Ancient Egyptian Astronomy and Astrology: The History of Celestial Observations in Egypt

Africa may have given rise to the first human beings, and Egypt probably gave rise to the first great civilizations, which continue to fascinate modern societies across the globe nearly 5,000 years later. From the Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramid at Giza, the ancient Egyptians produced several wonders of the world, revolutionized architecture and construction, created some of the world’s first systems of mathematics and medicine, and established language and art that spread across the known world. With world-famous leaders like King Tut and Cleopatra, it’s no wonder that today’s world has so many Egyptologists.

What makes the accomplishments of the ancient Egyptians all the more remarkable is that Egypt was historically a place of great political turbulence. Its position made it both valuable and vulnerable to tribes across the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and ancient Egypt had no shortage of its own internecine warfare. Its most famous conquerors would come from Europe, with Alexander the Great laying the groundwork for the Hellenic Ptolemy line and the Romans extinguishing that line after defeating Cleopatra and driving her to suicide.

Among the most intriguing aspects of ancient Egyptian culture is the relationship between their observations of the heavens and their beliefs about life, death, and cosmic order. While modern Egyptologists debate whether the Egyptians practiced astrology in the sense familiar to people today, it is universally acknowledged that they maintained a profound “Star Religion” from very early times. The term “Star Religion” encompasses a reverence for celestial phenomena, especially the stars, and their integration into religious ritual, calendar systems, and mythology. However, whether this system extended to linking human birth and life with celestial positions remains contentious.