Difference between revisions of "Egyptian 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.

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]].

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.

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.

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