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STAR MAP * EGYPT * SPAETH

ARCHIVES Senmut-4

On History: The Egyptian Star Map - and Moses' era1: The Pleiades Constellation and Senmut's Star Map 2: The Great Bear Constellation and Senmut's Star Map3: Pyramids and Winter Solstice

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4: Temples and Winter Solstice - and Senmut's Line5: Relating to Research On the Historical Moses?6: Background For a Moses Connection

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Ove von Spaeth

History and Knowledge:Rediscovery, Insight, Renewal

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1 SOME MESSAGES OF THE SENMUT STAR-MAP

The Pleiades Constellation and Senmut's Star Map

Famous Celestial Markers On the Senmut Map

In all ancient Mediterranean civilizations the constellation known to us as the Pleiades had a mostimportant role. It served as a celestial marker or sign for one of the year's great events, i.e. thespringtime's arriving rain or flood. In fact, these stars were thought to be connected, in a meta-astrological sense, with the concept "blessing". Thus the Pleiades were signaling and initiating "the wet season" which then became moreenhanced by other signals from a next following star group, the Hyades, in Greek 'to rain'. Later in antiquity, Greek and Roman authors enjoyed to write about the especial popularstellar group of the Pleiades, to which there already existed several mythological accounts. For instance, the Pleiades group is depicted on the ancient Egyptian vizier Senmut's 3,500-years old star map - i.e. these stars are placed on the map precisely as the location where thePleiades are situated in the sky. More so, on the map the specific picture have been attached somehieroglyphs showing clearly to be read in the direction from the right to the left, displaying thename mw(jt) nwt ht , i.e. 'the watery bodies', 'the humids', or '...of moisture'. - And, as very often

in Egyptian texts, it also may have an additional interpretation: 'three parts of Nut's body (in the

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in Egyptian texts, it also may have an additional interpretation: 'three parts of Nut's body (in thesky)'. The now so famous Senmut map is adorning the ceiling of his tomb (Thebes Tomb 353, atDeir el-Bahari, near Luxor) which like a tunnel is leading beneath Queen Hatshepsut's Temple ofHathor, goddess of the sky. However, a certain analysis of the map reveals such kind of information being of greatestimportance in connection with the history and chronology of Antiquity - cf. below, the sections 5and 6 - the detection was made by Ove von Spaeth. His discovery was first published in 1984 (inthe Magazine 'Stjernerne') - and later added further scientific details, now published as thetreatise: "Dating Egypt's Oldest Star Map", in "Centaurus Magazine of The History of Mathematics,Science, and Technology" (Vol. 42:3, July 2000, pp. 159-179).

Some of the Egyptian temples have been constructed in a way connecting to the star ofSirius when - each year in the summer after a period of invisibility of 70 days - Sirius rose togetherwith the sun (i.e. Sirius's Heliacal rising) that the light would travel down the temples' maincorridor and reach the innermost sanctum of the temple. Here, Sirius would in that moment placeits light at the altar, and this light from Sirius (Sothis) was then considered as being transformedinto Sobdet which is the name of Sirius as Egyptian star god. This divinity was a special version ofIsis, the greatest goddess. Also, it is the case with the Egyptian temple of Isis in Denderah, a temple build as a copy ofmore ancient temples. Similary here when the altar was lighted by the beam, the star Sirius(Sothis) was thought to be transformed into the divinity Sobdet. For instance, this is the case with the Egyptian temple of Isis in Denderah, a temple build asa copy of more ancient temples. When the altar was hit by the beam, the Sirius star was thoughtto be transformed into Sothis (Sirius) as a star god, i.e. special version of Isis, the greatestgoddess. On the basis of the same understanding a similar principle was already involved inconnection with previously mentioned Hatshepsut's Temple of Hathor, which with its axis directedat the line of winter solstice (cf. below: section 3), even also could receive the beams of the (in themythology: seven) Stars of the Pleiades. This was interpreted in a way that the light consisting ofthe seven beams were being transformed into the Egyptian celestial goddess Hathor's sevenfemale judges to judge mankind. In a similar way later in Greek temples - for instance in the very Parthenon - beingconstructed with the direction to the beams of the Stars of the Pleiades. Thus, when the templeswere oriented geographically to receive these beams of light into the inner sanctums, the light-rayswere described in a symbolic way as being "transformed into seven women", i.e. "The SevenSisters", The Pleiades.

The Greek scholar, philosopher, and astronomer, Eratosthenes in Alexandria (276-194 BC),was the director of the famous, enormous library of Alexandria and having admission to hugeamounts of knowledge, and he described the Pleiades as "the seven stars of which the one of themis not visible". Already the Greek writer Hesiod states, ca. 700 BC, that according to the old starlore this group of 7 stars represents the 7 daughters of Atlas (also known as the giant who carried

the very sky globe on his shoulders).

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the very sky globe on his shoulders). Even though we can only see 6 Pleiades in the sky it is a fact that all the way from Greecethroughout to the South Pacific, and - notice - also in Pre-Columbian North America, accountseverywhere tell about "the seven stars of which one is gone". Gajus Julius Hyginus (64 BC-17 AD), Latin author and the appointed (by Emperor Augustus)head of the Palatine Library, writes in his work "Astronomica" (Poeticon Astronomicon, 2.21): "...Pleiades are called seven in number, but only six can be seen ...". Around the world, in many countries and localities, - which in prehistoric times may appearto have had some kind of connection - this constellation is, in addition, often called "the youngwomen" or "girls". The star cluster was also seen in this way by the ancient Hebrews - as well asby America's Coyote Indians in Oregon and the Iroques Indians. Also by e.g. the Dyaks and the Malaysians on Borneo these stars are exactly counted as"seven of which the one is invisible". And by Australia's Aboriginals who, too, call them "the younggirls". They are called by this name, likewise, on the Solomon's Islands in the Pacific. And on theNorthern Sumatra this 6-star constellation is called "Bindtang Tudjohc", i.e. 'of the 7 stars".

All this could refer to a much older age of the concept of the star system than mosthistorians today would like to accept. Ancient, widespread civilizations of prehistoric times - beingtraced and discovered more and more by modern science - could have existed several places onearth. And from some of these connections the Hebrews, the Greeks, and the Egyptians seem tohave possessed such a heritage - "the 7 young women", "the sources of blessing", "the humids" -and have carried it further on. The biblical Job text - mostly in archaic Hebrew and 3,500 years of age - could contain anextra allusion. It may be showing a lingering loss of the 7th Pleiad which apparently failed toremain being fixed on the firmament: "... Canst thou bind together the brilliant Pleiades? ..." (Bookof Job, 38:31).

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Illustrations. Below: The stars of the Pleiades cluster as depicted on ancient Egyptianvezire Senmut’s star map. These stars are designated “the watery bodies”, “the humids”, - and this group ofstars is marking the season of rain or flood In all ancient Mediterranean civilizations the Pleiades were important in use inthe agricultural calendars.

Further below: Senmut portrait placed in a contemporary Egyptian craftman'sprojection grid to be used as a model for decorating Senmut's tomb.

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2 BEHIND OTHER FEATURES OF THE SENMUT STAR-MAP

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The Great Bear Constellation and Senmut's Star Map

Earlier Tradition on the Senmut Map

Transatlantic versions of constellations: It is a fact that reminiscences of our well-known zodiacsystem were found with the Mayas - prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in Central America in1492. Thus, several of their star sign symbols are in principle identical with the ancient Middle Eastzodiac symbols. As with the prehistoric world's widespread, common ideas on the Pleiades somethingsimilar is seen also regarding the constellation Ursa Major, i.e. Great Bear. This constellation of itsown seven-star-group, also known as Charles's Wain, is a non-existing tail-bear - strangely enoughknown all over the world. This is except on the Senmut star map where it is shown in quiteanother version. Yet it has still been placed correctly - near the top of the celestial World-axis. This axis was the most famous celestial line of sight - connecting the brightest main starsCanopus, Sirius, and Lyra/Wega. The axis is, possibly emphasized for the very first time,depictured on the Senmut map. (More about the axis, cf. the following page). This axis is the most famous celestial line of sight - connecting the brightest main starsCanopus, Sirius, and Lyra/Wega. The axis is, possibly for the very first time, depictured on theSenmut map. Europeans, Asians, as well as the North American Indians prior to Columbus all perceivedthe constellation in question as the picture of a bear. In many cases they had the samedesignations for the same constellations; and concerning Great Bear, in the different continentswith their several local languages, this same group of stars was called by the same designation,the "Great Bear", which is remarkable as it does not at all look like a bear! And this is even a bear with a long tail - non-existing in any earthly zoological issue orconcept - i.e. an identical "fantasy" product re-found across the oceans.

The above mentioned idea (cf. Section 1) about a past "intercontinental" range of evenseveral cases of identical names of stars/constellations seems not only based on an apparentlywide spread knowledge of a principally uniform astronomical system; especially with matchingidentical features in the symbols of the 12 sections of the zodiac. Such "agreements" also concernseveral other identical astronomical names or descriptions. For instance, this is the case with the sun, called 'Ra' or 'Re' by the Egyptians; the Chinesecalled it 'Re', and so did the Polynesians. And all over the Pacific Ocean it is also called 'Ra' -despite the lack of relation/affinity between the Egyptian, Chinese, and Polynesian languages - andirrespective of the huge geographical distances. To this it should be added that apart from the almost identical pronunciation of Ra/Re (Ri),the Chinese still use in their special writing the very same pictographic sign for the sun as theEgyptians. It is the well-known ancient symbol of a circle with a dot in the middle (in later Chinesepictography the circle has been changed to be square-like, for reasons of a calligraphic writingtechnique).

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The Egyptians' hieroglyph for Re or Ra, 'the sun', (here, together witha glyph meaning 'son of Ra') - and in China the sign for Re or Ri, 'the

sun', (and a later, square version more easy to write).

When, for example, children make drawings of a sun it is always just a circle - possiblyequipped with rays or a face - but never a circle with a dot in the centre. The very specific sunsymbol consisting of a non-empty circle contour and "characteristically made" with its centre-dot asthe 'core' is therefore no coincidence when it is found in the same special form both with theancient Egyptians and the Polynesians, and in the Chinese script as well. Similarly, both the ancient Egyptians and the Chinese have a glyph or symbolic signshowing a scorpion. According to the ancient traditions of astrological significances, for instance inuse among the Greeks and the Romans, the celestial sign of Scorpio (originally the constellationnamed Scorpio) may symbolize or refer to "huge quantities or numbers"; and when a picture of ascorpion is used as a hieroglyph in an Egyptian text - or as a writing sign in the Chinese writing stillused - this also means the same thing in both of these written languages, i.e. "huge numbers". Inthe same symbol concept at all the places the by nature toxic Scorpion signified also somethingconcerning death, and America's Mayas called this particular constellation "the sign of the god ofdeath". Also the stars known by us as the Gemini have the same Greek and Babylonian name ormeaning, which is also the case among the ancient inhabitants of the southern Pacific Ocean. Heritage from earlier civilizations? Archetypes? For all these examples too it goes that theconcepts and designations they had in common are hardly each time just a coincidence, but couldindicate a form of transport of traditions, for example, via the ancient seafarers, who, all over theworld at all times navigated by means of the stars. Thus, the spreading of some of the mutualideas could also have been done in this way; although not necessarily as the only way.

In this connection it is interesting that the ancient Egyptians did not call the constellation inquestion Great Bear, but Meshkitu, i.e. the 'shank of an ox'. In ancient myths, and also in the Bible,a shank, thigh, or loin refer conceptually to the delivery process or re-birth and were also wellknown euphemisms for the reproductive organs. In the Senmut star map and in numerous other ancient Egyptian pictures the Meshkitu - theconstellation of the Great Bear/Charles's Wain - has been made unusually flat. When the Egyptianmythological tradition seems to have many references to a previous civilization - could the ideahave been faithfully passed on from that?

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Illustrations. Below: - Left: The Great Bear constellation on many Egyptian pictures. - Centre: the constellation's movements thousands of years ago. - Right: the constellation shown as a bear with the unnatural tail (Beyer's map fromthe Renaissance).

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3 EARLY EGYPTIAN ASTRONOMY

Pyramids and Winter Solstice

Early Egyptian astronomical traditions

A large part of the basis for the Senmut-map is deeply rooted in ancient Egypt's astronomicaltraditions - which now appears more comprehensive than hitherto acknowledged - to which the

following examples, although not directly related to his star map, are showing an advanced

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following examples, although not directly related to his star map, are showing an advancedcapacity and versatility. Ancient civilization's collected experience concerning the starry sky, which includedastronomy, celestial geometry, astrology, and time measuring was an especially important issue ina comprehensive knowledge thus existing in the societies of the past. In Egypt from very early times an observatory was known at the top of the shrine for theMoon-god's son Khonsu in the temple of Karnak/Thebes. Even from the very ancient timesastronomical lines of sight were used as placement plan for the axes of the temples' constructions. Ramses II's rock temple at Abu Simple has been arranged so that the sun's light every 22ndOctober enters through the very long corridor following the temple's central axis and reachescompletely out at its end and lighten up this pharaoh's statue which is extremely precisely placedhere. Many of the temples were, so to speak, lined up also according to the stars - thereby theintension was supported that the both worlds were united. These conditions were created veryconsciously because we can see that the temple constructions added on through millennia changedirection a bit according to the celestial pattern continuously very small changing (via the "theprecession") through time.

The special, geometrical patterns of lines of sight to important stars, found by measuringthe sky, were assumed to be like reflected in the terrestrial geography. The connection with "themark from cosmos" can be recognized in the biblical statement "as in heaven so on earth".

Even at the construction of the three great pyramids of Giza at 4,500 years ago theconstructers were intrigued by the stars. When observing the pattern of the constellation Orion -the central part is the 3 bright stars known as "Orion's Belt "- the ancient astronomers are believedto have identified a related situation here and used this star system as a template for thegeographical layout of the three great pyramids at their particular location on the building area. Among the Egyptians the sky-related version of the death-and-resurrection-god Osiris wasOrion, who especially was involved with the pyramid cult of the dead. In addition, the pyramidbuildings' specific mutual relations in their positions on the ground were so precisely carried outthat it fully corresponds to the ideas of ancient tradition that these pyramids in their earthly -geographically - circumstances constitute "a mirror image of the sky".

Researchers Robert G. Bauval and Adrian Gilbert points out in their book "The OrionMystery" (1994) that the dead cultic Egyptian pyramids in Giza were positioned at the Nile so thatthey were corresponding to a (mirror) image of the Orion stars - relating to the god of thedeceased, Osiris - at the celestial "river" of the Milky Way. Critics reject the whole thing as "a coincidence" and allege even that the pyramids' locationhaving a reversed orientation relative to the constellation, but these critics apparently do not knowthat a mirror-reversed image of a constellation - i.e. as a direct projection of the image from thesky and down to the ground - was a frequently used tradition everywhere right up to a fewhundred years ago. Thus, from Antiquity the famous statue of Atlas is seen bearing on hisshoulders the celestial sphere with all the constellations facing towards the Earth and turning their

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backs to the viewer - and in the same way on the star maps later in the Renaissance. Even theEgyptians almost never showed the constellation figures in front but mostly in profile.

The notion that these pyramids are in correspondence with the sky, is also demonstrated tobe probable in particular by the fact that the pyramids in the ancient inscriptions can be seenexplicitly called "the pyramid which is a star" - according to the British Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson,Cambridge University ("The Guardian", May 14, 2001). Moreover, it is in particular known that in general the Egyptians also looked upon the Nileand its course from south to north as a reflection of a dominating celestial image, the Milky Way. The principle of such kind of pattern can be seen documented via Father of Church, St.Augustine, who, in 415 AD in his writings, "De Civitate Dei" (8:23), quoting the ancient Egyptiansage Hermes Trismegistos, 'the Thrice Great Thoth', saying: "... the entire Egypt is as a mirror image of the sky ... transferred from heaven down toearth ..." Concerning the placement of the three Great Pyramids it seems not only to have beenarranged to reflect the three stars in Orion's Belt, but it is a fact that also the so-called airshafts inthe Great Pyramid are pointing, in an exact angle, in particular to Orion and other selected stars. Furthermore, these three pyramids have been built with the most incredibly exact celestialline of sight towards the North Star, i.e. at its position at that time. Kate Spence, the BritishEgyptologist, published a brilliant, although disputed, article on that method: "Ancient EgyptianChronology and the Astronomical Orientation", in "Nature" 16 November 2000 (Vol. 408, No. 6810,pp. 320-324).

The constellation Orion's belt of 3 bright stars might have inspired to the location of the 3 pyramids. To the right:a part of Senmut's star map with the 3 stars highlighted.

Also ancient temples were considered literally as a holy piece of heaven reflected into thegeography on Earth. For instance, the ancient Babylonians/Assyrians directly referred each of theirmajor cities to certain stars - e.g. Nineveh (cf. "Book of Genesis", 10:11), the city's name meaning'wild boar' also being the totem of this city and a name of the constellation "The Boar" (our Great

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Bear/Charles' Wain). Another example of their concept of a sky-earth-mutual-reflection is that withtheir sky-yardstick the Babylonians measured degrees of arc by use of a certain terrestrialmeasure, "the royal cubit". Through their many years of archaeo-astronomical studies, researchers Robert Bauval andWayne Herchel independently of one another detected (in 2005-2006) that the ancient Egyptiansused even very accurately the little group of pyramids in Abusir - which is located exactly on anextension line from Giza - to represent the Pleiades on this "celestial map on the ground".

Concerning the three great pyramids at Giza the researcher on history, Robert Temple, hasdisclosed by meticulous measuring and observation disclosed that during the days aroundDecember 21, i.e. exactly around winter solstice, the pyramids cast shadows on each other. And inparticular that such a special winter solstice shadow will be cast on the southern surface of thelargest pyramid (cf. Robert Temple: "The Crystal Sun", London 2000). The pyramid silhouette of this "rare" shadow has an angle of 26 degrees and 34 minutes -exactly like the slope of the ramps (for instance "the Gallery) inside the very pyramid. This definite26 degrees angle is part of the "golden" right-angled triangle with sides in a ratio of 1 to 2 and acorresponding square root of 5 which in particular is connected to "the Golden Section". This concept was especially important within the almost religiously sublime geometricscience of ancient times - and was here the canonical basis of Egyptian art and architecture.

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Illustration, below: The ramps of the interior of the pyramid with the 26 degrees tilt(26:34 degrees).

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4 IMPORTANCE OF WINTER SOLSTICE LINE

Temples and Winter Solstice - and Senmut's Line

Temples and star-related lines of sight

The clues for understanding the build-in information in the Senmut star map should be based onknowledge about the special Egyptian astronomic-cosmological concept. The ancient temples constitute or represent "a part of the sky" placed in the terrestrialworld. The temple of Queen Hatshepsut was built 3500 years ago in Deir el-Bahari west of Luxor,and Senmut, the Grand Vizier, who was also a brilliant and innovative architect, had engraved inthe foundation stone a kind of horoscope for the foundation of the temple (according to FrenchEgyptologist Suzanne Ratie's work "La reine-pharaon", Paris 1972).

It is also established that Senmut has arranged the building in such a way that a long line ofsight of several kilometres pointing from the central axis of the large Temple of Karnak (in northern

part of present city Luxor) and further crossing the Nile and all the way out where it eventually is

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part of present city Luxor) and further crossing the Nile and all the way out where it eventually isunited with the central axis of Hatshepsut's Temple of the Egyptian sky-goddess Hathor - at themountain ridge in front of the Valley of Kings. The deviation of the line of sight is accurate to lessthan 2 degrees. The axis is discussed and depicted in Ove von Spaeth's book-series on Moses, Vol.2, "The Enigmatic Son of Pharaoh's Daughter" (chapter7).

The prolonged axis or special line of sight, i.e. a narrow belt of sight more than a 'cord' inparticular, is not heading directly east-west, but has a little wry angle to this, however, the maindirection is the very same. Only few know about this axis, and less than few that it has beendesignated a special meaning or intension. The meaning can be disclosed by combining the variousaccessible data. Thus, the geographical angle of this axis will state that in reality it is placeddirectly at the very line of winter solstice.

This can be observed, concretely, at the very site: the sun will appear at solstice on theshortest day of the year - approx. on December 21 - which was important, because at this specialturning point the length of the days will again begin to increase. And in Luxor (Karnak) the passageof the sun will follow exactly the central axis of the Temple of Karnak in east and further on. On that particular day it is possible to track the sun in the morning, when it rises precisely inthe centre at the end of the "main street" of the Temple of Karnak, where the sun beams hit in aspecial, brilliant way without "wry" angles. (For instance, Ronald Lane Reese, Professor in Physicsand Astronomy, at Washington and Lee University, have also noted some of these features, cf. his

article: "Midwinter Sunrise at El Karnak", Sky & Telescope Magazine, March 1992, pp. 276-278).

It was of great significance that with this date the point of the year was reached when,simultaneously, Sirius - always considered by the Egyptians to be the most important star (and isalways followed by Orion) - was "born" (as they called it) here, down by the horizon. In Egypt the star Sirius can be seen in the sky most of the year - and at this exact time towhich relation the temple axis had been constructed, a special correspondence was understood

between the sun and Sirius. Because here, exactly at winter solstice, Sirius can be seen appearingabove the horizon at sunset. Ancient Greek sculptor, Phidias, also painter and architect, ca. 480–430 BC, is regarded asbeing among the greatest of all Classical sculptors. His famous work, the seated statue of Zeus, 12metres tall, occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple in Olympia built to house it, andwas one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The gigantic, precious sculpture of ivory andgold-plated bronze was made in Phidias' huge building erected for that purpose at the site of thetemple. The point here is that the ruins of this workshop still prove the old knowledge as thebuilding was placed precisely parallel with the line of sight used for the construction of the templeitself - in order to shape the statue for receiving the cosmic light in the very best way exactly as itwould appear in the temple.

Incidentally, additional significance may be attached to such a type of axis. If we look atmodern architects' and surveyors' measures of the ruins in Tell el-Amarna, the town Akhetatenfounded by Pharaoh Akhenaten, approx. mid-14th century BC, it appears that there is a similar line

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of sight following the central axis of the temple and the town and further crossing the landscapeout to certain mountains, which are being passed by the sun at the terminal point of its diurnal arc. This construction seems to copy the principle of Senmut's (subterranean) tomb placed infront of the mountain at the end of the long line of sight, which in Luxor/Thebes has its point oforigin in the axis of the temple of Karnak. Furthermore, on the latter mountain's rear side (i.e. theKings' Valley) is situated a tomb, prepared for being shared by Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis I, placeddirectly in the further extension of this line.

Everywhere in the old world the axis of winter solstice was of major importance. Forinstance, it is the very recognizable base of the whole structure of the Ale's Stenar, the 'NordicStonehenge' in Scania, Sweden.

Six step pyramids of black volcanic stone - situated near Guimar on east coast of Tenerife,the Canary Island - were found in 1990 by explorer Thor Heyerdahl. These pyramids' maincomplex discloses a perfect line marking the axis of winter solstice. In 1997-1998 archaeologistDonald Ryan have excavated underneath one of these pyramids and found ostracon and obsidian-made tools from the island's original pre-Spanish people, the Guanches, tracing back at least to 6thcentury BC.

British astronomer, Sir J. Norman Lockyer (1836-1920) - among other things famous for thediscovery of the sun's chromosphere and the element of helium (in the sun), and his foundation ofthe famous scientific journal "Nature" - calculated the astronomical lines in ancient Egyptian majortemples. He discovered that they all followed such celestial lines of sight and that even later templebuildings changing direction according to later changes in the stellar arrangement in the sky. He discovered in the temple inscriptions that the sacred Egyptian ceremony Streching theCord ceremony was the very description of creating sacred alignment with the celestial lines ofsight, especially the axis of the winter solstice, thus making the temple foundation and layout inharmony with the cosmos.

Lockyer also measured Greek temples and got the same results - nobody before him hadseen and analysed this major coherence between astronomy and the temples through the ages.

And the same principle at Stonehenge, too, where Lockyer also dated its construction byagain using the fact, that the lines were adapted according to a previous angle of tilt of the axis ofEarth. Modern C-14 measuring confirms the dating results about the early time. And especially theStonehenge axis of winter solstice shows its major importance in the whole arrangement of theconstruction.

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Hatshepsut together with the goddess Seshat performing the Stretching of the Cord ceremony - for the astronomical orientation of the temples.

From a wall block in Hatshepsut's Red Chapel, in the Karnak temple.

In the year 2000 the world's oldest known star observatory was found at the German townGoseck, approx. 180 kilometres southeast of Berlin. The neolithic circular construction shows adiameter of 75 metres, and by all methods it is dated to more than 7,000 years of age, i.e. olderthan even Stonehenge. Cf. Madhusree Mukerjee: "Circles for Space. German 'Stonehenge' marksoldest observatory", Scientific American (8th December 2003). The observatory has three gates - to the south-east, the south-west, and the north -precisely placed according to the axis of winter solstice. Standing in the centre at the time ofwinter solstice - and only then - the observers thus could see the sun raising and its setting. Sometraditional views by science have been surprised that neolithic people measured the celestialelements to such an extended exactness and so early in history.

Concerning the Senmut map adorning the ceiling of his subterranean tomb's tunneling roomon its way beneath Hatshepsut's temple - in fact, the very star map was planned to be in line withthis tunnel of more than 100 metres. This line is following the direction of the winter solstice axisconnecting the Karnak temple with Hatshepsut's temple several kilometres away.

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Illustrations. Below: The line of sight: The Karnark's temple-axis, early in themorning on the day of Winter solstice, every year when around 23rd of December.

Further below: The line of sight: from Karnark's temple-axis via Deir el-Bahari'stemple-axis and and further over to Hatshepsut's and her father Tuthmosis I'scombined royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The deviation in the precision of theline of sight is less than 2 degrees of arc.

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Below: Pharaoh/Queen Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari built by Senmut, vizier and chiefarchitect of Egypt. From the upper temple terrace with the the goddess Hathor pillars, an excellentview follows a straight line through some kilometres to the Karnak tempel at the River Nile.

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Above: Pharaoh/Queen Hatshepsut depicted as the god Osiris, repeated through a row of her big statues at her temple at Deir el-Barari.

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5 THE SENMUT STAR-MAP AND MOSES

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The Senmut Map - and Research on Historical Moses

Apart from the analysis: A possible relation to Moses?

The earlier mentioned analysis of the Senmut star map carried out by Ove von Spaethfollows its own objective purpose: to be concerned only with the very dating of theancient Egyptian star map - and without any dependence of how the result could beused in other connections.

Apart from this investigation, - by a totally separated research - the many data on theSenmut map have interesting perspectives: - The precise astronomical dating of the star mapimplying an enhanced concept of the chronology, which will also contribute to the new orientatingresearch on the historical Moses as presented (cf. Ove von Spaeth's book-series).

In addition, Ove von Spaeth's treatise, published in "Centaurus" (42;3, 2000), withdocumentation for the dating of Egypt's oldest star map, has been re-edited to be used by readerswithout professional astronomical knowledge. It has been attached as an Appendix to the Volume 2of Ove von Spaeth's present book-series on research of the historical Moses.

Thus, in relation to the concept of Ove von Spaeth's book series, the result of the analysis ofthe star map having disclosed remarkable perspectives: The material indicates a special date is signified in the star map. The same date seems toappear in the Rabbinical Writings informing about a specific event for Moses in Egypt. In addition tothis, the possible cross-reference between Egyptian and Israelite history has been demonstrated inthe series' Volume 2 (and in Vol.1 as well) and the result seems to be supported further by severalimportant relations in this area of research.

The Centaurus-publisher's part of copyright to publish the treatise of the star map has mostkindly been excluded for the benefit of presenting the text in connection with Ove von Spaeth'sMoses-research. The treatise was thus also allowed being published as an appendix to the Volume2 of this author's book-series "Assassinating Moses".

*

Illustrations below, left: Portrait of Senmut, a contemporary ink-drawing.

Right: a staircase in the long tunnel of Senmut's secret tomb beneath the templeground.

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6 BACKGROUND OF TIME FOR THE MOSES-RESEARCH

Background for a Moses Connection

Archaeology and ancient astronomy

The combination of archaeology and the rare but informative data from ancient astronomy -together with Egyptology and textual research - is a basic way to a better understanding of someof the great enigmas in the history of the past. These conditions have brought light to what seems to be the existence of a specialconnection between the Senmut star map and the Moses era, this being discovered by Ove von

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Spaeth's researching.

In his five-volume book-series "Assassinating Moses" Ove von Spaeth has most carefullyanalysed and published a great amount of ancient traces and highly important clues of thehistorical Moses. This task has been thoroughly supported by the author's substantial basis ofhistorical and astronomical learning and experience. In his many years of intensive studies Ove von Spaeth has, furthermore, made extensiveuse of research into archaeology, anthropology, ancient languages, history of religion, Egyptiantradition as well as the ancient teachings of mystery and mythology. He throws new light on theunusually abundant and also controversial material, and even using holistic angle. It is in this context that Ove von Spaeth has meticulously investigated the chronologicalbackground, in order to obtain a considerably better precision concerning the historical time-frameof the era in question.

"Concerning Ove von Spaeth's momentous, new-orientating treatise on"Dating the Oldest Egyptian Star Map" which was published in "CentaurusInternational Magazine on The History of Mathematics, Science, and Technology" in2000 (Vol. 42:3, pp. 159-179): - a scientific pioneering work which has gainedsustained admiration and respect internationally for its non-traditional observationsand for finding solutions to the special difficult problems of key importance to theancient Egyptian astronomy and the chronological perspectives. - In addition, theactual findings have furthered research on rendering more accurate the dating ofMoses' historical period."

Hans Baron Anckarstjerna, historian, editor-in-chief, - Swedano Journal

A certain background concerning the star-map and the Moses-research:

The following information - about similar astronomically based chronology studies from Ove vonSpaeth's first volume on the Moses-research - is an introduction written by Kristian PederMoesgaard, D.Sc., Professor on History of Astronomy, at The University of Aarhus:

"Already the overall picture in this book - of the detection of some radicalcircumstances behind Moses' role in the history of Egypt and the Hebrew people - isextremely exciting in itself. Rightly, Ove von Spaeth has chosen a vivid style in orderto reach a wider circle of readers than mere specialists. Furthermore, this work ofOve von Spaeth is inter-disciplinary to an exceptional degree based on extensiveand thorough studies within history, theology, archaeology, and the history ofreligion as well as the history of astronomy. With zeal and flair Ove von Spaeth has collected evidence from widelydifferent sources to support his main thesis regarding Moses and his status and placein history; and from the astronomical-historical point of view I find the basicassumption of a certain planetary constellation in 1537 BC worth testing in relation tobiblical research Egyptology archaeology as well as general history.

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The actual occurrence of the above-mentioned planetary constellation andother astronomical circumstances may be objectively verified by computation basedon modern astronomical theory. And the author argues that the Moses tradition insource material from Egyptology, the Bible, the Rabbinical Texts, and from a numberof historians of antiquity reflects these astronomical phenomena. He is also of theopinion that this starting point throws new light on the coherence of the remainingsource material.

The author's dating of Moses at 1500-1400 BC, about 200 years earlier thanthe most frequently accepted dating in 11th century BC, has previously beensuggested by researchers of various backgrounds and nationalities: Egyptologists,historians of religion, and archaeologists throughout the last one hundred years (e.g.G. Lefébure, V.H. Juvelius, J. Garstang, and lately, J.J. Bimson and S. Ratié, amongothers). Thus Ove von Spaeth's assertion is not unprecedented and in the presentwork the hypothesis has been confronted with a much wider spectrum of sourcematerial than in the works of the researchers mentioned. An extensive bibliography reveals extraordinarily thorough backgroundstudies. The entire account and its results deserve to be known also outsideScandinavia."

Kristian Peder Moesgaard, D.Sc., Professor, History of ScienceDepartment, Aarhus University; - Director of the Steno Museum,Danish National Museum for the History of Science, Aarhus

An introduction (to Vol. 2 of Ove von Spaeth's Moses-series) - of relevance in relation to TheAntiquity's sources on Ancient Egypt - was written by Leo Hjortsoe, University lecturer in ClassicalPhilology:

"This work by Ove von Spaeth reassesses Moses' historic situation, and - if properlypublished and put into circulation - it could alter our current view of this historicsequence of events in the Near East during the last half of the second millenniumBC. This is a well-articulated, thought-provoking text that is very enjoyablereading and which should interest any avid reader of ancient history for scientific andpersonal reasons alike. The writer presents a truthful, comprehensive presentation of his material -with no ulterior motives. The primary sources used here go far beyond those used incontemporary research; and his secondary sources, including the results of modernresearch all the way up to the present, are applied and discussed to an astonishingdegree. Ove von Spaeth's work - the result of year-long efforts on partly unheededproblems up to now - not only constitutes serious historical research, but is a vividhistoriography appealing both to scientific history research and ordinary readersinterested in history."

Leo Hjortsoe, University lecturer, Classical Philology, University ofCopenhagen

Naturally and as already referred to, Ove von Spaeth's research of the very Senmut star map andits chronological perspectives contains valuable data which were later taken into consideration in

relation to his work on the investigation of the historical Moses and the era concerned.

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relation to his work on the investigation of the historical Moses and the era concerned.

*

Illustrations. Below: Quarry with modern entrance to Senmut tomb TT353 - fromwhere its hidden, long tunnel continues through the deep underground beneathHatshepsut's temple.

Further below: Senmut's astronomical ceiling from 'Chamber A' in his tomb, NoTT353.

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Some features on Egyptian star-knowledge

*BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Egyptian & Ancient astronomy

*Stellar related sites of the ancient world

(source: Komar)

*

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A special treasure of knowledge and wisdom of Greece, Rome, and the Renaissance had originated in AncientEgypt - and was here known to connect also with the historical Moses' dramatic fate and mystery. Ove von Spaeth has written an intriguing, new-orientating work presenting this still influential backgroundof our civilization. • His interdisciplinary research on history, archaeology, and anthropology goes deeply intoEgyptian tradition, history of religion, initiation cults, star-knowledge, and mythology - relating to biblical studies,the Rabbinical Writings, and the authors of Antiquity. • Each volume offers unique insights not presented before. Special information is presented by clicking on the individual cover illustrations:

(ed.note: reading the orientation is highly recommended. The books are being translated into English)News about the book-series: www.moses-egypt.net

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