EAT3 Number & Name | Location | EAT 3 Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb of Osorkon II | 31 Osorkon II | Chamber I, Tanis | Seti I B |
Greco-Roman Period
|
Title | EAT3 Number & Name | Location | EAT 3 Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuna el-Gebel Gallery C (A-31) Border | 40 Hermopolis A | Flanks of ceiling, Baboon Chamber G-C-A-31, Animal Necropolis, Tuna el-Gebel | Tanis |
| Tuna el-Gebel Gallery C (A-28) Border | 42 Hermopolis C | Flanks of ceiling, Baboon Chamber G-C-A-28, Animal Necropolis, Tuna el-Gebel | Tanis |
| Temple of Khnum at Esna | 47 Esna A | (now destroyed) | Seti I B/Tanis |
| Temple of Horus at Edfu | 49 Edfu | Northern wall of Outer Hypostyle Hall, Temple of Horus at Edfu | Seti I B |
| Mamisi at Philae | 50a Philae B | Righmost outer face of Mamisi entrance at Philae | Seti I B |
| Temple of Khnum at Elephantine | - | Fragments not in situ | Seti I B/Tanis? |
| Temple of Satet at Elephantine | - | Fragments not in situ | ? |
| Temple of Horus and Sobek at Kom Ombo | 51 Kom Ombo | Outer Hypostyle Hall architraves, Temple of Horus and Sobek at Kom Ombo | Tanis |
| Dendera Silver Room Frieze | 53 Dendera A | Walls of a side room (the "Silver Room"), opening off the west side of the Second Antechamber, Temple of Hathor at Dendera | Seti I B |
| Dendera Circular Zodiac | 54 Dendera B | Now in the Louvre Museum, Paris, with a cast in the original location in the East Osiris Chapel on the roof of the temple | Tanis |
| Dendera Roof Chapel | 55 Dendera C | East Osiris Chapel on the roof of the temple | Tanis |
| Tomb at Nag Hammadi Outer Chamber | 56 Nag' Hamad A | The "Mayor's Tomb" at Nag Hammadi | Seti I B |
| Tomb at Nag Hammadi Inner Chamber | 57 Nag' Hamad B | The "Mayor's Tomb" at Nag Hammadi | Tanis |
| Dendera Vestibule (Middle Aisles) | 59 Dendera D | Vestibule, Temple of Hathor at Dendera | Seti I B |
| Dendera Vestibule (Outer Aisles) | 60 Dendera E | Vestibule, Temple of Hathor at Dendera | Tanis |
| Temple of Khnum at Esna (South) | 62 Esna B | Hypostyle Hall, Temple of Khnum at Esna | Seti I B |
| Temple of Khnum at Esna (North) | 63 Esna C | Hypostyle Hall, Temple of Khnum at Esna | Tanis |
| Dendera Mamisi | 64 Dendera F | Mamisi of Trajan at Dendera | Seti I B |
Similar Greco-Roman designs which lack decans
|
Title | EAT3 Number & Name | Location | EAT 3 Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple of Isis at Philae | 50 Philae A | Hypostyle Hall, Temple of Isis at Philae | - |
| Deir el-Medina | - | Temple at Deir el-Medina | - |
| Temple of Montu and Ra't-tawi | 52 Armant | (now destroyed) | - |
| Temple of Isis at Shanhur | 58 Shanhur | Chapel, Temple of Isis at Shanhur | - |
| Ceiling block at Qift | 61 Koptos | Temple of Min and Isis at Qift | - |
| Tomb of Ibpameny and Pamehit | 72 Athribis | Nag Hammadi (Athribis) | - |