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 Representations
The distinctive features of astronomical representations are the inclusion of all the following elements:
| 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. | |
| A | Attendant circumpolar deities | Two processions of anthropomorphic deities one to each side of the circumpolar group. | |
| 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 in human form (rare). | |||
| P | Planets | Representations of the superior planets Jupiter, Saturn, and (sometimes omitted) Mars as falcon-headed deities. The two inferior planets are depicted after the triangle decans: Mercury (usually represented by name alone, sometimes with an accompanying deity name) and Venus (usually represented by name, a figure, and a deity name). | |
One or more additional astronomical elements from the following lists may also be present on astronomical representations:
| M | Calendrical ("month") elements | Civil months as text. |
| Lunar months as figures or circles and/or labels. | ||
| Ramesside star clock tables. | ||
| The orientations of the Foreleg throughout the year. | ||
| N | The sky-goddess Nut | The figure of the goddess may be included either as an enclosing border or as a central figure. |
| X | Other elements | A baboon sitting on a djed-pillar. |
| The Sun and Moon personified. | ||
| Damaged area | ||
List of Astronomical Representations
For more details of an astronomical representation, click on its title. The table below divides the representations by time period. It also lists the name given to each in EAT3, the decan list family from EAT3, and the decan list used in this database. Clicking on the title of an astronomical representation will open the details of that text.
Middle Kingdom
| Title | Location | EAT3 Number & Name | EAT 3 Decan List Family | Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asyut tombs | (now destroyed) | - | - | AR1 or AR3? |
| Coffin of Heny | (now destroyed) | 1 Heny | ? | ? |
New Kingdom - 18th Dynasty
| Title | Location | EAT3 Number & Name | EAT 3 Decan List Family | Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb of Senenmut | TT 353, Deir el-Bahari | 2 Senmut | Senmut | AR1 |
| Water clock (Amenhotep III) | Found at Karnak; now in Egyptian Museum, Cairo | 3 Amenhotep III | Senmut | AR1 |
New Kingdom - 19th Dynasty
| Title | Location | EAT3 Number & Name | EAT 3 Decan List Family | Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb of Sety I | Burial Chamber J, KV 17, Valley of the Kings | 6 Seti I C | Seti I C | AR2 |
| Temple of Sety I at Abydos | Abydos | 7 Seti I D | Seti I C | AR2 |
| Ramesseum (Second Hypostyle Hall) | West Bank, Thebes |
8 Ramses II A & 9 Ramses II B |
Senmut A | AR1 |
| Ramesseum (Third Hypostyle Hall) | West Bank, Thebes | 10 Ramses II C | Seti I C | AR2 |
| Temple of Rameses II at Abydos | Abydos | 11 Ramses II D | Seti I C | AR2 |
| Tomb of Merenptah | Burial Chamber J, KV 8, Valley of the Kings | 13 Merneptah B | Seti I C | AR2 |
| Sarcophagus of Merenptah reused by Psusennes | Egyptian Museum, Cairo | 30 Psusennes | Misc | Misc |
| Tomb of Tausret/Sethnakht (Burial Chamber J1) | Burial Chamber J1, KV 14, Valley of the Kings | 14 Tausret A | Seti I C | AR2 |
| Tomb of Tausret/Sethnakht (Burial Chamber J2) | Burial Chamber J2, KV 14, Valley of the Kings | 15 Tausret B | Seti I C | AR2 |
| Tomb of Amenhotep, usurped by Therwes | TT 232, Tombs of the Nobles, Thebes | 16 Tharwas | ? | ? |
New Kingdom - 20th Dynasty
| Title | Location | EAT3 Number & Name | EAT 3 Decan List Family | Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medinet Habu | Sanctuary of Osiris, Room 25, Medinet Habu, West Bank, Thebes | 17 Ramses III A | Senmut A | AR1 |
| Ceiling Block (Medinet Habu) | Original location unknown, West Bank, Thebes | 18 Ramses III B | ? | ? |
| Tomb of Rameses V/VI (Corridor B) | Corridor B, KV 9, Valley of the Kings | 21 Ramses VI A | Seti I A A | AR3 |
| Tomb of Rameses V/VI (Corridor C) | Corridor C, KV 9, Valley of the Kings | 23 Ramses VI C | Senmut B | AR1 variant |
| Tomb of Rameses V/VI (Pillared Chamber F, South) | Pillared Chamber F, KV 9, Valley of the Kings | 22 Ramses VI B | Seti I A A | AR3 |
| Tomb of Rameses V/VI (Pillared Chamber F, North) | Pillared Chamber F, KV 9, Valley of the Kings | 24 Ramses VI D | Senmut B | AR1 variant |
| Tomb of Rameses VII (Burial Chamber J, South) | Burial Chamber J, KV 1, Valley of the Kings | 26 Ramses VII A | Seti I A A | AR3 |
| Tomb of Rameses VII (Burial Chamber J, North) | Burial Chamber J, KV 1, Valley of the Kings | 27 Ramses VII B | Senmut B | AR1 variant |
| Tomb of Rameses IX (Corridor C, South) | Corridor C, KV 6, Valley of the Kings | 28 Ramses IX A | Seti I A A | AR3 |
| Tomb of Rameses IX (Corridor C, North) | Corridor C, KV 6, Valley of the Kings | 29 Ramses IX B | Senmut B | AR1 variant |
Late Period
| Title | Location | EAT3 Number & Name | EAT 3 Decan List Family | Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb of Petamenophis | TT 33, Tombs of the Nobles, Asasif, Thebes | 32 Pedamenope | Senmut | AR1 |
| Tomb of Karakhamun | TT 223, Tombs of the Nobles, Asasif, Thebes | - | - | ?AR1 |
| Tomb of Ibi | TT 36, Tombs of the Nobles, Asasif, Thebes | - | - | ?AR1 |
| Tomb of Montuemhet | TT 34, Tombs of the Nobles, Asasif, Thebes | 33 Montemhet | Senmut | AR1 |
| Water clock (Nekau II) | JE 67096a,b,c, Egyptian Museum, Cairo | 34 Necho | Misc | Misc |
| Ceiling Block (Roda) | Stored near the Nilometer at Roda | 36 Roda | Senmut | AR1 |
| Sarcophagus of a bull | JE 86723, Egyptian Museum, Cairo | 37 Abu Yasin | Senmut | AR1 |
| Sarcophagus of Ankhhapy | CG 29301, Egyptian Museum, Cairo | 38 Ankhhapy | ?Senmut | ?AR1 |
| Sarcophagus of Nakhtnebef | Berlin | 39 Nekhtnebef | Seti I A B | AR3 |
Greco-Roman
| Title | Location | EAT3 Number & Name | EAT 3 Decan List Family | Decan List Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuna el-Gebel Gallery C (A-31) | Central part of ceiling, Baboon Chamber G-C-A-31, Animal Necropolis, Tuna el-Gebel | 40 Hermopolis A | ?Senmut | ?AR1 |
| Tuna el-Gebel Gallery C (C-2) | Baboon Chamber G-C-C-2, Animal Necropolis, Tuna el-Gebel | 41 Hermopolis B | Senmut | AR1 |
| Tuna el-Gebel Gallery C (A-28) | Central part of ceiling, Baboon Chamber G-C-A-28, Animal Necropolis, Tuna el-Gebel | 42 Hermopolis C | ?Senmut | ?AR1 |
| Tuna el-Gebel Gallery C (B-2) | Baboon Chamber G-C-B-2, Animal Necropolis, Tuna el-Gebel | 43 Hermopolis D | Senmut | AR1 |
| Water clock (Louvre and Thorvaldsens) |
N 664 = AF 894, Louvre Museum, Paris H351, Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen |
44 Ptolemy II | Senmut | AR1 |
| Water clock (OI) | A7125, Oriental Institute Museum, Chicago | - | - | ?AR1 |
| Water clock (Florence) | Inv. No. 12290, Museo Egizio, Florence | 45 Florence | Senmut | AR1 |
| Water clock (Moscow) | I.1.a.5955, Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow | - | - | ? |
| 6678, British Museum, London | 46 Harendotes | Senmut | AR1 | |
| Tomb of Petosiris (Chamber 1) | (now destroyed) | 48 Petosiris | Seti I A A | AR3 |
| Tomb of Petosiris (Chamber 2) | (now destroyed) | - | - | ?AR3 |
| Coffin of Heter | (now destroyed) | 71 Heter | ? | ? |