In Egyptian mythology, Sopdet was the goddess of fertility, associated with the star, Sirius. When Sirius appeared in the sky in July, the Nile River began flooding and so the ancient Egyptians naturally connected the two. She was later merged with Isis.
... elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a four-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year period. ...