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Astronomer Analyzes 125 Paintings in Coffins and Egyptian Tombs and Identifies Curves That May Represent the Milky Way in the Form of the Goddess Nut.
A new analysis of paintings by ancient Egyptians in coffins and tombs in Egypt revealed that the Milky Way may have been symbolically represented through the figure of the sky goddess Nut.
The research, led by astronomer Or Graur from the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom, examines 125 representations of the deity in artifacts from ancient Egyptians up to 5,000 years ago.
The conclusion supports an ancient belief among Egyptologists: the connection between Nut and the Milky Way. However, the study now provides an analysis from an astronomical perspective, something unprecedented until now.
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Images with Stars and Wavy Curves
Nut, often depicted as a naked woman arching over the Earth, appears in various representations with stars and solar discs scattered across her body.
This posture was already understood as a way to symbolize her connection with the sky and her protective role over the Earth.
But Graur found something different in some of these images. In certain cases, thick, dark, wavy curves cut across the starry body of the goddess.
An example is found in the coffin of Nesitaudjatakhet, a religious singer of the time.
According to Graur, this curve resembles the Great Rift — a dark band of cosmic dust that divides the diffuse light of the Milky Way.
“This wavy curve may be a representation of the Milky Way“, said the researcher. He also noted similar patterns in decorations of four tombs located in the Valley of the Kings.
The Tombs of the Valley of the Kings
Among the examined examples is the tomb of Ramses VI, who ruled from 1143 to 1136 BC. On the ceiling of the tomb, there are two consecutive images of Nut, separated by golden curves that extend from the goddess’s head to her buttocks.
These visual elements reinforce the hypothesis that the ancient Egyptians may have linked these curves to the Milky Way, associating them with Nut’s protective role over the world.
This relationship also appears in the position of Geb, the god of the Earth, who in various representations is beneath the arched figure of the goddess.
Nut and the Sky in All Its Forms
Despite the strong connection to the Milky Way, the astronomer emphasizes that Nut should not be seen merely as a representation of this celestial band. For Graur, the Milky Way should be understood as another phenomenon present in the sky, along with the stars and the Sun, all under the symbolic dominion of the goddess.
“We should not think of the Milky Way as a representation of Nut,” Graur wrote. “We should think of the Milky Way as part of the sky — and, therefore, part of Nut.”
Agreement Between Astronomers and Egyptologists
The idea that the Milky Way was associated with Nut is not exactly new to Egyptology experts. However, Graur’s study offers a distinct and complementary perspective.
Rogério Sousa, a professor of Egyptology at the University of Lisbon, states that this connection has always been considered by Egyptologists. “I can say that I agree with the identification between Nut and the Milky Way proposed by Or,” said Sousa in an interview with Live Science. “But Or, being an astronomer, provides an important astronomical contribution.”
The conclusions of the study, published on April 30 in the Journal of Astronomical Historynd Heritage, reinforces how the ancient Egyptians combined religion and celestial observation, leaving visual records that have crossed millennia.
Concordo sobre essas propagandas poluição visual paro até de ver a matéria .
Site horrível! Repleto de anúncios que dificultam a leitura e análise das imagens! A matéria é boa mas os anúncios excessivos deixam a experiência desagradável e cansativa para o leitor.
A divindade cultuada no antigo Egito era o Deus” Sol. Rá. Hamesses e outros faraós tinham ritual e mito que imortalizada o corpo.