In a landmark cultural event in Berlin, a new exhibition brings together rare artefacts, ancient manuscripts, and celestial masterpieces from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Graeco-Roman world, offering a sweeping narrative of how early civilisations mapped the heavens and linked the stars to human destiny.
Under the title “Fate in the Stars: The Beginnings of the Zodiac,” the exhibition was inaugurated last week at the Neues Museum in Berlin, bringing together a collection of photographs from ancient Egyptian temples, artefacts from the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection in Berlin, as well as from the Berlin Vorderasiatisches Museum, some of which have never been exhibited before.
The opening drew an eminent audience of diplomats, scholars, and cultural leaders. Among those in attendance were Hisham Al-Leithiy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), Yomna Othman, deputy head of mission of Egypt in Germany, Friederike Seyfried, director of the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection in Berlin, Sameh Sorour, Egypt’s cultural attaché in Berlin, and experts in ancient astronomy, including Mathieu Ossendrijver of the Free University of Berlin and Marius Gerhardt, curator of the Berlin Papyrus Collection.
Spanning nearly 4,000 years of human inquiry into the cosmos, the exhibition invites visitors on an intellectual and visual journey across civilisations. From the systematic sky observations of ancient Babylonian scholars to the symbolic and religious interpretations of the heavens in ancient Egypt, to the structured zodiac systems of the Greek and Roman worlds, the exhibition reveals how humanity’s fascination with the stars evolved into one of the most enduring cultural frameworks in history.
At the heart of the exhibition lies a powerful narrative: that the Zodiac is not merely a system of symbols, but a shared human endeavour to understand time, fate, and existence. Through curated thematic sections, the exhibition presents the Zodiac not only as an astronomical construct but also as a social and cultural phenomenon, one that shaped identities, beliefs, and worldviews across centuries.
A highlight of the exhibition is the exceptional contribution of ancient Egypt to the development of astronomical thought. Visitors are introduced to the Egyptian concept of decans groups of stars used to measure time during the night as early as the late third millennium BCE. Originally serving as practical tools for timekeeping, these groups gradually evolved into powerful symbolic entities associated with divine and cosmic forces, influencing concepts of life, death, and destiny.
This intellectual legacy is vividly brought to life through the display of a collection of photographs showing newly restored astronomical scenes from the ceiling of the Temple of Khnum in Esna, a result of a major Egyptian-German restoration project. The Esna Zodiac, dating back to the Roman period, is presented as a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian astronomical art, illustrating the 12 signs of the Zodiac alongside planetary representations known as the “seven arrows”.
Complementing this are photographs of the iconic Zodiac of Dendera, one of the most celebrated astronomical reliefs of the ancient world. Dating to around 50 BCE, it stands as a testament to the advanced scientific knowledge of ancient Egyptian astronomers and their ability to integrate complex celestial observations into religious and artistic expression.
Beyond Egypt, the exhibition broadens in scope to include remarkable artefacts from Mesopotamia and the Graeco-Roman world. Among these are Babylonian astronomical diaries, clay tablets that represent one of the longest continuous scientific observation projects in human history. Over more than six centuries, Babylonian scholars recorded lunar and planetary movements, alongside weather patterns, river levels, market prices, and political events.
Another highlight is a Hellenistic Seleucid-era tablet detailing the calculations of Saturn’s oppositions, showcasing the mathematical precision achieved by ancient astronomers. These records reveal a level of analytical sophistication that would influence later astronomical traditions across the Mediterranean world.
The exhibition also features a Greek papyrus containing a detailed horoscope dated to 5 June 29 BCE. This document offers a glimpse into the personal dimension of ancient astrology, where planetary positions, Mars in Aries, Jupiter in Taurus, the Moon in Leo, were interpreted as indicators of individual fate and character.
There is also a series of Roman coins minted under Emperor Antoninus Pius, each depicting a Zodiac sign paired with its ruling planet. These coins reflect the widespread popularity of astrology in the Roman Empire and its integration into political and cultural expression.
The exhibition further explores the practical tools used by ancient civilisations to measure time and track celestial movements. Among these are rare L-shaped sundials, known in ancient Egypt as merkhet, including examples bearing the name of Pharaoh Thutmose III. These instruments, alongside inscriptions by astronomers such as Hor, who claimed knowledge of the movements of the sun, moon, and stars.
Importantly, the exhibition emphasises that the Zodiac as we know it today is the result of a long process of cultural exchange and transformation. Ideas originating in ancient Mesopotamia were adopted and adapted by ancient Egyptian scholars, later refined in Hellenistic Greek contexts, and ultimately transmitted to the Roman world.
In his opening remarks, Al-Leithi described the exhibition as a “successful model of Egyptian-German cooperation”, particularly in the context of the Esna Temple restoration project. He highlighted how the exhibition goes beyond displaying artefacts to offer a comprehensive educational experience, shedding light on the ancient roots of zodiacal knowledge.
The participation of Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in the exhibition, held for six months as part of the museum’s temporary exhibition programme, Al-Leithi explained, reflects a broader commitment to promoting Egypt’s cultural heritage on the global stage.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 26 March, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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