The Great Pyramids of Giza, constructed over 4,500 years ago, stand as magnificent testaments to the ancient Egyptian civilization’s technological and astronomical expertise. These architectural marvels were intricately aligned with the cosmos, reflecting the Egyptians’ deep connection with the celestial realm.
During 2500 BCE, the North Star was not Polaris, and the night sky appeared to rotate around a dark void near the north celestial pole, perceived as a heavenly gateway by the Egyptians. This belief influenced the pyramids’ precise northern alignment, with shafts extending from the pharaohs’ burial chambers pointing directly towards this celestial portal, symbolizing a passage to the afterlife.
Ancient Egyptian astrologers also contributed significantly to the creation of a sophisticated calendar system, already in use during the pyramids’ construction. The sighting of Sirius (Sopdet) marked the beginning of a new year. Their calendar comprised 12 months of 30 days each, plus an additional 5 days, totaling 365 days. They recognized the need for a leap day every four years to maintain alignment with the celestial cycles. The Egyptians meticulously tracked the rising times of prominent stars to schedule religious festivals and predict the Nile’s annual flooding.
The pyramids’ shape might even reflect ancient Egyptian cosmology, with some myths suggesting that the god Atum resided in a pyramid emerging from the primordial ocean. These structures, therefore, were not just tombs but also embodied the Egyptians’ cosmological beliefs and reverence for the universe.
