Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: On 1 April 2471 b.C., an impressive, unpredictable phenomenon occurred over the Delta of the Nile: a total solar eclipse, with the totality band almost centred on the sacred city of Buto, and the “capital” Memphis on the verge of the totality. This date is compatible with existing chronologies for the reign of Pharaoh Shepseskaf, who adopted a clamorous symbolic break with respect to the tradition of “solarized” kings started by Khufu. Indeed, his tomb was not built in view from Heliopolis and was not a pyramid, but a kind of unique monument resembling the symbolic shrine at Buto. The aim of the present paper is to investigate in a systematic way the possibility that the origin of this historical and architectural passage, which marks the end of the Fourth Dynasty, can be identified precisely in the 2471 b.C. eclipse, therefore furnishing a new astronomical anchor for the chronology of the Old Kingdom.
Source: Heritage
Author: Giulio Magli
Institution: Politecnico di Milano
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,930
OpenAlex ID: W4416458448
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