Astronomy of the Ancients

by Kenneth S. Brecher (Editor)

The eight articles and dozens of photographs and drawings in this book introduce the reader to the ancient astronomers--their observatories, their instruments, and their explorations of the awesome regularities (and shocking irregularities) that appear in the sky. The authors draw upon a wide range of disciplines--history, archaeology, technology, even mythology in discussing their subjects. This book is one endeavor toward a reconstruction of the past of the human mind, using all available text, myth, spade; yet, there is a difference. That difference is that in the world of the heavens there are real phenomena, striking or subtle, enduring or transient, which can be invoked today to challenge or to support the inferences of the archeologist, epigrapher, historian, or mythologist. The authors go back to one sole real human beings watching the real sky; if we do so reflectively, we can share at every glance the roots of the power of human thought, the thought which once married science and literature, art and number, wonder and insight, when thoughtful people were still rather few under this ceaseless sky.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

206 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1979

Reviews

[Geoff Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

archeological-astronomy. A technical book describing myths behind constellations and tries to envision how the night sky used to look like based on archeological evidence such as Stone Hinge, American Indian instruments, and the city of Atlantis..
Interesting that the star Sirius is described as being 'red' by ancient cultures and is now a white star...indicating that the star went from a red, cool, giant to a hot, smaller, white dwarf star. This is in reverse of current star evolution theory. Probably worth following up on in articles or other books. This I suspect presents a problem to evolutionist.
The “Golden Age” corresponds with how the sky looked… the Milky Way used to appear golden in the sky.

[Steve LaForest]

Ethnoastronomy.