- Happy New Year - The Sothis Connection by David Rives

Why haven’t we ever heard of Sothis? You might know it better by its Latin name, Sirius.

Also known as the ‘Dog Star’, Sirius is thought to be 8.61 light years away and has a magnitude of -1.46, making it the brightest appearing star in the heavens.

The hottest part of the year, known by some as the dog days of summer, was known by the Greeks to begin at the rising of the star Sothis.

The ancient Egyptians recognized that the rising of Sothis, or Sirius, just before dawn in the summer skies, marked the time of year when the Nile River would begin to overflow. Sirius was also associated with the fertility goddess Isis.  As an agricultural civilization, the overflowing Nile brought fertile soil to the land of Egypt, making it a very important time of year:  So important, that the rising of Sirius marked the beginning of the Egyptian New Year; and as it turns out, the rising of the Star Sirius is a good indicator of a Sidereal Year.

Scientists define a sidereal year as the time it takes the Earth to revolve once around the Sun, relative to other stars: 365.256366 days.  It just so happens that the rising of Sirius from year to year, known as a 'Sothic Cycle', is almost exactly 365.25 days in duration.

A document known as the Canopus Decree, or the table of Tanis, proclaimed a five day national festival at the rising of Sothis in honor of Ptolemy III, his queen and the “Benefactory Gods.”  The decree was written in Greek, Demotic and in Hieroglyphs, making it an important key in deciphering hieroglyphic inscriptions.

Today, with the introduction of “Sirius Satellite Radio”, whose logo is a dog with a star for an eye,  Sirius has once again gained special recognition.

At this time of year Sirius, the brightest appearing star in the night sky, is easily seen just to the North East of the Constellation Orion.

Happy New Year - Not the ancient Egyptian One - and pleasant viewing,

David Rives

About the Author David Rives is dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Biblically based astronomy. He lectures nationally on the majesty of our Creator, and how the "Heavens Declare the Glory of God".

Copyright © 2008 David Rives Ministries

For more information please refer to the following links:
The Egyptian goddes Sopdet, or Sirius...
The Canopus Decree (Egyptian New Year)...
The Greek Sothis, or Sirius...
Information on 'Sothic Cycles'...