Graham: "The symbol that looks like a star however is fairly consistent. I believe the image refers to a survey protractor."


The word for 'star' is sbA, written sometimes with the 'star' hieroglyph N14 with vertical stroke Z1, but normally written: S29 (s) D58 (a) G1 (A) + 'star' det. N14.


sbA, with another meaning, was pronounced and written the same, but had an additional determinative sign that looks like a capitol A, that according to Faulkner, may have been a surveying instrument. If Faulkner's interpretation is correct, it means stars may have played an important role in the initial surveying of a sacred building.

We know from late texts that the 7-star asterism known today as the 'Plough' / 'Big Dipper' (AE: msxtjw) in the 'Great Bear' constellation was sighted to in the 'stretching the cord' ceremony:


"The astronomical knowledge of the Egyptian priests and architects at this time is indicated by early examples of the ceremony of pedj shes ('stretching the cord'), first attested on a granite block of the reign of the 2nd-Dynasty king Khasekhemwy (c.2686 BC). This method relied on sightings of the Great Bear and Orion (see SAH) constellations, using an 'instrument of knowing' (merkhet) which was similar in function to an astrolabe, and a sighting tool made from the central rib of a palm leaf, thus aligning the foundations of the pyramids and sun temples with the cardinal points, usually achieving an error of less than half a degree." (British Museum Dictionary of AE, 1995, Ian Shaw, and Paul Nicholson)

CT