Kemenu
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann
Kemenu (kmnw), Crew, is an Egyptian constellation of three stars ρ Sgr - 44 Sgr.[1][2] (Stars of) Kenmu, 17th decan in Egyptian astral science, has its heliacal rise in month Peret, represented by a small group of stars around ρ1 Sgr.
Concordance, Etymology, History
Origin of Constellation
Kemenu is the name of a decan (possibly form by several stars as its name indicate, the Crew) of the constellation Wia, The Boat, which is formed by several stars expanding from before the Red of the Prow (Antares) to the end of Sagittarius. It is sailing the Milky Way.
Lull (2018)[1] dedicates an entire research paper to the discussion, cultural embedding and astronomical identification of Wia, The Boat, with Kmnw, The Crew. He concludes on the identification of Kmnw with the area between the stars ρ Sgr and 44 Sgr.
Previous Identification: Leitz (1995, 91)[3] reads knm and translates The Dark One, which he interprets as a reference to fainter stars. His identification with λ Aql is refuted by Belmonte and Lull (2023),[2] who also adopt another reading of the original hieroglyphs.
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
There is no identification of this constellation in Neugebauer and Parker, or in Leitz (1995), as their works focused on the so-called decan-constellation (further south).
Religion/ Tales/ Mythology
mnemonic tales and cultural significance
IAU WGSN star name discussion
The name was proposed to WGSN in 2025. As Kemenu means something as "crew", we are not sure if it would be appropriate for a single star. Juan Belmonte suggests to look for any pair of closing stars or a star which is multiple (not to the naked eye) in the area east of Kaus Australis, as in that case, it may suit. Therefore, we pick HIP 89637 is 6.03 mag in V.
Weblinks
References
- References (general)
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lull, José (2018). Ancient Egyptian constellation of WjA (Boat) and its link to Sagittarius in the Ptolemaic and Roman era. Aula Orientalis 36/2, 257-277
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Belmonte, Juan Antonio and Lull, José (2023). Astronomy of Ancient Egypt - A Cultural Perspective, Springer
- ↑ Leitz, Ch., 1995. Altägyptische Sternuhren. OLA, 62. Leuven: Peeters.
