Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena : A Translation and Study of a Hellenistic Survey of Astronomy / J. Lennart Berggren, James Evans.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Evans, James, author.

Berggren, J. L., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astronomy, Greek--Textbooks.

Astronomy, Greek.

Astronomy--Early works to 1800.

Astronomy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xviii, 325 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2018]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

This is the first complete English translation of Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena--one of the most important and interesting astronomical works of its type to have survived from Greek antiquity. Gracefully and charmingly written, Geminos's first-century BC textbook for beginning students of astronomy can now be read straight through with understanding and enjoyment by a wider audience than ever before. James Evans and Lennart Berggren's accurate and readable translation is accompanied by a thorough introduction and commentary that set Geminos's work in its historical, scientific, and philosophical context. This book is generously illustrated with diagrams from medieval manuscripts of Geminos's text, as well as drawings and photographs of ancient astronomical instruments. It will be of great interest to students of the history of science, to classicists, and to professional and amateur astronomers who seek to learn more about the origins of their science. Geminos provides a clear view of Greek astronomy in the period between Hipparchos and Ptolemy, treating such subjects as the zodiac, the constellations, the theory of the celestial sphere, lunar cycles, and eclipses. Most significantly, Geminos gives us the earliest detailed discussion of Babylonian astronomy by a Greek writer, thus offering valuable insight into the cross-cultural transmission of astronomical knowledge in antiquity.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

List of Illustrations

List of Tables

Preface

Introduction

Introduction to the Phenomena: TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

I. On the Circle of the Signs

II. Aspects of the Zodiacal Signs

III. On the Constellations

IV. On the Axis and the Poles

V. The Circles on the Sphere

VI. On Day and Night

VII. On the Risings of the 12 Signs

IX. On Phases of the Moon

X. On the Eclipse of the Sun

XI. On the Eclipse of the Moon

XII. That the Planets Make the Movement Opposite to That of the Cosmos

XIII. On Risings and Settings

XIV. On the Paths of the Fixed Stars

XV. Concerning the Zones on Earth

XVI. On Geographical Regions

XVII. On Weather Signs from the Stars

XVIII. On the Exeligmos

Parapēgma

Fragments 1 and 2, from Geminos's Other Works

Fragment 1, From Geminos's Philokalia: Geminos on the Classification of the Mathematical Sciences

Fragment 2, From Geminos's Concise Exposition of the Meteorology of Poseidōnios: Geminos on the Relation of Astronomy to Physics

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Appendix 1. Textual Notes to Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena

Appendix 2. The Geminos Parapēgma

Appendix 3. Glossary of Technical Terms in Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena

Appendix 4. Index of Persons Mentioned by Geminos

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Translated from the Ancient Greek.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [303]-315) and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 23. Mai 2019)

ISBN:

0-691-18715-0

OCLC:

1076411464