Ancient Astronomy

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The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy

Author : James Evans
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 019987445X
Total Pages : 495 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (998 download)

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Book Synopsis The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy by : James Evans

Download or read book The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy written by James Evans and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1998-10-01 with total page 495 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy combines new scholarship with hands-on science to bring readers into direct contact with the work of ancient astronomers. While tracing ideas from ancient Babylon to sixteenth-century Europe, the book places its greatest emphasis on the Greek period, when astronomers developed the geometric and philosophical ideas that have determined the subsequent character of Western astronomy. The author approaches this history through the concrete details of ancient astronomical practice. Carefully organized and generously illustrated, the book can teach readers how to do real astronomy using the methods of ancient astronomers. For example, readers will learn to predict the next retrograde motion of Jupiter using either the arithmetical methods of the Babylonians or the geometric methods of Ptolemy. They will learn how to use an astrolabe and how to design sundials using Greek and Roman techniques. The book also contains supplementary exercises and patterns for making some working astronomical instruments, including an astrolabe and an equatorium. More than a presentation of astronomical methods, the book provides a critical look at the evidence used to reconstruct ancient astronomy. It includes extensive excerpts from ancient texts, meticulous documentation, and lively discussions of the role of astronomy in the various cultures. Accessible to a wide audience, this book will appeal to anyone interested in how our understanding of our place in the universe has changed and developed, from ancient times through the Renaissance.

Echoes of the Ancient Skies

Author : E. C. Krupp
Publisher : Courier Corporation
ISBN 13 : 0486137643
Total Pages : 416 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (861 download)

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Book Synopsis Echoes of the Ancient Skies by : E. C. Krupp

Download or read book Echoes of the Ancient Skies written by E. C. Krupp and published by Courier Corporation. This book was released on 2012-03-15 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Popular, authoritative look at the world of archaeoastronomy, the study of ancient peoples' observation of the skies and its role in their cultural evolution. 208 illustrations.

Ancient Astronomy and Celestial Divination

Author : Noel M. Swerdlow
Publisher : MIT Press
ISBN 13 : 9780262194228
Total Pages : 400 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (942 download)

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Book Synopsis Ancient Astronomy and Celestial Divination by : Noel M. Swerdlow

Download or read book Ancient Astronomy and Celestial Divination written by Noel M. Swerdlow and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 1999 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume presents recent work on Babylonian celestialdivination and on the Greek inheritors of the Babyloniantradition.In the ancient world, the collection and study of celestial phenomena and the intepretation of their prophetic significance, especially as applied to kings and nations, were closely related sciences carried out by the same scholars. Both ancient sources and modern research agree that astronomy and celestial divination arose in Babylon. Only in the late nineteenth century, however, did scholars begin to identify and decipher the original Babylonian sources, and the process of understanding those sources has been long and difficult. This volume presents recent work on Babylonian celestial divination and on the Greek inheritors of the Babylonian tradition. Both philological and mathematical work are included. The essays shed new light on all of the known textual sources, including the omen series Enuma Anu Enlil, which contains omens from as far back as the early second or even third millennium, and the earliest personal horoscopes, from about 400 B.C., as well as the Astronomical Diaries, ephemerides, and other observational and mathematical texts. One essay concerns astronomical papyri that confirm the extensive transmission of Babylonian methods into Greek; a study of Ptolemy's lunar theory suggests that Ptolemy relied more on his own observations than previously thought; and an analysis of Theon's commentary on Ptolemy's Handy Tables shows that Theon explicated their meaning both conscientiously and competently.ContributorsAsger Aaboe, Alan C. Bowen, Lis Brack-Bernsen, John P. Britton, Bernard R. Goldstein, Gerd Graßhoff, Hermann Hunger, Alexander Jones, Erica Reiner, F. Rochberg, N. M. Swerdlow, Anne Tihon, C. B. F. Walker

Exploring Ancient Skies

Author : David H. Kelley
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 038726356X
Total Pages : 623 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (872 download)

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Book Synopsis Exploring Ancient Skies by : David H. Kelley

Download or read book Exploring Ancient Skies written by David H. Kelley and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2005-12-06 with total page 623 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exploring Ancient Skies brings together the methods of archaeology and the insights of modern astronomy to explore the science of astronomy as it was practiced in various cultures prior to the invention of the telescope. The book reviews an enormous and growing body of literature on the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, the Far East, and the New World (particularly Mesoamerica), putting the ancient astronomical materials into their archaeological and cultural contexts. The authors begin with an overview of the field and proceed to essential aspects of naked-eye astronomy, followed by an examination of specific cultures. The book concludes by taking into account the purposes of ancient astronomy: astrology, navigation, calendar regulation, and (not least) the understanding of our place and role in the universe. Skies are recreated to display critical events as they would have appeared to ancient observers - events such as the supernova of 1054, the 'lion horoscope' or the 'Star of Bethlehem.' Exploring Ancient Skies provides a comprehensive overview of the relationships between astronomy and other areas of human investigation. It will be useful as a reference for scholars and students in both astronomy and archaeology, and will be of compelling interest to readers who seek a broad understanding of our collective intellectual history.

The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy

Author : James Evans
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0195095391
Total Pages : 495 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (95 download)

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Book Synopsis The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy by : James Evans

Download or read book The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy written by James Evans and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1998-10 with total page 495 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Birth of astronomy -- Celestial sphere -- Some applications of spherics -- Calendars and time reckoning -- Solar theory -- Fixed stars -- Planetary theory -- Frequently used tables -- Appendix : patterns for models.

Ancient Astronomy

Author : Clive L.N. Ruggles
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 : 1851096167
Total Pages : 549 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (51 download)

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Book Synopsis Ancient Astronomy by : Clive L.N. Ruggles

Download or read book Ancient Astronomy written by Clive L.N. Ruggles and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2005-10-21 with total page 549 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An authoritative introduction to the fascinating topic of archaeoastronomy—ancient peoples' understanding and use of the skies. Ancient Astronomy: An Encyclopedia of Cosmologies and Myth draws on archaeological evidence and oral traditions to reveal how prehistoric humans perceived the skies and celestial phenomena. With over 200 entries, it offers a number of ways to approach ancient astronomy, from key examples and case studies worldwide (Stonehenge; Mexican and Egyptian pyramids; Chaco Canyon, New Mexico; the Nazca lines in Peru) to general themes (cosmologies, calendars, ancient ideas of space and time, origin myths), to fundamental concepts and methods (how the sky has changed over the centuries, how to survey a site), and to the field's most frequently asked questions (How did ancient peoples navigate the ocean using the stars? How does astrology relate to ancient astronomy? Can ancient sites be dated astronomically?) By revealing the astronomical significance of some of the world's most famous ancient landmarks and enduring myths and by showing how different themes and concepts are connected, Ancient Astronomy: An Encyclopedia of Cosmologies and Myth brings a unique authoritative perspective to an area too often left to speculation and sensationalism.

On the Heavens

Author : Aristotle
Publisher : Phoemixx Classics Ebooks
ISBN 13 : 3986772901
Total Pages : 155 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (867 download)

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Book Synopsis On the Heavens by : Aristotle

Download or read book On the Heavens written by Aristotle and published by Phoemixx Classics Ebooks. This book was released on 2021-11-14 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On the Heavens Aristotle - On the Heavens is Aristotle's chief cosmological treatise: written in 350 BC it contains his astronomical theory and his ideas on the concrete workings of the terrestrial world. This work is significant as one of the defining pillars of the Aristotelian worldview, a school of philosophy that dominated intellectual thinking for almost two millennia. Similarly, this work and others by Aristotle were important seminal works by which much of scholasticism was derived.

Poetic Astronomy in the Ancient Near East

Author : Jeffrey L. Cooley
Publisher : Penn State Press
ISBN 13 : 1575066939
Total Pages : 407 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (75 download)

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Book Synopsis Poetic Astronomy in the Ancient Near East by : Jeffrey L. Cooley

Download or read book Poetic Astronomy in the Ancient Near East written by Jeffrey L. Cooley and published by Penn State Press. This book was released on 2013-03-12 with total page 407 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Modern science historians have typically treated the sciences of the ancient Near East as separate from historical and cultural considerations. At the same time, biblical scholars, dominated by theological concerns, have historically understood the Israelite god as separate from the natural world. Cooley’s study, bringing to bear contemporary models of science history on the one hand and biblical studies on the other hand, seeks to bridge a gap created by 20th-century scholarship in our understanding of ancient Near Eastern cultures by investigating the ways in which ancient authors incorporated their cultures’ celestial speculation in narrative. In the literature of ancient Iraq, celestial divination is displayed quite prominently in important works such as Enuma Eliš and Erra and Išum. In ancient Ugarit as well, the sky was observed for devotional reasons, and astral deities play important roles in stories such as the Baal Cycle and Shahar and Shalim. Even though the veneration of astral deities was rejected by biblical authors, in the literature of ancient Israel the Sun, Moon, and stars are often depicted as active, conscious agents. In texts such as Genesis 1, Joshua 10, Judges 5, and Job 38, these celestial characters, these “sons of God,” are living, dynamic members of Yahweh’s royal entourage, willfully performing courtly, martial, and calendrical roles for their sovereign. The synthesis offered by this book, the first of its kind since the demise of the pan-Babylonianist school more than a century ago, is about ancient science in ancient Near Eastern literature.

Astronomy in the Ancient World

Author : Alexus McLeod
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319236008
Total Pages : 234 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (192 download)

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Book Synopsis Astronomy in the Ancient World by : Alexus McLeod

Download or read book Astronomy in the Ancient World written by Alexus McLeod and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-06-17 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alexus McLeod explores every aspect of the lesser-known history of astronomy in the Americas (Mesoamerica and North America), China and India, each through the frame of a particular astronomical phenomena. Part One considers the development of astronomy in the Americas as a response, in part, to the Supernova of 1054, which may have led to a cultural renaissance in astronomy. He then goes on to explore the contemporary understanding of supernovae, contrasting it with that of the ancient Americas. Part Two is framed through the appearances of great comets, which had major divinatory significance in early China. The author discusses the advancement of observational astronomy in China, its influence on politics and its role in the survival or failure of empires. Furthermore, the contemporary understanding of comets is also discussed for comparison. Part Three, on India, considers the magnificent observatories of the Rajput king Jai Singh II, and the question of their purpose. The origins of Indian astronomy are examined in Vedic thought and its development is followed through the period of Jai Singh, including the role played by solar eclipses. The author also includes a modern explanation of our understanding of eclipses to date. In the final section of the book, McLeod discusses how ancient traditions might help modern civilization better understand Earth’s place in the cosmos.

A History of Astronomy

Author : Anton Pannekoek
Publisher : Courier Corporation
ISBN 13 : 0486659941
Total Pages : 562 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (866 download)

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Book Synopsis A History of Astronomy by : Anton Pannekoek

Download or read book A History of Astronomy written by Anton Pannekoek and published by Courier Corporation. This book was released on 1989-01-01 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Well-balanced, carefully reasoned study covers such topics as Ptolemaic theory, work of Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, Eddington's work on stars, much more. Illustrated. References.

Astronomy of the Ancients

Author : Kenneth Brecher
Publisher : Mit Press
ISBN 13 : 9780262520706
Total Pages : 206 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (27 download)

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Book Synopsis Astronomy of the Ancients by : Kenneth Brecher

Download or read book Astronomy of the Ancients written by Kenneth Brecher and published by Mit Press. This book was released on 1981 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explores the methods, instruments, and observations of the ancient astronomers, noting their significance to modern science and the importance of such findings as Stonehenge and American Indian petroglyphs

The Dawn of Astronomy

Author : J. Norman Lockyer
Publisher : Courier Dover Publications
ISBN 13 : 0486450120
Total Pages : 465 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (864 download)

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Book Synopsis The Dawn of Astronomy by : J. Norman Lockyer

Download or read book The Dawn of Astronomy written by J. Norman Lockyer and published by Courier Dover Publications. This book was released on 2006-04-28 with total page 465 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A pioneer in the fields of astrophysics and astro-archeology, J. Norman Lockyer believed that ancient Egyptian monuments were constructed "in strict relation to the stars." In this celebrated study, he explores the relationship between astronomy and architecture in the age of the pharaohs. Lockyer addresses one of the many points already extensively investigated by Egyptologists: the chronology of the kings of Egypt. All experts are in accord regarding the identity of the first monarch, but they cannot agree upon the dates of his reign within a thousand years. The author contends that by applying a knowledge of astronomy to the actual site orientation of the region's pyramids and temples, accurate dating can be achieved. In order to accomplish this, Lockyer had to determine the level of the ancient Egyptian ideas of astronomy. Some of his inferences have been invalidated by subsequent scholarship, but many of his other conclusions stand firm and continue to provide sensational leads into contemporary understanding of archaic astronomy.

Greek Astronomy

Author : Thomas L. Heath
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1108062806
Total Pages : 257 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (8 download)

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Book Synopsis Greek Astronomy by : Thomas L. Heath

Download or read book Greek Astronomy written by Thomas L. Heath and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2014-03-20 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published in 1932, this collection of translated excerpts on ancient astronomy was prepared by Sir Thomas Little Heath (1861-1940).

Hellenistic Astronomy

Author : Alan C. Bowen
Publisher : BRILL
ISBN 13 : 9004400567
Total Pages : 783 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (44 download)

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Book Synopsis Hellenistic Astronomy by : Alan C. Bowen

Download or read book Hellenistic Astronomy written by Alan C. Bowen and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2020-02-17 with total page 783 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Hellenistic Astronomy: The Science in Its Contexts, renowned scholars address questions about what the ancient science of the heavens was and the numerous contexts in which it was pursued.

Calendars and Years

Author : John M. Steele
Publisher : Oxbow Books
ISBN 13 : 1782974938
Total Pages : 176 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (829 download)

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Book Synopsis Calendars and Years by : John M. Steele

Download or read book Calendars and Years written by John M. Steele and published by Oxbow Books. This book was released on 2007-10-08 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dates form the backbone of written history. But where do these dates come from? Many different calendars were used in the ancient world. Some of these calendars were based upon observations or calculations of regular astronomical phenomena, such as the first sighting of the new moon crescent that defined the beginning of the month in many calendars, while others incorporated schematic simplifications of these phenomena, such as the 360-day year used in early Mesopotamian administrative practices in order to simplify accounting procedures. Historians frequently use handbooks and tables for converting dates in ancient calendars into the familiar BC/AD calendar that we use today. But very few historians understand how these tables have come about, or what assumptions have been made in their construction. The seven papers in this volume provide an answer to the question what do we know about the operation of calendars in the ancient world, and just as importantly how do we know it? Topics covered include the ancient and modern history of the Egyptian 365-day calendar, astronomical and administrative calendars in ancient Mesopotamia, and the development of astronomical calendars in ancient Greece. This book will be of interest to ancient historians, historians of science, astronomers who use early astronomical records, and anyone with an interest in calendars and their development.

Astronomy and Empire in the Ancient Andes

Author : Brian S. Bauer
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 252 pages
Book Rating : 4.X/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis Astronomy and Empire in the Ancient Andes by : Brian S. Bauer

Download or read book Astronomy and Empire in the Ancient Andes written by Brian S. Bauer and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This joint project of an astrophysicist (Dearborn) and an archeologist (Bauer) was written for the use of astronomers, archeologists, and historians. Includes sufficient background information for readers with little or no knowledge of the Andes. Text sheds new light on relationship between Inca cosmology and social structure"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.

Ptolemy's Almagest

Author : Ptolemy
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 0691002606
Total Pages : 712 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Ptolemy's Almagest by : Ptolemy

Download or read book Ptolemy's Almagest written by Ptolemy and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 1998-11-08 with total page 712 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ptolemy's Almagest is one of the most influential scientific works in history. A masterpiece of technical exposition, it was the basic textbook of astronomy for more than a thousand years, and still is the main source for our knowledge of ancient astronomy. This translation, based on the standard Greek text of Heiberg, makes the work accessible to English readers in an intelligible and reliable form. It contains numerous corrections derived from medieval Arabic translations and extensive footnotes that take account of the great progress in understanding the work made in this century, due to the discovery of Babylonian records and other researches. It is designed to stand by itself as an interpretation of the original, but it will also be useful as an aid to reading the Greek text.