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If you happen to be outside on a clear night, look up. You'll see what seems to be millions of stars in the night sky. However, on any given night we can actually only see about 2,500 to 3,000 of the 5,000 visible stars that can be viewed by the naked eye. These stars have helped form the mythologies and religions of mankind since the beginning of our existence and their mysteries are still boundless, regardless of the progress of science.

Of Planets and Gods

Planets were identified as gods who wandered across a nighttime tapestry of light, raising questions, giving answers and stunning us with the beauty of the dark world. The background of fixed stars provided the context behind a complicated cosmology, influencing those planets, which in turn influenced us. Astrology became a friend of mankind and a reflection of the power of the sky on our Earth. Each star had its effect and specific energy, but one stood out more than the others because it was the brightest of all, Sirius.

Sirius, The Luminous

Sirius is the brightest star in the sky and is conspicuously more luminous than any of the other stars around it. Sirius is bluish white, but cycles through various colors as it twinkles. Catching an unexpected glimpse of it on a cold night can be breathtaking.

Astronomically speaking, Sirius is known as Alpha Canis Majoris. In the world of astronomy, the lower the apparent magnitude of a celestial body, the brighter the object. Sirius has an apparent magnitude of -1.46. By comparison, the second brightest star in the sky is Canopus, appearing in the constellation Centaurus. Canopus' apparent magnitude is -.72, roughly half as bright as Sirius. Sirius is 40 times brighter than our sun and is only 8.6 light years away, making it a close neighbor.

In the Footsteps of Orion

Sirius is part of the constellation known as Canis Major, or the Big Dog. Interestingly enough, the constellation and star have been associated with dogs and wolves in many cultures all over the world. There are numerous reasons why this could be, but the most obvious is that Sirius seems to be following a great giant in the sky, Orion.

The unmistakable image of a man walking across the heavens is universal and since dogs have been with us for tens of thousands of years, it makes sense that this bright gem would follow behind, as canines have followed mankind since our two species learned to rely upon one another.

This association has definitely influenced how the star was viewed, as well as in the energy that was perceived to be emitted from it. Sirius wasn't always a dog, though. The ancient Egyptians often associated Sirius with the goddess Isis, especially in its capacity as a signal that the Nile flood was on the way. The star could also be connected to Osiris, as well as Anubis and the goddess of Sirius, Sopdet, whose name means "she who is sharp." She brought fertility to the soil and was the consort of the entity known as Sah, the constellation Orion.

In Western cultures, Canis Major is the dog of Orion, The Hunter. Orion's section of the sky is a spectacular one and dramatically splashes across the heavens. A play unfolds as a hunter and his dogs chase rabbits and are attacked by a ferocious bull, as implied by the imagery of the constellations involved. Orion is near Taurus, while below him is a rabbit (Lepus), being chased by the Big Dog and a smaller dog.

Many cultures have had a specific take on this beautiful star. In Norse mythology, it was the dog of Sigurd. For some, Sirius was seen as the dog of Tobias, from the Apocrypha. The Greeks may have attributed Sirius to Cerberus.

Sirius and Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian temples were aligned to the star. Although it might be tempting to think that the only reason for its great popularity was that it was the brightest star in the sky, there's much more to Sirius. Thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, a culture that watched the sky carefully, the heliacal rising of Sirius coincided with the summer solstice. A heliacal rising occurs when a star, after having having been hidden by daylight for a period of time, can once again be seen shortly before sunrise.

This moment defined the ancient Egyptian new year, preparing them for the coming flood and the life-giving fertility that would arrive with it.

Sirius had disappeared into the daylight hours approximately 70 days earlier. Interestingly enough, the standard period of preparation and mourning for ancient Egyptians was also 70 days. It's easy to see how Sirius could be associated with Osiris in this case.

Some metaphysical scholars believe that the heliacal rising of Sirius and the ancient Egyptian New Year is instrumental in the planetary affiliations of the numbered cards in Tarot. It's beyond the scope of this article to address this issue, but I believe that this is incorrect and there's a much more sensical explanation as to why the system begins as it does.

The flooding of the Nile was mythically considered to have been caused by the tears of Isis, mourning her slain husband, Osiris. Sirius was therefore connected to her pain and sacrifice, but also her immense determination and faith. In that way, Sirius would have held hope for the future, compassion for others, even our enemies, and a never-ending source of navigation in life. In the beautiful temple of Denderah, there is a depiction of the zodiac, more or less derived from a Greek model. In this carving, Sirius appears as a cow within a boat, a probable allusion to Hathor, the consort of Horus. Once again, the idea of a feminine energy is connected to the star.

The Dog Star

Sirius is acknowledged by our culture every year. The so-called, "dog days of summer," were once directly blamed upon the dog star. The name Sirius means searing, glowing or scorching. The reason for this connection was due to the appearance of Sirius in conjunction with that time leading to the hottest part of the year and the increase of heat as weeks progressed. It was said that the brightness of the star, added to the heat of the sun, increased temperatures significantly, bringing us the most oppressive, hottest time of the year, something we still allude to today.

Although Sirius has been viewed as a positive omen and energy in the sky, it has just as often been feared and maligned. It is been called a red star, even though it is not red now and probably has always been blue-white. This has led some to speculate that at one time it actually was red in color, but it seems more logical that this was a reference to the kind of energy that some believed came from it, beyond the heat and scorching effect, by likening it to other stars that were reputed to be dangerously negative in energy and actually were red in color. Antares in Scorpio was thought to have a powerful, martial energy and was linked to Mars.

Antares actually means, "not Mars," due to its place on the ecliptic and the possibility of it being mistaken for the red planet. Betelgeuse, in Orion, also had a reputation as having the ability to bring bad luck. The red giant in Taurus that forms the eye of the bull, Aldebaran, is a beautiful sight on a winter's night, although once upon a time it was thought that staring at it too much could bring obsession, confusion and danger. If you've ever wondered why the center of a dartboard is called the bull's-eye, now you know. Spending some time with these stars, gazing at them and allowing yourself to feel their influence will tell you more than you can imagine.

It's usual to feel fidelity, persistence, compassion, loyalty and complete devotion to one's cause from Sirius. This is certainly fitting for The Dog Star.

Sirius as a Symbol

In Sirius' capacity as a surrogate for Anubis, it represents unfailing protection and safe passage from one realm to the next. As a representation of Isis, Sirius represents a constancy of devotion to the task at hand and an unwillingness to give up, no matter what the cost. As a messenger of the Nile flood, it represents the coming of a difficult time, one that demands great work, but also a welcome omen of fertility and the continuity of benevolent, life-giving forces.

More than one secret society has used Sirius as the symbol of their directive; to guide, protect and lead those who seek light. As this symbol, it burns brightly with complete transparency of intent for a mission that can't be neglected. As the brightest star in the sky, it represents the highest aspiration to truth and service to others, in short, the best we can be.

Sirius B: The Binary Partner

In 1862 it was discovered that Sirius has a binary partner. This blue, dwarf star has been called Sirius B, nicknamed The Pup. One of the great mysteries of the Sirius Star System has to do with the Dogon People of Africa.

It was reported in the 20th Century that they knew of the existence of Sirius B, although they would've had no way of knowing about it, since they possessed no distant viewing technology.

Although it certainly is possible that they somehow knew, perhaps through astral projection or some other method, it's also highly possible that they were informed of the binary star by European astronomers who visited Mali in the late 1800's. The mystery goes on and has spurred controversy that still rages today. Some look to the star as a long-lost home, a place to which they hope to return, either in this form or another.

Divine Reflection

Some make the claim that the stars are directly connected to the consciousness of God, and that contemplating them can enlighten and teach in a direct manner. I happen to believe that all natural phenomena can serve such a function. After all, everything is ultimately a reflection of the essence of the divine.

Being the brightest star in the sky, it only makes sense that Sirius would have been the focus of speculation and belief for millennia. It's convenient to vilify, easy to adore, obvious to worship, fun to wonder about, exciting to view it as the home we left and ultimately return to, and almost anything else that we can connect it to.

The one thing that we must never do, is waste the opportunity to look up and see it as one of the most stunning, natural sights available to any of us, anywhere on this beautiful planet.

Although Sirius is visible for much of the year, my favorite time to view it and the spectacular constellations that surround it is from January to March. There's nothing like going out on an icy, winter's night and seeing the magnificent play, the celestial drama that takes place in the sky every night unfold, as it has for millennia. Whether viewed as Osiris, Orion, Isis, a wolf, or proof of interstellar travel, Sirius fills humanity with wonder. As long as Sirius twinkles and shines and we have the ability to admire its beauty, we are worthy of being linked to it as a part of nature, one that connects us forever to the stars.

Until next time, I wish you all peace and love.

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Sirius: The Luminous Star and Ancient Egypt

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If you happen to be outside on a clear night, look up. You'll see what seems to be millions of stars in the night sky. However, on any given night we can actually only see about 2,500 to 3,000 of the 5,000 visible stars that can be viewed by the naked eye.

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Astronomical orientations were important to the people of ancient Egypt who were regular sky observers. Monuments were built to have a certain astronomical orientation (Egyptian Astronomy Facts). During the Ptolemaic period, scientists reached solid conclusions on the earth's rotation around the sun and the approximate geo sphere of the planet. At 1100 BC, Amenhotep created a catalog of the universe in which only five constellations are recognized.

We know that Egyptians had a polytheistic religion. It is interesting to note that certain gods were seen in the constellations, and others were represented by actual astronomical bodies. The constellation Orion, for instance, represented Osiris, who was the god of death, rebirth, and the afterlife.

Facts of Egyptian Astronomy

The Milky Way represented the sky goddess Nut giving birth to the sun god Ra. The stars in Egyptian mythology were represented by the goddess of writing, Seshat, while the Moon was either Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing, or Khons, a child moon god.

Flooding

Flooding of river Nile was predicted by the priests who realized that flooding always occurred at the summer solstice which was also when the bright star Sirius rose before the Sun. Therefore, the three seasons; the flooding season, the growing season and the harvesting season were based on astronomy. These seasons were divided into four lunar months.

Astronomers later found many connections between the Orion constellation and the way ancient Egyptians built the Pyramids. For example, Orion's "belt" of three stars in the middle matches the arrangement of the three Pyramids on the Giza Strip.

Construction was based in relation to stars, the stars, zodiac, and constellations. Pyramids are aligned very accurately, the eastern and western sides run almost due north and the southern and northern sides run almost due west.

Pyramids

The pyramids were probably originally aligned by finding north or south, and then using the midpoint as east or west. This is because it is possible to find north and south by watching stars rise and set. They were also in accordance with the star B Scorpii's rising direction. The temple of Amun-Re at Karnak was aligned on the rising of the midwinter sun.

Egyptian Astronomy played a considerable part in religious matters for fixing the dates of festivals and determining the hours of the night. The titles of several temple books are preserved recording the movements and phases of the sun, moon, and stars.

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Egyptian Astronomy polytheistic religion astronomical bodies, Osiris Egyptian mythology stars, zodiac, and constellations

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Astronomical orientations were important to the people of ancient Egypt who were regular sky observers. Monuments were built to have a certain astronomical orientation (Egyptian Astronomy Facts). During the Ptolemaic period, scientists reached solid conclusions on the earth's rotation around the sun and the approximate geo sphere of the planet.

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Ancient Egyptian Astronomy - Crystalinks

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One of the earliest advanced civilizations, Ancient Egypt, had a rich religious tradition which permeated every aspect of society. As in most early cultures, the patterns and behaviors of the sky led to the creation of a number of myths to explain the astronomical phenomena. For the Egyptians, the practice of astronomy went beyond legend.

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The annual flooding of the Nile was the foundation of Egyptian civilization and agriculture, so predicting this occurrence with accuracy was the driving force behind the development of Egyptian astronomy. Once again, their studies of the heavens became intertwined with religion, esoterica and the priesthood.

Early Egyptian Astronomy

The history of Egyptian astronomy begins in the depths of prehistory and the discovery of stone circles at Nabta Playa, dating from the 5th Millennium BC, show that the Egyptians had already developed a calendar. The stone circle shows that they were accomplished at marking time and, it can be assumed, predicting the coming of the floods. They also developed a system of constellations that appear to be of native origin and independent from the work of the Greeks and the Mesopotamians.

Stellar Clock, used to plot stellar time. (Public Domain)

The Egyptians were fully aware that the year was about 365 days, and divided it into 12 months of 30 days, with five ceremonial, intercalary days, called the Epagomenal days, added. This calendar lost one day every four years, and they made little attempt to correct this. Instead, they developed another calendar based around the star Sirius, which also consisted of 365 days but which included the extra quarter day. Strangely, they also kept a 360 day ceremonial calendar, running concurrently with the others, and these calendars coincided every 1461 years, which was seen as a time of great celebration and the start of a new age.

Egyptian astronomers used sundials to tell the time, dividing the days into 24 hours, although the length of these hours was not fixed, ensuring that day and night both consisted of twelve hours, whatever the time of year. At night, they divided the night sky into 36 groups of stars, called Decans, which could be used to tell the time.

The Ancient Egyptian Astronomers and the Stars

There is little doubt that the great Egyptian buildings were based upon the stars; the Great Pyramid is aligned with the cardinal points, and many temples are aligned along the axis of the rising midwinter sun, signifying to Egyptians that they should begin to prepare for planting in the spring. The Great Pyramid of Giza is filled with astronomical significance, based largely upon religious beliefs but with its roots in astrological phenomena. Within the Great Pyramids are southern facing airshafts that point to the star Sirius, with its significance in marking the start of the Egyptian year, and to Orion, associated with death and rebirth, another recurring theme in Egyptian mythology. In addition, the north-facing air shafts point to the circumpolar stars, called 'The Immortals' by Egyptians, because they never set.

There are other theories concerning the pyramids, namely that they were located to reflect the constellation Orion, with the three pyramids at Giza representing the belt of Orion. As with the Neolithic astronomy, this is largely conjectural and all that we can safely say is that the Egyptians built their monuments to reflect the cardinal directions and important times of year.

This trend continued in the Valley of the Kings, where Rameses II built his huge Temple of Abu Simbel to ensure that sunlight only penetrated the inner sanctum on the 20th of October and the 20th of February, with one of these days believed to be the anniversary of his coronation.

The Influence of the Egyptian Astronomers

Egyptian Tomb, by Egyptologist Ippolito Rosellini

Of course, when looking at history, ancient techniques do not begin and end at certain points and there is always a degree of overlap. Whilst Egyptian civilization declined, it became absorbed by the Greek and Roman cultures and the city of Alexandria became one of the most important centers of astronomy, the birthplace of the great Ptolemy.

As with many ancient cultures, the Egyptian astronomy began with recording the time of year for agricultural periods, and may well have served a navigational purpose, a common practice in the desert. These observations became imbued with religious significance and became incorporated into their architecture.

The Egyptians built their monuments pointing in the cardinal directions and used them to reflect important celestial occurrences revealing the time of year. They also developed a sophisticated calendar, albeit with a lot of complexity and the need to run three separate calendars.This may seem strange to us, but the idea of multiple calendars is a solution that the Mayans arrived at independently. In fact, we use multiple calendars, with the Islamic world maintaining a lunar calendar rather than the solar calendar of the Western world, and Orthodox Christian Churches use the Julian calendar to decide ceremonial dates.

Of course, the astronomy and architecture of the Egyptians has attracted many wild theories about how the Egyptians incorporated the weight and the circumference of the Earth into the Great Pyramid, or that they are the descendents of fugitives from Atlantis. These are conjectural and cannot be taken seriously without a little proof. Despite this, we can say that Egyptian astronomy was extremely sophisticated and many of their ideas became the foundation of our own stargazing and cosmology.

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The Ancient Egyptians made many great advances in science and contributions to the store of human knowledge, especially in medicine and alchemy. The Egyptians also contributed to ancient astronomy.

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They believed stars were Gods...
Ancient Egyptian Astronomy

Egyptian culture was greatly influenced by astronomy. Ancient Egyptian astronomy was very sacred. Pyramids and temples had been built and positioned in relation to the the stars. The Egyptian calendar was based on astronomical indicators as well.

For example, when the brightest star in our sky, Sirius, rose before the Sun, the Egyptians knew their annual flood was going to occur.

Star-Structures

Various tools were used when planning the design and placement of a pyramid or temple. One of these tools was called "merkhet," which meant indicator. This was a small wooden plank with a hole at one end. Ancient astronomers would look through the hole and angle the device until their target star was aligned accurately.

Calendar of the Cosmos

The Nile River flooded every year at the same time, when Sirius rose before the Sun on the morning of the summer solstice. This event was marked as day 1 of their calendar year. The Egyptian calendar had 365 days and 12 months, with 30 days in each month, and 5 "feast days" at the end of each year.

Astronomy & Religion

Ancient Egyptian astronomy was a religious tradition. The Egyptians had no true understanding of the universe, so many myths were created as an explanation for astronomical events. To them, each star was some form of God or Goddess, or part of one.

The sun was represented by multiple Gods. When the sun rose in the morning it was known as Horus, the reborn child of Osiris and Isis, God and Goddess of the afterlife. The hot, mid-day sun was known as the much more powerful sun God, Ra. And the evening sun was the creator God, Atum, the "finisher of the world" who put to rest all other sun Gods, then died each day at sunset.

Return to Astro History and learn about other cultures!

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Ancient Egyptian Astronomy - Facts & History from Astronomy-Kids.com

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Egyptian culture was greatly influenced by astronomy. Ancient Egyptian astronomy was very sacred. Pyramids and temples had been built and positioned in relation to the the stars. The Egyptian calendar was based on astronomical indicators as well. For example, when the brightest star in our sky, Sirius, rose before the Sun, the Egyptians knew their annual flood was going to occur.