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Stars, Myths and Rituals in Etruscan Rome

  • Book
  • © 2015

Overview

Authors:
  1. Leonardo Magini

    1. Societa' Italiana di Archeoastronomia, Fiumicino, Italy

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  • Presents Roman astronomical science, perhaps the most important advance in the history of ancient astronomy
  • Clearly demonstrates how the ancient Roman calendar was dependent on highly developed astronomical knowledge
  • Explains the relation of planetary movements and astronomical events to Roman festivals and myths
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Space and Society (SPSO)

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Table of contents (28 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxxi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. The Beginning of Astronomical Time and the Feriae Martis

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 1-3

  3. The Numan Year, the Romulean Year and the Feriale Antiquissimum

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 5-7

  4. The Names of Etruscan and Roman Months

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 9-13

  5. The Numan Cycle

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 15-18

  6. The Numan Year and Cycle, and the Motion of the Moon

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 19-21

  7. The Numan Cycle and the Movements of the Sun, the Moon and Venus

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 23-24

  8. The Solar New Year on March 8 or 9

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 25-26

  9. The Movements of the Moon and Venus and the Language of Myth

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 27-31

  10. The Motion of Venus

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 33-43

  11. The Movements of Venus (and the Moon), Female Fertility, and the Feast Days of Veneralia and Matralia

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 45-52

  12. The Length of Pregnancy, the Solar New Year, and the Feasts of Matronalia and Liberalia

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 53-57

  13. The Solstice Feasts: Fors Fortuna and Saturnalia

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 59-64

  14. Solar Eclipses, Lunar Eclipses and the Cycle of Saros

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 65-72

  15. The Saros Cycle and the Feast Days of Feriae Martis and Anna Perenna

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 73-76

  16. The Frequency of Solar and Lunar Eclipses and the Festivities of the Numan Year

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 77-90

  17. Roman and Mesopotamian Eclipses: The Feast Days of the Regifugium and Vestalia

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 91-94

  18. The Revolution of the Line of Nodes and the Feast Days of October Equus, Fordicidia and Parilia

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 95-98

  19. The Ascendant Node at the First Point of Aries and the Festival of Summanus

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 99-102

  20. The Revolution of the Line of Apsides, and the Feast of Compitalia

    • Leonardo Magini
    Pages 103-108
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Keywords

About this book

This book offers a detailed and fascinating picture of the astonishing astronomical knowledge on which the Roman calendar, traditionally attributed to the king Numa Pompilius (reign 715-673 B.C.), was based. This knowledge, of Mesopotamian origins, related mainly to the planetary movements and to the occurrence of eclipses in the solar system. The author explains the Numan year and cycle and illustrates clearly how astronomical phenomena exerted a powerful influence over both public and private life. A series of concise chapters examine the dates of the Roman festivals, describe the related rites and myths and place the festivals in relation to the planetary movements and astronomical events. Special reference is made to the movements of the moon and Venus, their relation to the language of myth, and the particular significance that Venus was considered to have for female fertility. The book clearly demonstrates the depth of astronomical knowledge reflected in the Roman religious calendar and the designated festive days. It will appeal both to learned connoisseurs and to amateurs with a particular interest in the subject.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Societa' Italiana di Archeoastronomia, Fiumicino, Italy

    Leonardo Magini

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