Egyptian merkhet

Made:
600 BCE in Egypt
Egyptian Merkhet Egyptian 'star clock' (merkhet), c 600 BC. Front view, light grey background. From a colour transparency in the Science 'Merkhet', Ancient Egyptian astronomical timekeeping instrument, bronze with hieroglyphic text inlaid with electum 'Merkhet', Ancient Egyptian astronomical timekeeping instrument, bronze with hieroglyphic text inlaid with electum

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Egyptian Merkhet
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Egyptian 'star clock' (merkhet), c 600 BC. Front view, light grey background. From a colour transparency in the Science
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

'Merkhet', Ancient Egyptian astronomical timekeeping instrument, bronze with hieroglyphic text inlaid with electum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

'Merkhet', Ancient Egyptian astronomical timekeeping instrument, bronze with hieroglyphic text inlaid with electum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Merkhet, a timekeeping and surveying instrument, made in Ancient Egypt, 600BCE. Made in bronze with hieroglyphic text inlaid with electrum metal. The device has been fitted with a replica plumb bob, probably at some point during the early twenieth century.

The hieroglyphic inscription indicates that this instrument was the property of Bes, son of Khonsirtis (Khensardais var.), an astronomer priest of the god, Horus of Edfu in Upper Egypt. As a timekeeping instrument, it would have been used to determine the hours by the sun during the day and by onserving the passage of selected stars across the north-south meridian during the night. As a surveying instrument, it would have been used to layout axes of buildings.

Details

Category:
Time Measurement
Materials:
bronze, electrum (gold-silver alloy) and textile
Measurements:
overall: 25 mm x 93 mm x 22 mm, 0.098 kg
Identifier:
1929-585
type:
sundial
taxonomy:
  • furnishing and equipment
  • measuring device - instrument
  • timepiece
credit:
Dr Howard Carter