Ancient Science Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

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- Medieval History, History of Medicine, Environmental History, History of Science

One of the better-known episodes in the life of John Tzetzes is his complaint that during a period of poverty in the 1130s he had been forced to sell off his books until only two remained in his possession – a copy of Plutarch’s Lives and a collection of “various mathematical morsels”. While Tzetzes’ historical, allegorical and exegetical writings do not otherwise display an exceptional passion for or expertise in mathematics, he names numerous “scientific” authors and cites their texts to elucidate, enliven or verify historical events, literary meanings and natural phenomena. Investigation of Tzetzes’ citations and terminology in this sphere indicates that his interests lay not in mathematical theory but in practical applications and demonstrations, consistent with his fascination for celebrated achievements in mechanical technology and military engineering. He also extols the sciences of classical antiquity and compiles lists of writers and works on geometry, mechanics, hydraulics, optics, pneumatics and poliorcetics. This paper concerning interaction between Tzetzes’ oeuvre and scientific literature has three objectives. First, evaluation of Tzetzes’ references to mathematical- technological authors (mechanographoi), including works that are otherwise unattested or lost, attempts to distinguish first-hand knowledge of texts from mere literary posturing, and to examine how Tzetzes’ citations relate to the known textual traditions, manuscript transmission and scholarly reception of classical science in Byzantium. This investigation demonstrates Tzetzes’ familiarity with two late antique works: Pappus’ Synagogue, a mathematical compendium (c.340), and Anthemius’ Περὶ παραδόξων μηχανημάτων, a treatise on geometrical optics (c.520-530s). Second, analysis of Tzetzes’ use of extant scientific texts, and in particular his efforts to combine historical narrative and technical exposition (e.g. his fusion of Cassius Dio’s Roman History and Anthemius’ Περὶ παραδόξων μηχανημάτων in reporting the legendary tale of Archimedes’ burning-mirrors [Hist. 2.112-31]), supply a methodological template for studying other cases where his technical source is uncertain or lost (e.g. his account of Apollodorus of Damascus’ bridge over the Danube [Hist. 2.65-97]). Third, striking parallels with the writings of Tzetzes’ near-contemporaries, notably Zonaras and Eustathius of Thessalonica, point to intertextuality and/or common source material, and suggest that Tzetzes’ “mathematical” interests were not entirely idiosyncratic or pedantic but shared and reflect a broader intellectual climate in twelfth-century Byzantium.

- by Philip Rance
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- Byzantine Literature, History of Science, Ancient Science, Byzantine Studies
- by Fritz Krafft
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- Ancient Science

In Agamemnon's gloating recollection of the night Troy fell (Aeschylus, _Agamemnon_ 825-828), he makes a reference to the Pleiades which calls out for explanation. This paper connects that astronomical reference to others latent in the play to bring out a strain of cosmographic imagery, prefiguring the destinies of the principal figures of the play.

- by James Enge
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- Greek Tragedy, Ancient Science

This article presents a strategy for introducing Presocratic thought to students in a manner that is both engaging and relevant. The first section addresses students' reactions to the claim that the Presocratics were the first philosophers. The second section considers how the fragmentary state of Presocratic thought does not hinder its comprehension. The third section proposes a classroom exercise for testing the scientific merits of each of the Presocratic theories. The final section proposes the use of a mock trial as a means of applying the materialist approach introduced by the Presocratics to contemporary debates about free will and determinism.

- by Daniel Silvermintz
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- Presocratic Philosophy, Metaphilosophy, Plato, History of Science
- by Heather D Baker
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- Ancient History, Near Eastern Studies, Urban History, Ancient Science

Il principale obiettivo dei Milesi, lungi dall’essere un’insensata reductio
ad unum di tutte le sostanze, è stato in effetti un primo tentativo d’interpretare razionalmente il mondo intorno a noi, spiegando cosa costringa i corpi celesti a girare intorno alla terra e quale sia l’origine dei fuochi astrali. Forse però il loro più importante contributo è stato di natura epistemologica. Essi hanno mostrato che i fenomeni fisici devono essere spiegati in termini fisici e quelli biologici in termini biologici, valorizzando così l’osservazione scientifica e favorendo il perfezionamento dei metodi di misura che ha portato al grande sviluppo della scienza greca

- by Guido Calenda
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- Epistemology, Ancient Science, Presocratics, Milesians
- by David Hahm
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- Plato, Aristotle, Ancient Science, Stoicism
- by Philip Thibodeau
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- Ancient Science, History of optics
- by Pietro Li Causi
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- Ancient Science, Latin, Teaching

This article deals with data inscribed on Ancient Egyptian cubit rods, and more specifically on the ceremonial cubit rods. Following a description of their technical and symbolic aspects, the paper reveals a property of the fine subdivisions engraved on the graduated part of these objects, and demonstrates that they could have allowed the cubits to be used as very accurate measuring rulers for architectural drawings and craft works.
See also animations available at http://www.egyptian-architecture.com/JAEA1/JAEA1_Monnier_Petit_Tardy

- by Franck Monnier
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- Egyptology, Egyptian Science, Ancient Science, Ancient Egyptian Architecture

Two volumes & slightly more than 1350 two columns pages edited in 2010 by Paola Colace (Univ. Messina, editor-in-chief), S.M. Medaglia (Univ. Salerno), L. Rossetti (Univ. Perugia), S. Sconocchia (Univ. Trieste). A special role was played by E. Lelli (Univ. Roma "La Sapienza").
Among the qualifying features of this Dizionario:
-- the choice to consider a very wide range of specializations,
-- a systematic exploitment of the handbooks authored in the late antiquity.
NB/ Some of the entries authored by L. Rossetti are presently available as individual papers above (papers, year 2010).

- by rita gianfelice and +2
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- History of Mathematics, History of Medicine, Ancient Science, History of Astronomy

The paper seeks to explain a difficult passage in Strabo’s Geography (II. 1. 1–20 C67–77), which is devoted to Hipparchus’ objections against Eratosthenes’ conclu-sions about the latitudinal position of India. It is argued, among other things, that Hipparchus proposed a more correct estimate of the latitude of southern India, than Eratosthenes, and that Ptolemy’s Geography probably drew on this estimate.

- by Dmitry A . Shcheglov
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- Ancient Science, History of Geographic Thought, Ancient Geography, Strabo
- by John B Carlson
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- Religion, Comparative Religion, Mythology And Folklore, Ancient History
- by Mathieu Ossendrijver
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- Assyriology, History of Mathematics, History of Science, Ancient Science

With a clear comparative approach, this volume brings together for the first time contributions that cover different periods of the history of ancient pharmacology, from Greek, Byzantine, and Syriac medicine to the Rabbinic-Talmudic medical discourses. This collection opens up new synchronic and diachronic perspectives in the study of the ancient traditions of recipe-books and medical collections. Besides the highly influential Galenic tradition, the contributions will focus on less studied Byzantine and Syriac sources as well as on the Talmudic tradition, which has never been systematically investigated in relation to medicine. This inquiry will highlight the overwhelming mass of information about drugs and remedies, which accumulated over the centuries and was disseminated in a variety of texts belonging to distinct cultural milieus. Through a close analysis of some relevant case studies, this volume will trace some paths of this transmission and transformation of pharmacological knowledge across cultural and linguistic boundaries, by pointing to the variety of disciplines and areas of expertise involved in the process.

- by Lennart Lehmhaus and +1
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- Greek Literature, Jewish Studies, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Assyriology

It is well known that Ptolemy’s Geography used systematically exaggerated values for longitudes, which made his map look excessively stretched from West to East in comparison with modern maps. According to one recent hypothesis, the source of Ptolemy’s inaccurate longitudes lay in his adoption of a new value for the Earth’s circumference. Ptolemy chose to rely on an estimate provided by Posidonius instead of a larger estimate by Eratosthenes, and as a result, all the distances converted from linear into angular units became exaggerated. The present article tests this hypothesis and finds that, on the one hand, it explains the stretching of the map only partially, and in some cases does not fit the data at all. On the other hand, the stretching of Ptolemy’s map can largely be explained by a systematic exaggeration of the distances between basic points.

- by Dmitry A . Shcheglov
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- Ancient Science, History of Ancient Geography, Ancient Geography, Ptolemy

This paper compares the Milky Way in Aratus (Ph. 469–79) and Manilius (1.684–804), focusing on the role of the sublime in both texts. In Aratus, to gaze at the Milky Way is a sublime experience that constitutes an image for reading the Phaenomena. In addition, the sublimity of the Milky Way transports us to a time when the heavens were not fully understood. To wonder at the Milky Way is a transcendent, spiritual experience that pushes us to study the heavens. Manilius responds to Aratus in ways that have gone unnoticed. The Milky Way fills viewers with sublime wonder and physically compels contemplation of the stars and the divine. Because of its physical power, however, the Milky Way symbolizes the principles and mechanisms of astrology and the sublimity of the astrological poet. Manilius also reminds the reader of an earlier era in the history of stargazing, but this experience plunges us into sublime terror, offering a darker view of the past than Aratus. Manilius’ narrative contains an additional self-referential image. According to some, Phaethon’s fiery chariot ride produced the Milky Way. For Manilius, though, Phaethon is an exuberant stargazer whose daring adventure symbolizes an approach to the heavens that is properly and polemically sublime.

- by Patrick Glauthier
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- Augustan Poetry, Ancient Science, Manilius, The Sublime

Studiu despre religia geto-dacilor, cu scopul de a clarifica aspecte ale mitului lui Zalmoxis. Concluzia: Zalmoxis este același cu Gebeleizis, o divinitate a luminii de natură ignee, zeu primordial și civilizator, iar formal mitul său urmează tiparul comun al basmelor românești, tipar care se păstrează până astăzi. Sunt abordate și problemele credințelor populare geto-dacice, formele alternative de cult. Text revăzut.

- by Cristian-Radu Staicu
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- Plato, Ancient Science, Ancient Religion, Strabo
- by Apostolos Doxiadis and +1
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- Cognitive Science, Rhetoric, Ancient Science, Ancient Greek Philosophy
- by Berna Şirvan
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- History, Ancient History, Cultural History, Economic History

Questo testo si propone di considerare seriamente il cosiddetto terrapiattismo e di fornire una ricognizione di questa dottrina, intesa come fenomeno culturale e sociale. Lo scopo è quello di condurre un esame iniziale della questione e presentare una descrizione e una classificazione dei principali argomenti, fisici e non solo, di cui i sostenitori della Terra piatta usualmente si avvalgono per sostenere la loro pseudo-teoria.
A text that aims to seriously consider the so-called Flat Earth Theory and to provide a first exploration of this doctrine, understood as a cultural and social phenomenon. The purpose is to conduct an initial examination of the issue and present a description and classification of the main topics, physical and not only, used usually by 'Flat Earthers' to support their pseudo-theory.

- by Francesco Gerardi
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- Ancient History, Physics, Philosophy of Science, History of Science
- by Timothy Lubin
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- Ancient Science, Magic, Science and Religion, Natural philosophy

Nel dibattito della nostra epoca la presenza degli animali, e l'insieme dei problemi connessi alla relazione uomo-animale, sembrano sempre più acquisire un ruolo di primo piano. Ciò vale in egual misura per le scienze naturali e le discipline umanistiche, per la biologia evolutiva come per la filosofia morale. Soprattutto, appare sempre più consistente il peso degli interrogativi etici - bioetici - impliciti nelle questioni zooantropologiche. Questo volume intende riprendere in considerazione l'opera di due fra i più importanti pensatori della cultura romana, l'epicureo Lucrezio e lo stoico Seneca, al fine di ripercorrere attraverso sondaggi selettivi l'ampio dibattito sviluppatosi a Roma, fra tarda repubblica ed età giulio-claudia, in merito al tema della condizione animale. Dalla polemica lucreziana contro l'antropocentrismo all'umanesimo problematico di Seneca, dai dibattiti intorno al vegetarismo alla ricezione del pensiero greco, un viaggio attraverso testi complessi, al confine tra filologia, storia della scienza e antropologia culturale, rivela volti diversi di uomini e animali: volti così distanti, e al contempo così vicini.

- by Fabio Tutrone
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- Anthropology, Animal Studies, Animal Ethics, Ancient Science

This article reinterprets Thucydides's analysis of the post-Periclean turn in Athenian politics by reading it within the context of contemporary "tragic" and "scientific" explanatory traditions. It finds in this analysis an ambitious attempt to reinvent the traditional, tragic pattern of hubris-driven reversal by reinterpreting its underlying causal logic according to a scientific perspective in which the overdetermining effects of deities are replaced by the variable power dynamics of democratic deliberation. The resultant analysis identifies a change in the relative standing of leaders as the determining cause of democratic reversal, not the absolute decline in leadership, thus tracing the Athenian turn towards hubris, great error, and civil discord to the egalitarian ordering of the post-Periclean assembly. In so doing, it shows how Thucydides's analysis posed a powerful challenge to previous attempts, both tragic and scientific, to prognosticate the fate of imperial democracy, as well as offering an exemplary moment of Thucydides's synthetic approach towards tragic and scientific explanatory perspectives.

- by Mark Fisher
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- Ancient History, Greek Tragedy, Political Theory, Democratic Theory

ed. by A. Stückelberger / G. Graßhoff

- by Renate Burri
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- Geography, Cartography, Classics, Greek Literature

Acharya Varahamihira was one of the greatest astrologers of ancient India. Belonging to the 6th century CE of the Gupta Age, he composed numerous texts on astrology and allied subjects. Among his notable works is the Brihat Samhita, which is an extraordinary treatise on not just astrology but a host of other subjects – from architecture to agriculture, from meteorology to physiognomy, from economics to dental hygiene! This paper presents a short background and review of the text with brief analyses of the major subject categories.

- by Urmi Chanda
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- Ancient History, Cultural History, History of India, Indian studies
- by Franck Monnier
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- Egyptology, Ancient Science, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Metrology

Е. В. Афонасин, А. С. Афонасина, А. И. Щетников. Античный космос. Очерки истории античной астрономии и космологии. ¬Санкт-Петербург: Издательство РХГА, 2016. – 405 с. ANCIENT COSMOS. ESSAYS ON ASTRONOMY AND COSMOLOGY IN ANTIQUITY... more

- by Eugene Afonasin
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- Ancient Science, Ancient Philosophy

It is generally recognized that Lucretius' treatment of earthquakes and pestilences (6.535-607; 1090-1286) exerted great influence on Book 6 of Seneca's Natural Questions. But while a large consensus exists that both authors tend to emphasize the moral value of scientific knowledge, further research is needed with respect to Seneca's “technical” re-use of Epicurean physics and meteorology.
In the present paper, I shall address this issue in three stages. First, I will analyze the structure and intellectual goals of Seneca's “doxographic” review of seismological theories (6.5-20). Far from being a doxographic account sensu proprio, such a careful review constructs the inspiring image of an intergenerational community of inquirers engaged in a virtually neverending effort. Second, I will focus on the skilful assimilation of Lucretius' atomism in Seneca's account of post-earthquake plagues (6.27-28). The special interest of this aetiological sub-section lies in its creative manipulation of Lucretius' theories, for Seneca succeeds in readapting the Epicurean explanation of the origin of diseases and its typically atomistic consideration of matter to the Stoic view of physical elements. Third and last, I will suggest that the chapter immediately following the aetiology of plagues (6.29) entails a subtle allusion to the climate of the late Republic – if not to the fate of Lucretius himself.

- by Fabio Tutrone
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- Ancient Science, History of Atomism, Stoicism, Seneca

Scientific Life in Ancient Egyptian Civilization
"Historical and Analytical Study of Geometry, Mathematics, Astrology and Astronomy"
Historical Manifestations of Geometry and Mathematics in Ancient Egypt; Manifestations of Astrological Life in Ancient Egypt; Manifestations of Astronomical Life in Ancient Egypt; Linguistic Identification of Units of Time in Ancient Egyptian Language.
This book presents outlines of History of Sciences in Ancient Egyptian Civilization. The late Egyptian and Greek sources praised the ancient Egyptian cultural centers as a source for knowledge and science, thus ancient Egypt was a source of inspiration for the legislator 'Solon', as well as 'Thales of Miletus' who was a mathematician and astronomer, where He learned and practiced the sciences of ancient Egypt, then taking this knowledge to the Greeks. The First Chapter provides 'The Historical Manifestations of Geometry and Mathematics in Ancient Egypt'. The Second Chapter provides 'The Historical Manifestations of Astrological Life in Ancient Egypt'. The Third Chapter provides 'The Historical Manifestations of Astronomical Life in Ancient Egypt'. The Addendum provides 'The Historical and Linguistic Identification and Treatment of Obsolete Units and Measures of Time in Ancient Egyptian Language and Synonyms'. All of these were divided to several sections and topics to serve the scientific methodologies in ancient Egyptian civilization which was absolutely precious.

- by Alain Touwaide
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- Classics, Greek Literature, History of Medicine, History of Science

The analysis of several reports of Ptolemy shows that already before Marinus of Tyre ancient geographers used a kind of projection, similar to the first Ptolemy’s projection. This could have been a kind of trapezoidal projection, which is... more

- by Oğuz Tecimen
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- Physics, Ancient Science, Occidentalism, Ancient Greek Philosophy

An introduction to the longest Greek astrological text from antiquity. This is a companion to the full text posted on Academia.edu.

- by Mark Riley
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- Ancient Science, Astrology
- by Mathieu Ossendrijver
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- History, Ancient History, Assyriology, History of Science

In both ancient tradition and modern research Pythagoreanism has been understood as religious sect or as a philosophical and scientific community. Numerous attempts have been made to reconcile these pictures as well as to analyze them separately. The most recent scholarship compartmentalizes different facets of Pythagorean knowledge, but this offers no context for exploring their origins, development, and interdependence. This collection aims to reverse this trend, addressing connections between the different fields of Pythagorean knowledge, such as eschatology, metempsychosis, epistemology, arithmology, numerology, music, dietetics, medicine and politics. In particular, the contributions discuss how the Pythagorean way of life related to more doctrinal aspects of knowledge, such as Pythagorean religion and science. The volume explores the effects of this interdependence between different kinds of knowledge both within the Pythagorean corpus and in its later reception. Chapters cover historical periods from the Archaic Period (6th century BC) to Neoplatonism, Early Christianity, the European and Arabic Middle Ages, and the Renaissance through to the Early Modern Period (17th century AD).

- by Alessandro Stavru
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- Religion, Philosophy, Plato, Ancient Science

This paper presents the edition of three new horoscopes from Athribis in Upper Egypt (O. Athribis 17-36-5/1741), and the reedition of ANAsh.Mus.D.O.633, identified as part of the same group of horoscopes originating from Athribis. The first three horoscopes date to the reign of Augustus (27, 21, and 6 BCE), and the Ashmolean text to year 8 of Cleopatra, 44 BCE. The Athribis group constitutes the earliest attestation of horoscopes from Egypt. They include the date of birth, name, and origin of the native, entries for the two luminaries and the planets, and the position of the four cardines and Places. Relevant features not commonly present in other Demotic horoscopes are a series of lunar dates following the 25-year cycle of P. Rylands IV 589, the complete listing of the Places, Term rulers in the longitudes, and a short phrase that may be connected to the calculation of the length of life.

- by Marina Escolano-Poveda
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- Egyptology, Papyrology, History of Science, Egyptian Science

Edited by Peter Adamson, Rotraud Hansberger & James Wilberding

- by James Wilberding
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- History of Medicine, History of Science, Ancient Science, Galen

The paper aims to collect and discuss evidence for astrologers in Egyptian temples during the Graeco-Roman period from several kinds of data, including astrological and astronomical texts, inscriptions, and documentary sources. Material evidence is also considered. It attempts to answer questions of who could act as an astrologer and what knowledge was required to become one. In addition, the paper discusses the position of astrologers in the temple hierarchy and other areas of knowledge in which astrologers were involved.

- by Andreas Winkler
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- Ancient History, Egyptology, Divination, History of Science