”Now, it is almost impossible to suppose that those who worshipped the sun at the solstice did not begin the year at the solstice. It is, of course, equally difficult to believe that those who preferred to range themselves as equinoctials did not begin the year at an equinox. Both these practices could hardly go on in the case of the same race in the same country, least of all in the valley where an annual inundation marked the solstice.

I shall show subsequently how the rise of the Nile, which took place at the summer solstice, not only dominated the industry, but the astronomy and religion of Egypt; and I was much interested in hearing from my friend Dr. Wallis Budge that the rise of the Tigris and Euphrates takes place not far from the spring equinox.

This may have dominated the Babylonian calendar as effectively as the date of the Nile-rise dominated the Egyptian. If so, we have a valuable hint as to the origin of the equinoctial cult at Gizeh and elsewhere, which in all probability was interpolated after the non-equinoctial worship had been first founded at Annu, Abydos, and possibly Thebes.”

This picture I find of possible use in the future, evidently showing a double Nut and possibly the dark side of the Earth: 

“In the Book of the Dead, Chapter XVII., we read the following reference to some of the northern stars and constellations:

‘The gods Mestha, Hāpi, Tuamāutef, and Qebhsennuf are those, namely, which find themselves behind the constellation of the Thigh in the northern heavens.’

Again, inscribed in the kings’ graves at Thebes we read:

‘The four Northern Genii are the four gods of the follower [some constellation]. They keep back the conflict of the terrible one [Typhon]. He is a great quarreler. They trim the foresail and look after the mizen in the bark of Rā, in company with the sailors, who are the four constellations¹ [aχemu-sek],

¹ I.e., the stars which never set.

which are found in the northern heavens.

The constellation of the Thigh appears at the late rising. When this constellation is in the middle of the heavens, having come to the south, where Orion lies [Orion typifying the southern part of the skies], the other stars are wending their way to the western horizon.

Regarding the Thigh; it is the Thigh of Set, so long as it is seen in the northern heavens there is a band [of stars ?] to the two [sword handles ?] in the shape of a great bronze chain. It is the place of Isis in the shape of a Hippopotamus to guard.”

“In Macrobius, as quoted by Krall, we find the statement that the Egyptians compared the yearly course of the sun also with the phases of human life:

Little child                           =  Winter Solstice.

Young man                         =  Spring Equinox.

Bearded man                      =  Summer Solstice.

Old man                             =  Autumnal Equinox.

With the day of the Summer Solstice the sun reaches the greatest northern rising amplitude, and at the Winter Solstice its greatest southern amplitude. By the solstices the year is divided into two approximately equal parts; during one the points of rising move soutwards, during the other northwards.

This phenomenon, it is stated, was symbolised by the two eyes of Rā, the so-called Utchats, which look in different directions. They appear as representing the sun in the two halves of the year.”