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by Joanna Gillan
July 24,
2023
from
Ancient-Origins Website
Italian version
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Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of
Ancient Origins.
Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology)
degree in Australia and published research in the field
of Educational Psychology.
She
has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching
children with autism in an early intervention program,
owning and operating an online English teaching
business, working as a research and project officer in
the office of TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of
Cornwall and assistant in the office of Prince William
and Prince Harry, as well as co-owning a website design
and development company.
Joanna co-founded Ancient Origins with her husband Dr
Ioannis Syrigos. |
Sirius, the Dog Star,
the dominant star
within the Canis Major constellation.
Source: iryna / Adobe Stock
The accolade of "brightest star in the sky as viewed from Earth"
goes to the well-known star
Sirius, popularly called the Dog
Star due to its role as the dominant star in the
Canis Major, meaning the
"greater dog" constellation.
Being such a visible
heavenly body, it has been the object of wonder and veneration to
ancient peoples throughout human history.
Canis
Major
as
depicted on the Manuchihr Globe
made in
Mashhad 1632-33 AD.
Adilnor
Collection, Sweden.
(CC
BY-SA 4.0)
Sirius - The
Dog Star of Ancient Cultures Around the World
Interestingly, totally separate ancient cultures with no apparent
communication have related the brilliant Sirius with either a
wolf or a dog.
In ancient Chaldea
(present day Iraq) the star was called the "Dog Star that Leads,"
while in ancient China the star was identified as a heavenly
wolf.
The Dog Star Sirius
was known as "the Dog of the Sun" in Assyria and
Akkadia.
Meanwhile, North American indigenous tribes have also referred to
the star in canine terms.
The Seri and
Tohono
O'odham tribes of the southwest describe Sirius as a "dog that
follows mountain sheep," while the Cherokee paired Sirius with Antares as a dog-star guardian of the "Path of Souls."
The Skidi tribe of
Nebraska named it the "Wolf Star," and further north the Alaskan
Inuit of the Bering Strait called it "Moon Dog."
Crop of
"Canis
Major, Lepus, Columba Noachi & Cela Sculptoris",
plate
30 in Urania's Mirror.
(Public
domain)
The Dog Star
Sirius in Millennia of Astronomy and Mythology
The Sirius system, located a mere 8.6 light-years away from Earth,
stands as the fifth closest known stellar system to humanity.
Derived from,
the ancient Greek
Seirios, meaning "glowing" or "scorcher," its name carries a
profound significance.
This brilliant star has
played a crucial role in astronomy, mythology, and occultism for
millennia, as evidenced by its depiction on ancient artifacts.
In the ancient
Vedas of the Indian subcontinent, this star was known as
the Chieftain's star.
In other Hindu
writings, it is referred to as Sukra, the Rain God or
Rain Star.
The celestial movements
of the Dog Star Sirius held immense significance in marking and
predicting events on Earth.
In one example, the
heliacal rising of Sirius was intricately linked to the flooding of
the Nile in ancient Egypt, signifying the beginning of a new
agricultural cycle.
Similarly, for the ancient Greeks, this rising of
Sirius coincided with the "dog days" of summer, representing the
hottest and most uncomfortable days of the season.
The Polynesians,
on the other hand, regarded the appearance of Sirius as an
indication of winter and relied on it for navigation across the vast
Pacific Ocean.
Across various civilizations, including the Sumerians
and Babylonians, the trajectory of Sirius was observed
and revered. Its celestial journey inspired a sense of reverence and
awe, leading to its classification as a sacred entity.
The appearance of Sirius
in the night sky was often accompanied by grand feasts and joyous
celebrations, paying homage to its profound influence and celestial
splendor.
The Dog Star Sirius held was unrivalled as the most
significant celestial body in the
ancient Egyptian sky.
Indeed, it served as the
cornerstone of their entire religious system, with the majority of
their deities intricately linked to this luminous star.
The Egyptian
calendar system, crucial for agricultural and societal
planning, revolved around the heliacal rising of Sirius...
This annual event, which
took place just before the summer floods of the Nile, marked a
pivotal moment in their lives and shaped their understanding of time
and the cycles of nature.
A 9th-century astronomical manuscript,
including an illustration of the constellation "Sirius".
(CC0)
Did the
African Dogons Possess Mysterious Stellar Knowledge?
The Sirius Mystery,
a thought-provoking book authored by Robert Temple, stirred
controversy upon its publication.
Temple made a striking
claim that
the Dogon, an ancient African tribe
from Mali, possessed knowledge about Sirius that seemed impossible
to obtain without advanced telescopic technology.
According to his
assertions, the Dogon people had an understanding of the binary
nature of Sirius, which consists of,
two stars known as
Sirius A and Sirius B...
The Chandra X-ray image of Sirius A & B,
a
double star system located 8.6 light years from Earth,
shows a
bright source and a dim source.
This is
not visible with the naked eye.
(Smithsonian Institution)
In his book, Temple proposed that the Dogon's awareness of Sirius B,
a white dwarf companion star to Sirius A, indicated a profound
ancient connection or even
extraterrestrial contact.
These claims sparked
extensive discussions and debates among scholars and researchers,
exploring the origins and extent of the Dogon's astronomical
knowledge.
However,
it is important to note that these claims have been met
with skepticism and criticism by some 'experts,' who suggest
alternative explanations such as cultural diffusion or
misinterpretation of Dogon traditions.
The Sirius Mystery
continues to be a subject of interest and controversy, prompting
further exploration of the Dogon's fascinating cosmological beliefs
and the origins of their alleged knowledge about the Sirius star
system.
The Dog Star
Sirius as a Source of Knowledge and Power
These days, Sirius continues to hold a significant place in
religious beliefs and spiritual practices.
In various
secret societies that persist
today, the Dog Star is considered,
the core focal point
of their teachings and symbolism...
Throughout the course of
human civilization, from ancient times to the present day, Sirius
has maintained its association with divinity and has been revered as
a profound source of great knowledge and power.
The star that shines
brightest to us here on Earth has undeniably carried special
symbolic meaning for humanity throughout history.
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