Ohfervaiioiis on the Zodiac at Dendera. 169 



united opinions of Denon and Fourrier, 15,000 years before 

 Chriil v\ as the happujl period of the arts and fcicnces. So 

 much for their joint dccifion ! 



Taking, however, this calculation independently of the 

 ftrutSure itfcif, it is fairly admitted to be accurate, ^6 far as 

 it is founded on cquino6lia.l freceffions ; but, referving difcuf- 

 fions on this head for a work fhortly to be publifti-ed *, it 

 will be fufficient to obferve that 1 had thence fixed the age of 

 this zodiac to the very year and day before the hij'cription 

 afcertaimng them ivas knoivn, and which has not, even yet, 

 been explained. 



The plate given from Denon t reprefents the zodiac in two 

 compartments, as it exills ou the oppofite plat-bands of the 

 portico of the temple. The two large figures that embrace 

 the whole, he fuppofes, reprcfent the year ; and the winoed 

 emblem before their mouth, eternity, or e!fe the pallage of 

 the fun to the follticcs. The difk, at the joining of the thighs 

 of the upper figure, he pronounces to be the fun, whence pro- 

 ceeds a beam of Hght that falls upon the head of Ifis, which 

 reprefents either the earth or tlic moon. " The fun," he con- 

 tinues, " fituated in the fign Cancer, may perhaps fliow the 

 period of the creftion of the temple, whilft the figures joined 

 to the figns may mean the fixed ftars, and thofe in the boats 

 the revolving bodies, the planets, and the comets." After 

 oflering thefe conjeftures, this modelt artifi;, under a convic- 

 tion of their importance, refigns to others all further deve- 

 lopment. 



Inftead of adopting what Denon has conje6lured, it will 

 be proper to confider the zodiac anew. Accordingly, the 

 female form bent over either divifion, is unquellionably the 

 Ifis, which by ilorapollo is determined- to be the year. The 

 winged globe, according to iSIacrobius, is the fun commen- 

 cing his courfe. Tlie veil on the head of the Ifis is that mvf- 

 tcriouB one which the famous infcription affirms no mortal 

 had ever withdrawn. On the upper bend or (houlder of the 

 lower figure are eight lines or units, denoting that the fun, 

 4t the cardinal points of the year, is in the eiglith degree of 



.'' A Difquifuion on the Date, adigned by Fourrier, Comminioner 06 

 the Sciences and Aris in Egypt, to the anticnt Zodiac there fgund : whence 

 tiie extraordinary Darknefs rccorc!cd by Phlcgon, and thjt by the t-liUo- 

 rians of Ctiina, in tl-.e Reign of Qnanivu, are identified vvith the Dark- 

 rcfs at our Lord';. Crucifix.icn ; the Difcordance between the Eclipfe noted 

 by Ptolerriy, as (etn at Arhela and <?artlirn;c, i- accounted fjr ; the further 

 Defideratum tor afceriainiiij; I.onj^iuide, required iiv tiie Board at Paii>, 

 in tlitir Report on hurg's 'J'ablts, (upplied; and tl'cnce, in Reference to 

 tiic Prophecy of Puljani, the Birth of Chrift ii fixed, 

 t Sec Plate iV. 



the 



