JOURNAL ARTICLE

Zodiacs and monuments: An early pictorial "horoscope" from Egypt.

  • Published In: Journal for the History of Astronomy, 2023, v. 54, n. 2. P. 125 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Winkler, Andreas; Zellmann-Rohrer, Michael 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the analysis of a late Ptolemaic Greek papyrus (P.Kramer 17) from Egypt, dated to late 56 or early 55 BC, which contains the earliest known pictorial zodiac representation from the region. The papyrus features a roughly drawn zodiac circle with planetary positions and a central image likely depicting a dog, symbolizing Sirius-Sothis, linking Greek and Egyptian astral iconography. Rather than serving as a finalized birth horoscope for a client, the papyrus is interpreted as a draft for a funerary monument—such as a coffin or tomb ceiling—intended to represent the planetary configuration at the birth of the deceased, reflecting ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife and cosmic renewal. This artifact exemplifies the cultural amalgamation of Greek and Egyptian traditions in astral science and funerary art during the late Ptolemaic period.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal for the History of Astronomy. 2023/05, Vol. 54, Issue 2, p125
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Communication and Mass Media
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0021-8286
  • DOI:10.1177/00218286231159361
  • Accession Number:163578716
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