The Egyptian pyramids were carefully aligned towards the pole star, [citation needed] and the temple of Amun-Re at Karnak was aligned on the rising of the midwinter Sun. [citation needed] Astronomy played a considerable part in fixing the dates of religious festivals and determining the hours of night, and temple astrologers were especially ...

The Great Pyramids of Giza, for instance, are precisely oriented to the cardinal points, with their layout reflecting key astronomical phenomena. Scholars believe the pyramids may have been aligned with certain stars, such as those in Orion’s Belt, which held religious significance related to Osiris, the god of the afterlife.

Some researchers suggest the Giza pyramids were built in alignment with the stars. But that idea has been met with criticism.

The pole stars, including the north star, were known as “imperishable stars,” or “the indestructibles.” The Egyptians tied these unflinching stars with their beliefs about the afterlife, and thought their deceased pharaohs would join them there.