Model of an egyptian „light bulb“

As we know today, certain ejectors (fluid entrainment pumps) (A) will produce a relatively strong vacuum, especially if a cascade arrangement is used for the pumps - i.e. several identical components are connected in series. If a glass bulb with two metal parts reaching inside (B), (C) is evacuated, a discharge will occur at a much lower voltage, depending on the size of the glass balloon (D). At a pressure of approximately 40 torr (40mm mercury column), a line of light will wind its way from one metal part to the other (E). If the evacuation is continued, the line widens further until it eventually fills out the entire glass bulb. Exactly what the images in the underground chambers of the Hathor temple suggest.

As shown by the ancient reliefs on the walls of the Egyptian Hathor temple of Dendarah, the pharaoh's priests, just as knowledgeable in science as in religion, must have known the secret of electricity. These reliefs show human figures standing next to bulb-shaped structures. It does not take a stretch of the imagination to recognize these objects as overdimensioned light bulbs. Snakes trapped inside these objects perform a wave-like movement. Do they symbolize electrical discharges? The snakes emanate from the central tip of a lotus flower. An accurate design from the physical point of view. After all, this is exactly the point where the field intensity reaches its maximum in a modern bulb socket. Thus, the lotus flower could be interpreted as the bulb socket, connected via the cable-like hose to some kind of energy store. The entire structure is supported by insulator type Djec pillars with arms, often directly connected with the snakes. Egyptologists refer to the illustrated items as "cult objects" without knowing their original meaning.

However, these Egyptologist views are in stark contrast with the studies of electrical engineer Dipl.Ing. Walter Garn from Vienna. The project manager of a large industrial group studied the reliefs and came to the conclusion that "accurate illustrations like these would be impossible without a basic knowledge of electrical engineering –too many technical details simply fit the picture." Inspired by his discoveries, engineer Garn built a working 40cm model based on the ancient Egyptian design. Garn concludes: "If you remove air from a glass bulb that has two metal parts reaching inside, discharges will occur at a lower voltage. At a pressure of 40 torr (40mm Hg = unit of measurement on a mercury column), a line of light will wind its way from one metal part to the other. If the suction removal process is continued, the line widens further until it eventually fills out the entire glass bulb. Exactly as the images in the underground chambers of the Hathor temple suggest."

Place of discovery: Dendarah, 60km to the North of Luxor, Egypt

Age: at least 100 BC. This is the time when the temple was last converted; according to the "Construction Deed of Dendarah", its foundations reach back to the times of the very first pharaoh dynasties.