next page

previous page table of contents home

If line b7 describes the birth of a new 'year', then line b8 possibly attends to how the previous such period is blocked from rolling on:

Gb7-31 (*140) Gb8-1 Gb8-2 (444)
Tureis (139.8)   Al Minhar al Asad (141.6), Alphard (142.3)
'August 8 '9 '10 (222)
Murzim 5 6 7
Gb8-3 Gb8-4 Gb8-5 (*145)
ω Leonis (142.6), τ¹ Hydrae (142.7), Alterf, τ² Hydrae (143.4) ξ Leonis (143.5), A Hydrae (144.1) Ukdah (145.4)
'August 11 '12 '13 (225)
Murzim 8 9 10 (89)
The Knot (Ukdah)

Gregorian day number 222 coincides with glyph number 444 (= 2 * 222), which may be a hint:

Ga8-17 Ga8-18 (222) Ga8-19 Ga8-20 Ga8-21
λ Cor. Austr. (283.6), Double Double (283.7), ζ Lyrae (283.8), φ Sagittarii (284.0) μ Cor. Austr. (284.6), η Cor. Austr., θ Pavonis (284.8), Sheliak, ν Lyrae (285.1) λ Pavonis (285.7), Ain al Rami (286.2), δ Lyrae (286.3) κ Pavonis (286.5), Alya (286.6), ξ Sagittarii (287.1), ω Pavonis (287.3), ε Cor. Austr., Sulaphat (287.4) λ Lyrae (287.7), Ascella (287.9), Nunki (288.4)
'December 30 '31 'January 1 (366) '2 '3
6 7 8 Qalb al Akraab 9 Shaula 1 (232)

The Ukdah Knot presumably refers to that of a noose around the neck of Hydra, a creature completely below the ecliptic path along which Sun moves towards the west. The star Ukdah (ι Hydrae) coincides with the extraordinary reversed manu rere in Gb8-5, 33 days after Gregorian day 192 (July 11) and 53 days after June 21.

Gb8-6 (448) Gb8-7 Gb8-8 (*148) Gb8-9
κ Hydrae (145.5), Subra (145.8), ψ Leonis (146.4) Ras Elaset Australis (146.6) υ¹ Hydrae (148.4) Ras Elaset Borealis (148.7)
'August 14 (226) '15 '16 '17
Murzim 11 (90) 12 13 An Nathra 1
Gb8-10 (452) Gb8-11 Gb8-12 (*152) Gb8-13
ν Leonis (150.1) π Leonis (150.6) υ² Hydrae (151.8), Al Jabhah (152.4) Regulus (152.7), λ Hydrae (153.2)
'August 18 (230) '19 '10h (152.2) '21
An Nathra 2 (94) 3 4 5
Gb8-14 (456) Gb8-15 Gb8-16 (*156) Gb8-17
  Adhafera, Tania Borealis (154.7) Algieba (155.5), Tania Australis (156.0) μ Hydrae (157.1)
'August 22 (234) '23 '24 '25
An Nathra 6 (98) 7 8 9
Gb8-18 (460) Gb8-19 Gb8-20 (*160) Gb8-21
  Shir (158.9) φ Hydrae (160.3)  
'August 26 (238) '27 '28 '29
An Nathra 10 (102) 11 12 13
Gb8-22 (464) Gb8-23 Gb8-24 (*164) Gb8-25
  ν Hydrae (163.1)    
'August 30 (242) '31 'September 1 2
Alterf 1 (106) 2 3 4
Gb8-26 (468) Gb8-27 Gb8-28 (*168) Gb8-29 Gb8-30
Alkes (165.6), Merak (166.2) Dubhe (166.7)   Al Sharas (168.6), Zosma (169.2), Coxa (169.4)  
'September 3 (246) '11h (167.4) '5 '6 '7 (250)
Alterf 5 (110) 6 7 8 9 (114)

Perhaps the last 25 glyphs on side b instead should be considered as connected with the heliacal risings of such stars which precede those at the beginning of side a. Maybe the old 'year' should not continue beyond the Ukdah star:

Gb8-6 (448) Gb8-7 (*40) Gb8-8 Gb8-9
  Head of the Fly (39.6), Kaffaljidhma (39.8) Right Wing (40.9), Bharani (41.4)  
'April 29 '30 (120) 'May 1 '2
Al Muakha 11 12 13 (350) Alrescha 1
Gb8-10 (452) Gb8-11 Gb8-12 (*45) Gb8-13
  Acamar (43.6) Menkar (44.7) Algol (45.9)
'May 3 '4 '5 (125) '3h (45.7)
Alrescha 2 3 4 5
Gb8-14 (456) Gb8-15 Gb8-16 Gb8-17 (*50)
Misam (46.2), Botein (46.9) Zibal (48.0)   Algenib Persei (50.0), ο Tauri (50.2)
'May 7 '8 '9 '10 (130)
Alrescha 6 7 8 9
Gb8-18 (460) Gb8-19 Gb8-20 Gb8-21 (*54)
ξ Tauri (50.8)      
'May 11 '12 '13 '14
Alrescha 10 11 12 13
Gb8-22 (464) Gb8-23 Gb8-24 Gb8-25
Atiks, Rana (55.1), Celaeno, Electra, Taygeta (55.3) Maia, Asterope, Merope (55.6), Alcyone (56.1), Pleione, Atlas (56.3)   Menkhib (57.6)
'May 15 '16 (136) '17 '18
14 Alrescha 15 (365) Sheratan 1 2
Gb8-26 (468) Gb8-27 (*60) Gb8-28 Gb8-29 Gb8-30
Zaurak (58.9), λ Tauri (59.3) ν Tauri (59.9)   Beid (62.2) Hyadum I (63.4)
'May 19 (139) '20 4h (60.9) '22 '23
Sheratan 3 4 5 6 7

If the reversed manu rere in Gb8-5 was meant to be at the star Ukdah, at that time rising heliacally in 'August 13 (day 225 in the Gregorian calendar), and if the following glyph Gb8-6 was meant to represent not 'August 14 but 'April 29 (day 119 in the Gregorian calendar), then there evidently is a jump across 365 + 119 - 225 = 259 days.

259 will of course be the result wherever we assume the old sequence of stars and dates to change into the new front side sequence.

I definitely feel more comfortable with the Pleiades at Gb8-22--23 than ν Hydrae. And I like to imagine ο Tauri at Gb8-17, illustrated as the little figure released at the top (instead of μ Hydrae which tells me nothing).

Algol, the head of the Medusa, should be close to the vero glyph, 45 days after equinox. At least from there the new time sequence ought to rule the reading.

I suggest the old sequence is ending with the reversed manu rere. It ought to signify the reversal of a 'living spirit'. Its glyph number (447) must be explained, in a picture of cosmos there should be order in all dimensions. I guess it is to be read as 44 / 7 - i.e. as twice π - a Sign that the whole circle is completed.

However, there might be an overlap from Rogo in Gb6-26, where both the old and the new sequence of stars are described in parallel in the text, like two ropes going to be tied together.

I will therefore here list also the stars in the new (front side) sequence from March 21 and up to the reversed manu rere:

Gb6-26 Gb6-27 Gb6-28
  Caph, Sirrah (0.5) Algenib Pegasi (1.8)
'March 21 = '0h '22 '23 (82)
Saad Al Saud 11 (309)  12 13
Wezen (107.1)    
'7h (106.53) 'July 7 (187) '8
Al Tuwaibe' 11 12 13 (53)

From 'March 21 ('0h) to 'July 6 ('7h) there are 186 - 80 = 106 days. And 106 = 2 * 53, which possibly is a Sign because the manzil Al Tuwaibe' (which refers to Aldebaran) is day number 53.

Gb7-1 Gb7-2 (413) Gb7-3 (*112) Gb7-4
no stars listed
'March 24 '25 '26 '27 (86)
Saad Al Akhbia 1 2 3 (314) 4
Wasat (109.8) Aludra (111.1) Gomeisa (111.6), ρ Gemini (112.1) Castor (113.4)
'July 9 '10 '11 (192) '12
Heka 1 2 3 (56) 4

There is a conspicious lack of stars on my list in the time interval close to day 314 in the manzil calendar. Glyph 413 seems to allude to the manzil day number 314 (as if its mirror image). This could indicate the creator of the G text thought about March rather than July. But Castor was the one who died, which very well could be alluded to by the 'blind hau tea' in Gb7-4.

Gb7-5 (416) Gb7-6 (*115) Gb7-7
  Delta (8.4)  
'March 28 '29 (88) '30
Saad Al Akhbia 5 6 7 (318)
  Markab (114.7), Procyon (114.9) σ Gemini (115.7), Pollux (116.2)
'July 13 (194) '14 '15
Heka 5 6 7 (60)

Markab for κ Puppis, far below in the Milky Way River, is a name which belongs also to α Pegasi, at a corner of the Square high up in the sky and 130 days away:

Gb2-27 Gb2-28 Gb2-29 Gb2-30 Gb2-31 (*350)
τ Aquarii (345.7) λ Aquarii (346.5), Scheat Aquarii (347.0) Fomalhaut (347.8) Scheat Pegasi (349.3) Markab (349.5)
'March 2 '3 '4 '5 '23h (350.0)
Saad Balaa 5 (290) 6 7 8 9

The upside down pair of horses 50 weeks after equinox probably show where the 'Horse Year', beginning in 'July 14, was considered to be terminated. 350 - 115 = 235 (= 365 - 130). 80 + 350 = 430 and 430 - 195 = 235.

The name 'Saddle' (Markab) should primarly refer to the Pegasus horse. Markab for κ Puppis becomes understandable by counting. The vertical distance from κ Puppis to α Pegasi is to be measured from 26° 48′ S to 14° 56′ N, i.e. as 26.8° + 14.9° = 41.7° and the glyph number at Gb7-6 (where 7 * 6 = 42) is 417. Obviously the July reading is better than the March reading.

Gb7-8 Gb7-9 (420) Gb7-10 Gb7-11 (*120)
  Achird (10.7) Cih (12.4)  
'March 31 'April 1 (91) '2 '3
Saad Al Akhbia 8 9 (320) 10 11
Azmidiske (117.4)     χ Carinae (119.9)
'July 16 '17 '18 '19 (200)
Heka 8 9 10 11 (64)

The pair of manzil dates have the same numbers and these, in turn, agree with the ordinal numbers in line b7. It suggest these 3 time strings go in parallel.

Having locked July to Markab down in the Argos Ship it seems natural to at least provisionally continue deep down with Azmidiske (ξ Puppis) and χ Carinae. Achird and Cih are stars in Cassiopeia at the top of the sky (η respectively γ):

Gb7-12 Gb7-13 (*122) Gb7-14 (425)
    Mirach (16.0)
'April 4 '5 '6 (96)
Saad Al Akhbia 12 13 (324) Almuqaddam 1
Naos (121.3) Heap of Fuel (122.1) Tegmine (123.3)
'July 20 '8h (121.7) '22
Heka 12 13 (66) Alhena 1
Gb7-15 (426) Gb7-16 Gb7-17 (*126)
Anunitum (16.5)    
'April 7 '8 '9
Almuqaddam 2 3 4 (328)
Al Tarf (124.3) Bright Fire (125.4) Avior (126.4)
'July 23 '24 '25 (206)
Alhena 2 3 4 (70)

Heap of Fuel forms a pair with Bright Fire, which enforces the July reading (because the text has mago glyphs in both places).

Gb7-18 Gb7-19 (430) Gb7-20 Gb7-21 (*130)
Ksora (20.1)     Achernar (23.3)
'April 10 (100) '11 '12 '13
Almuqaddam 5 6 (330) 7 8
ο Ursa Majoris (127.4) θ Cancri (128.2) η Cancri (128.5) π¹ Ursa Majoris, δ Hydrae (129.6), Al Minhar al Shujā, Museida (129.9), Beehive (130.4)
'July 26 '27 '28 '29 (210)
Alhena 5 6 (72) 7 8

Possibly Gregorian day 210 at the Beehive marks the point where a jump occurs to Achernar and April. The complicated glyph Gb7-22 (reversed π, implying birth) connects to Gregorian day 104, from where 3 nights with no prominent stars are followed by Polaris and a host of other stars:

Gb7-22 Gb7-23 Gb7-24 Gb7-25 (436) Gb7-26
no stars listed Polaris, Baten Kaitos (26.6), Metallah (26.9), Segin, Mesarthim (27.2), Sheratan (27.4)  
'April 14 '15 '16 '17 (107) '18
Almuqaddam 9 10 11 12 (336) 13
Ascellus Borealis (130.9), η Hydrae (131.0), Ascellus Australis (131.4) ε Hydrae (131.9), ι Cancri (132.0), ρ Hydrae (132.4)   ζ Hydrae (134.1) Acubens, Talitha Borealis (135.0)
'July 30 '31 'August 1 '2 (214) '3
Alhena 9 10 11 (77) 12 13
Gb7-27 (*136) Gb7-28 Gb7-29 (440)
Alrisha (29.2) Alamak (29.7) Hamal (30.5)
'April 19 '20 '21 (111)
Al Muakhar 1 2 3 (340)
ρ Ursa Majoris (135.6), ν Cancri (136.0), Talitha Australis (136.1) ω Hydrae (136.8), σ¹ Ursa Majoris (137.0), κ Cancri (137.3) Alsuhail (137.5), σ² Ursa Majoris (137.6), τ Ursa Majoris (137.7), ξ Cancri (137.8)
'August 4 (216) '9h (137.0) '6
Murzim 1 (80) 2 3
Gb7-30 Gb7-31 (*140) Gb8-1 Gb8-2 (444)
    Mira (33.7)  
'April 22 '23 '24 '25 (115)
Al Muakhar 4 5 6 7 (344)
Miaplacidus (139.3) Tureis (139.8)   Al Minhar al Asad (141.6), Alphard (142.3)
''August 7 '8 '9 '10 (222)
Murzim 4 5 6 7
Gb8-3 Gb8-4 Gb8-5 (*145)
no stars listed
'April 26 '27 '28 (118)
Al Muakhar 8 9 (346) 10
ω Leonis (142.6), τ¹ Hydrae (142.7), Alterf, τ² Hydrae (143.4) ξ Leonis (143.5), A Hydrae (144.1) Ukdah (145.4)
'August 11 '12 '13 (225)
Murzim 8 9 10 (89)
The Knot (Ukdah)