Identification
Title | Coffin of Heter (flanking registers) |
Type | Astronomical Representation |
EAT3 Number and Name | 71 Heter |
EAT3 Pages and Plates | 93-5, Pl 50 |
EAT3 Decan List Family | - |
Publications | Brugsch (1860); Brugsch (1862) |
Location | Now lost |
Date | 125 CE |
Content
Registers | 2 |
Circumpolar Group and Deities | Yes, deities are reduced to four on the right and none on the left behind the Hippo |
Planets | Yes |
Decan Names | No |
Decanal Stars | No |
Personifications of the Decans | No |
Cluster Numbers | No |
Depictions of Decanal Constellations | Only Sopdet, Sahu, and perhaps Stwy near Nut's head |
Decanal Deity Names | No |
Decanal Deity Figures | No |
Lunar Months | No |
Civil Months | No |
Nut | Yes, in the central part of the lid |
Other Features | The "Astronomical Representation" elements surround a zodiac |
Notes
This is the latest surviving astronomical representation known, if indeed it should be classed as a representation. The central part of the lid falls into the category of "Nut plus zodiac coffin diagrams". The appearance of all five planets twice on the lid reinforces the notion that the coffin lid contained two different diagrams. The flanking registers and area around Nut's head contain elements of an astronomical representation in abbreviated form.
The four corners of the representation are each occupied by a figure of one of the four winds. The register below the planets contains the figures of the twelve hours of the night. The register below the circumpolar group contains the figures of the twelve hours of the day. Above Nut's head a disc emanates five streams of triangles.
Schematic
The schematic below shows how all the elements of the zodiac, astronomical representation, and Nut figure are arranged.
Legend for Schematic | |
---|---|
C | Circumpolar constellations |
A | Attendant circumpolar deities |
D | Decans |
P | Planets |
N | The sky-goddess Nut |
Z | Zodiac constellations |
X | Other cosmic deities (winds, hours, etc.) |
Location and orientation of the circumpolar hippo |
|
Indicates the starting point and directionality of list or procession of figures |
Decan List
Only the figures of Sopdet, Sahu, and perhaps Stwy are depicted, all in the area around Nut's head.