Origins of Calendars & Celestial Alignments in Ancient Civilizations, Study notes of Astronomy

Download Origins of Calendars & Celestial Alignments in Ancient Civilizations and more Study notes Astronomy in PDF only on Docsity! !"#$%&'(")*+, $-"(*./"$0 1 2'(3"'*$2+*/&'&4#,$2536'4"'*+7$%85"'98/+ 1 %&'+*"558* 3&'+ 1 :8/5#$%&+4&5&6 # Ancient Astronomy • Since pre-historic times, ancient people have observed and recorded the regular & cyclic patterns in the sky • To explain these motions, a dual development in human thought began: – search for natural & unchanging laws – creation of mythology The Earliest Calendars • During the stone age (50,000 years ago) people first began to leave a record in carvings and paintings. These included: – Pictures of constellations – The first calendars 25,000 year old Ishango bone (Congo, Africa) with possible lunar phase calendar 14 Phases of the moon seen in cave paintings in Lascaux, France (18,000 BC) Early Calendars-Alignments • Many archaeological sites reveal alignments with prominent celestial events. • Archeoastronomy is the study and interpretation of such alignments. – The reality of such alignments can be scientifically verified – The cultural significance (e.g. purpose) has been lost to time – However, it is reasonable to assume that at least one purpose was to predict the seasons, possibly for agriculture, hunting, migration….. Hopi sunrise calendar •Observed by a “sun priest” at Pueblo •Used to anticipate ceremonials Stonehenge c.a. 2800BC • Constructed and reconstructed on Salisbury Plain in England over thousands of years beginning about 2,800 BC • Probably used as a calendar and almanac of solar and lunar motion • Stones were brought from many miles away showing its importance • There are many other similar Neolithic (new stone age) sites throughout Britan S T O N E H E N G E The Great Pyramid c.a. 2600BC • Celestial bodies had great significance in Egyptian culture and was integrated into their religion • Pyramids are the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs, who were believed to be divine gods who were connected to the stars • The side of the Pyramids were very accurately aligned north-south •The passages and shafts within the Pyramids may have been aligned with astronomical bodies (Orion and a Pole Star) •The Pole star was called an “imperishable star” since it never sets and the spirit of the Pharaoh would journey there The Great Pyramids • The Great Pyramids of Gaza may have been arranged in the pattern of the constellation of Orion • Orion had special significance in ancient Egypt & represented the god Osiris • Osiris is the god of birth, death & resurrection • By placing such a configuration on the ground, the god was brought to earth • The pyramids were placed along the Nile, which may have represented the Milky Way Chichén Itzá c.a. 600-830AD • Chichén Itzá was an important Mayan & Toltec ceremonial site on the Yucatan • Prominent alignments with Venus, Sun rise & set were made through windows in the tower of the Caracol Venus, as the morning star, was prominent in Mayan religion and represented their most important god Quetzaloatl Chichén Itzá c.a. 600-830AD • Widows in the top of pyramid are aligned with sunrises at the solstices • There are also alignments (not shown) with the sunset points of the equinoxes – step shadow projects onto northern or southern staircase El Castillo - a Mayan pyramid at Chichén Itzá North America - Chaco Canyon • Chaco Canyon was home to the Anasazi People from 900 - 1300 A.D. • Anasazi means “ancient ones” in Navajo • Atop of Fajada Butte, are 3 large stone slabs and a petroglyph know as the Sun Dagger • The stones are aligned such that at noon on the soltices & equinoxes, 1 or more daggers of the Sun’s light strike the petroglyph key locations. Other North American Sites • Casa Grande in Southern Arizona • A Hohokam pueblo built about 1000 A.D. • Hohokam means “those who have gone” • Windows are aligned with solar and lunar events • Medicine Wheel in Wyoming • Built by Native Americans of the High Planes • Rocks laid out in a 90 foot circle • Radial spokes are aligned with the positions of sunrise and sunset at the soltices and are also aligned with the rising & setting positions of bright stars