Calendars on Coffin Lids from Asyut (Second Half of the Third Millennium)

The coffins of Msahiti, Mait, Khiti, pseudo-Nakhiti, Hounnou and Tefabi, discovered in Asyut between 1893 and 1903, belong to the IXth or Xth dynasty. The lids of these coffins are decorated with diagonal calendarial tables. The tables of Msahiti and Tefabi belong to the 36-column type, the tables of Khiti and Hounnou to the 24-column type. Theoretical considerations leading to the constructions of such calenders are outlined. The illusiveness of dating these tables by the rubricated titles of the columns preceding and following the intersemestrial transversal picture is pointed out. The connection between the upper or sunset row of the diagonal calendars and the decanologues of the southern panels of the ceilings of the XVIIIth and XIXth dynasties is established. The division of the ceilings into two panels separated by a longitudinal inscription, the presence of the Ursa Major group in the center of the northern panel, and of the Orion-Sirius group in the center of the southern panel, result from the layout of diagonal calenders of the Asyut type. The meta-Sothic lists of the ceilings correspond to the astronomical divinities of the 36th column heading the deagonals of the terminal triangle of a complete calendar. The Senmut-Ramesseum decanologues are related to the 36th-column type of calendars; the Seti-tradition points to a special 24-column type of calendar not found on the available Asyut coffin lids

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