Volume 8 (2025)
Sous le Ciel Étoilé: Proscynème Cordial au Dr Nadine GUILHOU–AMBROISE
Temples of Egyptian Gods in the Aegean: Some Thoughts on their Orientation
Dallas, Themis G.
Abstract:
In the present paper, the orientation of 29 temples of Egyptian gods (mostly of Isis and Serapis) is studied, around the Aegean, dating from the Hellenistic and Roman Periods. It is deduced that most of them follow the orientation of the city grids or the landscape contours of their surroundings, as no significant evidence of astronomical alignments is detected.
Citation:
Dallas, T.G. 2025. «Temples of Egyptian Gods in the Aegean: Some Thoughts on their Orientation », JHIE 8: 75–85
DOI:
10.5281/zenodo.18760227
Language: en
Submitted on 2023-11-08; accepted on 2025-04-15
References
- Belmonte J.–A.: «What Equinox?», Advancing Cultural Astronomy: Studies In Honour of Clive Ruggles (E. Boutsikas, S.C. Mc Cluskey & J. Steele, eds),Cham, Switzerland (Springer) 2021, 11-33.
- Belmonte, J.–A., Pérez Die, M.C. & Díaz–Iglesias Llanos, L.: «Shrines of Ram–Headed Divinities and Canopus: Skyscaping at Heraklepolis Magna», Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 164, 2016, 125-132.
- Belmonte, J.–A. & Shaltout, M.A.M. (eds): In Search of Cosmic Order: Selected Essays on Egyptian Archaeoastronomy, Cairo (SCA Press) 2009.
- Belmonte, J.–A., Shaltout, M.Α.Μ. & Fekri, M.: «Astronomy, Landscape and Symbolism: A Study of the Orientations of Ancient Egyptian Temples», In Search of Cosmic Order: Selected Essays on Egyptian Archaeoastronomy (J.–A. Belmonte & M. A.M. Shaltout, eds), Cairo (SCA Press) 2009, 215-283.
- Belmonte, J.–A. & Lull, J.: Astronomy of Ancient Egypt: A Cultural Perspective (Orchiston, W. et al., eds), Cham, Switzerland (Springer / Historical & Cultural Astronomy Series) 2023.
- Blaženska, S. & Radnjanski, J.: «The Temple of Isis at Stobi», Romanising Oriental Gods? Proceedings of the International Symposium. Skopjie, 18-21/09/2013 (A. Nikoloska & S. Müskens, eds), Skopje–Leiden 2015, 215-256.
- Bøgh, B.: «The Graeco–Roman Cult of Isis», The Handbookof Religions in Ancient Europe (L. Bredholt–Christensen, O. Hammer & D.A. Warburton, eds), Durham (Acumen) 2013, 228-241.
- Boutsikas, E.: The Cosmos in Ancient Greek Religious Experience: Sacred Space, Memory, Cognition, Cambridge–New York (Cambridge University Press) 2020.
- Bricault, L.: «Iseum et Serapeum», Thesaurus Cultus et Rituum Antiquorum IV, Los Angeles (J. Paul Getty Museum) 2005, 251-259.
- Broneer, O.: Corinth I.4: The South Stoa and its Roman Successors, Princeton NJ (The Americal School of Classical Studies at Athens) 1954.
- Bruneau, P. & Ducat, J.: Ὁδηγὸς τῆς Δήλου, Athènes (École Française d’Athènes) 2010.
- Brun–Kyriakidis, H.: Αἰγυπτιακὲς Λατρείες καὶ Ἱερὰ στὴν Δῆλο, Athènes (École Française d’Athènes) 2021.
- Collart, P.: «Le sanctuaire des dieux égyptiens à Philippes», Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 53, 1929, 70-100.
- Dallas, T.G.: «The Ancient Skyscape Over the Sanctuary of the Egyptian Gods in Marathōn», Liber Amicorum – Speculum Siderum: Nūt Astrophoros: Papers Presented to Alicia Maravelia (Guilhou, N., ed.), Oxford (Archaeopress / Archaeopress Egyptology 17) 2016, 153-166.
- Dallas, T.G.: «The Ancient Skyscape over the Temple of Isis at Stobi», JHIE 3, 2020, 11-18.
- Dekoulakou, I.: «Le sanctuaire des dieux égyptiens à Marathōn», Bibliotheca IsiacaII (L. Bricault & R. Veymiers, éds), Bordeaux (Éditions Ausonius) 2011, 23-46.
- EAT = Neugebauer, O. & Parker, R.A.: Egyptian Astronomical Texts: I. The Early Decans; II. The Ramesside Star Clocks; III1/2. Decans, Planets, Constellations and Zodiacs / Plates, Providence RI (Brown University Press) 1960-1969.
- Fantaoutsaki, C.: «Preliminary Report on the Excavation of the Sanctuary of Isis in Ancient Rhodes: Identification, Topography and Finds», Bibliotheca Isiaca II (L. Bricault & R. Veymiers, eds), Bordeaux (Éditions Ausonius) 2011, 47-63.
- De Franceschini, M. & Veneziano, G.: «Architecture and Archaeoastronomy in Hadrian’s Villa near Tivoli, Rome», Nexus Network Journal 153, 2013, 457-485.
- De Franceschini, M., & Veneziano, G.: «Archeoastronomia nell Mausoleo di Adriano, Castel Sant’Angelo (Roma)», XVII Seminario di Archeoastronomia (G. Veneziano, ed.), Genova (Associazione Ligure per lo Sviluppo degli Studi Archeoastronomici), 2015, 5-17.
- Frischer B., Zotti, G., Mari, Z. & Capriotti–Vittozzi, G.: «Archaeoastronomical Experiments supported by Virtual Simulation Environments: Celestial Alignments in the Antinoeion at Hadrian’s Villa (Tivoli, Italy)», Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 33, 2016, 55-79.
- González–García, A.C. & Belmonte, J.A.: «Which Equinox?», Archaeoastronomy 20, 2006, 95-105.
- Juri–Leventopoulou, E.: Τὸ Ἱερὸν τοῦ Ἄμμωνος Διὸς παρὰ τὴν Ἄφυτιν», Ἀρχαιολογικὰ Ἀνάλεκτα ἐξ Ἀθηνῶν 43, 1971, 356-367.
- Hannah, R. & Magli, G.: «The Role of the Sun in the Pantheon’s Design and Meaning», Numen 58, 2011, 486-513.
- Hennemeyer, A.: «Das Heiligtum der ägyptischen Götter in Priene», BYZAS 1. Ägyptische Kulte und ihre Heiligtümer im Osten des römischen Reiches (A. Hoffmann, ed.), İstanbul (Ege Yaynlar) 2005, 139-153.
- Krauss, R.: Astronomische Konzepte und Jenseitsvorstellungen in den Pyramidentexten, Wiesbaden (O. Harrassowitz /ÄgAbh 59) 1997.
- Kritzas, H.V.: «Πάροδος Δαναοῦ (Οἰκόπεδον Χρήστου Κιοτσαντῆ ἢ Κωτσιαντῆ)», ἈρχαιολογικὸνΔελτίον 29B2, 1973-1974, 222-226.
- Magli, G., González–García, A.C., Belmonte, J.–A. & Antonello, E. (eds): Archaeoastronomy in the Roman World, Cham, Switzerland (Springer) 2019.
- Maravelia, A.–A.: Les astres dans les textes religieux en Égypte antique et dans les Hymnes Orphiques, Oxford (Archaeopress / BAR International Series 1527) 2006.
- Maravelia, A.: «Of Eternity, Everlastingness and Stars: Notions of Time, Space, Duration and the Firmament in the Pyramid and Coffin Texts», Time and Space at Issue in Ancient Egypt (G. Chantrain & J. Winand, eds), Hamburg (Lingua Aegyptia / Studia Monographica 19) 2018, 81-110.
- Pakkanen, P.: Interpreting Early Hellenistic Religion: A Study Based on the Cult of Isis and the Mystery Cult of Demeter, Helsinki (Suomen Ateenan–Instituuti Säätiö) 1996.
- Pandermalis, D.: Δῖον: Ἡ Ἀνακάλυψη, Athens (Ἐκδόσεις Ἀδάμ) 1999.
- Papadakis, N.: «Ἀνασκαφὴ Ἰσείου ἐν Ἐρετρίᾳ», Ἀρχαιολογικὸν Δελτίον 1, 1915, 115-190.
- Parke, H.W.: The Oracles of Zeus: Dodona, Olympia, Ammon, Cambridge MA (Harvard University Press) 1967.
- Petsa, F.: «Ναὸς Ἄμμωνος παρὰ τὴν Ἄφυτιν», Ἀρχαιολογικόν Δελτίον 25B2, 1970, 354-361.
- Reijs, V.: «How Visible are Celestial Objects?», Applied and Computational Historical Astronomy: Proceedings of the Splinter Meeting in the Astronomische Gesellschaft, 25/9/2020 (G. Wolfschmidt & S.M. Hoffmann, eds), Hamburg (Tredition) 2021, 152-175.
- Prendergast, F.: «Techniques of Field Survey», Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy (Ruggles, C.L.N., ed.), New York (Springer) 2015, 389-409.
- Ruggles, C.L.N.: «Whose Equinox?», Archaeoastronomy 22, 1999, 45-50.
- Ruggles, C.L.N.: «Analyzing Orientations», Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy (Ruggles, C.L.N. ed.), NY (Springer) 2015, 411-425.
- Ruggles, C.L.N.: «Postscript: Still our Equinox?», Journal of Skyscape Archaeology 3, 2017, 132-135.
- Sakellaraki, E.: Ἐρέτρια: Xῶρος καὶ Mουσεῖο, Athens (ΤΑΠA) 1995.
- Salač, A.: «Kymé», Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 49, 1925, 476-478.
- Salditt–Trappmann, Ρ.: Tempel der ägyptischen Götter in Griechenland und an der Westküste Kleinasiens, Leiden (Brill) 1970.
- Salzman, M.R.: On Roman Time: The Codex–Calendar of 354 and the Rhythms of Urban Life in Late Antiquity, Berkeley (University of California Press) 1990.
- Schaefer, B.E.: «Atmospheric Extinction Effects on Stellar Alignments», Journal for the History of Astronomy, Archaeoastronomy Supplement 17, 1986, S32-S42.
- Schaefer, B.E.: «New Methods and Techniques for Historical Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy», Archaeoastronomy 15, 2000, 121-136.
- Scranton, R.L. & Ramage, E.S.: «Investigations at Corinthian Kenchreai», Hesperia 362, 1967, 124-186.
- Simms, R.R.: «Isis in Classical Athens», The Classical Journal 843, 1989, 216-221.
- Smith, D.E.: «The Egyptian Cults at Corinth», The Harvard Theological Review 703–4, 1977, 201-231.
- Steimle, C.: «Neue Erkentnisse zum Heiligtum der ägyptischen Götter in Thessaloniki», ΑΕΜΘ 16, 2004, 291-306.
- Themelis P.: «The Cult of Isis at Ancient Messene», Bibliotheca IsiacaII (L. Bricault & R. Veymiers eds), Bordeaux (Éditions Ausonius) 2011, 97-109.
- Tsigarida, Ε.Β.: «The Sanctuary of Zeus Ammon at Kallithea (Chalcidice)», Kernos 24, 2011, 165-181.
- Von Gaertringen, F.H.: Thera: Untersuchungen, Vermessungen und Ausgrabunden in der Jahren 1895-1902, Berlin (Georg Reimer) 1904.
- Walker, S.: «A Sanctuary of Isis on the South Slope of the Athenian Acropolis», The Annual of the British School at Athens 74, 1979, 243-258.
- Wiegand, T. & Schrader, H.: Priene: Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen und Untersuchungen in den Jahren 1895-1898, Berlin (Georg Reimer) 1904.
- Wild, R.A.: Water in the Cultic Worship of Isis and Serapis, Leiden (Brill) 1981.
- Wild, R.A.: «The Known Isis–Serapis Sanctuaries of the Roman Period», Religion (Heidentum: Römische Götterkulte, Orientalische Kulte in der römischen Welt [Forts.]) (W. Haase, ed.). Berlin (De Gruyter) 1984, 1739-1851.
- Woodward, A. M.: «Athens and the Oracle of Ammon», The Annual of the British School at Athens 57, 1962, 5-13.