A NEW INVESTIGATION OF THE SYMBOL OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN GODDESS SESHAT

• Authors: Magdolen Dušan
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper focuses on the symbol of the ancient Egyptian goddess, Seshat, and its reinterpretation. The problem is discussed from the perspective of the cognitive abilities of the ancient Egyptians to observe and understand some specific natural phenomena as early as the Pre-dynastic Period. This study reveals a remarkable similarity in the design, symmetry and characteristics of the symbol of Seshat to the shadows cast by the vertical gnomon, which are oriented to the specific directions on the horizon. In addition, the geometric picture achieved as a result of observation and multiple measurements, based on the application of a specific solar method in order to find the cardinal points, is presented here in context of the shape of the symbol of Seshat. The geometric forms of both are almost identical. It is argued that in the two-dimensional representation of the sign of Seshat can be seen in fact the gnomon (stem), the directions radiating from the centre (rosette) in which the shadows of gnomon can be oriented within a year at the latitude of Egypt, north of the Tropic of Cancer (hereinafter referred to as TC), and the curve (arc with two feathers or horns placed above the rosette) representing limits in which the shadows can move in connection with the apparent path of the sun in the sky during solstices or equinoxes.

Keywords

EN

CARDINAL POINTS; EGYPTIAN GODDES; GEOMETRY; GNOMON; ORIENTATION; PRE-DYNASTIC EGYPT; SESHAT; SHADOWS; SYMBOL

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Asian and African Studies
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 169-189
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Magdolen Dušan

• Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences Klemensova 19, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

• Dusan Magdolen, Ustav orientalistiky SAV, Klemensova 19, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

10SKAAAA086614