3. I have pointed out that the Cancer constellation is rising heliacally in spring on Easter Island, and spring equinox could be thought of as a reasonable cardinal point for Bright Fire:
However, 62 + 64 = 126 days beyond autumn equinox (on Easter Island) is not enough to reach spring equinox. Instead spring equinox arrives ca (275 - 89) - 126 = 60 days later than the heliacal rise of λ Cancri (Bright Fire at Gb3-2--3):
Bright Fire is thus rising heliacally only about a month after winter solstice on Easter Island:
The 'mud flat' of Cancer is not at spring equinox on Easter Island, the constellation does not stretch to 12h, and indeed to generate a new fire should be an event not far from winter solstice. The heliacal rise of Naos could be the Sign to watch for, 122 - 64 = 58. Once, north of the equator, Cancer was at summer solstice. With Naos as the Sign for a new year - which is beginning after summer solstice - this would have suited a time around (58 - 35) * 72 = ca 1650 years ago - given that the proper motion of the star is negligible. During a short period after having given birth to a new 'year' there should be no intercourse between father and mother: ... The ancient Chinese believed that with the arrival of the dry season the earth and sky ceased to communicate (Granet, p. 315, n. 1). The Spirit of drought was personified by a little bald womanłą with eyes at the top of her head. While she was present, the sky refrained from sending rain, so as not to harm her (ibid., n. 3) ... łą Hills and rivers are the first to suffer from drought. It deprives hills of their trees, i.e. their hair, and rivers of their fish, which are their people ... The same word, wang, means mad, deceitful, lame, hunchbacked, bald and Spirit of drought (Schafer). ... Under Mosaic law, a mother who had given birth to a man-child was considered unclean for seven days; moreover she was to remain for three and thirty days 'in the blood of her purification', which makes a total of 40 days ... |