Astronomical phenomena in ancient greece11/21/2023 ![]() ![]() The parapegma was inscribed with a list of starphases and corresponding weather predictions the term was later appliedto purely written forms of such calendars, or almanacs. It seemsthat originally the term parapegma, which means 'something on which youfix something next to something else', described a stone calendar that wasdisplayed for public use. ![]() It was recognised that these stone inscriptions were a sort ofcalendar, known in Greek as a parapegma (plural= parapegmata). One ofthese was dated to the late second, the other to the early first centuryB.C. In the early part of the twentieth century, fragments of two stoneinscriptions were excavated at Miletus (in present-day Turkey). It may be argued that the Works and Days stands at the beginning of aspecial tradition of Greek and Roman calendars, which relate astronomicalphenomena to weather. the season of wearisome heat is come to end' (663f.). at the end of October or the beginning of November) and 'fifty daysafter the solstice. So, for example, 'when the Pleiades plunge into the misty sea toescape Orion's rude strength, then truly gales of all kinds rage' (619ff. In some cases, the poetindicates that astronomical events can be associated with specific weatherevents. the poet was very likely here sharingthe fruits of collective labour and experience. Hesiod'spoem the Works and Days contains, in the final section, something of afarmers' almanac in verse form, with instructions on when to do what, withsome technical advice thrown in. Over what was probably alengthy period of time and through shared effort and cooperation, ancientpeople (perhaps farmers themselves) determined an astronomical calendar toguide agricultural activities through the course of the year. Ancient weather calendarsThe economy of the ancient Mediterranean world was agriculturally-based.Given the importance of weather to agriculture, it should not besurprising that there was a good deal of interest in the explanation andprediction of weather in the ancient world. ![]()
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