Astronomical Ceilings
The ancient Egyptians tryed to keep the design of the ceilings as close as possible to the sky
How they decorated the ceilings
In the earlier times, they painted the ceiling blue and painted yellow five pointed stars
By the new kingdom, they used more representative designs
The 1st major element is a list of stars known as decans
they are divided into 2 groups named Ordinary & triangle decans
there are 36 ordinary decans
11 or 12 triangle decans
The number of decans change but their order doesn't change
The diagonal star tables record stars performing a particular action in order throughout the year
The calendar is not present in the ceilings but the stars and their order are
The decans are interpersed with two groups of planets
2 planets whose orbit is inside that of the earth, the morning & evening stars
Follow the triangle decans (Mercury and Vinus)
3 plantes have orbits outside the earth
Between the ordinary and triangle dicans (Mars, Jupiter & Saturn)
Planets & decans occupy the southern part of the ceiling
The circumpolar group is situated in the northern half of the ceiling
Circumpolar group is a group of stars or constelation with particular behavior when observed from Egypt
They don't rise or set but rotate around the north celestial pole
The representation of circupolar group & number of figures change
However, 3 characters don't change (the foreleg, hippopotamus & the mooring post)
The stars are divided into 2 groups
Stars in the south who rise and set (decans)
Stars in the north who don't rise or set (circumpolar group)
The Foreleg is the only one that exists in the modern sky and is called the Plough or Big Dipper
However, its possition has changed