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Merkhet

The merkhet, known in ancient Egyptian as the "instrument of knowing," was a fundamental astronomical sighting tool employed for precise timekeeping and surveying during the Late Period (c. 600 BCE), with surviving physical examples dating to around that time. Consisting of a short bar—typically made of wood, stone, or bronze—with a plumb line suspended from one end to ensure vertical alignment, it was used in tandem with a bay, a forked palm rib or stick serving as a sighting device. This setup allowed astronomer-priests to observe the north-south meridian by aligning the bay with the merkhet's plumb line against the Pole Star or other celestial markers, thereby tracking the transit of decanal stars to divide the night into hours.^[1]^[2]^[3] One of the oldest known astronomical instruments, the merkhet played a crucial role in ancient Egyptian cosmology and daily life, integrating astronomy with religious and practical functions. During the day, it could function as a rudimentary sundial by casting shadows, but its primary innovation lay in nocturnal observations, enabling the measurement of time based on stellar movements rather than solely solar positions. Inscriptions on artifacts, such as a bronze merkhet owned by Bes, son of Khonsirtis—a priest of Horus at Edfu—highlight its association with elite astronomical knowledge, inscribed with electrum-inlaid hieroglyphs declaring its purpose to "know the motion of the two discs (sun and moon) and every star." This tool was essential for temple rituals, where timing festivals aligned with stellar events, and for agricultural calendars tied to the Nile's inundation.^[2]^[4] Beyond timekeeping, the merkhet was indispensable for architectural precision, particularly in orienting monumental structures like pyramids and temples to cardinal directions or specific stellar alignments. Astronomical sighting techniques for establishing true north with remarkable accuracy, later formalized with tools like the merkhet, are evidenced in the near-perfect alignments of Old Kingdom pyramids. The physical merkhet's documented use is from the Late Period. Pairs of merkhets were often employed to create a reference line, complementing other instruments like the knotted rope for right angles and the cubit rod for measurement. Its legacy underscores the Egyptians' advanced integration of mathematics, astronomy, and engineering, influencing subsequent civilizations' approaches to celestial observation.^[1]^[3]^[5]

Historical Context

Origins in Ancient Egypt

The merkhet emerged as an ancient Egyptian astronomical instrument during the New Kingdom period (c. 1550–1070 BCE), representing a significant advancement in the integration of astronomy and architecture. Developed amid the era's flourishing temple constructions and royal tomb decorations, it facilitated precise stellar observations essential for aligning monumental structures with celestial bodies. Possible archaeological examples include wooden gnomons from the reign of Amenhotep III (c. 1390–1352 BCE) housed in the Berlin Ägyptisches Museum (ÄM 14573) and the Louvre (N 781), which may represent early merkhets as L-shaped bars paired with a plumb line for sighting stars against the horizon.^[6] This tool built upon earlier Egyptian timekeeping devices, particularly the bay—a palm-rib gnomon used for solar shadow measurements since the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BCE)—marking a transition toward nocturnal stellar timekeeping. While the bay relied on daylight shadows to track hours, the merkhet enabled astronomers to observe the risings and settings of stars like those in the decans, extending temporal precision into the night. Textual evidence from the New Kingdom, including depictions in the Book of Nut from the reign of Seti I (c. 1290–1279 BCE), illustrates its role in meridian observations, with plumb-bob alignments visualized in Ramesside star clock contexts. New Kingdom tomb artwork also depicts related sighting tools, suggesting early development for nocturnal measurements, though physical survivals date primarily to later periods.^[6]^[7] The merkhet's development was driven by cultural imperatives, notably the requirement for exact temple orientations to honor deities and synchronize rituals with cosmic events. In a society where the Nile's annual flooding dictated agricultural and religious calendars, nocturnal observations using the merkhet ensured accurate timing for ceremonies tied to stellar transits, such as those marking the inundation's onset. Astronomical ceilings in royal tombs, like those in the Valley of the Kings, further reflect this conceptual evolution, incorporating star charts that presuppose tools like the merkhet for verification.^[6]^[7]

Period of Use and Decline

The merkhet found primary use in ancient Egypt from the New Kingdom period (c. 1550–1070 BCE), where it featured in astronomical observations during the reign of Amenhotep III (c. 1380 BCE) and alongside the Ramesside star clocks of the 20th Dynasty (c. 1186–1070 BCE), aiding in the tracking of stellar transits for timekeeping. Evidence of proto-forms appears in New Kingdom tomb artwork depicting sighting tools for celestial alignments, suggesting early development for nocturnal measurements. Its application persisted into the Late Period, exemplified by a surviving bronze artifact dated to approximately 600 BCE during the 26th Dynasty (664–525 BCE), when it supported precise surveying and integration into temple observatories amid rising Greek astronomical exchanges.^[2] The merkhet reached peak utility during the 26th Dynasty, a time of refined Egyptian astronomy that incorporated external influences, including Greek methods for stellar positioning, while maintaining its role in royal and priestly observatories for dividing the night into decanal hours.^[1] Accounts from Herodotus in the 5th century BCE describe Egyptian practices of segmenting the night into 12 parts via star risings and settings, directly aligning with merkhet-based techniques for nocturnal timekeeping. The instrument's decline commenced in the Ptolemaic Period (305–30 BCE), as Hellenistic rule introduced superior Greek devices such as the armillary sphere for comprehensive celestial modeling, diminishing dependence on simple plumb-line sighting tools like the merkhet. By the Roman era (30 BCE onward), Greco-Roman innovations, including concave sundials and astrolabes, further supplanted traditional Egyptian implements, with last documented merkhet applications fading amid these technological shifts.^[8]

Design and Construction

Key Components

The merkhet's primary structure features a horizontal bar equipped with a central hole through which a plumb line is suspended, forming the device's core for achieving precise vertical alignment. This bar is affixed to a vertical handle, providing the necessary stability for handheld use during astronomical or surveying tasks.^[2]^[1] The merkhet provides a vertical reference via the plumb line and horizontal bar, used in tandem with a separate sighting device known as the bay (a forked palm rib or stick) for observing stars or the horizon. Typically, two merkhets were used in tandem to establish a baseline, such as a north-south meridian, by aligning with celestial markers like the Pole Star.^[1]^[9] The plumb line, the merkhet's essential vertical reference, consists of a knotted string or fiber cord with a weighted bob at its end, allowing it to hang freely and indicate true perpendicularity against which all sightings are calibrated.^[2]^[9]

Materials and Variations

The merkhet was primarily constructed from wood for the bar and handle. The only known surviving example is a bronze merkhet dating to around 600 BCE, owned by Bes, son of Khonsirtis, a priest of Horus at Edfu, with hieroglyphic inscriptions inlaid with electrum. The accompanying plumb line consisted of a cord made from flax or papyrus fibers, suspended with a weight to ensure vertical alignment.^[10]^[11]^[2] Variations in construction likely emerged based on purpose, with the bronze example suggesting use in more formal or durable contexts.

Function and Operation

Timekeeping Mechanism

The timekeeping mechanism of the merkhet relied on the observation of stellar transits to divide the night into 12 hours. The merkhet was used in tandem with a bay: one fixed instrument, suspended with a plumb line to establish a precise vertical and mark the north-south meridian line through alignment with circumpolar stars, and a bay (a forked palm-rib stick used as a sighting device) to track the rising or culmination of target stars against this reference. This setup allowed priest-astronomers to determine when a star crossed the meridian, providing a benchmark for nocturnal timing.^[1]^[2] Central to this system was the division of the night using 36 decan stars, organized into groups that rose sequentially every 10 days over the course of the 360-day civil year, with 12 decans visible each night to mark the hours. The merkhet facilitated alignment with these decans' passage across the meridian, as each decan corresponded to a specific temporal segment, enabling observers to identify the current hour based on which decan's transit was sighted. Calibration against reliable circumpolar stars, such as those in Ursa Major, ensured consistency in establishing the meridian, as these "imperishable" stars remained visible throughout the night and year.^[12]^[6]^[13] The method's practical accuracy depended on clear atmospheric conditions and skilled alignment, typically achieving functional precision for hourly divisions despite variations in night length across seasons. Observations necessitated unobstructed views, thus requiring clear skies free of clouds or dust, and were commonly performed from elevated temple roofs or platforms oriented eastward to monitor horizon risings effectively.^[6]^[14]

Surveying and Alignment Techniques

The merkhet served as a key instrument in ancient Egyptian surveying for establishing precise alignments, particularly through its plumb line mechanism, which allowed surveyors to determine a true north-south axis by sighting along a vertical line aligned with celestial markers. This method involved holding the merkhet—a bar with a suspended plumb bob—while an assistant positioned a bay (cleft staff) to create sight lines; the plumb ensured vertical accuracy, and paired instruments facilitated the construction of perpendicular east-west lines using geometric principles such as the 3-4-5 right triangle formed with knotted ropes. These techniques were essential for orienting monumental structures like pyramids and temples to cardinal directions, integrating astronomical observations with terrestrial measurements.^[15]^[3] In land surveying, the merkhet complemented tools like shadow clocks (simple sundials) to map agricultural fields during the annual Nile inundation, when floodwaters erased boundaries and necessitated the restoration of property lines for equitable division and taxation. Surveyors would use the merkhet's plumb line to maintain straight sight lines while measuring distances with knotted ropes and cubit rods, ensuring fields were re-demarcated with reference to fixed astronomical points for consistency across seasons. This process, vital for the agrarian economy, relied on the instrument's ability to integrate daytime shadow measurements with vertical alignments, allowing teams to plot grids over inundated terrains efficiently.^[3]^[15] A prominent application was the "stretching the cord" ritual, a foundational ceremony where pharaohs, often depicted alongside the goddess Seshat, employed merkhet-sighted lines to lay out building foundations. In this technique, the king and priests stretched a cord between merkhet-held plumb points to define corners and axes, as illustrated in reliefs at the Edfu Temple, which preserve detailed inscriptions of the procedure from the Ptolemaic period reflecting earlier practices. These merkhet-guided alignments achieved remarkable precision, enabling structures like the Great Pyramid of Giza to deviate from true north by only 3 to 4 arcminutes (approximately 0.05 degrees), a feat critical for symbolic and structural integrity.^[16]^[15]

Astronomical and Cultural Significance

Role in Egyptian Astronomy

The merkhet played a central role in ancient Egyptian astronomy by enabling precise observations of celestial bodies, particularly the decans—36 groups of stars that rose sequentially every 10 days—and the heliacal rising of Sirius, known as Sopdet. These observations facilitated the synchronization of the 365-day civil calendar with natural cycles, dividing the night into 12 hours based on the meridian transit of decans, which shifted approximately 4 minutes later each night. Priests-astronomers utilized the merkhet to track these stellar events from temple terraces, ensuring alignments with the horizon for accurate timekeeping and seasonal predictions.^[17]^[14] In religious contexts, the merkhet was employed by astronomer-priests, such as hm-ntr figures, in major temples like Karnak to time sacred festivals, including the Heb Sed jubilee, which renewed the pharaoh's divine power every 30 years or multiples thereof, aligned with key stellar positions in the calendar. This integration of astronomy and ritual underscored the belief that celestial order mirrored divine harmony, with observations guiding processions and offerings to deities. Surviving inscriptions on merkhet artifacts, such as one owned by Bes, son of Khonsirtis, an astronomer-priest of Horus at Edfu, highlight its priestly ownership and use in temple-based astronomy.^[2]^[18] The device's cosmological significance tied it to Egyptian mythology, where sightings aligned with the sky goddess Nut, who arched over the earth, and the Duat, the underworld traversed by the sun and stars nightly. Merkhet observations of Sopdet's heliacal rising, marking the Nile's annual flood after 70 days of invisibility, were interpreted as divine signals from deities like Isis or Hathor, predicting agricultural renewal and linking stellar motions to the flood's inundation season. This framework reinforced the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth central to Egyptian worldview.^[17] Key merkhet observations focused on the imperishable stars, or ikhemu-sek, circumpolar constellations in the northern sky that never set, symbolizing eternity and the souls of the blessed in the afterlife. These were monitored alongside decans to conceptualize unchanging cosmic time, influencing the design of diagonal star clocks painted on Middle Kingdom coffin lids, which depicted decanal sequences for the deceased's nocturnal journey through the Duat. Such representations extended merkhet-based astronomy into funerary practices, ensuring the soul's alignment with imperishable celestial guides.^[17]^[19]

Influence on Timekeeping Practices

Egyptian astronomical knowledge, including stellar observation techniques, was transmitted to Greek astronomers through the intellectual hub of Alexandria during the Ptolemaic period, contributing to the evolution of more advanced instruments like the astrolabe. This cultural exchange integrated Egyptian methods with Greek geometric models, as seen in the works of Hipparchus in the 2nd century BCE, who drew on Egyptian traditions to refine methods for cataloging star positions and predicting celestial events.^[20]^[21] In medieval Islamic science, astronomers building on Hellenistic adaptations refined instruments like the quadrant for measuring celestial angles, enhancing accuracy in astronomy and navigation.^[22] The significance of ancient Egyptian astronomical practices was revived in 19th-century Egyptology, where scholars documented artifacts and techniques, shedding light on pre-Hellenistic systems that supported calendrical and architectural precision. Comparatively, the Egyptian stellar method focused on the practical division of the night sky into 36 decans—groups of stars rising sequentially every 10 days—for timekeeping and orientation, differing markedly from the Babylonian system's zodiacal divisions, which prioritized 12 equal signs for predictive astrology. This Egyptian emphasis on utilitarian decans for daily and ritual timing highlights a distinct approach to celestial utility over divinatory frameworks.^[23]

Artifacts and Preservation

Known Surviving Examples

The known surviving examples of merkhets are extremely rare, primarily due to the perishable organic materials like wood and bone typically used in their construction, which have largely succumbed to decay over thousands of years. Most extant specimens are fragmented, with restorations often incorporating modern fibers or replicas to stabilize them for display and study. Authentication of these artifacts generally relies on stylistic analysis aligning with tomb depictions and inscriptions, as well as contextual dating from associated finds, placing them in the Late Period (c. 600–300 BCE).^[2] The primary and best-preserved surviving merkhet is a bronze example held in the Science Museum Group Collection in London, dated to approximately 600 BCE during the Late Period. This artifact features an intact plumb hole for suspending a sighting line and a sturdy handle for holding, with hieroglyphic inscriptions inlaid with electrum identifying it as the property of Bes, son of Khonsirtis, an astronomer priest associated with the temple of Horus at Edfu. Acquired by Howard Carter, the instrument measures 93 mm in length, 25 mm in height, and 22 mm in width, weighing 0.098 kg; its original plumb bob is missing and has been replaced by an early 20th-century replica to reflect its functional form.^[2] These examples, like the London specimen, underscore the merkhet's role as both a timekeeping and surveying device, with minor design variations such as handle shaping observed across them. A second example, a merkhet dating to the 6th century BCE, was recovered in a 2024 excavation at Tell El-Fara'in (ancient Buto) in the Nile Delta, alongside structures identified as an ancient astronomical observatory.^[24]

Archaeological Context and Study

Merkhets have been unearthed primarily at sites linked to religious and astronomical activities in ancient Egypt, including temple complexes such as Edfu in Upper Egypt and the recent discovery at Tell El-Fara'in in the Nile Delta region of Kafr El-Sheikh.^[2]^[24] The Theban necropolises, encompassing areas like Deir el-Bahri and tombs from the 19th Dynasty, represent another focal point for potential contexts, given the extensive excavations there that yielded related astronomical artifacts. These locations underscore the instrument's role in priestly and funerary settings. The excavation history of merkhets traces back to early 20th-century efforts by British Egyptologist Howard Carter, whose work in the Theban region from 1907 onward included acquiring a rare bronze example now in the Science Museum Group collection.^[2] This artifact, dated to circa 600 BCE and inscribed as belonging to the astronomer priest Bes, son of Khonsirtis, of the Horus temple at Edfu, highlights Carter's contributions beyond the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, during which nearby digs in the Valley of the Kings uncovered numerous scientific instruments.^[2] Champollion's decipherment of hieroglyphs in the 1820s laid the groundwork for modern Egyptology, enabling the interpretation of ancient texts that describe instruments like the merkhet.^[25] Research methods on merkhet artifacts involve advanced non-destructive techniques, such as X-ray radiography, to uncover internal structures and manufacturing details without damage, as demonstrated in analyses of similar Late Period bronze tools.^[26] Comparative studies with Mesopotamian astronomical devices, like Babylonian sighting rods, reveal shared principles in meridian observations and plumb-line usage, informing reconstructions of Egyptian practices.^[27] In the 21st century, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities leads conservation initiatives for vulnerable wooden artifacts, including merkhet components, addressing climate-induced risks such as increased humidity and flooding that accelerate decay.^[28] A prominent example is the 2024 excavation at Tell El-Fara'in, where a 6th-century BCE merkhet was recovered alongside observatory structures, advancing understanding of Delta-period astronomy through integrated geophysical and artifact analysis.^[24] These efforts emphasize sustainable preservation amid environmental pressures.^[29]

References

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A Walk Through Time - Early Clocks | NIST
Aug 12, 2009 · At noon, the device was turned in the opposite direction to measure the afternoon "hours." The merkhet, the oldest known astronomical tool, was ...
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Egyptian Merkhet | Science Museum Group Collection
Merkhet, a timekeeping and surveying instrument, made in Ancient Egypt, 600BCE. Made in bronze with hieroglyphic text inlaid with electrum metal.
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(PDF) Surveying in Ancient Egypt - ResearchGate
... merkhet, which doubled as a plumb bob and a sundial. A set of these instruments (now in the Staatliche Museum. Charlottenburg in Berlin, found in Abydos ...
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[PDF] AN ASTRONOMICAL INSCRIPTION ON THE BERLIN - SAV
The instrument known as merkhet is an astronomical device used by ancient. Egyptian astronomers as an indicator of time.22 Instruments of the same form were ...
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Apr 21, 2005 · The pyramid of Khufu, built very early in Egyptian history, in the. Fourth Dynasty, at about 2550 B.C.E., provides an excellent example of the ...
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Summary of each segment:
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Jan 3, 2025 · In any case the device used by the Egyptian astronomers, called Merkhet, is known. ... The Oxford history of ancient Egypt. Oxford University ...
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It is generally presumed that star clocks were a means for regulating cultic service at night. The “hours” of the star clocks will have been of uneven length ...
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Reproduction of a merkhet
It consists of two parts: a horizontal bar with a plumb line and a sighting instrument made out of a V-shaped palm rib (bâi). By setting his aim on the plumb ...
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Painting, showing the use of the merkhet in ancient Egypt | Art UK
Painting, showing the use of the merkhet in ancient Egypt by J. Carrington Birch (active 1950–1969), 1960, from Science Museum.Missing: notches | Show results with:notches
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Mar 10, 2021 · Text and illustrations of the time suggest that the Merkhet was used to mark where a particular star would sink below the horizon and then ...
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To give the wood strength and prevent warping, the numerous layers that make up the thickness were also nailed together. The layers were organized with the ...Missing: treatment | Show results with:treatment
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One of the instruments used was called “Merkhet,” (similar to an astrolabe), which could mean “indicator.” It consisted of a horizontal, narrow wooden bar ...
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The sextant as a navigational instrument was developed in the 18th century, but the sextant as an astronomical instrument has been around for much longer.Missing: Merkhet quadrant<|separator|>
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In 1858, the great early Egyptologist Richard Lepsius (1810-1884) published his mammoth book in two parts, Königsbuch der Alten Ägypter.Missing: Merkhet rediscovery pre- Hellenistic astronomy
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The decans were thirty-‐‑six individual stars or small constellations that rose and set at different times of the year, acting as a means of telling time ...Missing: merkhet | Show results with:merkhet
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The instruments used were the merkhet, a horizontal bar equipped with a plumbline, and the bay, a wooden rod with a sighting notch in its upper end. On the ...
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This study investigated deteriorated wood statues from Abydos, Egypt, using non-destructive analysis and empirical testing to develop a conservation plan.
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Jan 22, 2018 · How climate change and population growth threaten Egypt's ancient treasures · A tourist explores an ancient site Climate change and environmental ...
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Jun 9, 2024 · Egyptian wooden artifacts constitute an important part of global cultural heritage. The impact of microbial deterioration on cultural heritage ...