posted July 05, 2006 08:27 PM         

The Egyptian Dog Star
Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, is the original source of the term “dog days of summer.” Although there is a wee bit of disagreement and/or confusion on the matter… the “Dog Star" apparently originated from the ancient Egyptians who named the bright star, Sihor. Sihor was another name for the powerful Egyptian dog-headed divinity Anubis. Later traditions, it would seem, associated the Dog Star with the Egyptian god, Osiris.

In ancient Egypt, the dog star, under the name Sihor, rose along side the Sun when summer was at its very hottest. The ancient Egyptians celebrated the return of the “dog days,” because the rising of the Sun, combined with the Dog Star, announced a very good thing. It was during this time each and every year that the River Nile would flood, reviving all of the surrounding parched land. The “dog days” were said to last from 20 days prior to the conjunction to 20 days after. Thus, the start of the Egyptian sacred year was marked each year by the reappearance of the Dog Star rising with the Sun.

The Dog Star was to be later named Sirius by the Greeks, after the Greek word for “serious” or “ardent.” The Old Testament text of Job refers to Sirius as the star Mazzaroth. "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven?" Job 38:31-33a, KJV His season was, of course, the season of summer.

Both the ancient Egyptian and Roman traditions, looked at the Dog Star as being a 2nd Sun, and both agreed that the Dog Star was responsible for the intense summer heat by adding its own heat to the heat of the Sun. However, according to the National Geographic News (James Owen, July 16, 2004), in ancient Rome, the “dog days” – dies caniculares in Latin – came to have more negative associations, such as intolerable heat, lethargy, disease, and mad dogs.

According to Owens, the ancient writer Pliny (circa 23-79 A.D.), in his Natural History, referred to the increased risk of being attacked by rabid dogs in the months of July and August.

Beneficent Sirius Throughout The Centuries
Throughout the centuries, the dog star, Sirius, has most often been thought of as having a beneficial astrological influence combining the energies of Jupiter and Mars – with it being a matter of especially good fortune to be born with Sirius either conjunct one’s birth chart Ascendant or Midheaven.
In fact there are even some interesting speculations that the dog star, Sirius – as part of the astrological sky – played a significant role in the timing of the birth of the United States of America, as well as in the laying of the Washington Monument cornerstone in Washington D.C.

According to author/astrologer, David Ovason, these and other important events were purposefully, with intent, scheduled for precise moments when the dog star, Sirius, was located in various auspicious positions in the sky. (The Secret Architecture of our Nation's Capitol; David Ovason)

It appears that certain founding fathers may have been looking to ensure the continuing success and endurance of a young and struggling nation.

The Precession and Such
Today, the dog star, Sirius, actually appears in the dawn skies with the Sun several weeks later than it did in ancient times. This is because of precession of the equinoxes – i.e. the stars and constellations gradually having shifted their position in relation to the Sun.
Again, still today, the “dog days” have been thought to traditionally run from July 3 to August 11 – however with certain common traditions saying they are longer and extend on into the month of September.

I love summer!

------------------
~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

posted July 07, 2006 12:16 PM         

Summer is my favorite! I LOve it!

LOve to ALL. ...