How Can We Know the Original and Correct Constellation Shapes?

Ancient star-charts and planispheres show that the constellations shapes and names were once common knowledge...

One may wonder how you can know what shape you're looking at - or, more importantly, what shape God intended us to see in a constellation. How can you tell what shape it is from all those starry dots? 

The twelve primary constellations and their decans have been known from antiquity.  Their identities have remained basically unchanged.  For instance, the constellations of Re’eym (Taurus, the bull) and Orion appear in cave art dating back to 3000-2900 B.C. See the following portrayal of Re’eym, found on the walls of the famous Lascaux Cave (see the picture on the left below):

Originally, the Bible says that God named the stars and constellations. And it was God Who gave the constellations their shapes and first gave the star-story to mankind. 

“Praise ye the LORD... He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.” Psalm 147:1-4

“To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:25-26

“By His Spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His Hand hath formed the crooked serpent (the crooked serpent is one of the constellations).” Job 26:13

Considering this, it is not surprising that many star and constellation names can be found in the Bible. For example, the book of Job is the earliest completed book of the Old Testament, written about 2900 B.C. In Job 38:31-32, the Pleiades and Orion are both mentioned by name.

Because the stars and constellations were named by God and given to mankind soon after the dawn of time, the ancient civilizations all knew the star-story and recorded the 48 original constellation shapes being much as they are today. For example, around 2700-2500 BC, the Sumerians recorded the existence of a “Tablet of the stars of the heavens.” The Sumerian Gudea Cylinder A (circa 2300 BC, shown above) clearly mentions many star groups and constellations, including: “The Steer of Heaven” (Re’eym, now called Taurus), “The Lion” (Aryeh, now called Leo), “The Scales” (Mozanaim, now called Libra), “The Scorpion” (Aqrab, now called Scorpius), and many more.

There are Mesopotamian tablets dating to 1800 B.C. (circa) which record both star names and the observations of planetary movements. These ancient records demonstrate a keen interest in the stars and constellations among the early Mesopotamian people. Babylonian and Chaldean tablets dating from 800-600 B.C. record the primary constellations by name. Discoveries dating material from 2000 years ago indicate a knowledge of the constellations in Arabia. In each case, these ancient records confirm the constellation shapes much as we have them today. 

But what was common knowledge among the ancient world began to fade about the time when B.C. became A.D. To prevent the loss of the star-story, several people worked to preserve the star and constellation names. Arguably, one of the most significant works to preserve the ancient star and constellation names was done by Ptolemy in his Almagest, dating to 150 A.D. In it, he described the positions of each ancient constellation and star with remarkable accuracy, making it easier to trace today. Ptolemy’s Almagest listed the forty-eight original constellations (12 primary constellations with three decans each) and 1022 star names. 

Of all the ancient planispheres, one of the most significant preservations of the original 48 constellations is the famous Zodiac of Dendera. The sculptured Dendera zodiac (or Denderah zodiac) is a widely known Egyptian bas-relief from the ceiling of the pronaos (or portico)... in the Hathor temple at Dendera... 

The relief, which John H. Rogers characterized as “the only complete map that we have of an ancient sky”, has been conjectured to represent the basis on which later astronomy systems were based. It is now on display at the Musée du Louvre, Paris. (“Dendera Zodiac”, Wikipedia, www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendera_zodiac)

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For more information about the Mazzaroth (God's constellation tapestry) and His Messages in the 48 original constellations, request your own copy of Shauna Manfredine's book, God's Amazing Star Secret (book trailer).

Turn your Church or Venue into a Planetarium for a Night (or Weekend)! Now you can share God's Amazing Star Secrets with your whole family, church, or gathering! Request Shauna Manfredine to give her inspiring and well-researched, planetarium-style God's Amazing Star Secrets presentation. 

In her presentation(s), Shauna shows the meaning of Psalm 19:1-4 and the original names of the stars based upon earth's first recorded language(s). She shows archaeological evidence of the original constellations and the amazing connection between the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 primary constellations. And she explains the Plan of Redemption in the original star and constellation names. More information...