For centuries, our ancestors carefully observed the movements of the heavens and wove that astronomical knowledge into their city planning, architecture, mythology, paintings, sculpture, and poetry. This book uncovers the hidden messages and advanced science encoded within these sacred spaces, showing how the rhythmic motions of the night sky played a central role across many different cultures.

Our astronomical tour transports readers through time and space, from prehistoric megaliths to Renaissance paintings, Greco-Roman temples to Inca architecture. Along the way, you will investigate unexpected findings at Lascaux, Delphi, Petra, Angkor Wat, Borobudur, and many more archaeological sites both famous and little known. Through these vivid examples, you will come to appreciate the masterful ways that astronomical knowledge was incorporated into each society's religion and mythology, then translated into their physical surroundings.

The latest archaeoastronomical studies and discoveries are recounted through a poetic and nontechnical narrative, revealing how many longstanding beliefs about our ancestors are being overturned. Through this celestial journey, readers of all backgrounds will learn the basics about this exciting field and share in the wonders of cultural astronomy.

Auteur
Dr. Dolan received her BS, MFA and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in medieval manuscripts, minoring in medieval architecture and history of astronomy. She taught at the University of Pittsburgh and Carlow University for many years. Now an independent scholar, she continues her research on the transmission of astronomical knowledge and lectures on art history at the NSU Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where she also serves as a docent. Archaeoastronomy has been a lifelong area of study; she has taught the subject many times, including aboard a ship during a cruise around the world as faculty member for Semester at Sea based at the University of Virginia, where she was able to observe firsthand and to teach students at many historic sites.
Dr. Dolan has studied astronomical manuscripts in the libraries of Europe, specializing in the surviving Aratea manuscripts. Her research was published in the book Astronomical Knowledge Transmission Through Illustrated Aratea Manuscripts (Springer, 2017).

Contenu

Glossary of Terminology

Chapter 1

Introduction

Overview, Intentions and Limitations of the Book Content

Basics of Archaeoastronomy

Universal Cosmic Symbols, Cosmic Man, World Tree,

Cave Art

Lascaux Cave: Taurus Painting and Symbolism of Markings

Prehistoric Monumental Architecture

Standing Stones, Sun Temples and Megalithic Sites, Malta, Gobekli Tepe, British Isles,

Cosmological Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt

Pyramids and Temple Orientations and Alignments, Constellation Images, Astronomical Ceilings, Sky Myths

Cosmological Artwork of Mesopotamia Bas-relief carvings of Planetary Gods, Sumerian Clay Tablets

Chapter 2

Cosmological Art and Architecture of Southeast Asia

Hinduism: Symbolism of Hindu Temples, Cosmic Myths, Dancing Shiva Statues, Temple of Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Buddhism: Pillars of Ashoka, Symbolism of Buddhist Stupas, The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India, the Ajanta Caves, Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar, Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal, Temple of Borobudur, Java,

Cosmological Art and Architecture of China

Cosmic Temples of Old Beijing, Temple of Heaven, The Forbidden City, The Mandate of Heaven and Celestial Order, Astronomical Alignments and Rituals, Oldest Star Map Found at Dunhuang Caves, Star Map from Song Dynasty

Chapter 3

Cosmological Art and Architecture in Classical and Hellenistic Greece

Astronomical Orientations, Greek Temples, Greek Theaters, Stellar Myths

Cosmological Orientations at Petra

The Great Temple, Mortuary Temples

Cosmological Art and Architecture in Ancient Rome

Artworks of Augustus, Villa of Hadrian, Pantheon, Ocular Light and Shadow, Horologium, Zodiac Mosaics, Astronomical Symbolism of the Cult of Mithras

Chapter 4

Cosmological Art and Architecture in Medieval and Renaissance Europe

Medieval: Paintings of Giotto, Arena Chapel, Astronomical Manuscripts, Alignment of Churches, Zodiac of Chartres Cathedral, Cosmological Diagrams,

Renaissance: Astronomical Ceilings, Sistine Chapel, Solar Symbology, Children of Mercury, Venus and Mars, Art of Astronomical Manuscripts, The Sun in the Church

Early Modern Art and Architecture

Chapter 5

Cosmological Art and Architecture of Mesoamerica

Teotihuacan: Alignment of Temples and Pyramids of the Sun, Moon and Quetzalcoatl,

Cosmic Design of the City

Tenochtitlan: Pyramid Alignments, Solar Gods

Cosmological Art and Architecture of Ancient Maya

Alignments of Maya Temples, Buildings and Pyramids, Fresco Paintings of Bonambak, Chichen Itza Caracol, Star Gods, Tomb Art of Lord Pakal, Art and Symbology of the Stars

Chapter 6

Cosmological Art and Architecture of South America &lt...