Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Astronomical Decorations on Ceramics, Egypt, part V I Googled the 36 decans (constellations?) we found yesterday, described by Joanne Conman in The Round Zodiac Ceiling on the Temple of Hathor at Denderah, with the word "pottery". One decan in particularI liked was Qed, which means "to go around, like the potter's wheel." (Not to be confused with quod erat demonstrandu, Latin: which was to be shown or proved.)* However, I didn't find any direct mention of these decans on pottery. I did find some other interesting things: It was probably during Senusret III's reign that we also find the "Execration Texts". These were inscriptions found in Nubia and Egypt, usually inscribed either on magical figurines or on pottery. The inscriptions were usually a list of enemies of Egypt. These objects were often ritualistically smashed, and the shards placed under the foundations of new building, thus "smothered", or nailed at the edge of the area they were meant to protect. Jimmy Dunn on the Tour Egypt site (my bold, JN) Another ceiling with astronomical decoration/information, The Senmut 'Astronomical' Ceiling has a write up by Ken Bakeman. This is the sort of stuff I would think would be on pottery, but I am not finding any. 6:46:44 AM