Egyptian (All Terms)

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Juan Antonio Belmonte Avilés, Youla Azkarrula

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Map of Ancient Egypt, showing the Nile up to the fifth cataract, and major cities and sites of the Dynastic period (c. 3150 BC to 30 BC). Cairo and Jerusalem are shown as reference cities. (CC BY SA Jeff Dahl)

The ancient Egypts are one of the oldest documented cultures, they settled in Northeast Africa and formed first structures like cities and states. Their early astronomical practices are not well documented, but here we try to give a glance on the known terms and the late names as used today within the IAU.

Solar System Names

Traditional Terms	Transliteration	English	commentary
		Sun
		Moon
		Mercury
		Venus
		Mars
		Jupiter
		Saturn

Names of Stars and Constellations

Original	Language of Origin	Pronounce	English	Note
Akhwy in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Akhwy	Two Spirits
Anu in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Anu	avatar of Horus
Apdu in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Apdu	Bird	certain star names: Banat net Apdu, Tep en Apdu Hetyt net Apdu, kft=f One uncertain: Iret net Apdu
Aret hierglyphs	Late Egyptian	Aret	Jaw?
Aryt in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Aryt	(2?) Jaw(s?)	see Aret
Asemw in hieroglyphs		Asemw
Bawy in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Bawy	Two Souls
Djat in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Djat	Ferryboat/ Corsser
Hequen Saq in hieroglyphs		HequenSaq
Heri ib Wia in hieroglyphs		Heri-ib-Wia (var.: Heryibwia)	Middle of the Boat
Hetep Reduy in hieroglyphs		HetepReduy
Ipedjes in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Ipedjes	Bright Star
	Late Egyptian	Irtentapdu	Eye of the Bird; see Apdu
Kemenu in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Kemenu		the 17th decan
Kenemet in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Kenemet	Cow (?)
	Coptic	Khambalia
Khau in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Khau		Plejades
Khenwy in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Khenwy	Khenwy Fish
Mai in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Mai	Lion
Menit in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Menit	Mooring Post
	all times	Meskhetyu	Foreleg [of the Bull, Seth]
Nekhet in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Nekhet	Giant
Nut in hieroglyphs	Egyptian	Nut	Goddess of the Night
	Coptic	Piautos
	Coptic	Polis
Qed in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Qed	Circle
Qedty in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Qedty	Two Nets
Reret (Isis Djamet) in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Reret	Female Hippotamus
Sah in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Sah	a god
Sebawy in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Sebawy	Pair of Stars
Sebsesen in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Sebsesen	Sage's Star
Sedjef in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Sedjef	"its tail" (lion)
Serqet in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Serqet	a goddess
Setwy in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Setwy	Two Tortoises
Sopdet in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Sopdet	Triangle
Tanefer in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Tanefer	The Beautiful Child
Tjamat in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Tjamat	Wings
Tjemes en Khentet in hieroglyphs		Tjemes
Wia in hieroglyphs	Late Egyptian	Wia	Boat