Are there any Astronomical Observatories evidences in ancient Egypt? Abstract Ancient Egyptians precisely direct their temples and tombs to specific astronomical points, as attested in the designs of the Old kingdom pyramids and related temples. Likewise, the same approach was used in many religious and funerary buildings across the sequential historical epochs of ancient Egypt. This research introduces what can be called "astronomical design improvements" conducted by ancient Egyptians to secure a precise orientation for a specific direction of religious and funerary monuments. Moreover, this precise orientation requires observatories used for the orientation and monitoring of geographical directions. Therefore, this paper discusses the inquiring; are there any Astronomical Observatories evidences in ancient Egypt? Keywords: Observer, Monitoring, Astronomical improvements, Observatories, Solstice, Axial precession, Azimuth. 1. Introduction Ancient Egyptians depended on the Nile flood to get careful, accurate and to control the schedule calculation. This was an important reason to look forward to the sky and try to control the stars )1( . In ancient Egypt, the process of stars monitoring used to be conducted by the senior high officials in the state, especially Ministers or the greatest priest who was bestowed an important title. )2( (1) Parker.R.A., The Calendars of Ancient Egypt, Chicago, 1950, pp.7,§21;31-32, §155-157; Wells.R.A.,Sothis and the Satet Temple on Elephantine, SAK.12, 1985,pp.255-257.; Kees, H., Der Götterglaube im alten Ägypten, Berlin, 1956, pp.112; 408; White.M., Ancient Egypt its Culture and History, New York, 1970, p.94; Von Bomhard, S. A., The Egyptian Calendar, in: Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century, Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Egyptologists, vol. 2, Cairo, 2003, pp.141-142; Spalinger, A. J., Calenders, In: Redford, B. D.(Ed.). Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, vol.I. AUC Press , Cairo, 2001, p. 224; Caminos, R. A., Notices of Recent Publications, JEA.37,1951, pp.116117; Belmonte. J., On the Orientation of the Old Kingdom pyramids, JHA.32, Archaeoastronomy, No.26, 2001, pp.1-3, 17-20. (2) Seth,K.,Ein Ägyptisches Denkmal des Alten Reiches von der insel Kythera mit dem Namen des Heiligtums dse könig Userkaf , ZÄS. 53, 1907, pp.54-55; Kess, H., Das Priestertum in Agyptichen staat vom Neaen Reich bis zur Spatzeit, Leiden, 1958 , pp.4-6, 7; Sauneron, S., Priests of Ancient Egypt, Translated by Ann Morrissett, New York,1960, pp.39,53,55,60,78-88,114,116. 2 This title is "the great observer of Heliopolis/Iwnw )3( , which is considered one of the most important centers of the sun worshiping )4( , and one of the universe creation theories in ancient Egypt )5( , and the capital of the XIII Nome of the Lower Egypt. )6( 2. Discussion Ancient Egyptians insisted to precisely direct temples and tombs to specific astronomical points (four cardinal points of the world) )7( , as clear from the design improvements of the Old kingdom pyramids and its related temples )8( . So, the researcher suggests that it can be called the astronomical improvements of designs of the Old kingdom pyramids and related temples )9( . Mostly, Ancient Egyptians temples built along River Nile were oriented on an east-west axis, according to local cardinal directions as determined by River Nile. Likewise, Topography of Egypt was the (3) Moursi.M.I., Die Hohen Priester des Sonnengottes von Frühzeti Ägyptens bis zum Ende des Neuen Reiches, MÄS. 26, 1972, pp.130,138-139; Baines, J., & Melek ,J., Atlas of Ancient Egypt, New York, 1984, p. 173; Fitzenreiter,M.& Herb,M., Dekorierte Grabanlagen im Alten Reich Methodik und Interpretation, Ikonographie – Schreiben mit Bildern Ein Essay zur Historizität der Grabdekorationen des Alten Reiches, IBAES, Vol. VI, 2006, Berlin , p.167. (4)Černy,J., Ancient Egyptian Religion, London,1958,pp.270-271. (5) Jeffreys,D., Regionality, Cultural and Cultic Landscapes, Egyptian Archaeology, edited by:Wendrich,W.,London,2007,p.102;Baines,J.,Bnbn, Mythological and Linguistic notes, OR .39,1970,pp.389-391;Frankfort,H., Kingship and the Gods,Chicago,1978,pp.153,380, note.26; Breasted, J.H., The Development of Religion and Thought in Ancient Egypt , Philadelphia, 1972, pp.70–72; Edwards,I.E.S., The Pyramids of Egypt,England,1993,pp.281-282. (6) Moursi.M.I., Die Hohen Priester des Sonnengottes von Frühzeti Ägyptens bis zum Ende des Neuen Reiches, MÄS 26, 1972, pp.130,138-139; Bauval,R., The Egypt Code London, 2006, pp. 80-81; 105-106; Lehner,M., The Complete Pyramids, Solving the Ancient Mysteries ,London, 1997, p.29;Grimal,N., A History of Ancient Egypt, Oxford, 1994, pp. 164-165;Bauval,R., & Brophy,T., Imhotep, The African Architect of the Cosmos ,San Francisco , 2013, pp.30-31; 52-53; Lindahl,C.B., Axis Mundi,Charleston, South Carolina,USA ,2012, p. 146; Huxley,J., From an Antique Land: Ancient and Modern in the Middle East, Boston,1966, pp.58-59; 61-62; Preece, E.W.,& Goetz, W. Ph., Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol.I,Fifteens Ed., Chicago, 1979, p.704; David, G.A., Mirrors of Orion, Star Knowledge of the Ancient World, USA, 2014, pp. 113-114; Bagnall, R.S., Egypt in Late Antiquity, Fourth ed., Princeton,1996, p.333;Grajetzki,W., The Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt, history, archaeology and society, London , 2006, pp.109-110; Baines, J., & Melek ,J., Atlas of Ancient Egypt, New York, 1984, p. 173. (7) Montet, P., Le Rituel de Fondation des Temples Égyptiens, Kemi.17,1964, pp.75-77, 8384; Wilkinson.R.H., The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt , London.2000, pp.36-37; Lehner, M.,The Development of the Giza Necropolis, The Khufu Project, MDAIK.41, 1985, pp.109-111; 142-143; Hoyle,F., On Stonehenge, San Francisco,1977, p. 66; Wells.R.A.,Sothis and the Satet Temple, SAK.12,1985,p.301,note 46. (8) Edwards,I.E.S., The Pyramids of Egypt,England,1993,pp.21,27,36,47,75,78,152; Lehner, M.,The Pyramids,Chicago,1975,pp.97-99;100;102-103; Verner,M., The Pyramids, New York,2001,pp.160,163,165,175,177-178,180-181,462; Lehner, M.,The Development of the Giza Necropolis, The Khufu Project, MDAIK.41,1985, pp.109-111; 142-143; Hoyle,F., On Stonehenge, San Francisco,1977, p. 66;Wells.R.A.,Sothis and Satet Temple,SAK.12,1985, p. 301,note.46; Belmonte, J., On the Orientation of the Old Kingdom pyramids,JHA.32, Archaeoastronomy,No.26, 2001,pp.1-3,17-20. (9) Researcher viewpoint. controlling reason for orienting towards sun or to significant stars funerary buildings across the temple of Imn-Ra at Karnak temple located in south of Karnak temple Mntw located in the north of Karnak temple Imn-Htp II located between the two IX and X the west, and Luxor temple in mind that the entrance Imn from Luxor and to Karnak during located in northeast of Karnak before reaching to the first intermediate p are remains of a mudbrick Thereupon, the precision in directing temples and tombs also must achieved through using observatories in orienting to specific astronomical points. (Fig.1): Ancient Egyptian Orientation and Monitoring of Geographical Directions as (10)Wilkinson.R.H., The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt (11) Montet.P., Le Rituel de F Neugbauer.O.,& Parker.R.A.,Egyptian Astronomical Texts, vol.III, Decans, Constellations and Zodiacs, London,1969, p.5; Astronomique dans l'ancienne Égypte, et l pp.171-172. (12) El-adly,A.S., Das Gründungs und Weiheritual d frühgeschichtlichen zeit bis zum Ende des Neue Murnane, W.,Opetfest, LÄ IV, Wiesbaden,1982, cols.574 II,Wiesbaden,1977,col.180; Kruchten,J.M., L'année où la fê JEA.77, 1991 , pp.182-184;Kemp, B., Ancient Anatomy of A Civilization, 206;Sethe, K., Die Beiden alten Lieder von der Trinkstätte in den Darstellungen des Luksorfestzuges, ZÄS.64,1929, pp.1 Repräsentation im Thebanischen Beamtengrab der 18. Dynastie, 130; cf: Junker,H.,& Erich Winter,E., Das Geburtshaus des Tempels der Isis in Philae, Wien, 1965,pp.304-305; cf: Spaliger, A.J., Notes on the Ancient Egyptian Calendar pp.17-19,30-32. (13) Badawy.A.L.,Le Dessin Architectural chez les anciens Egyptiens,Étude comparative des Représentations égyptiennes de Constr H., Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt (14) Researcher viewpoint. 3 temples. Occasionally, the orienting of temples )10( . Similar cases exist in many religious and later historical epochs of ancient Egypt, such as the which is turned to the west side of the River Nile, and directed to the south, the t and directed to the south pylons of Karnak temple which was directed from the south to the north of Karnak temple was oriented to receive the procession of the Ipt feast )12( . Moreover, Medamud and was almost oriented along an easteriod structure of Medamud temple temple was oriented over a north-south axis monitoring of geographical directions and )14( (Figs.1-2) Neugebauer suggested. , pp.36-37. ondation des Temples égyptiens, Kêmi.17,1964 ,p.84; Planets, Lauer.J.P.,& Žába.Z., L'Orientation a Précession de l'axe du Monde, BIFAO.60, es Ägyptischen Tempels von der n Reiches,Tübingen,1981,pp.238 -576; Altenmüller, H., te d'Opet n'eut pas lieu en Pao New York,1989,p. -3; Fitzenreiter,M., Totenverehrung und Soziale SAK. 22,1995,pp. 95 uctions, Le Caire, 1948, p.183; Wilki , pp.36-37. #nsw emple of , the temple of and directed to )11( , putting temple west axis. And there )13( . have been 1960 , -239; Fest, LÄ phi, -97,127s, OR. 64,1995, nson. R. After: Isler, M., An Ancient Method of Finding (Fig.2): The Orientation and Monitoring of Geographical Directions as Isler After: Isler, M., An Ancient Method of Finding and Extending Therefore, the first step to northern – southern axes section of the sky or northern hemisphere located in the southern part that there must be observatories to moni deduced that the northern and southern hemispheres' monitoring process form of simple harbingers indicate simple note astronomical phenomena sections of the sky )16( . Noteworthy, there are some harbingers indicates that the astral dogma was known, prosperous and of great role both at the scientific aspect or decorative purpose since Pre were interested in many branc beliefs. Astronomy was one of those promoted branches of sciences; it was related to the astral dogma. Besides this there are links between astronomy and the ancient Egyptian religious aspects. informed of daily flight of stars referred to the deceased k Ancient Egyptians linked between astral Thereupon, it is believed that the (15) El-adly,A.S., Gründungs und Weiheritual LÄ.VI,Wiesbaden,1986,col.385; Berlin, 1953, p.566; Behlmer. (16)Researcher viewpoint. (17) Lauer,J.Ph.,& Zába ,Z., L'Orientatio Wells. R.A., Sothis and the Satet SAK.12, (18) Lauer,J.Ph., Apropos de l'Orientat Gonyon,G.,Nouvelles Observations relatives A L'Orientation de la pyramide de Kheops , RdE, 22,1970, p.85. (19) Wells, R. A., Origin of the Hour and the Ga 4 and Extending Direction, JARCE.26, 1989, Fig.2. suggested. Direction, JARCE.26, 1989, Fig.3. build a temple, ancient Egyptians would be by monitoring Polar stars/Msxtyw located , as well as the Non-Polar stars of the sky or southern hemisphere )15( . It is already clear tor these directions accurately. s and expectation including stars' movements in the northern and southern -dynastic age )17( . Consequently, the ancient Egyptians hes of science related to primarily the ancient Egyptian So, it is believed that ancient Egyptian )18( . Furthermore, several spells of ing's ascension to sky within immortal stars. beliefs and deceased's ascension to astral dogma preceded the solar doctrine des tempels,p.324;Helck .W.,Tempelgründung Bonnet, H., Realexikon der ägyptischen Religion H., Orion, LÄ.IV,Wiesbaden, 1982,cols.609-610. n Astronomique, BIFAO,60, 1960, p.172; pp. 255-257; 301-302. ion des Grandes pyramides, BdE.42,1966, p. 9; tes of the Duat, SAK. 20 ,1993,pp.305 identified the in the northern / ¤AHw It can be started in the s of some s were wellpyramid texts Therefore, sky. . )19( , Geschichte, -306;