Ajit Karn
Archaeologists from around the globe have always been surprised by Egypt’s past. Pyramids, tombs, ancient temples, sculptures, and murals all have a hidden significance and enigma. The walls of ancient Egyptian temples were also covered with wall art paintings, also known as reliefs, in addition to mural paintings.
At the Temple of Esna in Upper Egypt, an Egyptian-German research team has discovered yet another series of colorful ceiling paintings depicting the entire zodiac.
However, the images of the twelve zodiac signs differ slightly from modern zodiac images.
Each zodiac sign is entirely represented in the relief images. In addition to the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, other reliefs depict a variety of stars and constellations that were once used to measure time.
Professor Christian Leitz of the University of Tubingen states, “Representations of the zodiac are extremely rare in Egyptian temples,” adding that “the zodiac itself is part of Babylonian astronomy and did not appear in Egypt until Ptolemaic times.”
Researchers believe the Greeks introduced the system of zodiac signs and their associated constellations to Egypt, where it subsequently gained popularity.
“The zodiac was used to decorate private tombs and sarcophagi and was of great importance in astrological texts, such as horoscopes inscribed on pottery fragments,” says Dr. Daniel von Recklinghausen, a researcher from Tubingen.
“However, it is uncommon in temple decoration: Aside from Esna, only two completely preserved examples from Dendera remain,” he says.
In the temple of Esna, the colors had been preserved by a layer of grime and dust for nearly two thousand years. For centuries, however, the ceiling paintings and inscriptions were so filthy that they were scarcely recognizable.
Also read: As Spain Battles a Major Wildfire, 1,500 People Evacuate Their Homes
In addition to the zodiac and star constellations, the restoration revealed colorful images of snakes, crocodiles, and other fantastic creatures, such as a snake with a ram’s head and a bird with a crocodile’s head, the tail of a snake, and four wings.
According to Science Alert, construction of the Temple of Esna, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Luxor, began during the Ptolemaic period and proceeded for centuries. The vestibule, or pronaos, was constructed during the Roman Period, between 41 and 54 CE, during the reign of Emperor Claudius.
