Difference between revisions of "Egyptian decans"

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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==
==Identity of the decans==
Line 30: Line 30:


==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 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 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'''
Line 41: Line 42:
|-
|-
|1
|1
|[[File:01-Tpya Knmt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tepy-a Kenmet]]
|[[Tepy-a Kenmet]]
|Predecessor of the Cow
|Predecessor of the Cow
Line 48: Line 50:
|-
|-
|2
|2
|[[File:02-Knmt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Kenmet]]
|[[Kenmet]]
|The Cow
|The Cow
Line 55: Line 58:
|-
|-
|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
Line 62: Line 66:
|-
|-
|4
|4
|[[File:04-Hat Dat.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Hat Djat]]
|[[Hat Djat]]
|Beginning of the Crane
|Beginning of the Crane
Line 69: Line 74:
|-
|-
|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
Line 83: Line 90:
|-
|-
|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
Line 97: Line 106:
|-
|-
|9
|9
|[[File:09-Ip-djes.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Ip-Djes]]
|[[Ip-Djes]]
|Recovered Senses
|Recovered Senses
Line 104: Line 114:
|-
|-
|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
|[[File:11-Hntt Hrt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khentet heret]]
|[[Khentet heret]]
|Upper Khentet
|Upper Khentet
Line 118: Line 130:
|-
|-
|12
|12
|[[File:12-Hntt Xrt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khentet kheret]]
|[[Khentet kheret]]
|Lower Khentet
|Lower Khentet
Line 124: Line 137:
|Red [[Jasper]] and Gold
|Red [[Jasper]] and Gold
|-
|-
|13
|[[13 (number)|13]]
|[[File:13-Tms n hntt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tjemes en Khentet]]
|[[Tjemes en Khentet]]
|Red one of Khentet
|Red one of Khentet
Line 132: Line 146:
|-
|-
|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
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|-
|-
|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
Line 181: Line 202:
|-
|-
|21
|21
|[[File:21-Sawy Srt.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Sawy Seret]]
|[[Sawy Seret]]
|Children of the Sheep
|Children of the Sheep
Line 188: Line 210:
|-
|-
|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
Line 195: Line 218:
|-
|-
|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
Line 202: Line 226:
|-
|-
|24
|24
|[[File:24-Ahwy.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Akhuy]]
|[[Akhuy]]
|The Two Spirits
|The Two Spirits
Line 209: Line 234:
|-
|-
|25
|25
|[[File:25-Bawy.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Bawy]]
|[[Bawy]]
|The Two Souls
|The Two Souls
Line 216: Line 242:
|-
|-
|26
|26
|[[File:26-Hntw Hrw.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khentu Heru]]
|[[Khentu Heru]]
|Upper Khentu
|Upper Khentu
Line 223: Line 250:
|-
|-
|27
|27
|[[File:27-Hntw Hrw.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khentu Kheru]]
|[[Khentu Kheru]]
|Lower Khentu
|Lower Khentu
Line 230: Line 258:
|-
|-
|28
|28
|[[File:28-Qed.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Qed]]
|[[Qed]]
|The Potter
|The Potter
Line 237: Line 266:
|-
|-
|29
|29
|[[File:29-Sawy Qed.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Sawy Qed]]
|[[Sawy Qed]]
|Children of the Potter
|Children of the Potter
Line 244: Line 274:
|-
|-
|30
|30
|[[File:30-Haw.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Khau]]
|[[Khau]]
|Thousands
|Thousands
Line 251: Line 282:
|-
|-
|31
|31
|[[File:31-Art.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Aryt]]
|[[Aryt]]
|Roll of Papyrus
|Roll of Papyrus
Line 258: Line 290:
|-
|-
|32
|32
|[[File:32-Rm hrny sah.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Remen Hery Sah]]
|[[Remen Hery Sah]]
|Upper arm of Sah
|Upper arm of Sah
Line 265: Line 298:
|-
|-
|33
|33
|[[File:33-Rmn Khry Sah.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Remen Khery Sah]]
|[[Remen Khery Sah]]
|Lower arm of Sah
|Lower arm of Sah
Line 272: Line 306:
|-
|-
|34
|34
|[[File:34-Sah.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Sah]]
|[[Sah]]
|The Father of the Gods
|The Father of the Gods
Line 279: Line 314:
|-
|-
|35
|35
|[[File:35-Tpya-Sopdet.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Tepy-a Sopdet]]
|[[Tepy-a Sopdet]]
|Predecessor of Sopdet
|Predecessor of Sopdet
Line 286: Line 322:
|-
|-
|36
|36
|[[File:36-Sopdet.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Sopdet]]
|[[Sopdet]]
|Goddess of the Flood
|Goddess of the Flood
Line 293: Line 330:
|-
|-
|37
|37
|[[File:37 Stwy.jpg|100px|center]]
|[[Shetwy]]
|[[Shetwy]]
|The Two Tortoises
|The Two Tortoises

Latest revision as of 15:55, 13 November 2024

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 religious practices.

Motion

The decans each appear to rise consecutively on the horizon throughout each daily earth rotation. The rising of each decan marked the beginning of a new decanal "hour" (Greek hōra) of the night, and they were used as a sidereal star clock beginning by at least the 9th or 10th Dynasty (2100 BCE).

Because a new decan appears heliacally every ten days, thus marking the start of a new 10 day week in the Egyptian calendar, the ancient Greeks called them dekanoi (δεκανοί; pl. of δεκανός dekanos) meaning "tenths".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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 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.

Decade Image Transliteration Translation Astrological Meaning Group Mineral
1
01-Tpya Knmt.jpg
 Tepy-a Kenmet Predecessor of the Cow New Beginnings and Jubilation Cow Unknown
2
02-Knmt.jpg
 Kenmet The Cow Development and Growth Cow Garnet
3
03-hry hpd knmt.jpg
 Khery Heped En Kenmet Under the Hind Part of the Cow Change in Circumstances Cow Glass and Gold
4
04-Hat Dat.jpg
 Hat Djat Beginning of the Crane Construction and Building Crane Glass and Gold
5
05-Phwy Dat.jpg
 Pehuy Djat End of the Crane Accomplishment Crane Galena and Gold
6
06-Tmat Hrt.jpg
 Temat Heret Upper Wing Care and Nurturing Crane Gold
7
7-Tmat.jpg
 Temat Kheret Lower Wing Death and Endings Crane Gold
8
08-Wsati Bkati.jpg
 Weshati Bekati The Pregnant Twins Fertility and Sex Twins Turquoise
9
09-Ip-djes.jpg
 Ip-Djes Recovered Senses Being of Service Twins Iron and Gold
10
10-Tpya Hntt.jpg
 Tepy-a Khentet Predecessor of Khentet Truth and Justice Khentet Hematite
11
11-Hntt Hrt.jpg
 Khentet heret Upper Khentet Chaos Khentet Smoky Quartz and Gold
12
12-Hntt Xrt.jpg
 Khentet kheret Lower Khentet Conflict and War Khentet Red Jasper and Gold
13
13-Tms n hntt.jpg
 Tjemes en Khentet Red one of Khentet Restraint or End of Conflict Khentet Glass and Gold
14
14-Qedty.jpg
 Qedty Band of Reeds Sowing Seeds The Boat Flint
15
15-Hnry-wiba.jpg
 Hery-ib Wia Middle of the Boat Journey Through Life The Boat Glass and Gold
16
16 -Ssmw.jpg
 Seshmu Guides or Winepress Spiritual Struggles The Boat Glass and Gold
17
17-Knmw.jpg
 Kenmu Secret Stars Rest and Repose The Boat Carnelian and Gold
18
18-Tpya Smd.jpg
 Tepy-a Semed Predecessor of the Horn Tree of Life and Wisdom Sheep Gold
19
19 Smd.jpg
 Semed The Horn Celebration and Merriment Sheep Copper and Gold
20
20-srt.jpg
 Seret The Sheep Melancholy or Sadness Sheep Dark Flint and Gold
21
21-Sawy Srt.jpg
 Sawy Seret Children of the Sheep Healing Sheep Carnelian and Gold
22
22-Hry Hpd srt.jpg
 Khery Heped Seret Under the Hind Part of the Sheep Love and Romance Sheep Glass and Gold
23
23-Tpya Awhy.jpg
 Tepy-a Akhuy Predecessor of the Two Spirits Mixed Blessings Two Souls Garnet
24
24-Ahwy.jpg
 Akhuy The Two Spirits Harvesting of Rewards Two Souls Gold
25
25-Bawy.jpg
 Bawy The Two Souls Abundance Two Souls Gold
26
26-Hntw Hrw.jpg
 Khentu Heru Upper Khentu Destruction of Enemies Khentu Gold
27
27-Hntw Hrw.jpg
 Khentu Kheru Lower Khentu Authority and Power Khentu Jasper and Gold
28
28-Qed.jpg
 Qed The Potter Creation and Artistry The Potter Gold
29
29-Sawy Qed.jpg
 Sawy Qed Children of the Potter Possessiveness or Sharing The Potter Glass and Gold
30
30-Haw.jpg
 Khau Thousands Respect and Admiration The Potter Carnelian and Gold
31
31-Art.jpg
 Aryt Roll of Papyrus Writing or One's Legacy Sah Granite and Gold
32
32-Rm hrny sah.jpg
 Remen Hery Sah Upper arm of Sah Purification Sah Quartz and Gold
33
33-Rmn Khry Sah.jpg
 Remen Khery Sah Lower arm of Sah Illumination or Revelation Sah Quartz and Gold
34
34-Sah.jpg
 Sah The Father of the Gods Protection From All Dangers Sah Gold
35
35-Tpya-Sopdet.jpg
 Tepy-a Sopdet Predecessor of Sopdet Destruction of Chaos Sopdet Ebony and Gold
36
36-Sopdet.jpg
 Sopdet Goddess of the Flood Inundation Sopdet Gold
37
37 Stwy.jpg
 Shetwy The Two Tortoises Removal of Obstacles Epagomenal Carnelian and Gold

See also

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