DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0226
210
that the two inner rows contain the signs of the zodiac inter-
spersed with other figures, clusters of stars and hicroglyphical
inscriptions: that the two outer rows contain each nineteen boats,
with one or more figures in each boat, decorated likewise with
stars, and illustrated with sacred characters. These, being thirty-
eight in number, M. Visconti is of opinion, are intended for the
thirty-six decerns or genii, each of whom presided over ten degrees
of the zodiacal circle, and who are frequently alluded to in the
antient books of astrology and in other curious monuments. Of
the two remaining boats, he supposes the first, which occurs to
the left, may typify the tutelary genius of the whole year; and
that on the right, being the only one which contains three figures,
relates to the intercalary days, or j^ipaj l7rayoy.'ivxg. I should
rather think they are intended to represent the constellations of
the Northern and Southern hemisphere, as known in those times;
and the figures interspersed with the zodiacal signs may be the
other constellations more immediately over our heads. These
conjectures, however, can only be verified by a deeper insight into
the secrets of Egyptian astronomy than we at present possess.
On entering the temple, the natural order of the signs is per-
ceived to be from the left to the right, that is, beginning on the
left hand near the front of the pronaon, and proceeding towards
the back ; they arc then resumed on the right side in an opposite
direction.
The first which occurs in the line of the catasterisms is, as
Signor Visconti observes, the sign of Leo : the last on that side is
Capricornus. The first on the other line is Aquarius, and the last
is Gemini. The sign of Cancer, appearing here to be wanting to
make up the six last, Visconti concluded it to be represented
under the form of a sceptre surmounted with a hawk. With
these data, some philosophers had concluded that the situation
of
that the two inner rows contain the signs of the zodiac inter-
spersed with other figures, clusters of stars and hicroglyphical
inscriptions: that the two outer rows contain each nineteen boats,
with one or more figures in each boat, decorated likewise with
stars, and illustrated with sacred characters. These, being thirty-
eight in number, M. Visconti is of opinion, are intended for the
thirty-six decerns or genii, each of whom presided over ten degrees
of the zodiacal circle, and who are frequently alluded to in the
antient books of astrology and in other curious monuments. Of
the two remaining boats, he supposes the first, which occurs to
the left, may typify the tutelary genius of the whole year; and
that on the right, being the only one which contains three figures,
relates to the intercalary days, or j^ipaj l7rayoy.'ivxg. I should
rather think they are intended to represent the constellations of
the Northern and Southern hemisphere, as known in those times;
and the figures interspersed with the zodiacal signs may be the
other constellations more immediately over our heads. These
conjectures, however, can only be verified by a deeper insight into
the secrets of Egyptian astronomy than we at present possess.
On entering the temple, the natural order of the signs is per-
ceived to be from the left to the right, that is, beginning on the
left hand near the front of the pronaon, and proceeding towards
the back ; they arc then resumed on the right side in an opposite
direction.
The first which occurs in the line of the catasterisms is, as
Signor Visconti observes, the sign of Leo : the last on that side is
Capricornus. The first on the other line is Aquarius, and the last
is Gemini. The sign of Cancer, appearing here to be wanting to
make up the six last, Visconti concluded it to be represented
under the form of a sceptre surmounted with a hawk. With
these data, some philosophers had concluded that the situation
of