Egypt is oriented to the South! When an ancient Egyptian stood on the riverbank and looked towards the southern sky, the observer would be able to see Orion, Sirius, and the Milky Way. Ancient Egyptians viewed the Nile as a literal gift from the heavens. Because the terrestrial Nile flowed from the South, Upstream (South) was the direction of the source of life. Egyptians believed everything had their divine, cosmic equivalent. Pharaohs were buried with solar barges to sail UP the celestial Nile (Milky Way) to become one with the gods in the afterlife. In their worldview, the beginning of both the terrestrial and celestial Niles was the southern point of origin, the divine source of life. Essentially, the Egyptian heaven was southward toward the eastern horizon where Orion and Sirius rose. Additionally, Ta-Netjeru (Land of the gods) is in the South. Many pharaohs traveled to the legendary land of Punt. The most famous voyage by Queen Hatshepsut is documented in detailed reliefs at her Deir El-Bahari temple. In all, ancient Egyptians looked toward the South as their ancestral homeland and ultimate spiritual destination.
by Responsiblecuhz