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
In the above list I have indicated Osiris as a Moon-god. Many
inscriptions might be quoted similar to the following one:--
"Salute a te, Hesiri, il signore dell' eternità. Quando tu sei in
Cielo, tu apparisci come sole, et tu rinnuovi la tua forma comme
Luna."[167]
It has also to be borne in mind that the complicated head-dress,
including the goat's horns, is represented in connection with Thoth
Chnemu and Osiris.[168]
Later he was unquestionably a sun-god, but this would be certain to
happen if the southern intruders worshipped the moon in the first line.
Further, if in later times he represented both sun and moon, as he
certainly did, it is not probable that he did so from the beginning.
All the special symbolism refers to him as a Moon-god; he is certainly
a Moon-god in the myth of Isis and Osiris, for he was cut into fourteen
pieces, the number of days of the waning moon.
Now, we can easily understand an evolution beginning with a Moon-god
and ending with a Sun-god. But the contrary is almost unthinkable;
besides, we know that in Egypt it did not happen; the solar attributes
got hardened as time went on. The calendar evidence, as we have
seen, in relation to the original year of 360 days is in favour of
Moon-worship, and therefore of a Moon-god in the earliest times.
Further, if we accept this, the myth of Horus becomes a complete
historical statement, of which parts have already been shown to refer
to astronomical facts past all dispute. It is well here to give
Naville's remarks upon it. It will be seen that they strengthen my
view.[169]
"La 363^{me} année de son règne, le dieu part avec son fils pour
l'Égypte. Voilà donc une date précise de l'un de ces rois qui, selon
les traditions égyptiennes, avaient occupé le trône de l'Égypte avant
les souverains indigènes. Cette année-là, Horhut chassé Typhon de
l'Égypte, et s'établit en roi sur tout le pays. Cela concorderait donc
avec ce que nous disent Manéthon et Eusèbe, que, dans la première
dynastie des dieux, Typhon précéda immédiatement Horus. La succession
se serait faite par droit de conquête.
"Horus a avec lui des compagnons qui sont nommés partout ses suivants:
les Schesou Hor. M. de Rougé a déjà fait remarquer que, dans plusieurs
inscriptions, ces hommes sont considérés comme les habitants primitifs
de l'Égypte, les contemporains des dynasties divines. Ce sont ces
Mesennou dont il a déjà été question dans la série précédente. Le
rôle qu'ils jouent dans ce récit montre, plus clairement encore, que
l'époque dont il s'agit est la fin des temps mythologiques auxquels
Ména devait succéder. C'est une tradition relative aux événements qui
ne doivent avoir précédé que de peu les temps historiques.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account