c. 1823 - The Denderah Zodiac Lithograph: A Key to Ancient Egyptian Cosmology and Esoteric Traditions
Rare lithograph published by Saulnier and Leloirrain depicting the Denderah Zodiac, a famous bas-relief from ancient Egypt representing the celestial vault and its constellations. For those interested in the Western esoteric tradition, this image holds great significance. The Denderah Zodiac is not merely an astronomical chart; it's considered a key artifact in understanding ancient Egyptian cosmology and its influence on later Western esoteric thought.
Discovered during Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition by the French general Desaix, it was placed on the ceiling of a chapel dedicated to Osiris, located on the roof of the temple of Hathor at Dendereh.
The intricate symbolism within the zodiac and its connection to deities like Osiris and Hathor resonate with Hermeticism, astrology, and other esoteric systems that draw heavily from Egyptian wisdom. Transported to France in 1821, it is now on display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. A copy was later installed in its original location in Dendera. Its arrival in Europe sparked intense scholarly and esoteric interest, contributing to the burgeoning field of Egyptology and fueling occult interpretations of ancient Egyptian beliefs about the cosmos, time, and the afterlife.
Original lithograph on a large sheet of wove paper (670 x 580 mm). (slight soiling).
Rare lithograph published by Saulnier and Leloirrain depicting the Denderah Zodiac, a famous bas-relief from ancient Egypt representing the celestial vault and its constellations. For those interested in the Western esoteric tradition, this image holds great significance. The Denderah Zodiac is not merely an astronomical chart; it's considered a key artifact in understanding ancient Egyptian cosmology and its influence on later Western esoteric thought.
Discovered during Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition by the French general Desaix, it was placed on the ceiling of a chapel dedicated to Osiris, located on the roof of the temple of Hathor at Dendereh.
The intricate symbolism within the zodiac and its connection to deities like Osiris and Hathor resonate with Hermeticism, astrology, and other esoteric systems that draw heavily from Egyptian wisdom. Transported to France in 1821, it is now on display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. A copy was later installed in its original location in Dendera. Its arrival in Europe sparked intense scholarly and esoteric interest, contributing to the burgeoning field of Egyptology and fueling occult interpretations of ancient Egyptian beliefs about the cosmos, time, and the afterlife.
Original lithograph on a large sheet of wove paper (670 x 580 mm). (slight soiling).
Rare lithograph published by Saulnier and Leloirrain depicting the Denderah Zodiac, a famous bas-relief from ancient Egypt representing the celestial vault and its constellations. For those interested in the Western esoteric tradition, this image holds great significance. The Denderah Zodiac is not merely an astronomical chart; it's considered a key artifact in understanding ancient Egyptian cosmology and its influence on later Western esoteric thought.
Discovered during Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition by the French general Desaix, it was placed on the ceiling of a chapel dedicated to Osiris, located on the roof of the temple of Hathor at Dendereh.
The intricate symbolism within the zodiac and its connection to deities like Osiris and Hathor resonate with Hermeticism, astrology, and other esoteric systems that draw heavily from Egyptian wisdom. Transported to France in 1821, it is now on display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. A copy was later installed in its original location in Dendera. Its arrival in Europe sparked intense scholarly and esoteric interest, contributing to the burgeoning field of Egyptology and fueling occult interpretations of ancient Egyptian beliefs about the cosmos, time, and the afterlife.
Original lithograph on a large sheet of wove paper (670 x 580 mm). (slight soiling).