What are some of the connections that bind us to the
stars? How have these connections been established? And
how have people all around the world and throughout time
reacted to the night sky, the sun and moon, in their
poetry, mythology, rituals, and temples? This book
explores the influence of the sky on both ancient and
modern civilization, by providing a clear overview of
the many ways in which humans have used the stars as an
ordering principle in their cultures, and which today
still inspire us intellectually, emotionally, and
spiritually. This book explores constellation lore from
around the world, celestial alignments of monuments and
temples, both from ancient and modern civilizations, and
the role the sky has played in the cultures of the
Greek, Egyptian, Babylonian, Native American, Chinese,
Mayan, Aztec, and Inca. Models of the universe from each
of these cultures are described clearly, and each
culture's explanation of the stars, planets, and other
celestial objects are described.The roots of astronomy
and astrology are presented with original imagery and
reproductions of ancient manuscripts that portray the
structure of the physical universe as conceived by a
diverse array of human cultures over the centuries. Our
own scientific Big Bang cosmology and the origin of
stars and elements are discussed in a philosophical
context, to explore how we as modern people learn about
the Universe, and incorporate the findings of science
into our world views. A concluding chapter provides a
summary of modern science's effort to unlock the
celestial secrets from the sky and from past
civilizations, and what these answers mean for us
today. |
|