Image by Aymen Ibrahem
(Night
Sky over Egypt) of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt. ©Aymen
Ibrahem,
shown with permission.
The 4500 year old bulk of the pyramid of Pharaoh
Khafra (Chephren) shields the sun to reveal a sun dog, a 22 degree
halo and a hinted upper tangent arc.
Ancient Egyptians recognised several manifestations of the sun god Ra,
Ra-Herakhty of the rising sun, Ra-Atum of the setting sun and Aten the
solar disk. Strangely, there is no acknowledgement of the
blindingly bright sundogs or parhelia that must at times have accompanied
Ra on his daily journey across the sky.
Sun Dogs
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