Kolob continues this same pattern. Written KLB, it is clearly closely related in meaning to KKB, kokab. So, Kolob has ‘star’ as part of its meaning, but Nibley and others assert that it is closer in meaning to the Arabic word qalb, meaning ‘heart.’ Yet, the Arabic-speaking peoples routinely use qalb as part of star names: qalb al-asad for Regulus, for example. The verb form of the word also means to turn upside down, to turn over and over. (This will become more meaningful in a moment.) The Egyptians thought of Canopus as the premier heart-star. Atum, the Egyptian creator god, was called “the Firm Heart of the Sky.” Indeed, Egyptians conceived of their creator/king or sun god, who we will identify as the planet Saturn, as having two hearts — the hat-heart was female, Tefnut, and the ab-heart was male, Shu — one within the other, although translators rarely concern themselves with the distinction. Also, Horus was said to be ab en hat, "heart of the heart." It is likely that the use of ab in those words is the reason why scholars also point to ‘heart’ as one meaning of kolob and kakab. Ironically, Shu is also the one “who sits in the midst of the Eye which is the seat of his Father.” Thus, the eye and the heart of the sun god, Re, are virtually synonymous in Egyptian lore, an unexpected and curious association.
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 03:21:52 +0000
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