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Archeoastronomy of the Egyptian and Mayan Cultures
Jordan Seres, Scarlet Benoit, JJ perez,
Lorrie Vazquez
Survey of the Universe (EMPACTS) Kelly howe, Instructor Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville, AR 72712
Archaeoastronomy
The study of astronomical practices, celestial lore, mythologies, religions,
and world-views of all ancient cultures
Objective
● Gain personal knowledge ● Create models to represent
monumental relationships among astronomical observation
● Impact our community by sharing information
● Donating models to the EMPACTS lab
• Research Our research was mostly done on the internet or Books that related to our topic
• Model Construction
We designed, constructed and refined our models for presentation to other classes
Method
Egyptian Astronomy
Giza Necropolis built on 30th latitude
Adheres to cardinal grid
Knew the Earth was spherical
Great pyramid: accurate scale model of Earth’s dimensions
Used Sothis as sign for flooding
365 day calendar year, 12 months
Precession of the Equinoxes: changes in coordinates of fixed
stars over 25,920 years due to axis tilt.
Instruments of Astronomical Measurement: sundial, water
clocks, and the merkhet (measured stellar azimuths).
The brass hook was probably a form of Pesh-en-Khaf, a sighting
device for stellar alignment.
Sphinx Faces Due East, sun shines in eyes on equinoxes
Temple and Sanctuaries aligned with cardinal directions.
24 pillars in interior colonnade represent 24 hours
The Pyramids of Giza
Ancient Egyptians found true north by using
Kochab and Mizar
It’s still a mystery as to how they came to
achieve it.
True North (Polaris) today was different in
2500 BC
The Orion Correlation Theory states that the
Pyramids of Giza are lined up perfectly with
Orion’s Belt.
Khufu-Alnitak, Khafre-Alnilam, Menkaure-
Mintaka
Has a high probability of being false
The Pyramid of Khufu has four air shafts
They were aligned with Orion’s belt, Alpha
Draconis, Sirius, and Kochab
Also known as the stars that never die.
Ancient Mayan Astronomy
The Mayans accurately calculated the times when the Sun would
rise and set.
Mayan cities show astronomical orientation in the
construction of buildings.
The Mayans believed that space and the concept of time were
connected.
They expressed this in their complex calendar system and in
monuments such as El Castillo.
El Castillo ● A strange phenomenon happens
during a week before the fall and
spring equinox.
● There is a perfect alignment with the
zenith passage.
● Each side of the temple has 91 steps.
4 x 91 = 364
plus the main platform being 1,
equals 365.
The Mayan Calendar
● Perhaps the most important application of the Mayan mathematical system was in the development of their calendars.
● Using their knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, the ancient Maya developed one of the most accurate calendar systems in human history.
● Maya used three different calendars
1. Long Count Calendar 2. Tzolk’in 3. Haab
Long Count Calendar Mechanics
● base-20 counting system ● Right to left:
○ Kin - 1 day ○ Winals - 20 days (20 kin) ○ Tuns - 360 days (approx. 1
year) ○ Katuns - 7,200 days
(approx. 20 years) ○ Baktun - 144,000 days
(approx. 394 years)
The Calendar Round
● Combination of Haabs and Tzolk’in
● Is made of 3 interlocking cycles ○ 365 solar year ○ 20 names ○ 13 numbers
● Days are designated by how the three numbers line up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhWItvjk9Yg
3-D printing JJ worked with 3D printing
specialist Lee stidham
Model Construction
Lorrie was in charge of gathering materials and leading
in the construction of our model.
Model Construction
Lorrie was in charge of gathering materials and leading
in the construction of our model.
Model Construction materials
● Poster Board (ground and sky)
● 3D printed Model ● Acrylic paint (sky
and 3D Model ● Fake grass ● Mini trees
● Poster board (ground and sky) ● Acrylic paint (ground) ● Craft Sand ● 3D PRinted Pyramid and Sphinx ● Paper (two other pyramid) ● Popsicle sticks (causeways and tombs ● LED lights (Orion and Leo
Constellations ● Batteries (for lights)
Presentation
We presented our project to high school students
who are in the Early College Experience Program taking a
criminal Justice course through Nwacc
Conclusion
We learned about the contrasting cultures of the Mayan and Ancient Egyptians along with their understanding of ancient astronomy.
Sources
http://www.terpconnect.umd.edu/~tlaloc/archastro/cfaar_as.html
http://www.antiquityofman.com/Krupp_Sphinx_Blinks.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/sphinxfacts.html
http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/pyramid-air-shafts.html
https://www.exploratorium.edu/ancientobs/chichen/HTML/castillo.html
http://www.mayan-calendar.com/ancient_tzolkin.html
http://www.starteachastronomy.com/mayan.html
http://www.maya.nmai.si.edu/calendar/calendar-system
http://www.mayan-calendar.com/ancient_haab.html
Bauval, Robert, and Adrian Gilbert. The Orion Mystery: Unlocking the Secrets of the Pyramids. New York: Crown, 1994. Print.
Acknowledgements
EMPACTS Tech Corp - Lee Stidham, 3D design and printing specialist
Webpage – Professor C. Dianne Phillips, EMPACTS Facilitator