Archaeoastronomy: Palette of Narmer

Palette of Narmer
The Egyptian god Shu's name (pronounced Su) is appropriately derived from the verb meaning "to raise". He is the equivalent to the Greek god, Atlas. Subsequent language developments are found in the Latin word "summa", meaning "highest". The Latin version was eventually absorbed into the Old English language as "sumer, sumor"; and this gave rise to the modern English word "summer", when the sun is at it's peak of influence on earthly affairs. Summer also happens to be the time the Nile floods in Egypt. So in the word Sumer, we also find combinations of the Egyptian god Su and their word "mer", meaning "the right eye, to watch over something, to see", "disease and death", "a watercourse or ditch" and "pyramid". Therefore, the name "Sumer" could be taken to mean "to raise the right eye" or "to raise to sight", "to raise from death", "to raise the watercourse", all of which can be appropriately related to the pyramid and to the seasons of Spring and Summer. The raising of the watercourse in summer is the most obvious translation; for the summer solstice is the time of the Inundation, of which Osiris was Lord. This also obviously refers to the raising of the celestial watercourse, the Milky Way. Osiris, of course, is connected with the Great Pyramid through virtue of the alignment of 4420 BC. Sumer could also mean "to raise to life"; and such a function has connections to Osiris and the Pyramid, because Osiris (Orion) was born anew at the spring equinox at the foundation of civilisation, and therefore he was the Symbol of Eternal Life. The "raising of the eye" or "the raising to sight" obviously refers to the rebirth of the Sun in the East and nature at the spring Equinox: for Osiris' name means "the seat of the eye", and the right eye of the god Horus (his son) was considered to be the sun. A place or people with such a name is therefore likely to have originated in the East and to be associated with the origins of man in Orion/ Osiris and the Spring equinoxial dawn. Interestingly, this association is strengthened with another Egyptian word for the right eye, "Ari". From "Ari" is derived the Latin word "Aries," which is the zodiacal sign of the ram, the tropical form of which is permanently associated with the spring equinox. There are too many coincidences to dismiss, and Sumer must therefore be associated with the spring equinoctial dawn at the start of civilisation. The opposite point to Sumer is "N'armer", the latter purportedly being the Horus name of the first king of an united Egypt, Menes. This king was also "The Scorpion King". The symbolism of the hieroglyphics associated with Narmer are those of catfish and death, probably meaning the death of catfish. Such an occurrence is prolific at the autumn equinox when the Nile dries up, leaving many dead catfish in the mud of the delta. Thus, more importantly, Narmer can be directly associated with the autumn equinox: a fact that is reinforced in his alternative name of the Scorpion King for, at the autumn equinox, it was the constellation of Scorpio which rose heliacally at dawn at the start of Egyptian civilisation. As Seth has already been associated with the sign of Scorpio and death, he can further be associated with Narmer. Thus in the story of Osiris and Seth, the Sumer and the Narmer, there is reflected nature's eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth. With the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under one Pharaoh, all power previously invested in Seth and Osiris came under one sceptre, that of Menes. Thus the Palette of Narmer can be seen as a commemoration of an united Egypt under one sky, as Pharaoh had dominion of all land under the sky, from East to West. In Pharaoh was invested the key to eternal life, for he was god. Perhaps, in the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, we see the symbolism of unification between earth and sky. There have been many interpretations of the Palette of Narmer, but none so revolutionary as to suggest the true meaning is reflected in astronomical symbolisms. Already the name Narmer can be tied to the Autumn Equinox and Seth, for his name appears on the palette. At the top of the palette, on either side are two heads of bulls, which must be associated with the astrological sign of Taurus. This sign held ascendancy in the eastern skies at the spring equinoctial dawn at the time when Orion's power was fading in the fifth millennium -- the time period to which the palette can be dated. On either side of the palette, at the base, is shown the fallen powers of astronomical constellations which had been associated with equinoctial and circumpolar worship. These fallen powers are the modern constellation of Gemini (which lost its power by virtue of the Precession of the Equinox); and the constellation Ursa Major, often depicted by the ancient Egyptians as a bull on a platform. Interestingly, the symbolism close to the bull appears to represent an astronomical cycle involving the horizon, which has domain over man. On one side of the Palette can be seen a king wearing the crown of Upper Egypt, with this king having dominion over a man. It is rather interesting that the depiction of this king is exactly as his celestial counterpart, Orion-Osiris, both holding their sceptre at the same angle, in the same hand. Such a relation to Osiris is not impossible for he is often depicted as wearing the crown of Upper Egypt. Furthermore, his son Horus appears to preside over the celestial boat to the right of the King, correctly indicating Horus' succession to the spring equinoctial dawn in the barque of Re. Everything on this side of the palette seems to represent life, including the symbol of Osiris' son and successor, Horus, presiding over a boat of live papyri. The king on the reverse side of the palette is seen wearing the crown of Lower Egypt, attended by the same attendant as the king of Upper Egypt, thus indicating one king with two crowns. In the symbol of the two lions united, not only is there that of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, but once again astrological symbolism. Heralding the summer solstice is the helical rising of Leo Major and Leo Minor, the two lions of the zodiac. The king of Lower Egypt also appears to be a representation of Seth, for the name Narmer appears directly in front of him, and he is preceded in the procession by Thet. In the personage of Thet could possibly be his sister Nebthet, mistress of the dead. The symbolism of death on this reverse side if the palette is reinforced in many ways, including the fact that Thet is holding Papyri which have wilted and appear to be dead; whilst, on the first side appearing with Osiris and Horus, are live Papyri. The Procession in which Seth is partaking is also preceded by the flood of destruction, represented by a boat over the depth of ten dead people. As Horus also appears in this boat, the suggestion which can be drawn is that he is the natural successor to the dead individuals by virtue of the Precession of the Equinox. The symbols of the gods on poles which follow the flood are likely to represent four stellar symbols over which Horus protects: the four points of the earth and the sky. Thus the whole palette was obviously produced to celebrate the unification of Egypt, marked by the union of opposites and their leaders, Osiris and Seth, Life and Death, Spring and Autumn, Sumer and Narmer. As a final sequence in this line of thought, we can return to the meaning of "mer" in application to the pyramids, to evidence all it's functions embodied in stone. The variety of meanings, other than "pyramid" include, "the right eye, to watch over something, to see", "disease and death", and "a watercourse or ditch". Through the connection of the Great Pyramid to Osiris-Orion, it is automatically connected to the Spring Equinox (Sumer), the cycle of Life and death and the raising of the watercourse at the Inundation as well as the associated raising of the celestial watercourse which is the Milky Way; for Osiris-Orion was Lord of the Spring Equinox and eternal life, the "seat of the eye", the Lord of the Dead, and the Lord of the Inundation. Thus it was that a cemetery was built up around the Pyramids for they symbolised Eternal Life and rebirth. These findings are the original work of Alison Moroney and were published in her book Pathway to Atlantis (1998). Copyright © Alison Moroney, 1994

The Egyptian god Shu's name (pronounced Su) is appropriately derived from the verb meaning "to raise". He is the equivalent to the Greek god, Atlas. Subsequent language developments are found in the Latin word "summa", meaning "highest". The Latin version was eventually absorbed into the Old English language as "sumer, sumor"; and this gave rise to the modern English word "summer", when the sun is at it's peak of influence on earthly affairs. Summer also happens to be the time the Nile floods in Egypt. So in the word Sumer, we also find combinations of the Egyptian god Su and their word "mer", meaning "the right eye, to watch over something, to see", "disease and death", "a watercourse or ditch" and "pyramid".

Therefore, the name "Sumer" could be taken to mean "to raise the right eye" or "to raise to sight", "to raise from death", "to raise the watercourse", all of which can be appropriately related to the pyramid and to the seasons of Spring and Summer. The raising of the watercourse in summer is the most obvious translation; for the summer solstice is the time of the Inundation, of which Osiris was Lord. This also obviously refers to the raising of the celestial watercourse, the Milky Way. Osiris, of course, is connected with the Great Pyramid through virtue of the alignment of 4420 BC. Sumer could also mean "to raise to life"; and such a function has connections to Osiris and the Pyramid, because Osiris (Orion) was born anew at the spring equinox at the foundation of civilisation, and therefore he was the Symbol of Eternal Life.

The "raising of the eye" or "the raising to sight" obviously refers to the rebirth of the Sun in the East and nature at the spring Equinox: for Osiris' name means "the seat of the eye", and the right eye of the god Horus (his son) was considered to be the sun. A place or people with such a name is therefore likely to have originated in the East and to be associated with the origins of man in Orion/ Osiris and the Spring equinoxial dawn. Interestingly, this association is strengthened with another Egyptian word for the right eye, "Ari". From "Ari" is derived the Latin word "Aries," which is the zodiacal sign of the ram, the tropical form of which is permanently associated with the spring equinox. There are too many coincidences to dismiss, and Sumer must therefore be associated with the spring equinoctial dawn at the start of civilisation.

The opposite point to Sumer is "N'armer", the latter purportedly being the Horus name of the first king of an united Egypt, Menes. This king was also "The Scorpion King". The symbolism of the hieroglyphics associated with Narmer are those of catfish and death, probably meaning the death of catfish. Such an occurrence is prolific at the autumn equinox when the Nile dries up, leaving many dead catfish in the mud of the delta. Thus, more importantly, Narmer can be directly associated with the autumn equinox: a fact that is reinforced in his alternative name of the Scorpion King for, at the autumn equinox, it was the constellation of Scorpio which rose heliacally at dawn at the start of Egyptian civilisation.

As Seth has already been associated with the sign of Scorpio and death, he can further be associated with Narmer. Thus in the story of Osiris and Seth, the Sumer and the Narmer, there is reflected nature's eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth. With the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under one Pharaoh, all power previously invested in Seth and Osiris came under one sceptre, that of Menes. Thus the Palette of Narmer can be seen as a commemoration of an united Egypt under one sky, as Pharaoh had dominion of all land under the sky, from East to West. In Pharaoh was invested the key to eternal life, for he was god. Perhaps, in the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, we see the symbolism of unification between earth and sky.

Paletter of Narmer There have been many interpretations of the Palette of Narmer, but none so revolutionary as to suggest the true meaning is reflected in astronomical symbolisms. Already the name Narmer can be tied to the Autumn Equinox and Seth, for his name appears on the palette. At the top of the palette, on either side are two heads of bulls, which must be associated with the astrological sign of Taurus. This sign held ascendancy in the eastern skies at the spring equinoctial dawn at the time when Orion's power was fading in the fifth millennium -- the time period to which the palette can be dated. On either side of the palette, at the base, is shown the fallen powers of astronomical constellations which had been associated with equinoctial and circumpolar worship. These fallen powers are the modern constellation of Gemini (which lost its power by virtue of the Precession of the Equinox); and the constellation Ursa Major, often depicted by the ancient Egyptians as a bull on a platform. Interestingly, the symbolism close to the bull appears to represent an astronomical cycle involving the horizon, which has domain over man.

Reverse side Palette of Narmer On one side of the Palette can be seen a king wearing the crown of Upper Egypt, with this king having dominion over a man. It is rather interesting that the depiction of this king is exactly as his celestial counterpart, Orion-Osiris, both holding their sceptre at the same angle, in the same hand. Such a relation to Osiris is not impossible for he is often depicted as wearing the crown of Upper Egypt. Furthermore, his son Horus appears to preside over the celestial boat to the right of the King, correctly indicating Horus' succession to the spring equinoctial dawn in the barque of Re. Everything on this side of the palette seems to represent life, including the symbol of Osiris' son and successor, Horus, presiding over a boat of live papyri. The king on the reverse side of the palette is seen wearing the crown of Lower Egypt, attended by the same attendant as the king of Upper Egypt, thus indicating one king with two crowns. In the symbol of the two lions united, not only is there that of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, but once again astrological symbolism. Heralding the summer solstice is the helical rising of Leo Major and Leo Minor, the two lions of the zodiac.

The king of Lower Egypt also appears to be a representation of Seth, for the name Narmer appears directly in front of him, and he is preceded in the procession by Thet. In the personage of Thet could possibly be his sister Nebthet, mistress of the dead. The symbolism of death on this reverse side if the palette is reinforced in many ways, including the fact that Thet is holding Papyri which have wilted and appear to be dead; whilst, on the first side appearing with Osiris and Horus, are live Papyri. The Procession in which Seth is partaking is also preceded by the flood of destruction, represented by a boat over the depth of ten dead people. As Horus also appears in this boat, the suggestion which can be drawn is that he is the natural successor to the dead individuals by virtue of the Precession of the Equinox. The symbols of the gods on poles which follow the flood are likely to represent four stellar symbols over which Horus protects: the four points of the earth and the sky. Thus the whole palette was obviously produced to celebrate the unification of Egypt, marked by the union of opposites and their leaders, Osiris and Seth, Life and Death, Spring and Autumn, Sumer and Narmer.

As a final sequence in this line of thought, we can return to the meaning of "mer" in application to the pyramids, to evidence all it's functions embodied in stone. The variety of meanings, other than "pyramid" include, "the right eye, to watch over something, to see", "disease and death", and "a watercourse or ditch". Through the connection of the Great Pyramid to Osiris-Orion, it is automatically connected to the Spring Equinox (Sumer), the cycle of Life and death and the raising of the watercourse at the Inundation as well as the associated raising of the celestial watercourse which is the Milky Way; for Osiris-Orion was Lord of the Spring Equinox and eternal life, the "seat of the eye", the Lord of the Dead, and the Lord of the Inundation. Thus it was that a cemetery was built up around the Pyramids for they symbolised Eternal Life and rebirth.

These findings are the original work of Alison Moroney and were published in her book Pathway to Atlantis (1998).