Modern astrology helps deepen our understanding of ourselves and others, track our behaviors, consider our life paths, and even make compatible matches with zodiac signs that balance us out. When building a big and beautiful picture of ourselves, it makes sense to collect all the amazing archetypes out there and to lean on all the astrological traditions and ancient star signs, so we learn to love all the angles of ourselves and others. A common thread across many work cultures is the practice of looking to the sky and the celestial bodies to understand our place in the universe. This has given us a variety of astrological systems.
This article delves into the profound world of Ancient Egyptian zodiacs, highlighting how astrology shaped religion, agriculture, and daily life. It traces the origins of the zodiac signs to the 2nd millennium BCE and the Ptolemaic period, when Greek influence introduced structured zodiac associations with gods. The calendar system, divided into seasons, months, and decans, aligned closely with star movements and the Nile’s cycles. Key celestial bodies like Sirius played major roles in spiritual and practical affairs.
The symbolism of the Astrological system was seen as the foundation for ancient Egyptian religion, ancient Egyptian mythology, their overall culture, plus their daily common life. This information does not seek to degrade or insult any religion.
Until the Macedonian conquest of Egypt, when Greek astrology was adopted enthusiastically, the ancient Egyptians had a unique approach to astrology.
Egyptian astrology looks a little different from Western astrology, but it still uses the 12 zodiac signs even though they have different names. In ancient Egyptian astrology, it was believed that each sign was a deity manifested, which is why the zodiac signs are named after gods and goddesses.
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The origin of the ancient Egyptian zodiac dates to the 2nd millennium BCE and can be found in some other ancient civilizations like Chinese, Maya, Hindu, Greek, Roman, Arab Culture, and more.
The Ancient Egyptians developed astrology to seek knowledge and unlock the hidden secrets of the skies, which had a deep effect on every aspect of their lives and livelihood. The Egyptians believed that the position of the stars and planets at the time of a person's birth could influence their personality, behaviors, and destiny.
The ancient Egyptian calendar is very close to our current Gregorian calendar, which is based on the essence of a solar calendar. The ancient Egyptians divided their calendar based on their astronomical observations as follows:
- The year had 356 days, which was divided into three seasons, and each season had 120 days.
- One week was made of ten days, three weeks were one month, and each season had four months, and of course, each month is made of 30 days.
The initial season was referred to as Akhet, denoting the period of flooding. The subsequent season bore the name Proyet, which symbolizes emergence. The subsequent season, known as Shomu, designated the phase of low water.
Each of these months was comprised of three segments, each spanning ten days, known as decades or decans. While the individual months had distinct names, they were identified by the Egyptian festivals they marked. A month on the Egyptian solar calendar is known to have spanned 30 days. The added month spanned five days, serving to reconcile the Egyptian solar calendar with the solar year. This adjustment resulted in a discrepancy of approximately one-fourth of a day annually.
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Decans in ancient Egyptian astronomy were star groups used for nighttime timekeeping. Their rising marked a new sidereal day. There were 36 decans, each spanning ten days, amounting to a 360-day year. Although decan names are known, their locations and relation to modern constellations are uncertain.
The Canopus Decree by Ptolemy III introduced a sixth epagomenal day every four years to correct this difference. Dates were made by common people who followed a specific format: the month's number within the season, the season's name, the day's number within the month, the year, and the ruler's name. A new ruler's ascension would reset the year count.
Sirius is a heavenly star aside from its brightness; it held significance for ancient Egyptians due to its role beyond being the brightest star when it came to religion and navigation. It was believed to embody the power behind the sun, sustaining both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. This star was linked to Isis, an integral figure in Egyptian mythology's trinity and the mother goddess of the earth.
Accuracy was crucial between the solar calendar year and the actual one to ensure the correct heliacal rising of Sirius, briefly seen on the horizon before sunrise. This event was linked to Egyptian religion. In pre-astrology times, the solar calendar dominated, with significant days and years aligned to stellar events. For instance, the heliacal rising of Sirius marked the start of the Nile's annual flood in Cairo.
The Egyptian Zodiac was entirely calculated on the concept of heliacal rising, or the first sighting of some specific constellations and stars at a certain time on the eastern horizon before sunrise. The timing of the risings was observed and recorded by brilliant ancient Egyptian astronomers.
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The ancient Egyptians were one of the first civilizations on earth to make an elaborate system using the astronomical creations to monitor and calculate time, known as clocks.
The ancient Egyptian zodiac was made of 12 signs, which were assigned to certain days of the month based on the position of the sun and the rising of constellations and stars.
The ancient Egyptians created their astrology, which is based entirely on a small group of stars known as Asterisms, which rose regularly and consecutively on the horizon because of the Earth’s rotation. The initial sign in the Egyptian Zodiac is the heavenly Nile. To the ancient Egyptians, the River Nile wasn't merely a waterway; it epitomized Egypt's vitality and was vital for sustenance. It symbolized abundance and prosperity.
Those born under the Nile sign are characterized by logic, tranquility, and pragmatism. Amon-Ra is the ruler of deities, the god and the gods, which represents the second Egyptian Zodiac sign. As the god of protection and creativity, Amon-Ra bestowed the power to generate from nothingness. Those under the Amon-Ra sign exhibit generosity, achievement, confidence, optimism, and helpfulness.
Mut is the mother goddess and stands as the third Egyptian Zodiac symbol. She embodies maternity, divine protection, and creation, often associated with water. Those born under Mut's influence possess practicality and nurturing inclinations.
Geb is the earth god, the fourth Egyptian Zodiac sign. Linked to earthquakes which were made by his laughter and the afterlife, Geb was an integral figure in the Egyptian pantheon. Those with Geb as their sign exhibit pride, sensitivity, and humility.
Osiris: God of the Underworld and Resurrection
Osiris is the ruler of the deceased, symbolizing revival, fertility, and resurrection. Those born under Osiris' influence manifest qualities of strength, innovation, and generosity.
Osiris (, from Egyptian wsjr)[a] was the god of fertility, agriculture, the afterlife, the dead, resurrection, life, and vegetation in ancient Egyptian religion. He was classically depicted as a green-skinned deity with a pharaoh's beard, partially mummy-wrapped at the legs, wearing a distinctive atef crown and holding a symbolic crook and flail.[5] He was one of the first to be associated with the mummy wrap.
Osiris was one of the chief deities of ancient Egypt and considered the empire’s first ruler. The name Osiris comes from Latin but its root originates from the Egyptian word “Usir,” meaning ‘powerful’ or ‘mighty.’ Renowned German Egyptologist, Dr. H. Osiris was the eldest of the five children of Nut and Geb, the goddess of the sky and the god of the earth respectively. Marriage between siblings was a common tradition among both ancient Egyptian royalty and the gods from whom they claimed to be descended. Osiris married his sister, Isis, the goddess of motherhood, magic, fertility, death, healing and rebirth. Osiris also had another sister, Nephthys. She represented death and was married to Seth, the god of chaos and the desert. Legend tells us that Nephthys took on the form of Isis to seduce her brother.
Osiris is depicted with a long, narrow beard and either green or black skin. He holds a crook in one hand and a flail in the other. On his head is a white Atef crown decorated with a pair of ostrich feathers. Pharaohs in their public appearances imitated much of his appearance. Egyptians considered the beard a status symbol and a sign of intelligence. However, pharaohs did not grow beards but instead donned a ceremonial one made of goat hair. They also carried the crook and flail. The former was based upon a shepherd’s staff and alluded to a pharaoh’s aegis of protection over his people.
Osiris was considered the god of resurrection and the god of the underworld. He would pass judgement on the soul of every Egyptian. If the heart was heavier, it meant that the person was unworthy and they would be consumed by a gruesome monster hiding in the shadows. This was considered the worst possible fate.
Osiris was one of many native gods of the dead worshipped in Egypt. Usually depicted sitting or standing, he was a hawk-headed mummy holding a whip, sceptre and crook. His kingdom of Seker was the Tuat, or Other World, of Memphis.
He is seen with a crescent moon and full moon on his head, which is in human form. He represented the evening sun, the night sun and the morning sun.
Legend says that Osiris was so popular and beloved by the people that his younger brother, Seth became jealous. He had a beautiful box made in the size and shape of Osiris. When his brother returned, Seth invited him to a banquet. There, he displayed the chest and said that the person who could fit inside would win it. Once Osiris was inside, Seth and the other conspirators closed the lid and nailed it shut. The box was then covered with lead. The heartbroken Isis searched everywhere for her husband and eventually found the box on the coast of Syria. An Erica tree had grown around the box and covered it completely. Together, Isis and Nephthys found all the pieces and sewed Osiris back together. They wrapped his body in linen, making him the first mummy.
Osiris’s mother, Nut was the symbol of the stars, the night sky and the cows, but the ladder or Maqet was her most sacred symbol and was even placed in the coffins of pharaohs.
In the Ennead of Heliopolis, Osiris was originally the king of the mortal realm until he was killed by his brother Set. He was brought back to life by his sister-wife Isis, but it was a half-life. The underworld was created for him, and this allowed others to live there for eternity after death. Osiris is depicted with green skin to represent that he is no longer among the living.
Possible Personality Traits: People born under Osiris are intelligent and independent, but they aren’t good at reading other people and tend to put themselves first.
Osiris is the god of the underworld. Those born under this sign are full of emotional paradox and are misunderstood by others because of it. Osiris is the god of the underworld. He is a symbol of resurrection. People born under his sign are good with new beginnings and have great intuition. They are prone to bouts of deep melancholy.
To find out more about the Osiris zodiac sign, watch this video:
Osiris The God of the Underworld - Egyptian Mythology
The Nile supplying water, and Osiris (strongly connected to the vegetable regeneration) who died only to be resurrected, represented continuity and stability.
Osiris tamed the cannibalistic tendencies of the Egyptians, but could not eradicate them fully. There is evidence that prisoners were often offered as sacrifices to the gods. It seems that the ancient Egyptians considered human sacrifices as a means to avenge the death of Osiris. In addition, everyone who took part in the ceremony was believed to receive benefit.
Abydos is an important Egyptian archaeological site as it is the burial place of the Egyptian kings of the 1st dynasty (2925 - 2775 BCE). The temple dedicated to Osiris here was widely revered because it was believed to have been built near the spot where the god’s head had been buried. Many pharaohs, including Pepi I, Ahmose I, Thutmose III, Ramses III and Ahmose II had the complex enlarged during their respective reigns.
The Ikhernofret Stela, named after a treasurer of the 12th dynasty pharaoh Senwosret III, is a funerary tablet located at Abydos. It is invaluable for the information it contains about the rites of Osiris.
The First Day: The Procession of Wepwawet - The God Wepwawet, “the Opener of Ways,” leads the religious procession.
The Second Day: The Great Procession of Osiris - The body of Osiris, represented by a statue of the god, was brought from his temple through the cemeteries and to his tomb on a vessel called the Neshmet bark. It had to be defended against enemies during its transport. Priestesses playing Isis and Nephthys would search for the body and then mourn and lament its discovery.
The Third Day: The Haker Festival, the Night of the Battle - This is the night of the battle between Horus and Seth as the mourning for Osiris continues.
The Fifth Day, Osiris is Reborn - Osiris is reborn at dawn and the crown of Ma’at, the goddess of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality and justice is placed on his head. Osiris’s statue is purified and brought to the temple, and the public makes offerings to Osiris.
The part of the myth where Osiris’s body was chopped up into 14 pieces by Seth is not recounted in this particular stela. According to the Papyrus Jumilhac, it took 12 days for Isis to reassemble the body. This correlates with the duration of the ploughing festival.
Some of the ceremonies were held in the temple and in the form of theatre with public involvement.
In 550, the Roman emperor, Justinian I had the great Osirian temples and sanctuaries destroyed.
Isis is the goddess of nature and protector of various groups, and is associated with the sixth Egyptian Zodiac sign. Individuals influenced by Isis exhibit a drive for love and motivation.
Thoth is the god of knowledge, is the seventh Egyptian Zodiac sign. He introduced writing and recorded universal wisdom. People born under Thoth's influence are compassionate, wise, romantic, energetic, and brave.
Horus is the king of earthly gods, unifies Egypt, and safeguards the pharaoh. Those influenced by Horus display charisma, optimism, and adeptness at inspiring others.
Anubis is the guardian of the underworld, represents the ninth Egyptian Zodiac sign. Guiding lost souls and judging hearts, Anubis personifies passion and creativity.
Seth is the god of violence and chaos, the tenth Egyptian Zodiac sign. Change-driven and communicative, individuals under Seth's influence are comfortable in the limelight.
Bastet is the feline cat goddess, symbolizing pleasure, house protection, balance, and fertility. Those under Bastet's influence seek equilibrium and serenity.