A team of researchers, including Dr. Linda Evans and Dr. Frederick Hardtke, described their discovery in this journal Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. Ibex petroglyphfound in el-Hosh, most likely comes from the Greco-Roman period, when Hellenistic influences in Egypt were particularly strong.
“The find is located in a location full of rock drawings and texts from various eras, from predynastic to Islamic,” explains Dr. Hardtke. Next to Capricorn there is an equally unusual image of a chameleon, made in the same style. Both petroglyphs are the work of one artist.
Zodiac sign from Mesopotamia
The first images of Capricorn come from Mesopotamia, where it was identified with the gods Enki and Ea – symbols of the stars forming the modern constellation of Capricorn. It’s in this region around 420 BCthe first horoscopes were also created, which later spread throughout the ancient world, reaching Egypt around 300 BC
In Egypt, zodiac signs began to appear on the ceilings of temples in Ptolemaic perioda i popularity increased in Roman times. The Capricorn symbol was present on coins, sarcophagi and other artifacts.
Petroglyph of the Ibex from el-Hosh however, it differs from later depictions of this sign. It has a straight tail, suggesting it was carved before the 2nd century BCbefore Greek influences introduced its characteristic curled tail.
Who created this unusual panel?
The creator’s motivations remain unclear. Was it someone born under the sign of Capricorn, or maybe a person fascinated by the aesthetics of the mythical animal? We will probably never find out. However, we know that The Egyptians did not create these types of animal hybrids by accident.
As Dr. Evans explains, the goal was usually to combine characteristics that symbolized specific values or powers. Capricorn, a mythical combination of a goat and a fish, could serve as an astrological symbol with deep meaning.
The Capricorn Petroglyph is the first known example of Egyptian rock art related to the signs of the zodiac. It is evidence that astrological symbols influenced Egyptian culture thanks to the Greeks and Romans.
“Examining the evolution of this symbol on temple ceilings, sarcophagi and coins allowed us to confirm that the depiction of the Capricorn in el-Hosh comes from the Greco-Roman period,” write the authors of the study.
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Source: geekweek.interia.pl
