The Astronomical Ceiling Decoration of Senenmut’s Tomb and Egyptian Astrology
Not an image of the ceiling directly but a replication of its design on paper
Wilkinson, Charles K. Astronomical Ceiling. 1479–1458 B.C, MET Museum, New York, United States.
A photo from the MET expedition of the astronomical ceiling.
Wilkinson, Charles K. The Astronomical Ceiling. MET Museum, New York, United States. The Tombs of Senenmut : the Architecture and Decoration of Tombs 71 and 353, by Dorman, Peter F, New York : Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1991, fig. 84. p. 271.
The Tomb of Senenmut was discovered during the 1926-1927 excavation by the Metropolitan Museum of Art while at Deir el-Bahri near to Hatshepsut’s tomb in Thebes. The excavation was overseen by Herbert Winlock. The tomb itself is complex, even for being unfinished. The biggest discovery in the tomb I will be covering is “The Astronomical Ceiling Decoration” found there. Even though the tomb and the artwork are mostly unfinished, they have influenced what archaeologist know about Egyptian tombs, astronomy, chronology, mythology, religion, and how they all relate to each other.
Egyptian Astrology and Its Importance
Ancient Egypt religious traditions affected many aspects of their society, and many of those beliefs were started using astronomy. This correlation between astronomy and their gods was so important that temples and pyramids were built based astronomical orientations. Astronomy had more than just religious purposes for the Egyptians. Egyptians had three calendars which were based on their study of astrology. The Sirius calender relied on a star called Sirius and its relation to the Nile river’s cycles. This calendar only had 354 days. To balance this, Egyptians added an extra month called Thoth, one of their lunar gods, if Sirius rose helically in the twelfth month. As Egypt developed further they created a 365 day calendar that had twelve months, each with thirty days. Then there each and five extra days added (Barton, Tamsyn). This calendar was mostly used for record keeping. Instead of correcting this, another calendar was developed using new rules around 2500 BC (North and explorable). The Egyptians continued to use all three of these calendars until 46 BCE when Julius Caesar had the calendar modified to have a leap year. We still use this simplified 365 day calendar (https://www.britannica.com/science/Egyptian-calendar).
Two Decans Orion and Sothis/ Sirius (Dorman, fig. 86b pg. 272)
Their night and day cycles are very important in their religion. The sun god Re and his journey on his boat were based on their observations of the sun and the stars. The journey Re took was marked using thirty-six stars called Decans. Among those, Sirius was the most important marker due to its importance in tracking the Nile (North). To tell the time in the day, Egyptians used a sundial, and they used the thirty-six Decans to tell time at night (explorable.com).
The Astronomical Ceiling of Senenmut’s Tomb“The Astronomical Ceiling of Senenmut’s Tomb” is the oldest and most important astronomical ceiling that has been found. The size of the entire ceiling drawing is 3 by 3.6 meters, but the eastern side is not a perfect match to the western side as the shape of the chamber becomes more concave (Dorman 138). The decoration is divided into two sections to represent the northern and the southern skies of the celestial sphere (Pogo 301).
Wilkinson, Charles K. Astronomical Ceiling Replication. 1479–1458 B.C, MET Museum, New York, United States.
There are decorations which include a list of the associated deities and deacons. Deacons were stars that were important in predicting the flooding of the Nile. This is a great example of how the decans were also used to figure out the passage of the hours during the night (Dorman 140). There are several southern and northern constellations included on the calendar. Some of the constellations in this drawing include two crocodiles, a lion with a crocodile tail, a bull, a falcon-headed man who spears the bull, and many other gods and goddesses (Dorman 145).
Left: the diagram of the ceiling (Dorman, fig. 85)
Right: the ceiling (Dorman, fig. 86a.)
The decoration has a schematic of a lunar calendar and the respective deities. A lunar calendar is a calendar based on the moon phases unlike solar calendar which are based on the time it takes Earth to make a full revolution around the sun. The calendar is the set of twelve circles that are divided into twenty-four sections. Each Circle is actually their feast days and the sections represent the hours in a day (Dorman 143).
The lunar calendar of the ceiling. (Dorman, fig. 85)
Portrait of Senenmut, steward of Amun, in his Deir el-Bahri tomb (TT 252). Photograph by Harry Burton, 1926–27 (M8C 173). Archives of the Egyptian Expedition, Department of Egyptian Art.
It is important to know more about Senenmut and his tomb in order to have a background on the work. Senenmut started as a tutor to Princess Neferure, and during the reign of Hatshepsut he became the overseer of many royal projects. He was also made the great steward of Amun and royal architect (“Senenmut”). He was one of the most powerful officials during Hatshepsut’s rule. There are some interesting theories as to whether he had a relationship with Hatshepsut; however, most of the evidence can only confirm that he played an important role through his job as tutor, steward, and architect (Gale Virtual Reference Library). There are many statues of Senenmut holding Hatshepsut’s daughter, Princess Neferure that show that aspect of his job. The princess and her teacher in the British Museum are one of these statues (britishmuseum.org). He is more known for having designed Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri, a pair of obelisks, and his offering chapel (referred to as TT 71 in excavation documents) at Sheikh Abd El-Qurna (The “Senenmut” and Shaw 240). His tomb (referred to as TT 353 in excavation documents) is located in Deir el-Bahri (Dorman 138). The Tomb of Senenmut (TT 353) was discovered during the 1926-1927 excavation by the Metropolitan Museum of Art which was overseen by Herbert Winlock. Senenmut’s tomb is unfinished, and he was never buried there (metmuseum.org). It is suspected that this is due to Thutmose III attempts to erase Hatshepsut and her favored officials from history toward the end of his rule, but this theory cannot be confirmed (Shaw 243). Egyptian astrology was very important to their daily life whether it was through determining the flooding of the Nile for farming, telling time, or worshiping their gods. Senenmut was a key figure during Hepsuphet’s reign, and his tomb became important to our understanding of his reign and Egyptian astrology of that time. More specifically “The Astronomical Ceiling Decoration of Senenmut’s Tomb” provided information on their lunar calendar and the decans as well as their understanding of the stars and how Egyptians related them to their gods and calendar. Even though the tomb and the artwork are unfinished, their significance is indisputable in understanding Egyptian history.
Works Cited
The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, www.metmuseum.org/met-around-the-world/?page=10160.
The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544566.
Barton, Tamsyn. Ancient Astrology. Routledge, 1994. EBSCOhost,
cmsmir.clevelandstatecc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=tru e&db=nlebk&AN=79640&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Belmonte, J., and J. Belmonte. “The Astronomical Ceiling of Senenmut, a Dream of Mystery and Imagination.” Academia.edu – Share Research, www.academia.edu/4993866/The_astronomical_ceiling_of_senenmut_a_dream_of_mystery_and_imagination.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Egyptian Calendar.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 8 June 2017, www.britannica.com/science/Egyptian-calendar.
Dorman, Peter. The Tombs of Senenmut: the Architecture and Decoration of Tombs 71 and 353. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1991.
“Senenmut.” The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. : Oxford University Press, January 01, 2005. Oxford Reference. Date Accessed 15 Mar. 2019 <http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195102345.001.0001/acref-9780195102345-e-0650>.
Pogo, A. “The Astronomical Ceiling-Decoration in the Tomb of Senmut (XVIIIth Dynasty).” Isis, vol. 14, no. 2, 1930, pp. 301–325. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/224678.
“Senmut (Senenmut).” World Eras, edited by Edward I. Bleiberg, vol. 5: Ancient Egypt, 2615 – 332 B.C.E. Gale, 2002, p. 59. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3035000043/GVRL?u=tel_a_clscc&sid=GVRL&xid=023a15ea. Accessed 8 Feb. 2019.
Shaw, Ian. Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press, 2014.
“Statue.” British Museum, www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?assetId=134193001&objectId=119654&partId=1.Woldering, Irmgard, and Ann Elizabeth. KEEP. Egypt. The Art of the Pharaohs. (Translated by Ann E. Keep.). London; Printed in Holland, 1963.