Hellenistic Astronomy

Alan C. Bowen, Ph.D. (1977: Philosophy, University of Toronto), is Director of the Institute for Research in Classical Philosophy and Science. He has published numerous books and articles in the history of ancient Greek and Roman science and philosophy.Francesca Rochberg , Ph.D. (1980: Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago) is Catherine and William L. MagistrettiDistinguished Professor of Near Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She has published widely in the history of Babylonian celestial divination, astrology, and astronomy.Contributors are:Siam Bhayro, Alan C. Bowen, Lis Brack-Bernsen, Giuseppe Cambiano, Nicola F. Denzey-Lewis, Dennis W. Duke, James C. Evans, Klaus Geus, Gerd Grasshoff, Dorian G. Greenbaum, Robert Hannah, Stephan Heilen, Wolfgang Hübner, Hermann Hunger, Helen Jacobus, Richard L. Kremer, Alexandra von Lieven, Stamatina Mastorakou, Clemency Montelle, Mathieu Ossendrijver, Tracey E. Rhill, Francesca Rochberg, Micah T. Ross, Alfred Schmid, Nathan C. Sidoli, Anthony Spalinger, Glen Van Brumelen, James C. Vanderkam, James Wilberding, Christian Wilder

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsList of Illustrations and TablesList of Abbreviations0 Prolegomena to the Study of Hellenistic AstronomyAlan C. Bowen and Francesca RochbergPart A Technical Requirements1 The Celestial SphereClemency Montelle2 Methods of Reckoning TimeRobert HannahChapter 3 Quantitative Tools3.1 Techniques of Measurement and ComputationMathieu Ossendrijver3.2 Planar and Spherical TrigonometryGlen Van BrummelenChapter 4 Theory of the Sun, Moon, and Planets4.1 Fundamentals of Planetary TheoryNathan Sidoli4.2 Hypothesis in Greco-Roman AstronomyAlan C. Bowen4.3 Some Early Hypotheses in Greco-Roman AstronomyAlan C. Bowen4.4 The Ptolemaic Planetary HypothesesJames C. Evans4.5 The Hellenistic Theory of EclipsesClemency Montelle4.6 Hellenistic Babylonian Planetary TheoryMathieu Ossendrijver4.7 The Babylonian Contribution to Greco-Roman AstronomyFrancesca Rochberg4.8 Hellenistic Egyptian Planetary TheoryMicah T. RossPart B Observations, Instruments, and IssuesChapter 5 Observational Foundations5.1 The Observational Foundations of Babylonian AstronomyLis Brack-Bernsen5.2 Experience and Observation in Hellenistic AstronomyRichard L. KremerChapter 6 Astronomical Instruments6.1 Hellenistic Surveying InstrumentsTracey E. Rihll6.2 Hellenistic Maps and Lists of PlacesKlaus Geus6.3 Star-Lists from the Babylonians to PtolemyGerd Graßhoff6.4 Ptolemy’s InstrumentsDennis W. DukeChapter 7 Thematic Questions7.1 Issues in Hellenistic Egyptian Astronomical WritingsAnthony Spalinger7.2 The Texts and Aims of Babylonian AstronomyHermann Hunger7.3 Issues in Greco-Roman Astronomy of the Hellenistic PeriodAlan C. BowenPart C Contexts8 The Professional ἀϲτρολόγοϲWolfgang HübnerChapter 9 Hellenistic Astronomy in Public Service9.1 The Sundial and the CalendarRobert Hannah9.2 The Antikythera MechanismJames C. Evans9.3 Hellenistic Astronomy in MedicineDorian Gieseler GreenbaumChapter 10 Hellenistic Astronomy in Literature10.1 Aratus and the Popularization of Hellenistic AstronomyStamatina Mastorakou10.2 The Authority of the Roman HeavensAlfred SchmidChapter 11 Hellenistic Astronomy in the Training and Work of Priests11.1 Hellenistic Astronomy and the Egyptian PriestAlexandra von Lieven11.2 Hellenistic Astronomy and the Babylonian Scribal FamiliesMathieu OssendrijverChapter 12 Astral Divination and Natal Astrology12.1 The Hellenistic HoroscopeDorian Gieseler Greenbaum12.2 Hellenistic Babylonian Astral Divination and NativitiesFrancesca Rochberg12.3 Hellenistic Horoscopes in Greek and Latin: Contexts and UsesStephan Heilen12.4 Demotic HoroscopesMicah T. RossChapter 13 Theological Contexts13.1 Hellenistic Astronomy in Early Judaic WritingsJames C. VanderKam13.2 Astral Divination in the Dead Sea ScrollsHelen R. Jacobus13.3 Hellenistic Astronomy in Early ChristianitiesNicola Denzey Lewis13.4 Cosmology in Mandaean TextsSiam Bhayro13.5 Astral Discourse in the Philosophical Hermetica (Corpus Hermeticum)Christian WildbergChapter 14 Hellenistic Astronomy in the Philosophical Schools14.1 Astronomy and Divination in Stoic PhilosophyGiuseppe Cambiano14.2 Plotinus on the Motion of the StarsJames WilberdingHistorical Glossary of Important Terms in Hellenistic AstronomyBibliographyIndex of PassagesIndex of NamesIndex of Subjects

"This is an absolutely wonderful book, well-written and a pleasure to read. It is generally based on the most recent research and very informative without being inaccessible to the layman. That the field of ancient astronomy is under rapid development is evident from the bibliography alone. [...] It is generously supplied with interesting and relevant illustrations and its structure and composition take the reader by the hand so that it can be read easily from cover to cover. The individual chapters can also be read on their own, and the “Historical Glossary” and indices make it an excellent handbook as well. It provides a status quaestionis in a way which is at the same time accessible to the interested layman and contains a brilliant survey and much new to be learnt for the specialist in any parts of the vast topic covered as well." - Ulla Koch, in: BMCR 2021.04.23"This is an excellent and eminently useful volume, surveying and advancing the state of the field in a very welcome, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary format. Corners of this field seem to have been developing rather quickly in the last decade or two, and scholars will be grateful to the editors and authors for the timely appearance and impressive scope of this large book." - Daryn Lehoux, in: The Classical Review 71.2 442–444