A New Astronomically Based Chronological Model for the Egyptian Old Kingdom

In: Journal of Egyptian History
Authors: Rita Gautschy 1 , Michael E. Habicht 2 , Francesco M. Galassi 3 , Daniela Rutica 4 , Frank J. Rühli 5 and Rainer Hannig 6
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  • 1 University of Basel
  • 2 University of Zurich and Flinders University, Adelaide
  • 3 University of Zurich
  • 4 University of Marburg
  • 5 University of Zurich
  • 6 University of Marburg
Online Publication Date:
17 Nov 2017
In:
Volume 10: Issue 2
Article Type:
Research Article
Page Count:
69–108
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/18741665-12340035
Keywords:
Egyptian Old Kingdom; heliacal rising of Sirius; chronology; lunar dates; regnal year count

Abstract

A recently discovered inscription on an ancient Egyptian ointment jar mentions the heliacal rising of Sirius. In the time of the early Pharaohs, this specific astronomical event marked the beginning of the Egyptian New Year and originally the annual return of the Nile flood, making it of great ritual importance. Since the Egyptian civil calendar of 365 days permanently shifted one day in four years in comparison to the stars due to the lack of intercalation, the connection of a date from the Egyptian civil calendar with the heliacal rising of Sothis is vitally important for the reconstruction of chronology. The new Sothis date from the Old Kingdom (3rd–6th Dynasties) in combination with other astronomical data and radiocarbon dating re-calibrates the chronology of ancient Egypt and consequently the dating of the Pyramids. A chronological model for Dynasties 3 to 6 constructed on the basis of calculated astronomical data and contemporaneously documented year dates of Pharaohs is presented.

In:
Journal of Egyptian History
E-ISSN:
1874-1665
Print ISSN:
1874-1657
Publisher:
Brill
Cover Journal of Egyptian History
Subjects:
History, Ancient Near East and Egypt, Codicology, Papyrology & Philology, Ancient Near East and Egypt

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