Astronomy among the Pharaohs

Metawh1

7 Jul, 2025

introduction

Astronomy was an important science in ancient Egyptian civilization, playing a prominent role in the lives of ancient Egyptians, whether in organizing agriculture, determining time, or performing religious rituals. The pharaohs looked up at the sky with reverence and knowledge, recording the movements of stars and planets with astonishing accuracy for their era.

The Egyptians were distinguished by their excellence in astronomy, utilizing their potentials to uncover the secrets of the universe and deepening their awareness through a blend of science, art, myth, religion, experimentation, and imagination. This is evidenced by pharaonic texts, tomb images, and temple walls.

The nature of astronomy among the ancient Egyptians

Ancient Egyptian astronomy included the careful observation of the sun, stars, and planets to help temple construction, religious rituals, and the creation of a solar calendar. Using tools like the merkhet and concepts such as decans, Egyptians tracked time and aligned agriculture with celestial cycles. Their astronomical information shaped both cultural identity and early scientific thought, later affecting civilizations like the Greeks.

But in ancient Egypt, it was impossible to distinguish between a physician and a magician, or between an astrologer and an astrologer: they were all priests devoted to religious practices and rituals, to the study of wisdom,Cosmology to observing the heavens that is known Celestial observations, and all of this to the study of natural phenomena and of man. This is why we find in the various documents that have come down to us from the Nile Valley the difficulty of distinguishing between what was, for the Egyptians, a science and what remained exclusively within the religious framework.

It is certain that Celestial observations, Zodiac, Ecliptic, Star calendars and the astronomical knowledge of the Egyptian priests contributed to the formation of Egyptian myths and beliefs, a mixture in which it is difficult to distinguish between science and religion.

Although Egyptian astronomical thought predates the astronomical revolutions led by Galileo and Copernicus, it constitutes a fundamental part of the foundations upon which modern astronomical thought was built, flourishing and continuing to develop to this day.

No Egyptian texts have been found on astronomy, but there are relatively few documents that mention some astronomical information indirectly, such as inscriptions on temples, coffins, and tomb scenes. Their astronomical significance is secondary.

Uses of astronomy in daily life

The ancient Egyptians relied on astronomy to determine their agricultural calendar. They observed the appearance of the star Sirius (known as Sothis) and linked its annual appearance to the flooding of the Nile River, the most important event in Egyptian agriculture. This led to their 365-day annual calendar.

They also used astronomy to divide the day into hours. They divided the night and day into 12 hours each, and they used the “water clock” and the “sundial” to determine the time accurately.

Building temples:

Many temples and sacred buildings were oriented towards specific locations in the sky, such as the rising sun or the positions of the stars.

The ancient Egyptians used astronomy to accurately determine directions, especially true north, when building temples.

They relied on the stars to determine the locations of temples and ensure their alignment with astronomical phenomena.

The timing:

The ancient Egyptians used the rising of Sirius to mark the beginning of the new year and determine the seasons of the civil year.

They developed sundials and water clocks to measure time, as well as observing the movement of shadows to determine the time of day.

Solar calendar:

The ancient Egyptians developed a solar calendar based on the movement of the sun and the cycle of the seasons. They used the solar calendar to regulate agricultural activities and religious rituals.

Understanding celestial phenomena:

The ancient Egyptians were able to observe and monitor astronomical phenomena such as solar and lunar eclipses.

They recorded their observations of the movements of the planets and stars and placed them on the walls of temples. They used these observations to develop their understanding of the universe and the world around them.

Other life:

The ancient Egyptians used astronomy to map the afterlife and determine the paths of souls. They believed that the stars and planets played a role in determining a person's fate after death.

In general, it can be said that astronomy was an integral part of the lives of the ancient Egyptians, as they used it in many aspects of their daily lives, whether practical, religious, or cultural.

Tools used by the ancient Egyptians in astronomy

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences of interest to the ancient Egyptians, as it was closely linked to religion, agriculture, and architecture. To observe the sky and track the movements of stars and planets, the ancient Egyptians developed a number of astronomical instruments that helped them determine time and seasons and orient temples and pyramids with great precision.

Here are the most prominent astronomical instruments used by the ancient Egyptians:

Star observatory

The ancient Egyptians used buildings or elevated sites as observatories to observe the stars. These observatories consisted of stone pillars or markers used to mark the rising or setting of a particular star, such as Sirius (Sopete), whose appearance in the sky at dawn was associated with the flooding of the Nile River.

Merkhet

The Merkhet is one of the oldest astronomical measuring instruments. It consisted of an L-shaped piece of wood and a taut string and was used to observe the movement of the stars and determine precise directions. Priests and astronomers used it to determine true north and adjust the orientation of temples.

star clock

This clock was based on dividing the night into twelve hours, using the stars that appeared at specific times of the night. Star tables found in tombs and temples, known as "deccan clocks," indicated the positions of the stars at different times of the day and night.

water clock

The ancient Egyptians invented the water clock to measure time, especially at night or in the absence of the sun. It consisted of a water-filled vessel with a small opening through which water flowed at a constant rate, used to measure the passage of time.

sundial

It is a device that relies on the shadow cast by the sun to determine the time of day. It consisted of a vertical stick planted in the ground, and the length of its shadow was measured to determine the time. The sundial was also used to determine the seasons.

Astronomical tables

Priests recorded accurate tables of the movements of stars and planets, and used them to predict astronomical events, such as eclipses, and to organize religious festivals and rituals.

conclusion

It turns out that the ancient Egyptians were not merely skywatchers; they developed astronomical instruments that were advanced for their time, reflecting their intelligence and their interest in both science and religion. Their civilization laid important foundations in astronomy that continue to amaze scientists to this day.