The religious calendar of ancient Kemet is both lunar--with each
month starting on the day of the New Moon--as well as sidereal--with the New Year
--called 'Wep Renpet' or the Opening of the Year--
celebrated on the morning of the visible rise of Sopdet (Sirius) just prior to sunrise.
To determine the date for the beginning of the New Year we need to
calculate the precise date that the star Sirius (called 'Sopdet' in Egyptian)
rises just before sunrise. Sirius had been invisible for some 70 days--
which means it arose when the sun had already risen and hence
could not be seen by the naked eye due to the illuminated atmosphere.
Today we can utilize a government astronomical website that
provides us with the necessary information. Here's what to do:
Go to
http://www.usno.navy.mil In top toolbar click on 'Astronomy';
Then click on Data Services;
Click on Rise/Set/Transit Times for Major Solar System Objects and
Bright Stars
Fill out the required fields, including your location, the star Sirius,
and dates from late July to August 14 or later.
Print a copy of the resulting table of Rise/Set/Transit Times.
Then go back and fill out the form again, but this time you will
select Sun so you can get Rise/Set/Transit Times for the sun.
Finally, compare the two sets of Times, remembering that you
are looking for the first date when Sirius appears BEFORE Civil Twilight.
You will see that for the city of San Francisco
for 2009 the date of August 6 Sirius rises at 5:45 a.m.
and the time for beginning Civil Twilight is 5:49. That means
that on that date the human eye will see Sirius just 4 minutes
before Twilight begins. Once the suns actually rises at 6:18
it will be far too bright to see the star.
The date of New year will vary considerably, depending on latitude
and longitude in our very large country. For example, in Miami, Florida,
the date for New Year 2009 will be July 27--and not August 6 as in
San Francisco--because Civil Twilight begins at 6:20 a.m. and Sirius rises
at 6:16, just four minutes prior. That means Sirius will be visible for
the first time in this season. On dates prior to July 27 Sirius will be rising
after the start of Civil Twilight and Sunrise and hence will not be seen by
the naked eye because the sky will be too bright.
This does raise some issues that could to be explored by the various Kemetic
temples. Would it be "within the Tradition" to have such variation in celebrating
the new year across this country? Would it be better to select one date for the nation
or for a fellowship of affiliated temples, even though they're geographically far apart?
Might we use the date based on calculations for Egypt instead of the United States?
And, if so, which location in Egypt--since Egypt is also a very large country?
You see, the questions multiply.
My sense of things is that we are not wrong to use our own location in determining
the date for Wep Renpet. Human's experience of their world is in fact local, not global.
The sun rises for us in our location at a certain time, and for other folks in their
locations at different times. On the other hand, perhaps we Kemetics should select
one location--let's say, the nation's capital--to calculate the date of Wep Renpet.
At this very early stage in our development as Kemetic Reconstructionists I think we
can begin a period of reflection and discussion on the topic--in a spirit of mutual
respect for the varying insights and opinions that will likely emerge. Just as in
ancient Kemet there were a number of differing creation myths, and all were honored,
so today we can learn from their example to honor diversity of opinion.
You may like to read Jeremy Naydler's Temple of the Cosmos, pages 67-73
about Sirius's role. Several thousand years ago I believe
the rising of Sopde (or Sopdet, i.e. Sirius)
would have occurred earlier, in late June or July. Due to celestial
movements, however, today it occurs in late July or early August.
i hope this information is helpful.
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