On the Hunt
Today, I will focus on the Constellation (group of stars) Orion. Why? All my life, the belt of Orion has held meaning for me, and I really don't know much about the star system. Furthermore, the stars contain essential information for all of us and remind us to look up occasionally.
First, Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. It is visible from most parts of the world and can be seen high in the sky during winter. Orion is named after the Greek God and mythological hunter, and its stars form a distinctive hourglass shape. I will break down the Constellation into separate parts and then focus on the three stars that comprise the "belt."
The Constellation of Orion is home to several bright stars, including:
- Betelgeuse: A red supergiant star, the ninth most luminous star in the night sky.
- Rigel: A blue supergiant star, the seventh brightest star in the night sky.
Nebulas
Furthermore, Orion is also home to the Orion Nebula (where stars are born), a star-forming region visible to the naked eye in dark skies. Likewise, Orion is relatively close to Earth, making it a popular target for astronomers because it is more convenient to study.
In addition to the bright stars and the Orion Nebula, the Constellation of Orion also contains many other interesting astronomical objects, including:
- Meissa: A faint star located near Orion's belt. Meissa is a blue supergiant star that is much more massive than the Sun.
- Orion's Sword: A group of three stars below Orion's belt. The middle star in the Sword is not actually a star but rather the Orion Nebula.
- Trapezium: A cluster of four young stars in the Orion Nebula. The Trapezium is one of the most active star-forming regions in the Milky Way Galaxy.
So, now we know the construction of the Orion constellation. Why are we attracted to it?
Time to Wake Up
In Greek mythology, Orion is the great hunter of extraordinary strength, a giant pursuing the Pleiades, and a skilled hunter with a lion's pelt. Orion's mythological story involves his death, typically attributed to the goddess Artemis or her twin brother Apollo. After his death, Orion was placed in the sky as a constellation by Zeus. In this context, Orion symbolizes strength, pursuit, and the cycle of life and death.
Some indigenous and native cultures in North America have their interpretations of Orion. For example, certain Native American tribes view Orion as a cultural figure associated with seasonal and celestial events. Orion's position in the sky represents the timing of important activities, such as hunting or agricultural practices.
Furthermore, in more modern spiritual and New Age beliefs, Orion symbolizes cosmic consciousness, higher knowledge, and spiritual awakening themes. Some individuals may view the alignment of stars in Orion as having significance in terms of energy, meditation, or spiritual development.
Renewal
Above all, I found an interesting connection between the Greek story of Orion and the Egyptian tale of Osiris. To clarify, the Egyptians associated Orion with Osiris for several reasons. First, Orion is a hunter. Osiris was also a hunter, often depicted with a bow and arrow. Next, Orion is a dying and rising god. The Constellation of Orion is visible in the night sky during the winter months when the Nile River floods. This flooding symbolizes death and rebirth, and it was associated with Osiris's death and resurrection.
Orion is a god of the underworld. Osiris was also the God of the underworld and is the first symbol of the mummified figure. The Egyptians believed that Orion was the gatekeeper to the underworld, and they would pray to him for safe passage.
In addition to these general similarities, there are some specific parallels between Orion and Osiris. For example, the Egyptians believed that Orion's belt represented Osiris's belt. They also thought that Orion's sword represented Osiris's spear.
The association between Orion and Osiris is evident in several Egyptian texts and artworks. For example, in the Book of the Dead, a collection of funerary (funeral) texts, Osiris is often depicted as a starry being. As a result, this suggests that the Egyptians saw Osiris as a celestial god, just like Orion.
Born anew
The association between Orion and Osiris is also evident in Egyptian art. For example, in a number of tomb paintings, Osiris is depicted with Orion's belt around his waist. Therefore, the Egyptians saw Orion as a manifestation of Osiris in the heavens.
Overall, the association between Orion and Osiris is complex, reflecting the Egyptians' belief in the afterlife and the cyclical nature of life. Moreover, there is some evidence that the Orion/Osiris constellation is the birthplace of the Gods. For example, in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, Orion is described as the "place where the gods are born." So, this suggests that the Egyptians believed that Orion was a celestial womb from which new gods were born.
In addition, here are some specific examples of how Orion was associated with the birth of new life in ancient cultures:
- In the Navajo tradition, Orion represents the "Hunter's Belt." The Navajo believe that the Milky Way is a river of stars and that the spirits of the dead travel along this river to be reborn.
- In the Mayan tradition, Orion represents the "Hunter's House." The Mayans believed that Orion was the home of the gods and that the gods would descend from Orion to Earth to bring rain and fertility.
Many other cultures have associated Orion with the birth of new life. Furthermore, this suggests that Orion was a powerful symbol of rebirth and renewal in many ancient and current cultures.
In alignment
So, let's focus on Orion's belt and see what connections or symbols we can find.
Robert Bauval's groundbreaking theory, first proposed in 1989, suggests that the pyramids of Giza align with Orion's Belt. This remarkable astronomical alignment has captured the imagination of scholars and enthusiasts for decades.
Here are some specific examples of Bauval's connections between Orion's Belt and the Pyramids in Giza:
- The three pyramids of Giza align on a north-south axis, with the Great Pyramid of Giza at the north end. As a result, this is the exact alignment as Orion's Belt, with Rigel at the north end.
- The three pyramids of Giza also align with the Milky Way galaxy, which is aligned with Orion's Belt.
- The Great Pyramid of Giza is exactly aligned with the Sphinx, which is also aligned with Orion's Belt.
These alignments indicate that the builders of the pyramids were deliberately aligning them with Orion's Belt.
As on Earth
The connections between Orion's Belt and the Giza Pyramids indicate this is not a mistake or coincidence. Certainly, a deliberate focus was applied to ensure the earthly link to the stars was built with materials that would stand the test of time.
Can this process be replicated?
Japanese researchers in 1978 conducted studies to prove that the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids using primitive methods such as chiseling stones and stacking them with ropes and other manual means. With funding from Japanese TV, the Japanese decided to experiment by rebuilding a small pyramid in Giza using primitive means.
The initial plan specified a 20-meter pyramid made of 4-ton stones and staffed by 100 Egyptian workers. Consequently, they found it difficult and time-consuming to cut 4-ton stones with primitive tools, so they reduced the pyramid's height to 10 meters, the stone weight to 1 ton, and used electric saws to cut the stones—the first use of modern technology in violation of the experiment's goal.
They also needed help transporting stones from Tora to the Giza plateau via the Nile using wooden rafts or boats, so they used flat ships to carry the rocks on the river.
Successful Failure
When the stones reached the shores near the pyramid, 50 workers could not move a single stone more than a few centimeters. The team resorted to building a small railway system with small iron carts to transport the rocks one at a time.
After struggling to transport the heavy stones, the team naturally expected the next step—lifting and placing the stones in their designated places inside the pyramid floor—to be even more difficult. They used large cranes and derricks to stack the stones and even used a helicopter to place them in their positions precisely!
Although the team eventually managed to build a 10-meter pyramid in the location next to the Giza pyramids, the experiment failed by all standards. The team had to use multiple technological means to complete the construction process.
This failure suggests that most traditional pyramid construction theories, which rely on primitive tools, are incorrect. Practical experience has proven that building a pyramid using only these tools is impossible.
How old?
So, how can an ancient society build such intricate and technically advanced structures when modern engineers can not? Why do archaeologists say the pyramids are 5,000 years old when evidence suggests they are more like 10,000 years old? Furthermore, the Sphinx had major deterioration at the structure's base from a massive flood. Archaeologists say that the monument is 4,500 years old. However, an independent Egyptologist, John Anthony West, believes the Sphinx is much older.
Furthermore, West believes the erosion/weathering is due to significant rainfall that could only have occurred during a wet period. This wet period is called the Neolithic Wet Phase and dates back to around 7,000 -10,000 years ago.
Sky People
In conclusion, Orinon's Belt is physically located here on Earth, and we don't know how to replicate the size and scope of the structure. Further, we are still determining what it is used for. The Constellation holds one of the most active star-forming regions in the Milky Way Galaxy. Meanwhile, our ancestors claim that Orion represents the cycle of life and death. Coincidence?
As we observe our life here on Earth, we know we are born and, inevitably, die. It is what we create between those two points that matter the most. There are many mysteries, but clues nonetheless. What do you think is possible?
