Ancient Astronomy And Mathematics
Articles tagged Ancient Astronomy And Mathematics.
How Eratosthenes Measured the Earth With a Stick
Eratosthenes used sunlight at Alexandria and Syene to estimate Earth’s circumference. His geometry survives, but the exact length of his stade remains debated.
Which Civilization Invented Zero? The Evidence from India and Beyond
Ancient India developed zero as a number, while Babylonians and Maya used earlier placeholders. See what Aryabhata, Brahmagupta and the Bakhshali manuscript show.
The Lock of Berenice: How Hair Became a Star
Berenice II's missing hair became a constellation in a Greek court poem and Catullus 66. The surviving texts reveal how love, dynastic politics and...
Aristarchus of Samos: Heliocentrism Before Copernicus
Aristarchus proposed a Sun-centred cosmos in the third century BCE. His lost theory survives through Archimedes, not a papyrus in a mummy’s skull.
Neolithic Malta: Astronomical Alignments in Stone
At Mnajdra, equinox and solstice sunlight enters ancient stone chambers. New research tests whether Malta’s other temples also faced the stars.
The Dogon Sirius Mystery: Did They Know About Sirius B?
A 1950 study claimed the Dogon knew of Sirius B. Four named informants, a later fieldwork dispute, and astronomy reveal what the evidence can...
Neolithic Malta: Astronomical Alignments in Stone
At Mnajdra, equinox and solstice sunlight enters ancient stone chambers. New research tests whether Malta’s other temples also faced the stars.
The Dogon Sirius Mystery: Did They Know About Sirius B?
A 1950 study claimed the Dogon knew of Sirius B. Four named informants, a later fieldwork dispute, and astronomy reveal what the...
