How did the Ancient Egyptians keep track of time before building the Great Pyramid
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| Pyramid |
Before the construction of the Great Pyramids at Giza, the Ancient Egyptians relied on various astronomical observations and natural phenomena to track time. Their understanding of celestial movements and the patterns of the natural world helped them create rudimentary calendars and mark significant events.
1. Lunar Observations: The Ancient Egyptians closely
observed the cycles of the moon. They recognized that the moon took
approximately 29.5 days to complete its phases and devised a lunar calendar
based on these observations. They used the appearance and disappearance of the
moon to determine the beginning and end of months.
2. Solar Observations: The Egyptians also recognized the
importance of the sun in measuring time. They observed the changing positions
of the sun throughout the year and divided the year into three seasons: Akhet
(Inundation), Peret (Growth), and Shemu (Harvest). These seasons corresponded
to the flooding of the Nile, the growth of crops, and the harvest period.
3. Seasonal Alignments: By observing the positions of
certain stars and constellations, such as Sirius (Sothis), the Ancient
Egyptians could predict the annual flooding of the Nile River. The rising of
Sirius before dawn, known as the heliacal rising, signaled the onset of the
flood season, which was crucial for agricultural planning and timekeeping.
4. Merkhet and Shadow Clocks: The Egyptians used instruments
like the merkhet, a simple wooden device with a plumb line, to observe the
motion of stars and align them with specific markers. They also used shadow
clocks, which relied on the movement of the sun's shadow to indicate different
times of the day.
5. Temporal Divisions: The Ancient Egyptians divided the day
into 24 hours, each consisting of 12 "day" hours and 12
"night" hours, regardless of the changing lengths of daylight and
darkness throughout the year.
While these methods may seem rudimentary compared to modern
timekeeping, they allowed the Ancient Egyptians to maintain a sense of order
and plan their agricultural activities, religious ceremonies, and societal
events in alignment with the rhythms of nature and the cosmos.
- Tanmay Bhati
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