Holger Isenberg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Can you point out the places where Sirius is
> being shown prominently in this temple (or any
> other temple)?
>
> One of the most important rooms in the temple is
> the Wabet (other names: purification chapel,
> Uadet):
> [commons.wikimedia.org]
>
> It is special due to:
> * only room with separate patio room in front
> * only room with open sky window in the ceiling
> (in the patio room)
> * only room which is raised from the floor by some
> steps

Is there writing there that explains it's dedicated to Sirius? None of the images on the walls seem to refer to Sirius. And the raised platform indicates that it's an area where a special shrine would be located... information that I've found says that the room is for the Soul (ba) of Hathor. The ceiling shows the rising sun shining on Hathor
[paulsmit.smugmug.com]

It is connected to the New Year festival, but is dedicated to Hathor

> The importance of Sirius was most likely only
> known to a small group of royal (Pharaonic)
> astronomers, to keep it as trade secret.

A claim of "trade secret" isn't proof that such a secret existed -- and it's hardly a secret that Sirius rising was the marker of the start of the Flood season. That was common knowledge throughout the land.

What would suggest this or support this is if there's an important chapel in the complex dedicated to Sopdet and if there were numerous chapels like this constructed in Ptolemaic times. As far as I know, only one temple to Sopdet has turned up, and it was to Sopdet-Isis and not Sopdet.

National specialty festivals would also indicate a very important deity... but there don't seem to be any for Sopdet on a national scale. : [www.ucl.ac.uk]

So if Sopdet's being subsumed by Isis at this period, how would Caesar be impressed with Sirius by visiting a temple to Hathor that has nothing in it of major importance that relates to Sirius? And why would he care about where it is at midnight (I seem to recall vaguely that there was some problem in measuring where midnight was at this time in history)?

-- Byrd
Moderator, Hall of Ma'at