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In Hellenistic Astronomy: The Science in Its Contexts, new essays by renowned scholars address questions about what the ancient science of the heavens was in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean worlds, and the numerous contexts in which it was pursued. Together, these essays will enable readers not only to understand the technical accomplishments of this ancient science but also to appreciate their historical significance by locating the questions, challenges, and issues inspiring them in their political, medical, philosophical, literary, and religious contexts.
Winner of the 2020 Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award
Winner of the 2020 Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award
Alan C. Bowen, Ph.D. (1977: Philosophy, University of Toronto), is Director of the Institute for Research in Classical Philosophy and Science. He has published numerous books and articles in the history of ancient Greek and Roman science and philosophy.
Francesca Rochberg , Ph.D. (1980: Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago) is Catherine and William L. Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Near Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She has published widely in the history of Babylonian celestial divination, astrology, and astronomy.
Contributors are: Siam Bhayro, Alan C. Bowen, Lis Brack-Bernsen, Giuseppe Cambiano, Nicola F. Denzey-Lewis, Dennis W. Duke, James C. Evans, Klaus Geus, Gerd Grasshoff, Dorian G. Greenbaum, Robert Hannah, Stephan Heilen, Wolfgang Hübner, Hermann Hunger, Helen Jacobus, Richard L. Kremer, Alexandra von Lieven, Stamatina Mastorakou, Clemency Montelle, Mathieu Ossendrijver, Tracey E. Rhill, Francesca Rochberg, Micah T. Ross, Alfred Schmid, Nathan C. Sidoli, Anthony Spalinger, Glen Van Brumelen, James C. Vanderkam, James Wilberding, Christian Wilder
Francesca Rochberg , Ph.D. (1980: Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago) is Catherine and William L. Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Near Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She has published widely in the history of Babylonian celestial divination, astrology, and astronomy.
Contributors are: Siam Bhayro, Alan C. Bowen, Lis Brack-Bernsen, Giuseppe Cambiano, Nicola F. Denzey-Lewis, Dennis W. Duke, James C. Evans, Klaus Geus, Gerd Grasshoff, Dorian G. Greenbaum, Robert Hannah, Stephan Heilen, Wolfgang Hübner, Hermann Hunger, Helen Jacobus, Richard L. Kremer, Alexandra von Lieven, Stamatina Mastorakou, Clemency Montelle, Mathieu Ossendrijver, Tracey E. Rhill, Francesca Rochberg, Micah T. Ross, Alfred Schmid, Nathan C. Sidoli, Anthony Spalinger, Glen Van Brumelen, James C. Vanderkam, James Wilberding, Christian Wilder
"This is an absolutely wonderful book, well-written and a pleasure to read. It is generally based on the most recent research and very informative without being inaccessible to the layman. That the field of ancient astronomy is under rapid development is evident from the bibliography alone. [...] It is generously supplied with interesting and relevant illustrations and its structure and composition take the reader by the hand so that it can be read easily from cover to cover. The individual chapters can also be read on their own, and the “Historical Glossary” and indices make it an excellent handbook as well. It provides a status quaestionis in a way which is at the same time accessible to the interested layman and contains a brilliant survey and much new to be learnt for the specialist in any parts of the vast topic covered as well." - Ulla Koch, in: BMCR 2021.04.23
"This is an excellent and eminently useful volume, surveying and advancing the state of the field in a very welcome, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary format. Corners of this field seem to have been developing rather quickly in the last decade or two, and scholars will be grateful to the editors and authors for the timely appearance and impressive scope of this large book." - Daryn Lehoux, in: The Classical Review 71.2 442–444
"This is an excellent and eminently useful volume, surveying and advancing the state of the field in a very welcome, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary format. Corners of this field seem to have been developing rather quickly in the last decade or two, and scholars will be grateful to the editors and authors for the timely appearance and impressive scope of this large book." - Daryn Lehoux, in: The Classical Review 71.2 442–444
Preface Acknowledgments List of Illustrations and Tables List of Abbreviations
0 Prolegomena to the Study of Hellenistic Astronomy Alan C. Bowen and Francesca Rochberg
1 The Celestial Sphere Clemency Montelle
2 Methods of Reckoning Time Robert Hannah
Chapter 3 Quantitative Tools 3.1 Techniques of Measurement and Computation Mathieu Ossendrijver
3.2 Planar and Spherical Trigonometry Glen Van Brummelen
Chapter 4 Theory of the Sun, Moon, and Planets 4.1 Fundamentals of Planetary Theory Nathan Sidoli
4.2 Hypothesis in Greco-Roman Astronomy Alan C. Bowen
4.3 Some Early Hypotheses in Greco-Roman Astronomy Alan C. Bowen
4.4 The Ptolemaic Planetary Hypotheses James C. Evans
4.5 The Hellenistic Theory of Eclipses Clemency Montelle
4.6 Hellenistic Babylonian Planetary Theory Mathieu Ossendrijver
4.7 The Babylonian Contribution to Greco-Roman Astronomy Francesca Rochberg
4.8 Hellenistic Egyptian Planetary Theory Micah T. Ross
Chapter 5 Observational Foundations 5.1 The Observational Foundations of Babylonian Astronomy Lis Brack-Bernsen
5.2 Experience and Observation in Hellenistic Astronomy Richard L. Kremer
Chapter 6 Astronomical Instruments 6.1 Hellenistic Surveying Instruments Tracey E. Rihll
6.2 Hellenistic Maps and Lists of Places Klaus Geus
6.3 Star-Lists from the Babylonians to Ptolemy Gerd Graßhoff
6.4 Ptolemy’s Instruments Dennis W. Duke
Chapter 7 Thematic Questions 7.1 Issues in Hellenistic Egyptian Astronomical Writings Anthony Spalinger
7.2 The Texts and Aims of Babylonian Astronomy Hermann Hunger
7.3 Issues in Greco-Roman Astronomy of the Hellenistic Period Alan C. Bowen
8 The Professional ἀϲτρολόγοϲ Wolfgang Hübner
Chapter 9 Hellenistic Astronomy in Public Service 9.1 The Sundial and the Calendar Robert Hannah
9.2 The Antikythera Mechanism James C. Evans
9.3 Hellenistic Astronomy in Medicine Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum
Chapter 10 Hellenistic Astronomy in Literature 10.1 Aratus and the Popularization of Hellenistic Astronomy Stamatina Mastorakou
10.2 The Authority of the Roman Heavens Alfred Schmid
Chapter 11 Hellenistic Astronomy in the Training and Work of Priests 11.1 Hellenistic Astronomy and the Egyptian Priest Alexandra von Lieven
11.2 Hellenistic Astronomy and the Babylonian Scribal Families Mathieu Ossendrijver
Chapter 12 Astral Divination and Natal Astrology 12.1 The Hellenistic Horoscope Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum
12.2 Hellenistic Babylonian Astral Divination and Nativities Francesca Rochberg
12.3 Hellenistic Horoscopes in Greek and Latin: Contexts and Uses Stephan Heilen
12.4 Demotic Horoscopes Micah T. Ross
Chapter 13 Theological Contexts 13.1 Hellenistic Astronomy in Early Judaic Writings James C. VanderKam
13.2 Astral Divination in the Dead Sea Scrolls Helen R. Jacobus
13.3 Hellenistic Astronomy in Early Christianities Nicola Denzey Lewis
13.4 Cosmology in Mandaean Texts Siam Bhayro
13.5 Astral Discourse in the Philosophical Hermetica (Corpus Hermeticum) Christian Wildberg
Chapter 14 Hellenistic Astronomy in the Philosophical Schools 14.1 Astronomy and Divination in Stoic Philosophy Giuseppe Cambiano
14.2 Plotinus on the Motion of the Stars James Wilberding
Historical Glossary of Important Terms in Hellenistic Astronomy Bibliography Index of Passages Index of Names Index of Subjects
0 Prolegomena to the Study of Hellenistic Astronomy Alan C. Bowen and Francesca Rochberg
Part A Technical Requirements
1 The Celestial Sphere Clemency Montelle
2 Methods of Reckoning Time Robert Hannah
Chapter 3 Quantitative Tools 3.1 Techniques of Measurement and Computation Mathieu Ossendrijver
3.2 Planar and Spherical Trigonometry Glen Van Brummelen
Chapter 4 Theory of the Sun, Moon, and Planets 4.1 Fundamentals of Planetary Theory Nathan Sidoli
4.2 Hypothesis in Greco-Roman Astronomy Alan C. Bowen
4.3 Some Early Hypotheses in Greco-Roman Astronomy Alan C. Bowen
4.4 The Ptolemaic Planetary Hypotheses James C. Evans
4.5 The Hellenistic Theory of Eclipses Clemency Montelle
4.6 Hellenistic Babylonian Planetary Theory Mathieu Ossendrijver
4.7 The Babylonian Contribution to Greco-Roman Astronomy Francesca Rochberg
4.8 Hellenistic Egyptian Planetary Theory Micah T. Ross
Part B Observations, Instruments, and Issues
Chapter 5 Observational Foundations 5.1 The Observational Foundations of Babylonian Astronomy Lis Brack-Bernsen
5.2 Experience and Observation in Hellenistic Astronomy Richard L. Kremer
Chapter 6 Astronomical Instruments 6.1 Hellenistic Surveying Instruments Tracey E. Rihll
6.2 Hellenistic Maps and Lists of Places Klaus Geus
6.3 Star-Lists from the Babylonians to Ptolemy Gerd Graßhoff
6.4 Ptolemy’s Instruments Dennis W. Duke
Chapter 7 Thematic Questions 7.1 Issues in Hellenistic Egyptian Astronomical Writings Anthony Spalinger
7.2 The Texts and Aims of Babylonian Astronomy Hermann Hunger
7.3 Issues in Greco-Roman Astronomy of the Hellenistic Period Alan C. Bowen
Part C Contexts
8 The Professional ἀϲτρολόγοϲ Wolfgang Hübner
Chapter 9 Hellenistic Astronomy in Public Service 9.1 The Sundial and the Calendar Robert Hannah
9.2 The Antikythera Mechanism James C. Evans
9.3 Hellenistic Astronomy in Medicine Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum
Chapter 10 Hellenistic Astronomy in Literature 10.1 Aratus and the Popularization of Hellenistic Astronomy Stamatina Mastorakou
10.2 The Authority of the Roman Heavens Alfred Schmid
Chapter 11 Hellenistic Astronomy in the Training and Work of Priests 11.1 Hellenistic Astronomy and the Egyptian Priest Alexandra von Lieven
11.2 Hellenistic Astronomy and the Babylonian Scribal Families Mathieu Ossendrijver
Chapter 12 Astral Divination and Natal Astrology 12.1 The Hellenistic Horoscope Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum
12.2 Hellenistic Babylonian Astral Divination and Nativities Francesca Rochberg
12.3 Hellenistic Horoscopes in Greek and Latin: Contexts and Uses Stephan Heilen
12.4 Demotic Horoscopes Micah T. Ross
Chapter 13 Theological Contexts 13.1 Hellenistic Astronomy in Early Judaic Writings James C. VanderKam
13.2 Astral Divination in the Dead Sea Scrolls Helen R. Jacobus
13.3 Hellenistic Astronomy in Early Christianities Nicola Denzey Lewis
13.4 Cosmology in Mandaean Texts Siam Bhayro
13.5 Astral Discourse in the Philosophical Hermetica (Corpus Hermeticum) Christian Wildberg
Chapter 14 Hellenistic Astronomy in the Philosophical Schools 14.1 Astronomy and Divination in Stoic Philosophy Giuseppe Cambiano
14.2 Plotinus on the Motion of the Stars James Wilberding
Historical Glossary of Important Terms in Hellenistic Astronomy Bibliography Index of Passages Index of Names Index of Subjects
This volume will appeal to all interested in the history of ancient astronomy as found in Mediterranean and Near Eastern sources, its technical requirements, its fundamental questions, and its diverse contexts.