Identification
Title Sarcophagus of a bull
Type Astronomical Representation
Decan List Family AR1
EAT3 Number and Name 37 Abu Yasin
EAT3 Pages and Plates 41-42, Pls 20, 21
EAT3 Decan List Family Senmut
Publications Abdel Salam (1938)
Location JE 86723 in the grounds of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo
Date 30th dynasty, time of Nectanebo II
Content
Registers 4
Circumpolar Group and Deities Yes: 9 figures behind hippo; 7 (plus one smaller, unlabelled figure) opposite
Planets

Superior:  Jupiter, Saturn (Mars is omitted)

Inferior:  Mercury, Venus

Decan Names Yes
Decanal Stars Yes
Personifications of the Decans No
Cluster Numbers Yes
Depictions of Decanal Constellations Yes
Decanal Deity Names Yes
Decanal Deity Figures No
Lunar Months No
Civil Months Yes
Nut No
Other features A table of orientations of "The Foreleg" constellation throughout the civil year.  Each month is associated with three orientations, one for the beginning of the night, one for the middle, and one for the end.
Notes

This sarcophagus lid has a unique arrangement in four registers.  It is the only astronomical representation to include a table of Foreleg orientations.

Schematic

37AbuYasin schematic 

 

Legend for Schematic
C Circumpolar group of constellations
A Circumpolar attendant deities
D Decans
P Planets
M

Orientations of The Foreleg by Civil Month (lower, "northern" half)

Civil month labels interspersed with decans (upper, "southern" half)

 

Damaged area

 Hippo symbol

Location and orientation of the circumpolar hippo

 Human symbol 

Indicates the starting point and directionality of list or procession of figures

Decan List

The list gives an approximate layout for how the decans, deities, cluster labels (in transliteration), civil month labels, and decanal figures (in bold) are arranged.  However, the only way of perceiving the complete layout and orthography of the labels is by consulting the original, or photographs and drawings. 

The layout of the decan list over two registers interspersed with the civil month labels is unique.  An attempt has been made below to demonstrate the layout.

Day 10[+?] 30 xAw [ ] [ ] -nwt [ ]   IP2 DA baH Osiris  
III Shemu 28 qd, 29 sAwy qd Hapy, Kebehsenuf
II Shemu 10[+?]

27 <xntw> Xrw

26 xntw Hr<w>

Children of Horus IP1 sbg Seth 
Day 28 25 bAw<y> Hapy, Imseti nTr wAS Duamutef 
I Shemu 5 24 Axw<y>

Kebehsenuf,

Duamutef

E abSs Horus D hpds
[ ] 20 23 tpy-a Ax<wy> Duamutef sSpt Eye of Horus 
  22 {nb}<Xry> xpd srt Kebehsenuf nsrw [Im]s[eti], Xt -pw 
IV Peret 6 21 sAwy si[t] Duamutef Stw<y>, Turtle, A Stw<y>, Turtle
III Peret 10[+?]  20 s[it] Isis, 3-nwt Xt SP2 Hr-kA-pt rn=f DA pt iAbty        Planet  
III Peret 4[+?] 19 smd Hapy, Sheep
II Peret 5 18 tpy-a smd Horus
Day 20[+?]

Children of Horus

17 knmw

Boat
[ ] Day 10 16 sSmw SP1 Hr-tAS-tAwy rn=f rsy pt sbA      Planet 
  15 Hry-ib wiA
I Peret  
  14 sApti xnwy, Isis     Sopdet
  13 Tms n xntt, Horus    
12 <xntt> Xrt, ?Seth    
IV Akhet 14     36 spdt Isis
Day 13 [ ]     32 Hry rmn sAH Children of Horus    Sahu  
III Akhet Day 1

TmAt Xrt

6 TmAt Hrt

Duamutef 31 art Eye of Horus
II Akhet Day 11

pH<wy> DA<t>

4 HAt DA<t>

Children of Horus

Duamutef

   
knmt, Isis IV Shemu 5 
I Akhet 1 <tpy-a> knmt Hapy, Imseti     33 Xry rmn sAH   Children of Horus

The decan numbers and letters shown here are for the decan family AR1

SP = superior planet

IP = inferior planet

Grey shading = damage

< > = omitted but understood

{ } = included in error

[ ] = damaged text

( ) = explanatory notes or additional material

The number of star symbols accompanying the decans is also omitted here, as it is often impossible to tell to which decan the symbols refer.  EAT3 deals with star symbols in some detail.