![]() ![]() Temple made a striking claim that the Dogons, an ancient African tribe from Mali, possessed knowledge about Sirius that seemed impossible to obtain without advanced telescopic technology. The Sirius Mystery, a thought-provoking book authored by Robert Temple, stirred controversy upon its publication. ( CC0 ) Did the African Dogons Possess Mysterious Stellar Knowledge? This annual event, which took place just before the summer floods of the Nile, marked a pivotal moment in their lives and shaped their understanding of time and the cycles of nature.Ī 9th-century astronomical manuscript, including an illustration of the constellation "Sirius". The Egyptian calendar system, crucial for agricultural and societal planning, revolved around the heliacal rising of Sirius. Indeed, it served as the cornerstone of their entire religious system, with the majority of their deities intricately linked to this luminous star. The Dog Star Sirius held was unrivalled as the most significant celestial body in the ancient Egyptian sky. The appearance of Sirius in the night sky was often accompanied by grand feasts and joyous celebrations, paying homage to its profound influence and celestial splendor. Its celestial journey inspired a sense of reverence and awe, leading to its classification as a sacred entity. The Polynesians, on the other hand, regarded the appearance of Sirius as an indication of winter and relied on it for navigation across the vast Pacific Ocean.Īcross various civilizations, including the Sumerians and Babylonians, the trajectory of Sirius was observed and revered. Similarly, for the ancient Greeks, this rising of Sirius coincided with the “dog days” of summer, representing the hottest and most uncomfortable days of the season. In one example, the heliacal rising of Sirius was intricately linked to the flooding of the Nile in ancient Egypt, signifying the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. The celestial movements of the Dog Star Sirius held immense significance in marking and predicting events on Earth. In the ancient Vedas of the Indian subcontinent, this star was known as the Chieftain's star in other Hindu writings, it is referred to as Sukra, the Rain God or Rain Star. This brilliant star has played a crucial role in astronomy, mythology, and occultism for millennia, as evidenced by its depiction on ancient artifacts. Derived from the ancient Greek Seirios, meaning "glowing" or "scorcher," its name carries a profound significance. The Sirius system, located a mere 8.6 light-years away from Earth, stands as the fifth closest known stellar system to humanity. ( Public domain ) The Dog Star Sirius in Millennia of Astronomy and Mythology ![]() The Seri and Tohono O’odham tribes of the southwest describe Sirius as a “dog that follows mountain sheep,” while the Cherokee paired Sirius with Antares as a dog-star guardian of the “Path of Souls.” The Skidi tribe of Nebraska named it the “Wolf Star,” and further north the Alaskan Inuit of the Bering Strait called it “Moon Dog.”Ĭrop of "Canis Major, Lepus, Columba Noachi & Cela Sculptoris", plate 30 in Urania's Mirror. Meanwhile, North American indigenous tribes have also referred to the star in canine terms. Dog Days of Summer: The Rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.Changing Colors and Scampering Across the Night Sky: What Did the Ancients Say about Sirius?.The Dog Star Sirius was known as “the Dog of the Sun” in Assyria and Akkadia. In ancient Chaldea (present day Iraq) the star was called the “Dog Star that Leads,” while in ancient China the star was identified as a heavenly wolf. Interestingly, totally separate ancient cultures with no apparent communication have related the brilliant Sirius with either a wolf or a dog. ( CC BY-SA 4.0 ) Sirius: The Dog Star of Ancient Cultures Around the World Being such a visible heavenly body, it has been the object of wonder and veneration to ancient peoples throughout human history.Ĭanis Major as depicted on the Manuchihr Globe made in Mashhad 1632-33 AD. The accolade of “brightest star in the sky as viewed from Earth” goes to the well-known star Sirius, popularly called the Dog Star due to its role as the dominant star in the Canis Major, meaning the “greater dog” constellation. ![]()
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