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The identification of the Bull in the story of Djedi to Taurus has been somewhat problematic for me. While it solved a problem, Taurus really only appeared in the Zodiac of Dendara which is dated to the Ptolemaic era. It is possible that recognition of Taurus extends backward in time to the Hyksos period or the Old Kingdom but it is not a secure identification. I decided to revisit this identification, starting with the decapitation of the bull in the story of Djedi:
Remembering that one of Djedi’s attributes is that “He knows how to make a lion walk behind him, with its leash on the ground.” We would also expect to find a lion nearby to the Bull which is why I initially identified the bull to Taurus. However, In the tomb of Seti I, there is a magnificent astronomical ceiling depicting the Northern skies.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
The bull shown here is identified in the ceiling as mshtyw Meskhetyu or the Bulls Foreleg. This is known to be the Plough or Ursa Major. The bull is shown with a leash fallen to the ground. Arguably, the best fit from this astronomical ceiling for someone standing in front of the bull is the standing man below the bull with one arm in front of the crocodile and one arm in front. Lull and Belmonte call this unidentified character “Standing Man”. Lull and Belmonte have not reached consensus on standing man’s identification. Lull identifies standing man to Gemini but Belmonte disagrees.
Interestingly, standing man is likely the villager in the story of the wax crocodile - he is placed near the large crocodile under the lion and the small crocodile placed in front of the lion. I am inclined to agree with Lull that the standing man is placed in the Gemini constellation.
Therefore the identifications would be:
- The Bull is Ursa Major
- Djedi / the Villager is Gemini
This does not make a significant change to the night scene I have previously published but would be better supported by the evidence.
Quote
Nederhof
Then His Majesty had a bull brought to him, and its head was felled to the ground.
Then Djedi said his magic spell, and the bull stood up behind him, its leash having fallen on the ground.
Remembering that one of Djedi’s attributes is that “He knows how to make a lion walk behind him, with its leash on the ground.” We would also expect to find a lion nearby to the Bull which is why I initially identified the bull to Taurus. However, In the tomb of Seti I, there is a magnificent astronomical ceiling depicting the Northern skies.

Image Credit: Wikipedia
The bull shown here is identified in the ceiling as mshtyw Meskhetyu or the Bulls Foreleg. This is known to be the Plough or Ursa Major. The bull is shown with a leash fallen to the ground. Arguably, the best fit from this astronomical ceiling for someone standing in front of the bull is the standing man below the bull with one arm in front of the crocodile and one arm in front. Lull and Belmonte call this unidentified character “Standing Man”. Lull and Belmonte have not reached consensus on standing man’s identification. Lull identifies standing man to Gemini but Belmonte disagrees.
Interestingly, standing man is likely the villager in the story of the wax crocodile - he is placed near the large crocodile under the lion and the small crocodile placed in front of the lion. I am inclined to agree with Lull that the standing man is placed in the Gemini constellation.
Therefore the identifications would be:
- The Bull is Ursa Major
- Djedi / the Villager is Gemini
This does not make a significant change to the night scene I have previously published but would be better supported by the evidence.
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