A recent study suggests that ancient Egyptian depictions of the sky goddess Nut may offer early insights into how humans visualized the Milky Way. Astrophysicist Or Graur analyzed 125 images of Nut from 555 ancient Egyptian coffins, revealing a few instances where a black curve bisects her star-covered body. This may represent the Great Rift, a dark band of dust within the Milky Way.
According to Egyptian mythology, Nut arches over the Earth god Geb, forming the sky and swallowing the sun god Ra each night. While Nut isn't a direct representation of the Milky Way, the galaxy could be one of the celestial elements decorating her body as the sky. Graur's analysis, published on April 30, 2025, in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, suggests the ancient Egyptians possibly perceived the Milky Way as a "Winding Waterway."
Implications of the Discovery
This research enhances our understanding of ancient Egyptian cosmology and their perception of the night sky. It suggests that the Egyptians recognized and incorporated the Milky Way into their religious and artistic representations, offering a unique perspective on how different cultures interpret the cosmos. The study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, combining astrophysics with historical and cultural analysis, to uncover hidden knowledge from the past.