AI – ‘In ancient art and culture, the ecliptic plane was highly significant as the central reference point for all celestial movements visible from Earth, serving as the foundation for timekeeping, calendar systems, and religious/astrological practices. Ancient civilizations, including the Babylonians and Egyptians, depicted and referenced the ecliptic for several key reasons: 

Basis of the Zodiac

The most prominent artistic and cultural manifestation of the ecliptic is the zodiac. The ecliptic is an imaginary great circle across the sky that the Sun appears to follow over the course of a year. Ancient astronomers observed that the Moon and the five visible planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) also stayed in a narrow band around this path. 

• Division of the Heavens: Around the 5th century BCE, Babylonian astronomers divided this band into 12 equal segments of 30 degrees, each associated with specific star groups or constellations. Most of these constellations represented animals, leading to the Greek term zōdiakos kyklos, meaning “circle of animals”.
• Artistic Depiction: This 12-part division was widely adopted and frequently illustrated in ancient art, such as on Egyptian tomb ceilings and the Dendera zodiac, which visually mapped the heavens and symbolized the journey of the sun and other celestial bodies. 

Calendar-Making and Seasonal Tracking

The Sun’s apparent movement along the ecliptic provided a crucial, predictable framework for measuring time and seasons. 

• Agricultural and Religious Cycles: Ancient societies, particularly those dependent on agriculture, used the Sun’s position along the ecliptic to determine the optimal times for planting, harvesting, and performing religious ceremonies. The intersection of the ecliptic with the celestial equator marked the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, which were key seasonal markers.
• Timekeeping: The yearly progression of the Sun through the zodiacal constellations allowed ancient peoples to create stable, predictable calendars that guided their daily lives and societal administration. 

Prediction of Eclipses

The term “ecliptic” is derived from the Greek word ekleipsis, meaning “abandonment” or “fail to appear,” because eclipses (both solar and lunar) only occur when the Moon is on or very near the ecliptic plane. 

• Omens and Power: The ability to predict these dramatic celestial events, such as the Babylonians’ discovery of the Saros cycle for eclipse prediction, granted astronomer-priests immense social and political power, as eclipses were often interpreted as divine omens in ancient cultures.
• Artistic Representations: Eclipse prediction and the observation of celestial alignments were often recorded meticulously on materials like cuneiform tablets, which are a form of ancient “art” in their detailed and systematic inscription. 

Cosmological Significance

The ecliptic represented a fundamental organizing principle in the ancient understanding of the universe, which was generally geocentric (Earth-centered). The movement of all major celestial bodies along or near this single plane reinforced the idea of a structured, orderly, and divinely-influenced cosmos. Ancient art, in this context, served to visualize and interpret this cosmic order for religious and spiritual purposes. ….

The ecliptic plane wasn’t “discovered” as a single event but gradually recognized by ancient astronomers (Babylonians, Greeks, Egyptians) as the Sun’s annual path against the stars, which also roughly marked where the Moon and planets appeared. They noticed this common path, especially during eclipses (hence the name “ecliptic”), and developed coordinate systems (Zodiac) along it to map celestial movements, establishing it as the fundamental plane of Earth’s orbit and the Solar System. Key Steps in its Recognition:

1. Observing the Sun’s Path: Ancient cultures tracked the Sun’s annual journey across the constellations, noting it moved roughly 1 degree east each day against the background stars over a year.
2. Connecting to Planets: They observed that the Moon and planets also generally followed this same circular path (the ecliptic) across the sky, though with additional loops (epicycles).
3. Eclipses as Key Markers: Eclipses only occur when the Moon crosses this path, allowing astronomers to define it precisely as the plane where solar and lunar eclipses happen.
4. Zodiac Creation: Babylonian astronomers divided this path into 12 equal segments, creating the zodiac, a celestial coordinate system used for tracking these bodies.
5. Formalizing the Plane: Later astronomers, like Ptolemy, refined these observations, while Kepler eventually established that planets orbit in ellipses within this plane, solidifying its importance as Earth’s orbital plane. …

The zenith and nadir define an observer’s local vertical direction, while the ecliptic plane describes the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. 

There is no fixed relationship between the local, constantly changing zenith-nadir line and the fixed ecliptic plane in the celestial sphere. 

Key Concepts:

• Zenith and Nadir:
  • The zenith is the imaginary point on the celestial sphere directly overhead an observer, along the local vertical line (plumb line).
  • The nadir is the point directly opposite the zenith, vertically downward through the Earth.
  • These points are the poles of the observer’s local horizontal coordinate system and change as the observer moves or as the Earth rotates.
• Ecliptic Plane:
  • The ecliptic plane is the plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
  • The ecliptic is the apparent path the Sun follows across the celestial sphere over the course of a year.
  • This plane is tilted by approximately 23.5 degrees relative to the celestial equator due to Earth’s axial tilt. 

The Relationship of zenith and nadir are local and dynamic reference points tied to the observer’s specific position and the Earth’s gravity vector, whereas the ecliptic plane is a global and relatively fixed astronomical plane of the solar system. 

The relationship is one of relative orientation: 

• As the Earth rotates, and as the Earth orbits the Sun, the direction of an observer’s zenith and nadir relative to the stars (and thus relative to the ecliptic plane) is constantly changing.
• At different times of day and year, the ecliptic plane will be at varying angles to the zenith-nadir line for any given observer’s location.
• The Sun, Moon, and planets are generally found near the ecliptic plane, so their position relative to the observer’s zenith changes predictably with time and location, which is fundamental to celestial navigation and astronomy. 

In short, there is no single, permanent angular relationship, as the zenith and nadir move across the celestial sphere (relative to fixed celestial coordinates like the ecliptic) due to Earth’s rotation and revolution. …

Note that the ecliptic is not the axis on which the Earth spins. 

• The Earth’s axis of rotation is an imaginary line running through the North and South Poles, around which the planet rotates once every 24 hours, causing day and night.
• The ecliptic is the imaginary plane containing the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, or the apparent path the Sun traces across our sky over the course of a year. 

The two are related but distinct: the Earth’s rotational axis is tilted by approximately 23.5 degrees relative to the perpendicular of the ecliptic plane. This axial tilt is the cause of the Earth’s seasons.’ 

So, is the Earth’s axial tilt accurately represented in any ancient art?

‘While ancient cultures had sophisticated astronomical knowledge and created art linked to celestial events, there is no clear or universally accepted ancient art that explicitly and accurately represents the Earth’s axial tilt as a scientific diagram. 

Instead, ancient astronomical understanding was incorporated into mythology, calendars, and the alignment of monumental architecture: 

• Ancient Greeks The first known person to calculate the Earth’s axial tilt with remarkable accuracy was Eratosthenes (c. 276-195 BCE) in the Hellenistic period. His understanding came from scientific observation and geometry, not artistic representation in the modern sense. By this time, the idea of a spherical Earth was widely accepted among educated Greek scholars.
• Ancient Egyptians Egyptian cosmology generally depicted a flat Earth over which the sky goddess Nut arched. Their advanced astronomical skills were used for practical purposes like aligning pyramids to true north or tracking stars for timekeeping. There is no widely accepted art that illustrates the axial tilt; while some fringe theories suggest symbolic encoding in certain motifs, these interpretations are highly debated and not mainstream scholarly consensus.
• Prehistoric Cultures Analysis of Paleolithic cave paintings and carvings (e.g., at Lascaux and Göbekli Tepe) suggests that ancient humans tracked time and major astronomical events by monitoring the slow shift of stars caused by the Earth’s axial precession. The animal symbols in the art are interpreted as star constellations and date markers, showing an understanding of the effects of axial changes over long periods, but not a direct representation of the physical tilt itself.
• Mesoamerican Cultures Similarly, some researchers propose that specific Mayan art motifs, such as certain angled elements on panels or stelae, might symbolize the Earth’s tilted polar axis or celestial equator, but these are also specialized interpretations within archaeoastronomy. 

In summary, ancient art reflects a deep awareness of the celestial cycles influenced by axial tilt and precession, but the visual representations are primarily symbolic, mythological, or integrated into monumental architecture alignments, rather than explicit scientific illustrations of the tilt angle itself. The concept of the Earth as a sphere with a specific, measurable tilt was a scientific development that came later, particularly in Ancient Greece. …

‘The ecliptic plane, Earth’s orbital plane around the Sun, is crucial in space travel as the primary reference for mapping our solar system, defining celestial coordinates, and planning efficient trajectories, as most planets and objects orbit near this flat plane, making it a baseline for navigation and understanding orbital mechanics, especially for gravity assists and missions within the inner solar system. Key relevance in space travel:

• Reference Plane: It serves as the fundamental zero-degree reference for celestial coordinates, like ecliptic latitude and longitude, to locate spacecraft, planets, and other objects.
• Orbital Alignment: Most planets, asteroids, and comets orbit close to the ecliptic plane, making it the “flat” plane of the solar system, which simplifies navigation within it.
• Navigation & Trajectory: Understanding the ecliptic helps calculate efficient paths (Hohmann transfers) and use gravity assists from planets, as their orbits are aligned with it.
• Eclipses: The term “ecliptic” comes from eclipses, which only happen when the Moon crosses this plane, highlighting its importance in understanding celestial alignments.
• Solar System Dynamics: It’s the plane from which Earth’s tilt (causing seasons) and the inclination of other bodies (like Mercury’s 7° tilt) are measured, crucial for understanding solar system structure. 

In essence, the ecliptic plane is the solar system’s “equator” for navigation, providing the essential map and baseline for all travel within it.’

See also:

Egyptian Mysteries | Thoth, Scota & Geometric Secrets | Ralph Ellis | Megalithomania Interview 2022: Egyptian Mysteries | Thoth, Scota & Geometric Secrets | Ralph Ellis | Megalithomania Interview 2022

AI – ‘Yes, there is scientific evidence, primarily from materials scientists like Michel Barsoum, suggesting some pyramid blocks, especially casing stones, were man-made using a type of geopolymer concrete (a form of limestone concrete), not just quarried stone, with chemical analysis showing amorphous silicate structures and nanoscale spheres not found in natural limestone, though mainstream Egyptologists remain largely skeptical, preferring quarrying theories supported by ramp evidence and transport logs. 

Evidence for a Concrete (Geopolymer) Theory:

• Microscopic Analysis: Researchers found microscopic structures and amorphous (non-crystalline) bonding agents, like silicon dioxide, in samples that don’t match natural limestone, suggesting a rapid chemical reaction, like casting.
• Chemical Composition: The “glue” in some blocks contains calcium and magnesium-rich silicates, along with unusual water content, unlike typical natural limestone from Giza.
• Nanoparticles: Discovery of silicon dioxide nanoscale spheres further points to a synthetic, rather than natural, origin.
• Wood Beam Anomaly: A wooden beam found embedded in the Meidum pyramid suggests material that could set around it, consistent with concrete.
• Proposed Method: The theory suggests Egyptians mixed readily available materials (limestone, lime, water, diatomaceous earth) to cast blocks, especially for higher, harder-to-reach sections, using molds. 

Counterarguments & Mainstream View:

• Skepticism: Many Egyptologists, like Zahi Hawass, strongly criticize the theory, calling it publicity-seeking and unsupported by ancient records.
• Natural Explanations: Some geologists suggest Barsoum might be looking at surface coatings, not the whole stone, and argue ramp theories with quarrying and sleds (potentially using wet sand to reduce friction, as seen in wall paintings) better explain block movement.
• Merer’s Diary: Recently discovered logs detail transporting quarried Tura limestone by boat, supporting quarrying and transport methods. 

Conclusion:
While the idea of cast blocks remains controversial and debated, material science provides intriguing “concrete” evidence (literally) for a potential geopolymer method used for some pyramid blocks, challenging the traditional view of purely quarried stone.’

If correct, then the Egyptians would have been able to construct limestone blocks in situ using rubble and water.

This may explain why it is impossible to slip a piece of paper between the limestone blocks that formed the core of the Great Pyramid at Giza.

The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed using approximately 2.3 million stone blocks, which were primarily limestone.

Blocks of granite from Aswan, weighing up to 80 tonnes, were used for the
‘King’s Chamber’ structure.

While there has been speculation, it is not actually known how these blocks were transported, fashioned and assembled inside the Pyramid.

The sheer scale of moving those massive 80 tonne Aswan granite blocks for the Great Pyramid’s King’s Chamber is mind-boggling, and while theories exist, such as wet sand sleds, ramps, counterweights, and levers, the exact, definitive methods for quarrying, transporting via Nile barges, and precisely positioning them inside the pyramid remains a captivating mystery, and is a testament to ancient engineering prowess, or rather genius!

By comparison, the empty operating weight (‘EOW’) of a Boing 747 is typically around 150-220 tons.

So one granite block inside the Pyramid = approximately 53.3% of the EOW of a Boeing 747!

The total granite used inside the Great Pyramid is around 8,000 tons. So, on a straight line calculation, it would appear that around 100 x 80 ton blocks of granite were used in the construction of the inner chambers of the Pyramid.

In terms of weight, that equates to the EOW of 53 Boeing 747 ‘Jumbo’ Jets stacked one on top of the other!

The total estimated weight of all the stones used to construct the Great Pyramid at Giza is approximately 6 million tons. Some estimates place the total weight at around 5.7 to 6.5 million tons.

6 million tons = the EOW of around 40,000 Boeing 747 ‘Jumbo’ Jets stacked one on top of the other!

See also:

• ‘Egyptian Dawn and the Sphinx Mystery – Prof. Robert Temple Megalithomania Interview’: Egyptian Dawn and the Sphinx Mystery – Prof. Robert Temple Megalithomania Interview

AI – ‘For enthusiasts interested in the symbols, stories, and cultural contexts behind ancient visual works, several books help bridge the gap between modern viewers and ancient artists. The best choices depend on which specific ancient culture you want to explore.

Here are highly recommended books for decoding ancient art:

General & Multi-Cultural Focus

• The Other Ancient Civilisations: Decoding Archaeology’s Less Celebrated Cultures by Raven Todd da Silva. This book offers a sweeping look at lesser-known ancient societies (e.g., Indus Valley, Minoans, Olmec, Nubians) and explains how archaeologists interpret the art and artifacts they left behind to understand their history and daily lives.
• Symbols of the Past: Decoding Secret Language in Antiquity by Teddy Elliot. This work explores various ancient scripts and symbols, simplifying complex narratives to help novices understand the hidden meanings within ancient cultures.
• Lost Languages: The Enigma of the World’s Undeciphered Scripts by Andrew Robinson. For those interested in the challenges of deciphering communication, including symbols in art, this book offers insight into scripts that remain a mystery.
• Art in the Ancient World: A Handbook of Styles and Forms (Various authors). Handbooks like this serve as excellent reference guides to common artistic styles and forms across different ancient cultures, helping viewers identify and categorize what they see. 

Region-Specific Decoding

Ancient Egypt

The rich symbolism of Ancient Egyptian art is a popular topic for decoding:

• Reading Egyptian Art: A Hieroglyphic Guide to Ancient Egyptian Painting and Sculpture by Richard H. Wilkinson. This guide takes common hieroglyphic signs and explains their origins and use in real art and monuments, allowing readers to begin “reading” the general meaning of artworks without formal language training.
• Fascinating Hieroglyphics: Discovering, Decoding & Understanding the Ancient Art by Christian Jacq. An accessible guide that offers good insight into the values of each glyph and how they form messages within Egyptian society.
• Proportion and Style in Ancient Egyptian Art by Gay Robins. For a deeper dive, this book explores the mathematical and stylistic rules ancient Egyptian artists followed, demonstrating that the art form was dynamic, not static, over millennia. 

Ancient Americas

• Decoding Astronomy in Maya Art and Architecture by Marion Dolan. A specialized book for those interested in specific cultural interpretations, showing how the Maya integrated astronomical knowledge into their visual culture and built environment.
• Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya by Kathleen Berrin, Simon Martin, Mary Miller. This work examines major art pieces from the Maya civilization, providing context for their creation and meaning. 

Classical Antiquity (Greece and Rome)

• Classical Art: From Greece to Rome by Mary Beard and John Henderson. Part of the Oxford History of Art series, this book explores how Greek and Roman art established the language of the Western classical tradition, offering critical insight into the cultural and historical context.
• Ancient Mythological Images and their Interpretation (Various authors). Books in this area provide an introduction to the iconology and semiotics of classical art, explaining the stories and myths depicted in Greek and Roman works. 

AI – ‘Historians and art historians use a range of interdisciplinary methodologies to interpret ancient art, combining visual analysis, contextual research, scientific techniques, and comparative studies. These methods help to understand the function, meaning, and historical context of artworks, even when no accompanying text exists. 

Key methodologies include:

• Formal/Visual Analysis: This involves a close examination of the artwork’s visual elements, such as composition, form, line, color, texture, and scale. By analyzing these formal qualities, historians can gain insights into the artist’s choices, identify stylistic characteristics unique to a specific period or culture, and understand the intended visual experience.
• Iconography and Iconology: This is the study and interpretation of the subject matter, symbols, and motifs within the art. Historians compare these elements with other imagery and texts from the same era to decode their meaning. For example, specific symbols for gods or rulers can be identified and tracked across different works.
• Contextual Analysis: This critical method places the artwork within its original historical, social, cultural, economic, and political context. Historians research the function of the object (e.g., an altarpiece, a tomb, a palace), the motivations of the patron who commissioned it, and the audience for whom it was made, using primary sources like letters, inventories, and historical documents.
• Archaeological Methods and Fieldwork: The circumstances of an artwork’s discovery provide vital clues. Archaeologists use methods like stratigraphy (analyzing layers of earth) and typological analysis (classifying artifacts by shared characteristics) to establish a chronology and context for the find.
• Comparative Analysis: Historians compare and contrast artworks across different time periods, cultures, or artists to identify similarities, differences, and influences. This can involve using bilingual texts or similar objects from known cultures to help interpret unknown ones, as the Rosetta Stone was used for Egyptian hieroglyphs.
• Scientific and Technical Analysis: Modern technology helps conservators and historians study the physical object itself. Techniques include:
  • X-radiography and infrared reflectography to reveal hidden details, such as underdrawings or changes made to a painting.
  • Dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) to help date wooden objects.
  • Radiocarbon dating for organic materials to provide an absolute timeframe.
  • X-ray fluorescence to identify the chemical composition of pigments or metals.
• Material Culture Studies: This approach examines the meaning of objects based on their materials, production processes, and use in their cultural context, often collaborating with conservators and craftspeople to understand “how it was made”. 

By combining these diverse methodologies, historians build a comprehensive understanding of ancient art as both a visual experience and a cultural artifact.’ 

AI – ‘Beliefs about a vital life force and energy were prominently symbolized in Ancient Art through specific icons, deities, and motifs, particularly in Egyptian and Chinese cultures. 

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian art prominently featured symbols representing the soul’s different aspects, life force, and the desire for eternal existence. 

• The Ankh (☥): The most famous symbol, known as the “key of life” or “key of the Nile,” the Ankh represented eternal life, immortality, and the life-sustaining elements of air and water.
  • Artistic Depiction: Deities like Osiris, Isis, and Anubis were frequently shown holding the Ankh, often to the lips of the deceased, to symbolize the transfer of divine energy and the bestowing of everlasting life. It was widely used in temple carvings, tomb paintings, and as protective amulets made of gold or faience. The shape itself is interpreted as the union of masculine and feminine principles or the sun rising over the horizon.
• The Ka: The Ka represented a person’s vital essence or life force, which left the body at death.
  • Artistic Depiction: It was often symbolized in art as a pair of upraised arms. Egyptians created “Ka statues” as vessels for this life force to inhabit after death, ensuring its survival and ability to receive nourishment through offerings in the tomb.
• The Lotus Flower: This motif symbolized creation, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of life because it closes at night and re-emerges from the water at dawn, much like the sun god Ra at creation. 

Ancient China

In ancient Chinese philosophy and art, the concept of a vital force called Qi (or Chi) was central, along with symbols of balance and longevity. 

• Qi (氣): While the character for Qi literally meant vapor or air, it was understood as the “vital energy” or life force that permeates all living entities.
  • Artistic Depiction: The concept itself was philosophical, but related ideas of energy flow and balance were integral to art forms like calligraphy and principles such as Yin and Yang. The interconnected light and dark halves of the Yin Yang symbol represent the harmony and balance of complementary forces essential to life’s flow.
• Longevity Symbols: Objects and creatures associated with long life and vitality were frequent art motifs:
  • The peach and the Lingzhi mushroom represented immortality.
  • The crane was a symbol of longevity and peace.
  • The pine and bamboo symbolized resilience and endurance of the life force. 

Other Ancient Cultures

• Ancient Greece/Rome: While not a single universal symbol like the Ankh, specific natural elements were used. The pomegranate symbolized life, rebirth, and fertility in Greek and Roman traditions. The Greek key or meander motif was used as a symbol of eternal life and infinity.
• Ancient Mesopotamia: The Tree of Life motif symbolized cosmic order, fertility, and eternal life. Protective hybrid figures like the human-headed bulls (lamassu) guarded entrances, representing strength and protection of the living space from malevolent spirits. 

Further Q. – ‘What ancient Egyptian scrolls were recently discovered below a pyramid?’

AI – ‘In May 2022, a significant 52-foot-long (16-meter) papyrus scroll containing texts from the Book of the Dead was discovered in a coffin at the Saqqara necropolis, near the Step Pyramid of Djoser. 

This was found in a burial shaft area often used for interments centuries after the pyramids were built. 

Key Details of the Discovery

• Name: The scroll has been named “Papyrus Waziry 1” after Mostafa Waziry, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities who led the Egyptian excavation team.
• Contents: The papyrus contains 113 chapters from the Book of the Dead, a collection of ancient Egyptian spells and instructions intended to help the deceased navigate the afterlife.
• Owner: The scroll was personalized for a man named Ahmose, whose name appears approximately 260 times throughout the text.
• Dating: It dates to around 300 BCE, during the early Ptolemaic Period, a time when ancient Egyptian religious traditions were interacting with Greek influences.
• Condition and Display: The remarkably well-preserved manuscript, written in hieratic script (a cursive form of hieroglyphs), was unrolled and restored. It is now on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. 

While this is one of the most notable recent papyrus finds, no ancient Egyptian scrolls have been recently discovered in a secret vault directly beneath one of the major Giza pyramids. Archaeological discoveries in the Giza pyramids in recent years have focused more on the detection of hidden corridors and voids using advanced scanning technologies.’

See also – Ancient Scrolls Found in an Egyptian Burial Shaft Rewrite Everything We Know: Ancient Scrolls Found in an Egyptian Burial Shaft Rewrite Everything We Know

Further Q. – ‘What is the significance of Step Pyramid of Djoser?’

AI – ‘The Step Pyramid of Djoser is significant as the world’s first pyramid and monumental stone building, a revolutionary shift from earlier mastaba tombs, designed by the genius architect Imhotep as a stairway to heaven for the pharaoh’s soul. It established the pyramid as the quintessential royal tomb, transformed stone architecture in Egypt, and formed a vast funerary complex symbolizing royal power, the afterlife, and the king’s connection to the gods, influencing all subsequent pyramids. 

Architectural Revolution

• First Pyramid: It evolved from stacked mastabas (flat-topped tombs) into a six-tiered stepped structure, the first of its kind.
• First Stone Monument: It marked the first large-scale use of cut stone for a monumental building in Egypt, a massive technological leap.
• Innovative Design: Architect Imhotep created features like colonnades mimicking bundled reeds and intricate underground tunnels, setting new standards. 

Religious & Symbolic Importance

• Journey to Afterlife: The stepped design symbolized a stairway for the pharaoh’s soul (ka) to ascend to the heavens and join the gods.
• Eternal Resting Place: It provided an unprecedented, eternal tomb, reflecting deep beliefs in the afterlife and divine kingship.
• Symbol of Power: The vast complex, with its massive enclosure wall and ceremonial buildings, projected Djoser’s immense power. 

Cultural Legacy

• Blueprint for the Future: It became the prototype for later, smoother-sided pyramids (like those at Giza), establishing the iconic pyramid shape.
• Imhotep’s Genius: It cemented the legacy of Imhotep, the first named architect in history, who was later deified for his contributions.
• Complex Function: More than just a tomb, the surrounding complex included symbolic structures for rituals, like the Heb Sed festival, making it a complete city for the afterlife.’ 

AI – ‘In ancient art, the sacred and the mundane were often merged because the people of these cultures perceived the entire world, including everyday life, as imbued with a spiritual dimension. Unlike modern perspectives that often separate the sacred and secular, ancient societies integrated religious beliefs and daily activities into a unified worldview, which was reflected directly in their art. 

This integration was achieved in several key ways:

• Deities in Daily Life: Gods and spirits were considered ever-present and involved in human affairs, not detached from the physical world. Art depicted these deities actively participating in or observing scenes from daily life.
• The Afterlife as an Extension of Earthly Life: In ancient Egypt, for example, the conception of the afterlife was closely modelled on the experiences, needs, and desires of life on Earth. Consequently, tomb art featured elaborate scenes of the deceased enjoying everyday activities (farming, feasting, etc.) to ensure a pleasant existence in the afterlife, effectively merging the sacred space of the tomb with mundane aspirations.
• Incorporation of Real People and Settings: In ancient Greek and Roman art (and later the Renaissance), religious figures were often presented in a human way, using real people as models or setting biblical scenes in contemporary, recognizable landscapes to create a clear connection between the divine and the human world. Patrons even had themselves included in religious paintings, often in their daily attire (e.g., a military commander in his armour), to express their piety and merge their worldly status with a spiritual context.
• Mundane Objects Becoming Sacred: Everyday objects could gain sacred significance through their use in rituals or religious contexts. An object commissioned by God, like the bronze serpent (Nehashtan) in the Hebrew Bible, was a common object (a snake on a pole) that became a potent sacred symbol of healing.
• Architecture as a Transition Point: Architectural design itself could facilitate the merging. Ceremonial gateways in Asia, for instance, are designed to signify the crossing from the mundane world to a spiritually purer, elevated sacred area, making the physical transition a spiritual one as well.
• Syncretism in Iconography: The blending of gods from different cultures, such as the Roman god Mercury with the Egyptian Anubis to form Hermanubis, resulted in hybrid imagery that combined the attributes of both deities and their associated domains (guiding souls, investigating truth), merging disparate sacred beliefs into a single form.’

See – Lost Ancient Wisdom, the Breakaway Civilization & the Code to Reality | Randall Carlson: Lost Ancient Wisdom, the Breakaway Civilization & the Code to Reality | Randall Carlson – YouTube

Under English Law an unincorporated joint-venture may take the form of a contract, e.g. a Consortium Agreement.

Therefore, subject to overcoming any ‘legal obstacles’ to the ‘pledging’ and ‘lending’ of items in a Museum’s collection, that are:

(i) contained in a Museum’s Governing Statute/Trust Deed/Charter; and/or
(ii) which are attached to a ‘gift’ of an item to a Museum, i.e. as a legally enforceable ‘restriction’ on:

(a) ‘notional’ transfer by ‘Pledge’ (as security); and
(b) actual ‘physical transfer’ by ‘delivery into possession’, in furtherance of a ‘Loan’,

then it would appear that a group of Museums may enter into a framework Consortium Agreement, whereby they agree under the terms of that ‘Umbrella’, to enter into future ‘project-specific’ arrangements for the ‘reciprocal loan’ of artefacts in their respective collections, i.e. by subsequently entering into a series of bespoke ‘Loan Agreements.’

In the context of collaboration between Museums and Galleries, which includes state actors, this ‘Umbrella’ could be described as being a ‘Cultural
Collaboration Agreement.’

So, if as ‘consideration’ for entering into the contract (which in any event would be executed as a Deed), each party agreed to ‘anchor’ and notionally ‘capitalise’ the ‘Cultural Collaboration Agreement’, by pledging assets as reciprocal ‘security’, then would the transfer of these assets by subsequent ‘loan’ in furtherance of the ‘Umbrella Cultural Collaboration Agreement’ = ‘Deaccessioning?’

Note that Legal ownership of these ‘Anchor’/’Notional Capitalisation Assets’, would remain vested in the Trustees of each Museum, so e.g. if Museum 1 pledges an asset [‘Asset M.1’] as security to Museum 2, i.e. in return for Museum 2 reciprocally pledging an asset ‘[Asset M.2’] as security to M.1, then legal title to ‘Asset M.1’ will remain vested in M.1, even though M.2 may under the terms of a subsequent bespoke ‘Loan Agreement’ created under the ‘Umbrella Framework Cultural Collaboration Agreement’, have been granted an indefinite ‘Loan’ of ‘Asset M.1’, by M.1.

By drafting each ‘Pledge’ Deed with ‘creative ingenuity’, could delivery into possession for the purposes of capitalising the Pledge for Asset M.1, be contractually deferred, until the expiry of the date under the Loan Agreement for Asset M.2 for return of Asset M.2?

E.G. if Asset M.1 is loaned today by M.1 to M.2 for return on 22 July 2026, i.e.
under terms of the Loan Agreement for Asset M.1., and in parallel today a ‘Pledge Agreement’ is executed under Deed, governed by English Law, which provides for ‘crystallisation’ of the Pledge post delivery in furtherance of the ‘Loan Agreement’ e.g. on 1 August 2026, then technically, how can Asset M.1. have been permanently removed from M.1’s collection by transfer in furtherance of the Loan Agreement today?

What are your thoughts?

See: The True History of the Sphinx of Ancient Egypt – The True History of the Sphinx of Ancient Egypt

The unit of measurement “the meter” was known by the Egyptians of the Fourth Dynasty. The appearance of two Egyptian units of measurement, at par, within the measures of the main sarcophagi of Gizeh, demonstrates that they knew the meter, since the relationship between these two units of measurement always gives the value of both units of measurement in meters. See: (DOC) The “Mathematical Meter” of the 4 th Dynasty

‘By the fifth century BCE, the Greeks had firmly established that the earth was a sphere. Although they knew it was a sphere, they didn’t know how big the sphere was.

The philosopher Plato (400 BCE) declared the earth’s circumference to be 64,412 kilometers (40,000 miles). Some 150 years later, the mathematician Archimedes estimated it to be 48,309 kilometers (30,000 miles). It’s not known exactly how Plato or Archimedes arrived at their calculations, but Plato’s measurement was off by sixty percent and Archimedes’ by twenty percent. At least they were making progress.

Observations and calculations by two later Greeks, Eratosthenes and Posidonius, finally resulted in accurate estimates of the size of the earth.

In the third century BCE, Eratosthenes, a Greek librarian in Alexandria, Egypt, determined the earth’s circumference to be 40,250 to 45,900 kilometers (25,000 to 28,500 miles) by comparing the Sun’s relative position at two different locations on the earth’s surface. Because of differences in translations or interpretations of his records, and his own methodological errors, the exact figures are in dispute. Today, the earth’s circumference is usually accepted to be 40,096 kilometers (24,901 miles). If you take the lowest estimate attributed to Eratosthenes, his error was less than one percent—a phenomenal calculation.’ See: Determining the earth’s size

On Tuesday 11 November 2025 I presented a 70 minute Zoom webinar for members of the SCMA entitled – ‘Mediation of Cultural Heritage Disputes.’

Link to the YouTube video – https://lnkd.in/e8MmMyZV

There are also links to the video on the ‘How I can help’ page at www.carlislam.co.uk – scroll down to find, and at the top of www.artandcivilization.tv.

Alternatively, you can search in YouTube by using the words – ‘Carl Islam Mediation of Cultural Heritage Disputes.’

I am currently writing a new book entitled – ‘Mediation of Cultural Heritage
Disputes’, see the ‘Mediation of Cultural Heritage Disputes’ page at
www.carlislam.co.uk.

As I state in the introduction to my Talk – ‘The Participants’ Paradigms in
these disputes are shaped by multiple Dynamic Forces. Therefore, Cultural
Heritage Disputes are ‘Multi- Dimensional’. Because these disputes are
International – they are also ’Inter-Cultural.’

In the second half of the Talk, I discuss ‘Parameters in mediation’ as being
‘Dimensions of the dispute’, i.e. ‘Parameters’ = ‘Dimensions’.

I have identified seven Dimensions in Cultural Heritage Disputes, which I will
develop in the book.

These are:

·       ‘The Human Dimension.’
·       ‘The Existential Dimension.’
·       ‘The Object Dimension’.
·       ‘The Legal Dimension.’
·       ‘The Ethical Dimension’.
·       ‘The Political Dimension’.
·       ‘The Decision-Making Dimension.’

These Dimensions are all dynamic and inter-connected.

The dynamic interplay that takes place in Mediation between each of these Dimensions demonstrates that Mediation = ‘A World of Possibility!’

As I demonstrate in my concluding remarks by reference to Egypt’s claim for the return of the ‘Rosetta Stone’ – what it is possible to achieve in Mediation is only limited by the skills and imagination of the Mediator, Participants and their Mediation Advocates.

In 2024 I also gave a Talk that was broadcast on YouTube about ‘Mediation
Advocacy in Trust & Estate Disputes.’ There is a link to the video at the foot of
the ‘How I can help’ page at www.carlislam.co.uk.

May I also take this opportunity to wish all readers of my posts a Joyous Christmastime and a Happy and Peaceful New Year!

AI – ‘Yes, at least two ancient African cultures featured the star Sirius prominently in their religious beliefs: the Dogon people of Mali and the ancient Egyptians.

The Dogon People

The Dogon, an ethnic group in Mali, have an intricate traditional religion and mythology centered on the Sirius star system. Their oral traditions and rituals demonstrate knowledge of celestial bodies that scientists could only confirm with modern telescopes: 

• Sirius B (Po Tolo): The Dogon have long known that Sirius is a binary star system with a companion star, Sirius B, which is invisible to the naked eye. They describe it as a tiny, extremely dense star (they call its substance sagala, a mineral heavier than iron) that orbits Sirius A in an elliptical path every 50 years. This was a remarkable assertion as Sirius B was only officially observed by Western astronomers in 1862 and photographed in 1970.
• Nommo: According to Dogon belief, their ancestors were visited by amphibious beings called the Nommo from a planet in the Sirius system, who shared advanced knowledge of the universe with them.
• Rituals: The Dogon celebrate a major ceremony called the Sigui every 60 years, which is linked to the orbital cycle of the Sirius system and symbolizes the renewal of the Earth and the acquisition of the spoken word by humanity. 

Ancient Egypt

Sirius, known as Sopdet (or Sothis to the Greeks), was the most important star in ancient Egyptian astronomy and religion. Its significance was both practical and spiritual: 

• The Nile Flood and Calendar: The heliacal (pre-dawn) rising of Sirius, after about 70 days of invisibility, coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile River. This event was crucial for agriculture and life in Egypt, leading them to base their entire civil and religious calendar (the Sothic cycle) on its movements.
• Deities: Sirius was personified as the goddess Sopdet, who was often associated with the prominent goddess Isis, the female counterpart of Osiris. The god Anubis, depicted with the head of a jackal (or dog), was also linked to Sirius (the “Dog Star”).
• Temples and the Afterlife: Temples, such as the Temple of Isis at Denderah, were oriented so that the light of the rising Sirius would align with the inner sanctum, symbolically transforming the light into the star goddess Isis. Sirius was also mentioned in the Egyptian Book of the Dead as a destination for the souls of the deceased, linking the star with notions of immortality and the afterlife.’

See also:

• The Sirius Mystery Revisited | Prof. Robert Temple | Origins Conference: The Sirius Mystery Revisited | Prof. Robert Temple | Origins Conference
• The Science of Heaven: An Interview with Robert Temple: The Science of Heaven: An Interview with Robert Temple
• Egyptian Dawn and the Megaliths of North Africa – Prof. Robert Temple FULL LECTURE: Egyptian Dawn and the Megaliths of North Africa – Prof. Robert Temple FULL LECTURE – YouTube
• Robert Temple videos on YouTube: Robert Temple – YouTube

I then wondered had any other culture in antiquity based their belief system and rituals on the star Sirius – So I asked AI a 2^nd Q:

My 2^nd Q. – ‘Which cultures in antiquity based their belief system and rituals on the star Sirius?’

AI – ‘Several ancient cultures incorporated the star Sirius into their belief systems and rituals, most notably the Ancient Egyptians, but also the Greeks, Romans, Persians, and various indigenous cultures in North America and Polynesia. 

Ancient Egypt

Sirius (known as Sopdet or Sothis) was arguably the most important star to the ancient Egyptians, forming the basis of their civil calendar and religious practices. 

• Calendar and Agriculture: The heliacal rising of Sirius (its first appearance in the morning sky just before the sun, after a 70-day absence) coincided almost exactly with the annual flooding of the Nile River, which was essential for their agriculture and survival.
• Deities: The star was personified as the goddess Sopdet and was closely associated with Isis, the mother goddess. Her consort, the constellation Orion (Sah), was associated with the god Osiris. The 70-day period of Sirius’s invisibility symbolized the passage of Osiris and Isis through the underworld (Duat).
• Rituals and Architecture: Temples, such as the one at Dendera, were oriented so that the light of the rising Sirius would fall upon the statue of Isis on the New Year. The 70-day embalming period for mummification was also linked to the 70-day disappearance of the star from the sky. 

Other Ancient Cultures

• Ancient Greece and Rome: The Greeks associated Sirius with the “Dog Star” (part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog), which they believed brought on the “dog days” of summer—a period of intense heat, fever, and bad luck. The Romans shared this view, calling the star Canicula (“little dog”) and sometimes sacrificing a brown dog to appease its “rage”.
• Persia/Zoroastrianism: In ancient Persian mythology and the sacred texts of the Avesta, Sirius (called Tishtrya) was revered as a divinity and the god of rain and fertility, the antagonist to the demon of drought.
• Mesopotamia: Sirius was known as the “Dog Star that Leads” and was incorporated into their advanced astronomical and astrological systems.
• Polynesia: The Polynesians used the star, which they called by names such as Ka’ulua (“Queen of Heaven”) in Hawaii, as an important reference for navigation across the Pacific and for marking the onset of the winter season.
• Indigenous North Americans: Many tribes had beliefs tied to Sirius. The Pawnee knew it as the “Wolf Star” or “Coyote Star”, while the Blackfoot called it “Dog-face”. The Cherokee paired it with Antares as a guardian of the “Path of Souls”.
• Dogon Tribe (Mali, West Africa): The Dogon people have a detailed traditional cosmology centered on Sirius, which, according to some controversial research, includes knowledge of its invisible companion star, Sirius B. They refer to an amphibious race of beings, the Nommo, from the Sirius system who allegedly provided this knowledge.’

My 3rd Q. – ‘Ancestrally – who were the Dogon descended from?’

AI – ‘The question of the Dogon people’s ancestry involves both their own rich oral traditions and various historical and anthropological theories. According to Dogon Oral Tradition.

• Nommo Spirits: Central to Dogon mythology is the belief that their ancestors were the Nommo, a race of amphibious, fish-like beings sent to Earth by the creator god Amma. The Nommo are considered divine ancestors and teachers who arrived in an “ark” and brought civilization, language, agriculture, and complex knowledge of the cosmos to humanity.
• Sirius Star System: The Dogon claim the Nommo came from a planet orbiting the star Sirius B, an invisible white dwarf companion to Sirius A. This claim has been the subject of significant fascination and debate, as Western astronomers only confirmed the existence of Sirius B with modern telescopes in the 20th century.
• Mythical Ancestors: Another key figure is Lébé Serou, the first mortal human ancestor, who in myth was transformed into a snake and guided his people during their migration. 

According to Anthropological and Historical Theories

• Ancient Egyptian Descent (Debated): Some scholars and an internal Dogon tradition speculate that the Dogon may be descended from ancient Egyptians (Kemet), who migrated westward from the Nile Valley over 3,000 years ago, eventually settling in the area of modern-day Mali and Burkina Faso. The Dogon supreme deity, Amma, is sometimes linked to the Egyptian god Amen.
• The Tellem People: When the Dogon arrived in the Bandiagara cliffs region of Mali around the 15th century, they found the area already inhabited by the Tellem people. The Tellem either assimilated into Dogon culture or migrated, and the Dogon adopted many of their architectural techniques and used their ancient cliff dwellings for burials and granaries.
• Diverse Origins: It is widely accepted that the contemporary Dogon are likely descendants of several different groups who migrated to the Bandiagara escarpment to escape conflict and Islamization, leading to a blending of cultures.
• Linguistic Grouping: Linguistically, the Dogon languages form an independent branch of the Niger-Congo language family, suggesting a very early divergence from other related groups.’

See also:

Dogon people – Wikipedia

My 4th Q. – Why is the Sirius star system significant in human thought & science?’

AI – ‘The Sirius star system is significant in human thought and science primarily due to its exceptional brightness and proximity to Earth, which made it a crucial celestial marker for ancient calendars and navigation and a foundational object for key discoveries in modern astronomy. 

Significance in Human Thought and Culture

Sirius, also known as the “Dog Star” as the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Latin for “greater dog”), has been a prominent feature in human culture for millennia. 

• Ancient Egypt: Sirius (known as Sopdet) was perhaps the most important star in ancient Egypt. Its annual reappearance in the morning sky (heliacal rising) coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile River, signaling the beginning of the agricultural cycle and the Egyptian New Year. The Egyptian calendar system was based on this recurring event, and the star was associated with the powerful deities Isis and Osiris.
• Ancient Greece and Rome: The name Sirius comes from the Greek word Seirios, meaning “glowing” or “scorching”. The Greeks and Romans associated its heliacal rising with the hottest time of the summer, believing its brightness added to the sun’s heat. This period was called the “dog days” (dies caniculares), a phrase still used today. The star was seen as the hound of the hunter Orion in mythology.
• Polynesian Cultures: In the Southern Hemisphere, the appearance of Sirius (known by names like Ka’ulua in Hawaii or Takurua to the Māori) marked the onset of winter and was vital for navigation across the Pacific Ocean.
• Indigenous North American Cultures: Various tribes, including the Cherokee and Skidi Pawnee, had myths linking Sirius to dogs or wolves, such as the “Wolf Star” or the “Moon Dog,” demonstrating a common cultural association across unconnected peoples.
• Astrology and Occultism: In various esoteric traditions and secret societies, Sirius is a potent symbol associated with divinity, power, and knowledge, sometimes referred to as the “All Seeing Eye”. 

Significance in Science

In modern astronomy, the Sirius system has been a “celestial laboratory” due to its proximity (just 8.6 light-years away). 

• Stellar Motion: In 1718, Edmond Halley used Sirius’s position to discover that stars have “proper motion” (move relative to each other), challenging the ancient notion of “fixed stars”.
• Radial Velocity: In 1868, Sir William Huggins measured the spectrum of Sirius and observed a blueshift (he initially miscalculated the direction), marking the first time a star’s radial velocity (speed toward or away from Earth) was measured.
• Discovery of White Dwarfs: The most significant scientific contribution came in 1844, when astronomer Friedrich Bessel deduced that Sirius had an unseen companion due to a wobble in its movement. This companion, Sirius B (or “the Pup”), was first observed in 1862 by Alvan Clark and later identified as the first known white dwarf star—a super-dense, Earth-sized stellar corpse.
• Stellar Evolution: The Sirius binary system provides astronomers with a unique, close-up case study for understanding stellar evolution, particularly how low-to-medium mass stars like our Sun end their lives. Studying Sirius B helps scientists understand the properties of white dwarfs, which are also used as standard candles (Type Ia supernovae) to measure the expansion rate of the universe.’