| Brugsch. B.C. | Mariette. B.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Seneferu, fourth dynasty | 3766 | 4235 |
| Assa, fifth dynasty | 3366 | 3951 |
| Pepi, sixth dynasty | 3233 | 3703 |
| The Antefs, eleventh dynasty | 2500 | 3064 |
| The most famous sovereigns of the twelfth dynasty | 2433-2300 | 2851 |
| Thirty princes of the thirteenth dynasty | 2233 | (?) |
PLAN OF THE PYRAMIDS AT NURI.
It is interesting to note that in this list the builders of the great pyramids at Gîzeh, and all the kings who in the last chapter were suggested as being given to equinoctial worship, are passed over without notice. It would appear, then, that the ancestors named were of southern origin, precursors of Thothmes in cult as well as in time.
Of these ancestors, the first—if Brugsch's dates can be taken, which, I think, is doubtful—limited himself to southern temples; the majority of temples built near Pepi's time were oriented to the south. The twelfth dynasty was more catholic.
The more we inquire, the more interesting does this inquiry into the north-star temples as opposed to the south-star temples become. These considerations are not limited to the temples—they apply also to pyramids. At Gîzeh we find both temples and pyramids oriented east and west. At Gebel Barkal, Nuri, and Meroë, in Upper Egypt, we find both temples and pyramids facing south-east, and at the first of these places, where both exist together, we find well-marked groups of pyramids connected by their orientations with each temple. I can, however, find no information as to the probable dates of these pyramids; in the absence of facts, it seems fair to assume that they follow the dates of the temples which agree in orientation.
In the following tables I give the values for Nuri, Meroë, and Gebel Barkal; a west variation of 8½° has been assumed.
Nuri.[129]
| Cult. | Magnetic Azimuth. | Astronomical Amplitude. | Decl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ° | ° | ° | |
| Pyramids 10, 11, 12 | N. 136 E. | 37½ S. of E. | S. 35¼ |
| Pyramids 1, 4 | N. 137¼ E. | 38¾ S. of E. | S. 36¼ |
| Pyramids 13, 14, 15 | N. 139 E. | 40½ S. of E. | S. 38 |
| Pyramids 2, 3, 16, 17 | N. 145½ E. | 47 S. of E. | S. 43¾ |
| Pyramids 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | N. 146½ E. | 48 S. of E. | S. 44¾ |
Meroë.[130]