Researchers have identified the visual representation of the Milky Way in ancient Egyptian artworks, which dates back 3,000 years, and have the potential to change our understanding of how early astronomers view the universe.
Astrophysicist Dr. or Dr. Graul, a researcher at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravity at the University of Portsmouth, made a discovery while studying ornaments on ancient Egyptian coffins. His discoveries, published in the Journal of Astronomy History and Heritage, show that the unique undulating black curves drawn on the body of the Egyptian goddess represent the unique “Great Rift Valley” of our galaxy.
“I found visual evidence of the Milky Way in the outer coffin of Nesitaudjatakhet, owner of Amun-Re, about 3,000 years ago,” Dr. Graul said. “This ups and downs is reminiscent of a big rift for a minute or two.”
Discovered centered on the depiction of nuts, the ancient Egyptian goddess of sky was often portrayed as a star-studded woman who arched her brother, the god of earth, Geb. Graur identified 118 examples when examining 555 coffin elements spanning the history of the Egyptian dynasty, which Egyptologists call “Cosmological Vignette” – a scene showing the arched form of the Nut of the GEB below.
The breakthrough is achieved when analyzing specific coffins in the Archaeological Museum in Odessa, Ukraine. The coffin features a nut with a unique black curve from the soles of the feet to the body within reach, with stars painted on both sides of the curve.
Compared to photos of the night sky, the similarities between this ancient work of art and the actual appearance of the Milky Way’s dark dust lane known as the Great Rift Valley are astonishing. The discovery provides compelling evidence that the ancient Egyptians observed and recorded this celestial feature in religious art.
Similar undulating curves appear in the tombs of several pharaohs, including Ramesses VI, where gold lines extend along the back of the nuts in astronomical ceiling paintings. This pattern of representation enhances the connection between the goddess and our galaxy.
What makes this discovery particularly important is that it reopens the debate over whether the ancient Egyptian term “winding waterway” is actually their name. Previous scholars have proposed this connection, but the current evidence now provides greater support for this explanation.
Dr. Graur’s research also reveals another surprising pattern: Only a quarter of Nut’s description shows that she is covered by stars, suggesting that the ancient Egyptians might prefer to represent the sky over the night sky, a statistical discovery that challenges previous hypotheses.
The study shows how the ancient Egyptians incorporated astronomical observation into their religious beliefs. Instead of treating the nuts and the Milky Way as the same, they see the Milky Way as a celestial phenomenon that can appear on the nuts in her role as the sky.
Cross-cultural analysis strengthens the logotype because other unrelated cultures, including the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni, represent the Milky Way, have similar patterns of fluctuations within the body of spiritual creatures.
This discovery increases our understanding of ancient Egyptian astronomy while highlighting the extraordinary observation skills of these early sky observers. Their ability to incorporate subtle details of celestial bodies into their works of religious art shows the complex fusion of science and spirituality in one of the earliest civilizations of mankind.
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