Dendera Zodiac
by Royal Astronomical Society/science Photo Library
Title
Dendera Zodiac
Artist
Royal Astronomical Society/science Photo Library
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Dendera zodiac. This zodiac was carved as a bas-relief for an Osiris chapel at the Hathor temple in Dendera, Egypt, and has been dated to 50 BC (Greco-Roman period). It is famed as a complete map of the night sky as seen by an ancient civilisation. The central area shows the 12 zodiacal constellations. 36 carvings on the inner ring mark the 360 days of the Egyptian year. The outer ring consists of four sets of female and paired falcon-headed gods holding up the sky. The bas-relief was removed to French Royal Library in 1821, and then in 1964 to the Louvre. This artwork was engraved for an 1822 issue of 'The European Magazine'.
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October 4th, 2018
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