Uncovering Stars in an Egyptian Temple: The New Sky over Esna

Join Christian Leitz on September 18th, at 6pm as he talks about Egyptian History. The front vestibule–or pronaos–of the temple of Esna, well-known for its elaborate decorations, is one of the last examples of ancient Egyptian temple architecture. In 2018, the University of Tübingen, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, launched a complete restoration of the vestibule. The six-year long project has revealed a magnificent astronomical ceiling, colorful columns, and close to two hundred ink inscriptions previously undescribed. This lecture will give an overview of the restoration project, focusing on the astronomical ceiling and its multiple features, such as the path of the sun and moon, stars used for keeping time, Egyptian constellations, and the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Please register here.