Ancient Skies and Myths
Ancient civilizations often interpreted celestial events as divine communications, weaving rich mythology around constellations and cosmic occurrences, which became integral to their cultures and belief systems.
Mesopotamian Astronomical Records
The Mesopotamians were possibly the first to keep systematic records of astronomical phenomena. Their observations laid the groundwork for Western astronomy and were recorded on clay tablets dating back to 700 BC.
Stonehenge's Astronomical Alignment
England's Stonehenge aligns with the solstices. Constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC, it served as an ancient calendar, marking the changing seasons through its stone archways.
Mayan Calendar Precision
The Mayans created a calendar with remarkable accuracy, predicting solar eclipses and equinoxes. The calendar's Long Count even foresaw celestial cycles over millennia, rivaling modern computational methods.
Chinese Armillary Spheres
Ancient Chinese astronomers used armillary spheres to represent the celestial sphere since 4th century BC. They could model the sky accurately, aiding imperial astrological readings and agricultural planning.
Egyptian Sothic Cycle
The Egyptians based their calendar on the Sothic cycle, relating the heliacal rising of Sirius to their 365-day year. This cycle's precision was key in predicting the annual Nile floods.
Incan Golden Sun Temples
The Incas constructed Sun Temples with precise orientations. At specific times, like solstices, sunlight would align with dedicated windows, casting light on sacred objects, signifying critical agricultural periods.
Who recorded astronomical events first?
Mayans with their calendar
Mesopotamians on clay tablets
Chinese with armillary spheres
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