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Astronomical Ceiling

Original: New Kingdom
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
Not on view
The ancient Egyptians were dedicated astronomers, as illustrated by this schematic guide to the night sky that decorated a ceiling in the tomb of Senenmut (TT 353) at Deir el-Bahri. The figures represent constellations or protective deities, and the columns of text in the upper part list planets and stars known as the decans. The twelve circles in the lower part, each divided into twenty-four segments for the hours of the day and night, are labelled with the names of the months of the year.

Senenmut (48.149.7) was a high official in the court of Hatshepsut (29.3.2), Egypt's most successful female pharaoh.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Astronomical Ceiling
  • Artist: Charles K. Wilkinson
  • Period: Original: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: Joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III
  • Date: ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
  • Geography: Original from Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, TT 353 (Tomb of Senenmut), hall
  • Medium: Tempera on paper
  • Dimensions: Facsimile: H. 73 × W. 56.5 cm (28 3/4 × 22 1/4 in.); scale approximately 1:5;, Framed: H. 74.6 × W. 58.1 cm (29 3/8 × 22 13/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1948
  • Object Number: 48.105.52
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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Charles K. Wilkinson
ca. 1479–1425 B.C.
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