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The '''Egyptian decans''' are a series of stars or small groups of stars used in ancient Egyptian [[astrology]].
[[File:Decans Seti I-Annotated.jpg|400px|thumb|Annotated astronomical procession from the ceiling of the tomb of Seti I showing the Egyptian decanal stars]]
The '''Egyptian decans''' are a series of stars or small groups of stars used in ancient [[Egyptian astrology]]. These stars were worshipped as part of [[Egyptian religion|Egyptian religious practices]].


==Motion==
==Motion==
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==History==
==History==
Decans first appeared in the 10th Dynasty (2100 BCE) on coffin lids found in tombs of noblemen in the region of Asyut. The sequence of these star patterns began with [[Sopdet]], the star [[Sirius]], and each decanal star had a corresponding deity. As measures of time, the rising and setting of decans marked 'hours' and groups of 10 days which comprised an Egyptian year. The ancient [[Book of Nut]] covers the subject of the decans.
Decans first appeared in the 10th Dynasty (2100 BCE) on coffin lids found in tombs of noblemen in the region of Asyut. The sequence of these star patterns began with [[Sopdet]], the star [[Sirius]], and each decanal star had a corresponding deity. As measures of time, the rising and setting of decans marked 'hours' and groups of 10 days which comprised an Egyptian year. The ancient Book of [[Nut]] covers the subject of the decans.


After Alexander the Great invaded Egypt, Egyptian astrology melded with Greek and Persian astrology and the original system of decans gave way to a lunar division of 27 or 28 lunar stations, also known as ''manzil'', lunar mansions and to a [[zodiac]] of 12 signs, based on an anthropomorphic pattern of constellations, and their use can be seen in the Dendera zodiac dated to circa 50 BCE.
After Alexander the Great invaded Egypt, [[Egyptian astrology]] melded with Greek and Persian astrology and the original system of decans gave way to a lunar division of 27 or 28 lunar stations, also known as ''manzil'' ([[lunar mansion]]s) and to a [[zodiac]] of 12 signs, based on an anthropomorphic pattern of constellations, and their use can be seen in the Dendera zodiac dated to circa 50 BCE.


Decans continued to be used in [[astrology]] in medieval Islam, Renaissance, 17-century astrology, 19-century Theosophy, and in cosmology, theurgy, and hermeticism, as well as in religion and magic.
Decans continued to be used in [[astrology]] in medieval [[Islam]], Renaissance, 17-century [[astrology]], 19-century [[Theosophy]], and in cosmology, theurgy, and hermeticism, as well as in religion and [[ritual magic]].


In 2021, [[occultist]] [[Travis McHenry]] created a system of [[divination]] based on the Egyptian decans. He incorporated this system into a deck of cards called [[The Egyptian Star Oracle]].
In 2021, [[occultist]] [[Travis McHenry]] created a system of [[divination]] based on the Egyptian decans. He incorporated this system into a deck of cards called [[The Egyptian Star Oracle]].


==Number of decans==
==Number of decans==
Although it is commonly believed that there are only 36 decans, in fact, there are around 100 decanal stars, although only 36 were used in the course of any given Egyptian year. The reason for the large number of stars has to do with the Sothic shift and the fact that the 365-day cycle of the star Sirius does not perfectly align with earth's 365.25-day solar cycle. To compensate for this minor variation, the Egyptians allowed for subtle shifts in the decanal stars they used throughout the year.
Although it is commonly believed that there are only 36 decans, in fact, there are around 100 decanal stars, although only 36 were used in the course of any given Egyptian year. The reason for the large number of stars has to do with the Sothic shift and the fact that the 365-day cycle of the star [[Sirius]] does not perfectly align with earth's 365.25-day solar cycle. To compensate for this minor variation, the Egyptians allowed for subtle shifts in the decanal stars they used throughout the year.


Additionally, five days were added to the end of the Egyptian Calendar each year, and these days had their own decan in addition to have a specific deity rule over each individual day.
Additionally, five days were added to the end of the [[Egyptian calendar]] each year, and these days had their own decan in addition to have a specific deity rule over each individual day.
 
==Identity of the decans==
Studying the decans in a practical sense is complicated because the actual stars that were observed by the Egyptians and regarded as decans are mostly not known. Many scientists have attempted to determine which stars might be decans, but these theories have failed to gain broad support from their peers. Some decans have been conclusively identified. In his 2022 book, ''[[Cult of the Stars]]'', [[Travis McHenry]] states that without further sources being revealed from the Middle Kingdom Period, the stellar identities of the decans are likely to remain unknown; however, he also proposes that a few decans can be identified with a high degree of certainty:
 
* [[Sopdet]] - [[Sirius]]
* [[Sah]] - Stars in Orion
* [[Khau]] - The Pleiades
* [[Tepy-a Sopdet]] - Procyon and Gomeisa


==List of decans==
==List of decans==
This is a list of the 37 decans that were most commonly used across a broad time period from 2100 BC until the demise of the Egyptian religion in 356 AD, owing to the [[religious policies Constantius II|religious policies of Roman Emperor Constantius II]]. The order presented here represents the order in which each star's heliacal rise occurs over the course of the year. The end of the year coincided with the rise of [[Sirius]], followed by the five epagomenal days, after which the cycle would start again with the rise of [[Tepy-a Kenmet]] on I Akhet 1 at the beginning of a new year.
This is a list of the 37 decans that were most commonly used across a broad time period from 2100 BC until the demise of the Egyptian religion in 356 AD, owing to the [[Religious policies of Constantius II|religious policies of Roman Emperor Constantius II]]. The order presented here represents the order in which each star's heliacal rise occurs over the course of the [[Egyptian calendar]]. The end of the year coincided with the rise of [[Sirius]], followed by the five epagomenal days, after which the cycle would start again with the rise of [[Tepy-a Kenmet]] on I Akhet 1 at the beginning of a new year.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!'''Decade'''
!'''Decade'''
!'''Image'''
!'''Transliteration'''
!'''Transliteration'''
!'''Translation'''
!'''Translation'''
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|-
|-
|1
|1
|[[File:01-Tpya Knmt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tepy-a Kenmet]]
|[[Tepy-a Kenmet]]
|Predecessor of the Cow
|Predecessor of the Cow
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|-
|-
|2
|2
|[[File:02-Knmt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Kenmet]]
|[[Kenmet]]
|The Cow
|The Cow
|Development and Growth
|Development and Growth
|Cow
|Cow
|Garnet
|[[Garnet]]
|-
|-
|3
|3
|[[File:03-hry hpd knmt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khery Heped En Kenmet]]
|[[Khery Heped En Kenmet]]
|Under the Hind Part of the Cow
|Under the Hind Part of the Cow
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|-
|-
|4
|4
|[[File:04-Hat Dat.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Hat Djat]]
|[[Hat Djat]]
|Beginning of the Crane
|Beginning of the Crane
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|-
|-
|5
|5
|[[File:05-Phwy Dat.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Pehuy Djat]]
|[[Pehuy Djat]]
|End of the Crane
|End of the Crane
|Accomplishment
|Accomplishment
|Crane
|Crane
|Galena and Gold
|[[Galena]] and Gold
|-
|-
|6
|6
|[[File:06-Tmat Hrt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Temat Heret]]
|[[Temat Heret]]
|Upper Wing
|Upper Wing
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|-
|-
|7
|7
|[[File:7-Tmat.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Temat Kheret]]
|[[Temat Kheret]]
|Lower Wing
|Lower Wing
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|-
|-
|8
|8
|[[File:08-Wsati Bkati.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Weshati Bekati]]
|[[Weshati Bekati]]
|The Pregnant Twins
|The Pregnant Twins
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|-
|-
|9
|9
|[[File:09-Ip-djes.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Ip-Djes]]
|[[Ip-Djes]]
|Recovered Senses
|Recovered Senses
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|-
|-
|10
|10
|[[File:10-Tpya Hntt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tepy-a Khentet]]
|[[Tepy-a Khentet]]
|Predecessor of Khentet
|Predecessor of Khentet
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|-
|-
|11
|11
|[[Henett heret]]
|[[File:11-Hntt Hrt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khentet heret]]
|Upper Khentet
|Upper Khentet
|Chaos
|Chaos
|Khentet
|Khentet
|Smoky Quartz and Gold
|Smoky [[Quartz]] and Gold
|-
|-
|12
|12
|[[Henett kheret]]
|[[File:12-Hntt Xrt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khentet kheret]]
|Lower Khentet
|Lower Khentet
|Conflict and War
|Conflict and War
|Khentet
|Khentet
|Red Jasper and Gold
|Red [[Jasper]] and Gold
|-
|-
|13
|[[13 (number)|13]]
|[[Tjemes en Khenett]]
|[[File:13-Tms n hntt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tjemes en Khentet]]
|Red one of Khentet
|Red one of Khentet
|Restraint or End of Conflict
|Restraint or End of Conflict
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|-
|-
|14
|14
|[[File:14-Qedty.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Qedty]]
|[[Qedty]]
|Band of Reeds
|Band of Reeds
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|-
|-
|15
|15
|[[File:15-Hnry-wiba.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Hery-ib Wia]]
|[[Hery-ib Wia]]
|Middle of the Boat
|Middle of the Boat
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|-
|-
|16
|16
|[[File:16 -Ssmw.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Seshmu]]
|[[Seshmu]]
|Guides or Winepress
|Guides or Winepress
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|-
|-
|17
|17
|[[File:17-Knmw.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Kenmu]]
|[[Kenmu]]
|Secret Stars
|Secret Stars
|Rest and Repose
|Rest and Repose
|The Boat
|The Boat
|Carnelian and Gold
|[[Carnelian]] and Gold
|-
|-
|18
|18
|[[File:18-Tpya Smd.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tepy-a Semed]]
|[[Tepy-a Semed]]
|Predecessor of the Horn
|Predecessor of the Horn
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|-
|-
|19
|19
|[[File:19 Smd.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Semed]]
|[[Semed]]
|The Horn
|The Horn
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|-
|-
|20
|20
|[[File:20-srt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Seret]]
|[[Seret]]
|The Sheep
|The Sheep
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|-
|-
|21
|21
|[[File:21-Sawy Srt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Sawy Seret]]
|[[Sawy Seret]]
|Children of the Sheep
|Children of the Sheep
|Healing
|Healing
|Sheep
|Sheep
|Carnelian and Gold
|[[Carnelian]] and Gold
|-
|-
|22
|22
|[[File:22-Hry Hpd srt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khery Heped Seret]]
|[[Khery Heped Seret]]
|Under the Hind Part of the Sheep
|Under the Hind Part of the Sheep
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|-
|-
|23
|23
|[[File:23-Tpya Awhy.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tepy-a Akhuy]]
|[[Tepy-a Akhuy]]
|Predecessor of the Two Spirits
|Predecessor of the Two Spirits
|Mixed Blessings
|Mixed Blessings
|Two Souls
|Two Souls
|Garnet
|[[Garnet]]
|-
|-
|24
|24
|[[File:24-Ahwy.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Akhuy]]
|[[Akhuy]]
|The Two Spirits
|The Two Spirits
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|-
|-
|25
|25
|[[File:25-Bawy.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Bawy]]
|[[Bawy]]
|The Two Souls
|The Two Souls
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|-
|-
|26
|26
|[[Khentu heru]]
|[[File:26-Hntw Hrw.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khentu Heru]]
|Upper Khentu
|Upper Khentu
|Destruction of Enemies
|Destruction of Enemies
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|-
|-
|27
|27
|[[Khentu kheru]]
|[[File:27-Hntw Hrw.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khentu Kheru]]
|Lower Khentu
|Lower Khentu
|Authority and Power
|Authority and Power
|Khentu
|Khentu
|Jasper and Gold
|[[Jasper]] and Gold
|-
|-
|28
|28
|[[File:28-Qed.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Qed]]
|[[Qed]]
|The Potter
|The Potter
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|-
|-
|29
|29
|[[File:29-Sawy Qed.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Sawy Qed]]
|[[Sawy Qed]]
|Children of the Potter
|Children of the Potter
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|-
|-
|30
|30
|[[File:30-Haw.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khau]]
|[[Khau]]
|Thousands
|Thousands
|Respect and Admiration
|Respect and Admiration
|The Potter
|The Potter
|Carnelian and Gold
|[[Carnelian]] and Gold
|-
|-
|31
|31
|[[File:31-Art.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Aryt]]
|[[Aryt]]
|Roll of Papyrus
|Roll of Papyrus
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|-
|-
|32
|32
|[[Remen hery Sah]]
|[[File:32-Rm hrny sah.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Remen Hery Sah]]
|Upper arm of Sah
|Upper arm of Sah
|Purification
|Purification
|Sah
|Sah
|Quartz and Gold
|[[Quartz]] and Gold
|-
|-
|33
|33
|[[Remen khery Sah]]
|[[File:33-Rmn Khry Sah.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Remen Khery Sah]]
|Lower arm of Sah
|Lower arm of Sah
|Illumination or Revelation
|Illumination or Revelation
|Sah
|Sah
|Quartz and Gold
|[[Quartz]] and Gold
|-
|-
|34
|34
|[[File:34-Sah.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Sah]]
|[[Sah]]
|The Father of the Gods
|The Father of the Gods
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|-
|-
|35
|35
|[[File:35-Tpya-Sopdet.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tepy-a Sopdet]]
|[[Tepy-a Sopdet]]
|Predecessor of Sopdet
|Predecessor of Sopdet
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|-
|-
|36
|36
|[[File:36-Sopdet.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Sopdet]]
|[[Sopdet]]
|Goddess of the Flood
|Goddess of the Flood
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|-
|-
|37
|37
|[[File:37 Stwy.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Shetwy]]
|[[Shetwy]]
|The Two Tortoises
|The Two Tortoises
|Removal of Obstacles
|Removal of Obstacles
|Epagomenal
|Epagomenal
|Carnelian and Gold
|[[Carnelian]] and Gold
|}
|}


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* [[The Egyptian Star Oracle]]
* [[The Egyptian Star Oracle]]
* [[Egyptian calendar]]
* [[Egyptian calendar]]
* [[Egyptian astrology]]


[[Category:Divination]]
[[Category:Divination]]
[[Category:Egyptology]]
[[Category:Egyptology]]
[[Category:Astrology]]
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