Meteorology of Posidonius

J.J. Hall read Classics at Trinity College, Cambridge, and then did research, gaining a Ph.D. for a dissertation on ancient theories of wind. His career was spent on the staff of Cambridge University Library. Now retired, and still in Cambridge, U.K., he has written this book.

• 1. The definition of "meteorology" used in this book; 2. The biography and later reputation of Posidonius; 3. Sources for the study of Posidonius’ meteorology; 4. The history of Greek meteorology before Posidonius; 5. Earlier authors on meteorology used by Posidonius; 6. The region in which meteorological phenomena occur; 7. Climatic zones; 8. Thunder and lightning; 9. Lights in the sky: comets, the Milky Way and other phenomena; 10. Exhalations; 11. Winds; 12. Earthquakes and volcanoes; 13. The sea and its tides; 14. Rain, snow, hail and cloud; 15. Rivers: the Nile floods; 16. Rainbows, haloes and mock-suns; 17. Weather prediction and divination; 18. Meteorology and Providence; 19. Epicurean meteorology compared with that of the Stoics; 20. The place of meteorology among the different branches of knowledge; 21. Sources and methods in Posidonius’ meteorology; 22. Assessment of the meteorology of Posidonius and his successors.

"This judicious and clearly written exposition of the meteorological remains of Posidonius builds on the fundamental work of W. Theiler and especially of L. Edelstein and I.G. Kidd... As such, it is a welcome addition to the literature and only improves on re-reading." - The Classical Review"This is a most interesting and well researched book that covers a gap in scholarship... [it] allows us to see the lines that connect Posidonius to his predecessors in meteorology, especially Aristotle, and also appreciate his impact on the next generation of meteorologists, Stoics, Peripatetics, and Platonists alike." - Exemplaria Classica