The Stellar Primacy: Reconstructing the Ursa Major-Minor Blueprint of the 18th Dynasty Architecture
This model reverses the traditional paradigm of cultural transmission. It argues that the stars were not a canvas for human imagination, but the original, primary blueprint for Egyptian civilization. The unmoving geometry of the circumpolar stars directly generated the Egyptian language (The Akhet), temporal measurement (Amun-Ra) and monumental architecture (The Obelisk).
The Sun as the Bridge
Just as the Sun sat nestled between the rounded peaks of the Akhet, the Bennu bird (Egyptian precursor to the Phoenix) alighted from the stone at the moment of creation. The rounding of the Benben stone reached its peak during the 18th century dynasty under Pharaoh Aknaten. The topography of the eastern cliffs formed a natural Akhet shape.
By softening the sharp, angular pyramidion into the rounded form , they harmonized the first mound of creation with the curved mountains of the horizon. This created a perfect visual loop of birth, light and resurrection.
The Egyptian hieroglyph for Akhet has a specific name (Aject). It is also transcribed as (Achet or Akhet). It is officially catalogued in Gardiner's Sign List as (Sign N27). The word "Ajet" combines two visual elements. The first is the twin peaks (Djew). This is the foundational base of the hieroglyph (Djew, Gardiner Sign N26). The second is the solar disk of Ra (Gardner Sign N26). The solar disk of Ra (Gardner Sign N5) is nestled between the two peaks.
The name Ajet encapsulates this dual symbolism. It was the physical gate of the sunrise and the spiritual gateway through which the soul of the deceased was transformed into the immortal spirit called (Akh).
Orientation
In order to avoid directional confusion, a short description in orientation of the four stars in the Little Dipper's bowl is required. The pair Kochab and Pherkad are viewed as outer edge stars. The pair Zeta and Eta are classified as inner edge stars. This means that both pairs are seen as vertical. However, if seen from another perspective, Kochab and Zeta connect horizontally to form the edge of the bowl while Pherkad and Eta connect horizontally to form the bottom of the bowl.
This orientation is important because we are going to do simultaneous vertical and horizontal alignments with two observers. One does not have to be so concerned about the how as opposed to the why. This method will help us create a perfect square in order to identify the center in a somewhat irregularly shaped rectangle. In the center of the square is the hidden, unmoving, creator god Atum.
At the moment, though, the horizontal pairs of stars in the Little Dipper's bowl are being interpreted as the Ajet hieroglyph as it may have been viewed in the Eighteenth Dynasty during the reign of Hatshepsut.The hieroglyph itself consists of two rounded bars which are positioned horizontally one on top of the other. The two, horizontal, parallel lines of the Little Dipper's bowl function like the foundational components of the Ajet. This means the Little Dipper is interpreted as the celestial Ajet.
The Top Horizontal Pair (Kolchab and Zeta)
This represents the heavens or the upper horizon. They trace the upper boundary where light emerges.
The Bottom Horizontal Pair (Pherkad and Eta)
This represents the earth or lower foundational peaks of the mountain.
The Central Space
Just as the sun disk (Ra) sits nestled between the peaks of Ajet, the central void of the bowl forms the celestial north---the "axis mundi" of ancient Egypt.
Because the stars of the Little Dipper's bowl never set below the horizon in Egypt, they acted as a permanent celestial Ajet in the sky. While the physical sun rose and set between the earthly mountain of the East and West, the northern stars found a stationary, eternal portal of light. By visualizing the horizontal pairs of the bowl as the Ajet, you are seeing the exact geometric threshold the pharaoh's soul was believed to cross so it could achieve eternal life among the stars.
The new interpretation of the Little Dipper's horizontal pairs is a compelling modern synthesis. It bridges ancient Egyptian architecture, symbolism and astronomy in a logical way. Admittedly, it has not as yet been formally documented in ancient papyri or tomb ceilings, but that may be forthcoming to some degree.
At this point, it may be helpful to show the background development which was a necessary conceptual foundation to establish the Stellar Primacy model. It begins with the thought experiment of a Kochab-Pherkad Midpoint model which has been simmering on the back burner for the last nine months in one form or another.
It was initially conceived of as a means to verify and calibrate readings which tracked movement of the Sun and Moon along with eclipses. The former model was a six vertex crystalline structure; wherein, the emphasis was put on the Alkaid-Thuban-Polaris axis.
A newer model would overlap the crystalline structure. The main axis of a smaller crystalline structure would focus on the Dubhe-Kochab axis which is at the other end of the Big Dipper. It would also involve both bowls (to different extents) of the Big and Little Dippers. Furthermore, it would diminish emphasis on the old pole star (Thuban) and the new pole star (Polaris) by focusing on a star named Kochab in the intermediate period which was near the Void where the unseen celestial north was located.
The K-P Midpoint was repurposed as a stable model to help fix the position of celestial north as well as aid in tracking its position due to precession over long periods of time. The application period also changed from the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom. Specifically, special interest was directed to the 18th Dynasty when Queen Hatseptsut reigned (c. 1473-1458 BCE) and served earlier as regent. The transition from old to new was a natural circumstance because three, crystalline obelisk structures had lately been identified in the Dippers with pyrmamidio tops representing the Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure pyramids; as well as, four directional Sphinxes were observed in the Dippers.
At this juncture, it had to be decided whether or not a complex, crystalline structure would be chosen to integrate seamlessly with a lattice of six vertices focused on Kochab as opposed to Polaris. The basic method had been successfully applied in the Neo Leo model with respect to the constellation Leo.
However, it was decided that a more simple geometric tool was required regarding the Little Dipper to complement the sophisticated tools of Stellar Quadrature and Dual Transit Models in order to verify their results. It was also necessary to help pinpoint the location of celestial north on a long-term basis during the period of the New Kingdom as a potential plausibility of estimated likelihood.
To simplify the structure of the six vertex crystalline model one can view it as a triangle. In a similar way, the K-P Midpoint crystalline model can also be viewed as a triangle. At this particular time, there is no formal attempt to integrate crystalline structures. Simplicity is the key to clarity and conciseness with regard to naked-eye observation.
What opened the eye of the observer here was rather surprising. Lines were drawn between Kochab-Dubhe, Dubhe-Alioth and Alioth-Kochab. Naturally, it formed a triangle. However, it appeared closer to equilateral than coordinate-based calculations indicate. This means to the unaided eye on the sky viewing the indestructible and eternal circumpolar stars at the time of the New Kingdom, it appeared as a prominent pointing guide. These three stars form virtually the same triangle that we can view today.
These stars appear to form a near equilateral and isosceles triangle for several reasons. Visual projection and foreshortening at high declination (celestial equivalent of latitude) compress east-west separations. Naked-eye angular resolution (5-10 arcminutes) and human perception smooth small differences. Finally, there is the cultural context. Ancient observers during the New Kingdom would note overall patterns (the Dipper) and nearby asterisms rather than measure small angular differences.
Several days ago, things really got interesting regarding the Dubhe-Alioth-Kochab triangle. In this triangle, Kochab was the apex. The apex was though temporarily moved to the Kochab-Pherkad midpoint and finally to the theoretical center of the Little Dipper.
The discovery that the Dubhe-Alioth base line was shared by another triangle of similar dimensions to the naked-eye was rather remarkable. And it was also nearly equilateral and isosceles. Together, they form a quadrilateral-diamond shape of immense size. If I can see it then others can see it and the ancient Egyptians during the period of the New Kingdom almost certainly could see it. They did pay attention to the sky, if we don't so much look up today.
By applying the Stellar Primacy model, the pyramidion (top cap) and the upper shaft of an obelisk mirrors the geometric, celestial form. When the celestial triangles are connected at their shared base it creates a massive celestial diamond. The Dubhe-Alioth base is one of the most visible alignments in the night sky. This axis acts exactly like the base of the obelisk's cap where it meets the shaft. By tracing a line from Alioth (at the base) back to the center of the Little Dipper, one's eye passes directly through Kochab and Pherkad---the traditional Guardians. At this point, the obelisk ceases to be merely a Sun-monument. It becomes a terrestrial mirror of the stellar suns.
Direct Architectural Impact
By reversing the traditional paradigm, a new origin for the obelisk emerges. The Egyptians did not build a stone pillar as a petrified sun beam. Instead, they looked up and traced the 60 degree, double-triangle geometry pivoting in the northern sky. To lock that eternal, cosmic truth into the temporal earth, they carved the exact angular dimensions of the rotating star-diamond into solid granite.
This analysis involves how ancient observations of the Little Dipper may influenced how the Akhet was viewed in a symbolic sense. This is through identifying the horizontal, parallel pairs of the Little Dipper Bowl.
The original Benben stone was shaped like the top point (pyramidion) of the obelisk. The sacred Benben stone of Heliopolis was a physical object kept in the temple of Ra. It was an artistic style of the primordial mound that first emerged from the dark waters of Nun at the dawn of Egyptian creation.
Architectural Evolution
The shape of the stone was adapted over several centuries to create the iconic solar monuments. The pyramid was a full-scale monument to emulate the pointed shape of the original primeval mound. The "pyramidion" (Benbenet) was the capstone of a pyramid or obelisk. The obelisk was viewed as a sacred Benben stone placed atop a soaring pillar of light.
The rounding evolution of the Benben stone shares a profound symbolic link with the iconography of the Akhet (the horizon) and the sacred geography of ancient Egypt. The transition from a sharp-angled pyramidion to a rounded, dome-like form reflects the desire to merge two critical solar and creation concepts.
The Stellar Primacy: Comprehensive Glossary
English Chinese Pinyin
Abstract 摘要 Zhāiyào
Akhet (Horizon) 阿克特 (地平线) Ākètè (Dìpíngxiàn)
Altitude 高度 (仰角) Gāodù
Amun-Ra 阿蒙-拉 Āméng-Lā
Architect 建筑师 Jiànzhùshī
Astronomy 天文学 Tiānwénxué
Atum 阿图姆 Ātúmǔ
Axial Precession 地轴进动 Dìzhóu jìndòng
Azimuth 方位角 Fāngwèijiǎo
Benben Stone 奔奔石 Bēnbēn shí
Benbenet
(Pyramidion) 奔奔内特 (顶角锥) Bēnbēnnèitè
Calibration 校准 Xiàozhǔn
Celestial 天体的 Tiānkōng de
Chronometer 时计 (天文钟) Jīngmì shíjì
Circumpolar
Stars 拱极星 Gǒngjíxīng
Compact
Geometry 紧凑几何 Jǐncòu jǐhé
Cultural
Transmission 文化传递 Wénhuà chuándì
Dawn of
Creation 创世之初 Chuàngshì zhī chū
Degree 度 DùDiamond
Formation 钻石星阵 Zuànshí xīngzhèn
Equinox 昼夜平分点 (分点) Zhòuyè píngfēn diǎn
Geometry 几何 Jǐhé
Horizon 地平线 Dìpíngxiàn
Iconography 图像学 Túxiàngxué
Inscribed 刻有的 Kè yǒu de
Intersection 交点 Jiāodiǎn
Jubilee
(Sed Festival) 禧年 (赛德节) Xǐnián (Sàidè jié)
Latitude 纬度 Wěidù
Mathematical
Proof 数学证明 Shùxué zhèngmíng
Measurement 测量 Cèliáng
Meridian 子午线 ZǐwǔxiànNun
(Dark Waters) 努恩 (深渊之水) Nǔ'ēn
Obelisk 方尖碑 Fāngjiānbēi
Orbit 轨道 Guǐdào
Orientation 取向 / 定向 Qǔxiàng
Paradigm 范式 Fànshì
Pedestal 基座 Jīzuò
Pivot 中心点 / 枢轴 Shūzhóu
Plumb Bob 铅垂线 Qiānchuíxiàn
Primordial
Mound 初始之丘 Chūshǐ zhī qiū
Pyramid 金字塔 Jīnzìtǎ
Ratio 比例 Bǐlì
Refraction 折射 Zhéshè
Revolution 公转 Gōngzhuǎn
Rotation 自转 Zìzhuǎn
Royal Cubit 王室肘尺 Wángshì zhǒuchǐ
Scale 比例尺 Bǐlìchǐ
Seked
(Slope measure) 塞克德 (坡度单位) Sāikèdé
Shadow 影子 Yǐngzi
Slope 斜率 / 坡度 Pōdù
Solstice 至点 Zhìdiǎn
Sphinx 狮身人面像 Shīshēnrénmiànxiàng
Stellar
Primacy 恒星至上性 Héngxīng zhìshàng xìng
Symmetry 对称 Duìchèn
Synchronize 同步 Tōngbù
Temporal
Measurement 时间测量 Shíjiān cèliáng
Terrestrial 地球的 / 陆地的 Dìqiú de
Timekeeping 计时 Jìshí
Ursa Major
/Minor 熊座 / 小熊座 Dàxióngzuò / Xiǎoxióngzuò
Vernier Scale 游标尺 Yóubiāochǐ
Vertical 垂直 Chuíchí
Appendix A: Astronomical Coordinates (Epoch 1470 BCE)
Star Name Egyptian Altitude (高度) Azimuth (方位角)
Kochab (UMi) Akhem-sek 75.8°0° (True North)
Psi (UMa) Mesekhtiu 50.2°180° (South of Pivot)
Megrez (UMa) Ma’at (Pivot) 63.50° (True North)
Dubhe (UMa) Ra (East Wing) 67.8°45° (Northeast)
Alioth (UMa) Ra (West Wing) 61.4°315° (Northwest)
