Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Lower right-hand corner of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, showing the feet of the goddess Nut.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].

Measurements:: overall: 93 mm x 1920 mm x 1365 mm, 88.5 kg

Materials:: plaster and wood (unidentified)

Object Number:: 1964-471 Pt1

type:: cast , zodiac symbols and maps

Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Middle right-hand edge piece of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, showing the knees of the goddess Nut and an inscription.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].

Measurements:: overall: 180 mm x 1963 mm x 1152 mm, 68 kg

Materials:: plaster and wood (unidentified)

Object Number:: 1964-471 Pt2

type:: cast , zodiac symbols and maps

Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Upper right-hand corner of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, showing the torso of the goddess Nut.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].

Measurements:: overall: 105 mm x 1962 mm x 1183 mm, 32 kg

Materials:: plaster and wood (unidentified)

Object Number:: 1964-471 Pt3

type:: cast , zodiac symbols and map

Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Top central piece of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, showing the ear and shoulders of the goddess Nut and uplifted arms of a worshipper.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].

Measurements:: overall: 140 mm x 1622 mm x 1210 mm, 77 kg

Materials:: plaster and wood (unidentified)

Object Number:: 1964-471 Pt4

type:: cast , zodiac symbols and maps

Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Middle central piece of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, showing the hair and elbows of the goddess Nut and torso of a worshipper.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].

Measurements:: overall: 167 mm x 1615 mm x 1173 mm, 65 kg

Materials:: plaster and wood (unidentified)

Object Number:: 1964-471 Pt5

type:: cast , zodiac symbols and maps

Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Lower central piece of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, showing the hands of the goddess Nut and feet of a worshipper.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].

Measurements:: overall: 155 mm x 1588 mm x 1250 mm, 65 kg

Materials:: plaster and wood (unidentified)

Object Number:: 1964-471 Pt6

type:: cast , zodiac symbols and maps

Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Large left-hand piece of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, showing a mythological representation of the zodiac.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].

Materials:: plaster and wood (unidentified)

Object Number:: 1964-471 Pt7

type:: cast , zodiac symbols and maps

Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Upper left-hand piece of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, carved with a zig zag pattern possibly representing water.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].

Measurements:: overall: 112 mm x 2590 mm x 512 mm,

Materials:: plaster and wood (unidentified)

Object Number:: 1964-471 Pt8

type:: cast , zodiac symbols and maps

Plaster cast from the chapel ceiling in the Great Temple at Dendera

Lower left-hand piece of a plaster cast of the Dendera Zodiac Ceiling, carved with a zig zag pattern possibly representing water. Some spray paint marks the right-hand edge.

Cast is of the ceiling of the central room of the Osiris Chapel (on the roof of the main temple). The original ceiling, 50 BCE, is now in the collections of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Planisphere of the stars on a plane projection, showing the constellations of the zodiac and the planets. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles of about 30 days on the heliacal rising of the star Sothis [Sirius].