Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings: Astronomy & the Archaeology of Power

by E.C. Krupp

Discover the celestial myths and cosmic rituals of ancient priests and kings . . .
Drawing on intimate knowledge of the more than 1,300 ancient sites he has visited, E. C. Krupp, acclaimed writer and preeminent researcher, takes you to the world's essential sacred places and celestial shrines. Join him on a rich narrative journey to see where the rulers of old communed with the gods of the sky.
""Highly recommended to everyone interested in the culture of astronomy and those peoples who practiced it in their own ways.""-Sky & Telescope
""A lively account of the ways in which our ancestors conceived of and used the heavens.""-New Scientist
""There can be no doubt that this imaginative and readable work by a widely read and widely traveled author will strike a chord in the minds of a great many modern readers.""-Isis
""The fact that the book is written by an expert in his field comes through on every page, as does his enthusiasm for the subject.""-Astronomy Now
""Krupp's indispensable volume is fascinating, well-illustrated, and covers much territory.""-Parabola

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Religion, Astronomy, Archaeology, Reference

364 pages, Paperback

Published March 12, 1999

Reviews

[Mary Overton]

Not certain when I first encountered this book, but it was from the public library. Immediately bought my own copy & just about every page is marked, annotated, X-referenced. A highly significant book for me.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to the jacket blurb, author E. C. Krupp (b. 1944) is an astronomer and the director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. The primary focus of the book, as the title indicates, is the use of the knowledge of astronomy in astrology and its political and social functions in a wide range of cultures–ancient, classical, and living traditional. It ranges from traditional Siberia, native North America, Africa, and Mesoamerica to ancient China, Mongolia, and Egypt. Krupp also includes many black and white photos of the different sites, often those he himself has taken.

For example, in the material on Mesopotamia, he notes that the sacred marriage rite, whose origins he places in 4th millennium BCE, survived as part of "akitu," the New Year festival of Babylon which took place on the vernal equinox. Its purpose was to ensure the continued fertility of the land, animals and people, an "affair of the state, not the heart." Nevertheless, "high responsibility does not pull the plug on great sex." (p 145). He also states that various hymns to Innana, if produced for MTV, would "create a whole new audience for cuneiform."

Please read the rest of the review here.

[Lín]

I read the preview:
It began as adventure to Chaco canyon… a place that I really want to go (and may be going sooner than I thought, due to a twist of fate leaving me with tons of frequent flier points….!!)

This book, like the last, went into an anthropological cultural assessment of the native tribes who lived in the area and created these sites. Fascinating analysis of these tribal cultures - made me more passionate about visiting!

He also discussed smiler sites in Mexico City and China. Then he covers a bit astronomical history.. all the way up to the Griffith Planetarium!

He shared a fascinating tale of 1994 Los Angeles...
a power outage due to an earthquake
nothing unusual?
except, people went outside and were shocked, calling the planetarium asking why the sky looked so 'odd'
(they had never seen it without the city lights - never really seen the milky way sky)

I definitely want to read the rest of the book before I head off on my own Chaco adventure….!!

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good general introduction to the work of archaeoastronomy presented by the director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

[Riversue · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read that covers a wide range of religious expressions and societal power structures.