Winter Solstice Sunrise at the Karnak Temple
solar alignment phenomenon
In one of the most important astronomical phenomena, the world witnesses the solar alignment phenomenon on the Holy of Holies shrine at Karnak Temple which occurs on December 21 of each year, which coincides with the beginning of the germination season in ancient Egyptian, where the crops sprout, the trees are left, and the farmers begin the hard work in the fields after the long flood season in which the cranks were idle.
The Solar Alignment phenomena begins with the sun entering the temple from the eastern entrance, pouring its beams on the temple’s main axis, and entering the Holy of Holies, which housed the deity Amun’s statue.
At midday, the solar beams illumine the Sacred of Holies for many minutes before spreading across the holy places. The sun is perpendicular to the Tropic of Capricorn today, at its furthest point from the equator.
Luxor Tours & Activities
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Hundreds of Egyptians and tourists braced the cold breeze to watched the first rays of solstice sunrise at the sanctuary of Amun-Ra, Luxor’s famous historic Karnak Temple., an occurrence that happens once a year. The event takes place during winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, which marks the beginning of astronomical winter. Watching the sun slowly rise “is very emotional,”.
At 5:30 a.m. (local time), archaeologists, authorities, and visitors witnessed the dawn, which was followed by the movement of the Sun’s rays piercing the temple until they were reflected at 6:42 a.m. (local time) on Amun Ra’s Holy of Holies in the heart of Karnak. The phenomena lasted 20 minutes until the Sun moved towards the temple of Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh.
A variety of popular folkloric dances representing Luxor heritage were also performed at the occasion. The Karnak Temple, which dates from the 12th dynasty through the reign of Ptolemaic Egypt, is one of the most spectacular temples erected by ancient Egyptian monarchs.
Luxor is witness to nine astronomical occurrences, including the sun alignment on the Habu temples, the temple of Isis, and the temples of Karnak, which will experience its most notable sun alignment in the sanctuary of the temple of Amun on December 21.
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