Solar Boat of the Sun God- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

The Solar Boat of the Sun God, also known as the celestial boat, was an essential part of ancient Egyptian cosmology. It represented the daily journey of the sun across the sky, beginning as Khepri at dawn, transforming into Ra at noon, and becoming Atum at sunset. At night, the sun embarked on the Mesketet, the boat of the underworld, accompanied by protective deities to navigate the dangers of the afterlife, including the serpent Apophis. These solar boats, often depicted with curved sterns and draped in fabric, symbolized the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The boats were also associated with the pharaoh’s journey to the afterlife, providing a path to the Fields of Iaru for the justified dead. In Egyptian iconography, they appeared frequently in tombs, evolving in style but maintaining their core symbolism throughout the New Kingdom.