The Orientation of Egyptian Temples

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Sunday, 05 February 2012 05:57

The Orientation of Egyptian Temples

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The precise alignment of temples and pyramids was undoubtedly a result of astronomical observation. (A feature noticeably absent from Djoser's pyramid at Saqqara). Sir Norman Lockyer suggested that several of the great Egyptian temple complexes were orientated towards astronomically significant points on the horizon. His theories are disputed to this day even though there is now a substantial amount of supporting research in favour of his original suppositions.

The astronomical division between 'Upper' and 'Lower' Egypt:

A clear division can be identified between the orientation of ancient Egyptian temples of upper Egypt when compared with those of Lower Egypt. Lockyer (2), made note of the fact that whereas the early dynastic northern 'Memphite' pyramids, Giza pyramids, and Sphinx were orientated cardinally to face equinoxial phases of the solar cycle, the great temples in the south of Egypt, such as Karnack, the Colossi of Memnon and Abydoss, were all orientated to capture the suns rays on Solstice days of the year.

It is interesting to note that both the Valley temple (North) and the Osireion (south) appear to conform to this theory.

The Valley temple, Giza was associated with Isis (As evidenced by the inscriptions on the 'Sphinx' stella). The Osireion, which shows remarkable similarities in construction, as seen below:

The Osireion (left), and the Valley-temple (right).

The location of certain prominent Egyptian temples and complexes reinforces the idea that a knowledge of longitude and latitude existed from at least the time of Karnack, if not from the time of construction of Giza itself.

The Egyptians divided the stars into 36 "decans" (each of which spanned 10° of a 360° circle). Each decan had its group of associated stars (constellations). These stars are represented in tombs and elsewhere.

The applications of early Egyptian astronomy are visible in: (a) the orientation of temples and pyramids: (b) the reorientation of temples; (c) The heliacal rising of Sirius, which was used by ancient priests-astronomers in order to fix the New Year's Day and determine the seasons of the civil year.