2024-08-30 11:00:08
A vast ancient astronomical observatory has been unearthed in Egypt, revealing a building dating back to the 6th century BC that has been buried under sand for 2,500 years.
Located in the temple of Buto, in the Kafr El Sheikh region, this observatory is the largest ever discovered for this period. This discovery highlights the ingenuity of the ancient Egyptians in terms ofastronomya science essential to their religious, political and agricultural practices.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/Facebook
This building, built of mud bricks, covers 850 square metres and is L-shaped. The entrance, facing east, made it possible to follow the sunrise, an essential element for the study of the stars.
Inside, archaeologists discovered a large tilted sundial, or “shadow clock,” an instrument that measured time by the movement of the sun’s shadow on limestone slabs. These clocks demonstrate the ancient Egyptians’ skill in using simple but sophisticated tools to track the movement of the stars.
In addition to the sundial, the excavations also revealed a large room covered with frescoes depicting astronomical scenes, such as the sunrise and sunset, as well as religious symbols.
Notable finds include representations of the head of the god Horus and the eye of Udjat, symbols associated with the cosmos and the universe in Egyptian mythology. Other objects, such as statues of deities and time-measuring tools, attest to the importance given to astronomy in ancient Egyptian culture.
According to Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Buto observatory was not only used for scientific observation, but also played an important ritual role.
Some objects discovered in the observatory.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/Facebook
Astronomer priests used this knowledge to determine the dates of religious and political ceremonies, thus harmonizing celestial cycles with terrestrial activities. This discovery therefore underlines the complexity of the relationship between science and religion in ancient Egypt.
This archaeological site offers a new perspective on the astronomical legacy of the ancient Egyptians, who were among the first to develop a 365-day solar calendar and a 24-hour day. The Buto Observatory is an exceptional testimony to how the study of the stars shaped the culture and Egyptian society, influencing our modern understanding of time and astronomy.
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