The dawn of astronomy: A study of the temple-worship and mythology of the ancient EgyptiansLockyer, Norman, Sir
Religion
The dawn of astronomy: A study of the temple-worship and mythology of the ancient Egyptians
Lockyer, Norman, Sir
Astronomy, Egyptian; Sun -- Mythology; Sun worship; Temples -- Egypt
4. _Many of the goddesses are represented as Isis nursing Horus._--It
is very important not to forget that stars were chiefly observed rising
in the dawn, and that mythologically such an event was represented by
the Egyptians as Isis (the rising star-goddess) nursing Horus (the
rising sun-god). The sun was supposed to be a youth in the morning, to
be very young therefore at the moment of rising, and the goddess Isis
was supposed to be then nursing him. Many of the goddesses are thus
portrayed. I may mention Renen-t, Serk-t, Rā-t, Amen-t, as instances.
Thus I hold that we get in this series of goddesses the statement, put
mythologically, that certain stars to which the goddesses were sacred
rose heliacally at some time of the year or another. Of course the
record is far from complete, and probably it will become more complete
when inquiries are made from this point of view. The original symbolism
is that Isis or Hathor is a star rising in the dawn, watching over the
sun or taking him from his cradle; and the young Horus, the rising sun,
is, of course, the son of Isis. The emblem of the mother and child is
thus shown to have been in established use for the expression of high
religious thought at least 5000 years ago.
These and other facts may be brought together in a tabular form, to
show what apparently the complete mythology of Isis meant.
ISIS = ANYTHING LUMINOUS TO THE EASTWARD HERALDING SUNRISE.
DAWN. MOON. γ DRACONIS. ANTARES. α COLUMBÆ.
(3000 B.C.) (3700 B.C.) (Before 3000 B.C.)
Isis Isis Isis Serk-t Teχi
Hathor (hawk and (N. Egypt) Amen-t
hippopotamus)
Mut (vulture)
Sechet } Lion or α Centauri
Bast } cat 3700 B.C.
Menkh (S. Egypt)
Tafnet
Apet
Nebun
SIRIUS. DOUBTFUL.
(After 3000 B.C.) (Probably late.)
Isis Anuqa
Hathor (cow) Hak }
Rā-t Haka }
Hak-t }
Hequet}
Maloul
It will be seen that in the case of Isis we are not dealing merely with
a rising star, while, so far as I know, Hathor is limited to stars.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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