It is hypothesized by New York University Egyptologist Patricia Blackwell Gary and Astronomy senior editor Richard Talcott that the shapes of the ancient Egyptian pyramid and obelisk were derived from natural phenomena associated with the sun (the sun-god Ra being the Egyptians' greatest deity).^[5] The pyramid and obelisk might have been inspired by previously overlooked astronomical phenomena connected withsunrise and sunset: the zodiacal light and sun pillars respectively.