Several indicatious exist in the planisphere of an intentional dis placement of the figures designating the constellations. In some cases, apparently when a constellation could not be conveniently introduced In its proper place for want of room, it has been transferred to the margin in the direction of a line drawn from the centre through the true place of the constellation. In other cases a constellation appears to be removed and a hieroglyphic figure substituted for it. Thus a line drawn from the centre of the planisphere, through Taurus, leads near the margin, to a group of seven stare, which probably designate the Pleiades; and near it is another group, which may represent the Hyades. Again, between Aries and Pisces, and a little above them, is an animal in a sitting posturo, which is found to coincide with the computed places of the stars in Cassiopeia ; and near the margin of the planisphere in a line drawn through the centre and this animal, there is a human figure seated in a chair, as Cassiopeia is always represented. In a few cases some emblem of a constellation is found at the margin opposite the figure denoting the constellation : thus the head of a ram surmounted by a winged globe is in the direction of a line drawn from the centre through the front of Aries in the zodiacal ring. A great figure, which is supposed to represent a hippopotamus, is situated near the ceutre of the planisphere in a place corresponding to a part of the heavens very near Ursa Major, but where there are no remarkable stars ; and N. Biot conjectures that the animal may be an emblem of that constellation : he conceives that it may indicate Typhon, who, according to Plutarch C De (side'), is represented by a hippo potamus, and to whom Ursa Major is assigned. That the ancient Egyptians had a constellation which was designated by this name is stated by Plutarch and by Diodorus Sieulus (i. 27) ; the latter has given translations of two inscriptions in hieroglyphics, which appear to have existed in his time; and in one of these Osiris is made to say that he bad been to the uninhabited parts of India, to the regions of the Bcar, and to the sources of the later (Danube).
In the direction of a line drawn from the centre of the planisphere, towards the north, and passing through the figure of Cancer, is the representation of a cow having a great star between its horns; and near it, in the direction of a line coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the temple, is a tall lotus-stem surmounted by a hawk, the symbol of deity. On this stem the place of Sirius, computed for the epoch of the planisphere, is found to fall ; and the cow probably represents Isis, to whom the star Sirius was consecrated. The solstitial colure being due north and south, it is probable that the planisphere was intended to show the aspect of the heavens at the time of the vernal equinox, when the colurea pass through the four cardinal points of the horizon; and the line passing through Cancer and the cow being in the plane of the solstitial colure is an indication that at midsummer, at the epoch of the planisphere, Sirius rose with the stars of Cancer. The line representing the direction of the equinoctial colure passes, on the eastern aide, between two symbolical figures of men, a little way from which is a email figure (supposed be Harpocrates) issuing from a lotus-flower, and having above his head a star with a hieroglyphical inscription. According to Plutarch (` De Iside ') the Egyptians repre
sented the rising sun by a child issuing from a lotus; and hence it is inferred that the symbols indicate the rising of the sun in the east point of the horizon on the day of the vernal equinox.
The heads of all the figures, with scarcely an exception, tend towards the centre of the planisphere, and the figures in the southern half of the zodiac are arranged so that, to a spectator standing in the centre of the room with his face to the south, and looking upwards, they must have appeared as if moving from east to west ; that is in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the heavens. The longer axis of the temple is inclined to the meridian in an angle of about 17 degrees, and the walls are directed so that the points at which the remarkable stars Sirius and Antares must have seemed to rise coincided with the directions of the north and south ends of the building. A temple near Esne (Latopolis), in the portico of which is a representation of the zodiacal signs, is disposed so that the longitudinal walls tend to the points at which Antares and Sirius set; and though DO great stress ought to be laid upon this circumstance, there is some probability that the dispositions may have been intentional, since no reason can be assigned why, otherwise, the temples should not, like the pyramids, have had their walls directed to the cardinal points of the horizon. The golden circle of Osymandyas, which is mentioned by Diodorus Siculus (i. 49) as being placed in the tomb of that ancient king at Thebes, was 365 cubits in circumference. and to each cubit was assigned one of the 365 days of the year, with the risings and settings of the stars for each day marked on the several divisions.
The ceiling of the portico belonging to the temple at Denderah is' nearly covered with sculptured figures, many of which resemble those in the circular planisphere, and the twelve signs of the zodiac are distinctly represented in two bands parallel to the axis of the building : six of the figures appear to be entering the temple on the eastern side of the portico, and of these Cancer is the last ; the other six, of which the first is Leo, appear to be quitting it on the weitcrii ride, so that (the front of the portico being towards the north) the direction of their motion corresponds to that of the apparent diurnal rotation. Within the two lines of figures are those which belong to the northern con stellations, and beyond them, near the eastern and western extremities of the portico, are figures relating to the southern constellations.
Among the former is a human figure surrounded by seven stars, disposed similarly to ,those of Ursa Major in the heavens, and near them is a lotus-stem surmounted by a hawk, like that which in the circular planisphere is in the place of Sirius: this emblem in the planisphere of the portico is therefore supposed to be an indication of Sirius ; and the opinion is confirmed by the fact that it is preceded by a cow (leis) and a great hieroglyphical inscription.