nut
Milky Way possibly depicted in ancient Egyptian coffins, study finds
Similar curved motifs have also been found in tombs in the Valley of the Kings, including those of Ramesses IV, VI, and IX, as well as on the ceiling of the tomb of Seti I. These curves divide cosmological scenes, especially in the Books of the Day and Night, where arched figures of Nut are depicted back-to-back. As Dr. Graur contends, these visual characteristics further reinforce his theory that the ancient Egyptians might have linked such curves with the Milky Way.
Interestingly, these wavy features occur in the cosmological artwork of Indigenous American cultures, such as the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni, where they represent the Milky Way.
Despite the visual connections, Dr. Graur cautions against equating Nut (above) with the Milky Way itself. Nut’s body is represented as covered with stars in perhaps a quarter of the cosmological vignettes under study, implying that Egyptians during the 21st and 22nd Dynasties had a preference for illustrating the day sky rather than the night sky. This preference further complicates how the ancient Egyptians conceptualized the cosmos.
READ: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/04/milky-way-depicted-in-ancient-egyptian-coffins/
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