Identification
| Title | Medinet Habu |
| Type | Astronomical Representation |
| Decan List Family | AR1 |
| EAT3 Number and Name | 17 Ramses III A |
| EAT3 Pages and Plates | 26-27, Pl 11 (drawing) |
| EAT3 Decan List Family | Senmut A |
| Publications | Nelson and Hoelscher (1929) vol VI Pl. 476; Nims (1977) |
| Location | In situ; Sanctuary of Osiris, Room 25, Medinet Habu, West Bank, Thebes |
| Date | 20th dynasty |
Content
| Registers | 3 |
| Circumpolar Group and Deities | Yes: 8 figures behind hippo; 6 [+ 3 lost?] opposite |
| Planets |
Superior: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars Inferior: Mercury, Venus |
| Decan Names | Yes |
| Decanal Stars | Yes |
| Personifications of the Decans | No |
| Cluster Numbers | Yes |
| Depictions of Decanal Constellations | Yes |
| Decanal Deity Names | Yes |
| Decanal Deity Figures | No |
| Lunar Months | Yes: 12 figures labelled with the names of the lunar months |
| Civil Months | Yes: along the top of the diagram, starting presumably with III Peret on the right (now missing) |
| Nut | No |
| Other features | In the middle of the lowest register, directly under the circumpolar group and Sahu and Sopdet, there is a depiction of a baboon sitting on a djed-pillar. This is a direct analogue to a typical water clock over-spout decoration. |
Notes
The vaulted ceiling was carved and painted, with some colour surviving. The ceiling is a direct copy of the Ramesseum (Second Hypostyle Hall) ceiling, but with some significant differences in the layout of the decan list.
The ceiling has been restored in situ but there are many pieces missing, particularly at the each end. Three barques for three superior planets can still be traced, but no triangle decans or inferior planets survive.
Schematic
| Legend for Schematic | |
|---|---|
| C | Circumpolar group of constellations |
| A | Circumpolar attendant deities |
| D | Decans |
| P | Planets |
| M | Lunar months (figures and labels, with King offering) |
| X | Other cosmic deities: a baboon sitting on a djed-pillar |
| Damage | |
 |
Location and orientation of the circumpolar hippo |
 |
Indicates the starting point and directionality of list or procession of figures |
Decan List
The list gives an approximate layout for how the decans, deities, cluster labels (x-nwt Xt), and decanal figures (in bold) are arranged. However, the only way of perceiving the complete layout and orthography of the labels is by consulting photographs, drawings, or the original. For conventions and abbreviations, see below the table.
The ceiling is almost identical to Ramesseum (Second Hypostyle Hall), and is thought to be a direct copy (Nelson and Hoelscher, 1929 pp x-xi). Neugebauer and Parker include these two ceilings in subgroup A of the Senmut family.
EAT3 states: "Decans 21 and 35 omitted and 28, 30, 36 lost as well as all planets, except the first, and triangle decans" (p. 106). In fact, 17 is lost, 20 and 21 are both lost or more likely omitted, 24-26 are lost, and 28 is clearly present. These amendments are visible in Nelson and Hoelscher's drawing (below) and were checked in situ in 2013.
| 1 tpy-a knmt | Hapy, I<m>s<eti> | |
| 3 Xry xpd knmt, 2 knmt | Isis | |
| 4 HAt DAt, 5 pH<wy> DAt | Duamutef, Children of Horus | |
| 6 TmAt Hrt, 7 TmAt Xrt | Duamutef | |
| 8 wSAti, 9 bkAti | Duamutef, Hapy | |
| 10 tpy-a xntt, 11 <xntt> Hrt | Horus, 12 xntt Xrt | |
| (Figure of King) | ||
| 13 Tms n xntt | Boat | |
| 14 sApti xnwy | ||
| Isis, Nephthys, 15 Hry-ib wiA | ||
| 16 sSmw | ||
| [Children of] Horus | ||
| 18 tpy-a smd | Hapy | Sheep |
| 19 {spd} <smd> <3->nwt | ||
| Xt, 22 Xry xpd srt | Kebehsenuf | |
| 23 tpy-a Ax<wy> | Duamutef | |
| 27 xntw Xrw | Children of Horus | Sahu |
| 34 rmn sAH Eye of | ||
| Horus, 32 Hry [rmn] sAH | ||
| 28 qd, 29 sAwy [qd] | [ ] Children of Horus | |
| 31 art | Eye of Horus |
Sopdet |
| 33 Xry rmn sAH | ||
| Children [of Horus] | ||
| SP1 Hr-tAS-tAwy [ ] |
Planet | |
| Planet | ||
| Planet | ||
|
|
||
The decan numbers and letters shown here are for the decan family AR1.
SP = superior planet
IP = inferior planet
Grey shading = damage
< > = omitted but understood
{ } = included in error
[ ] = damaged text
( ) = explanatory notes or additional material
The number of star symbols accompanying the decans is also omitted here, as it is often impossible to tell to which decan the symbols refer. EAT3 deals with star symbols in some detail.
Image
From Nelson and Hoelscher (1929), plate 476.
