<HTML>Bent
When the building of the Giza pyramids began around 2520 BC, the Giza
site, the Dahshur pyramid site and the rising of Canopus were aligned in
a straight line, and it is tempting to think that this was noticed by the
AE.
Canopus is the second brightest star in the sky and rose about 71 deg. S
of E around 2520 BC, preceded by Orion and Sirius. This was a bright
‘new’ star seen low down on the southern horizon at Dahshur and would have
been noticed by the AE during the main era of pyramid building when it
rose to about 4.5 deg. when due south. (in 4000 BC it only reached an
altitude of about 1.5 deg.)
The Dahshur, Giza, Canopus alignment would
have been an interesting way to link these two important pyramid groups
with an enigmatic bright ‘new’ star if the AE had wanted to.
Chris Tedder</HTML>
