Located in the Qubbet el-Hawa necropolis, the tomb structure is accurately aligned to the sunrise of winter solstice. SciTechDaily notes how such alignment enables the rays of the sun to shine on the tomb of the late Elephantine governors.
According to Live Science, the tomb is situated close to present-day Aswan. It was constructed during the 12th dynasty of Egypt which belonged to a specific period referred to as the Middle Kingdom. During such a time, Egypt was said to thrive.
Tomb's Alignment with Winter Solstice
The perfect alignment was uncovered by specialists from the University of Jaen (UJA) and the University of Malaga (UMA). Findings were included in the Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry journal.
Live Science reports how the chapel's entrance was constructed in a manner that the sun's rays would be able to enter and illuminate the structure during winter solstice, which typically occurs during December 21 and 22. In its completion, the statue and chapel would have been covered in light during every winter solstice sunlight. The researchers note that it is the oldest known tomb across ancient Egypt that has perfect alignment with the winter solstice.
Such winter solstice alignment enabled the tomb to accurately monitor the cycle of the sun. This was then linked to the rebirth concept.
Winter solstice specifically symbolized light's victory over darkness as summer solstice also coincided with Nile's annual floods. Both of these events had metaphorical connotations that are linked to the deceased governor's resurrection.
Calculating Perfect Orientation to Winter Solstice
In the specific study, the scientists explain that in order to acquire the perfect orientation, the Egyptian architect had to simply use a pole of two cubits, some robes, and a square. With these materials, the architect was able to intricately calculate the orientation and location.
Phys also reports that the researchers note how the Egyptian architect did not just get the best orientation but also intricately designed the volume with remarkable precision.
The specific tomb has the catalog code of No. 33. It was constructed by Governor Heqaib-ankh and was excavated by UJA from 2008 to 2018. During this time, various specialists have also studied the structure.
Software That Is Capable of Mirroring Sun's Position
The Analusian researchers were able to come up with such conclusion because of the specific identification of the period of the tomb's formation. This enabled the specialists to utilize a specific software known as Dialux Evo that is capable of coming up with the sun's position with respect to ancient horizons.
Such a study shows the capacity of Egyptians to calculate the sun's orientation and position and use such calculations as bases for monument designs. The scientists note that, even though the Qubbet el-Hawa tomb is the oldest example, being roughly 3,800 years old, that archaeologists have ever come across, they are positive that the said tomb is not a singular outlier. There are more structures that have the same mirroring characteristics.
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