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Respicite Astra: a Historic Journey in Astronomy Through Books

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Respicite Astra: a Historic Journey in Astronomy Through Books 0 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books RReessppiicciittee AAssttrraa A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books The Astronomiicall Sociiety of Mallta The Natiionall Liibrary of Mallta The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 1 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Respicite Astra A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Exhibition held between 25 September – 18 October 2010-09-21 at the National Library, Valletta, Malta on the occasion of Notte Bianca 2010 Introductory Text Mr Victor Farrugia Captions Mr Leonard Ellul Mercer – Pgs 23-24, 57 Mr Alexander Pace – Pgs 25-26, 58, 63, 70 Prof Frank Ventura – Pgs 4, 6-13, 15-18, 21, 27-31, 33, 35-38, 40, 42- 43, 45-48, 50-56, 60-62, 65-69, 72-76, 80, 85, 87, 93 Acknowledgements The Committee of the Astronomical Society of Malta would like to acknowledge the following persons for their kind and generous help in setting up this Exhibition at the Main Hall of the National Library starting on 25th September 2010 during the Notte Bianca event: Mr Fabio Agius (MaltaPost Philatelic Archives) Ms C Michelle Buhagiar (National Library of Malta) Ms Maroma Camilleri National Library of Malta) Mr Leonard Ellul Mercer (Personal capacity) Victor Farrugia (Astronomical Society of Malta) Mr Alexander Pace (Astronomical Society of Malta) Arch Alexei Pace (Astronomical Society of Malta) Ms Joanne Sciberras (National Library of Malta) Mr Tony Tanti (Astronomical Society of Malta) Prof Frank Ventura (University of Malta) Staff of the National Library of Malta Front Image Great Orion Nebula by Mr Leonard Ellul Mercer Production The Astronomical Society of Malta P.O. Box 174 Valletta Malta The National Library of Malta 136 Old Treasury Street Valletta Malta Copyright ©The Astronomical Society of Malta / The National Library of Malta, 2010 The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 2 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Introduction This exhibition has been set up by the Astronomical Society of Malta and the National Library of Malta, presenting some of the significant books relating to Astronomy that form part of the collection at the National Library. This is a follow-up activity of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 which was celebrated world- wide last year under the auspices of UNESCO and the International Astronomical Union, and in which the Astronomical Society participated along with associations from over 140 countries. The books in the exhibition range from two very rare publications of the late 15th Century, known as incunabula, to two Maltese almanacs with astronomical information published in the mid-20th Century. The incunabula are the Scriptores Astronomia Veteres, which is a compilation of books by ancient authors, and Geografia, which is a Latin translation of the work by the famous astronomer and geographer Claudius Ptolemaeus (Ptolemy) written in the second Century AD. Other publications include works by Italian, French, German and English astronomers. Most of the older books are in Latin or Italian, while more recent works are in Italian, French and English. Many of the books present a semi-popular or a popular description of astronomical themes though some of them are books that have won prestigious awards from reputable astronomical institutions. Other books are of a more scientific and technical nature and present observations and predictions of astronomical phenomena. The exhibited books cover a wide range of themes: ancient Egyptian astronomy, Greek astronomy, general ancient and modern histories of astronomy, the Sun, the Moon, the planets, comets and meteors, astronomy and navigation, and Galileo and the Roman Holy Office (Inquisition). Astronomy in Malta is another theme of particular relevance which is covered by the exhibits. Mr Victor Farrugia President, The Astronomical Society of Malta The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 3 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Greek and Roman Astronomy The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 4 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Author: Julius Firmicus Maternus (4th Century AD) Title: Scriptores astronomia veteres Julii Firmici Atronomicorum libri octo integri Date of Publication: 1499 Place of Publication: Venice Editor: Franciscus Pescennius Niger Publisher: Aldus Manutius Brief description of contents: This book, which was originally written in about AD 337, brings together earlier publications on astrology which give us an idea of popular astronomy and its application in ancient Greek and Roman times. It includes the great poem On the Phaenomena by Aratus (who lived about 270 BC), which describes the constellations known in those days, and a lengthy commentary on it by Theon; the work by Manilius of about AD 10; and the Sphaera graece with a commentary on Greek geometry by Proclus Diadochus (AD 411? -485). The commentaries must have been added by the editor since they post-date the original text. Most of the text is in Latin with some words and phrases in ancient Greek, while the Phaenomena of Aratus with Theon’s commentary and the Sphaera of Proclus are in Greek. The book which is being exhibited is one of the treasures of the National Library of Malta as it one of the rare books published before 1500 known as incunabula. The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 5 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Ancient Astronomy The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 6 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Author: J. Norman Lockyer Title: The Dawn of Astronomy Date of Publication: 1894 Place of Publication: London Publisher: Cassell and Company Ltd Brief description of contents: The sub-title of this book, A Study of the Temple-worship and Mythology of the Ancient Egyptians provides a better indication about its contents. In it, the English scientist and astronomer Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer presents a detailed survey of the orientations of several ancient Egyptian temples; their possible connection with the rising and setting of stars and the Sun; the Egyptian gods related to the stars and their star cults; the origins of Egyptian astronomy and its influence on temple orientations in Ancient Greece. The book is profusely illustrated with general views of temples and temple plans, figures of gods and goddesses and representations of ancient Egyptian constellations. The publication of this book led to a debate on the value of attempting to associate the orientations of ancient temples and other monuments to astronomy. It also stimulated interest in the possible connection with astronomical phenomena of temples and monuments of other cultures and countries including Malta. In modern times, the study of temple orientations and astronomy in culture has become widespread and in known as archaeoastronomy (astronomy of ancient times). The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 7 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Author: Jean-Baptiste Prosper Jollios (1776 - 1842) Title: Recherches sur les Bas-reliefs astronomiques des Égyptiens Date of Publication: 1809 (Volume I) Place of Publication: Paris Publisher: L’Imprimerie Impériale Brief description of contents: Jean-Baptiste Jollois was an engineer in Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt in 1798. Although his responsibility was for surveying bridges and irrigation ditches, he became very interested in the numerous monuments and the bas-reliefs he came across. He made precise engineering drawings of Egyptian temples and monuments along with his colleague Edourade Devilliers du Terrage. In this book (pages 427-429), he compared the astronomical bas-reliefs he had observed at Denderah and other temples with those published by Athanasius Kircher, with depictions of the constellations on an Arabic and a contemporary celestial globe, and with the symbols used for the zodiacal constellations by the Greeks, Roman and Indians and gothic symbols relating to astronomy. The purpose of the work was to identify as many as possible of the Egyptian zodiacal constellations, which were very different from the ones with which we are familiar today. The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 8 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Author: George Cornewall Lewis (1806 - 1863) Title: An Historical Survey of the Astronomy of the Ancients Date of Publication: 1862 Place of Publication: London Publisher: Parker, Son, and Bourn Brief description of contents: This book is divided into eight chapters, four of which are dedicated to the development of Greek and Roman astronomy from primitive beginnings to the scientific astronomy of Hipparchus and Ptolemy. Sir George Cornewall Lewis then gives an account of the astronomy of the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and the Assyrians. In the last chapter he explains how the Phoenicians used astronomy for navigation. Interestingly, Sir George Cornewall Lewis, who was a prominent statesman, accompanied John Austin to Malta in 1836 on a Royal Commission. They spent nearly two years reporting on conditions in Malta and framing a new code of laws. The Astronomical Society of Malta The National Library of Malta 9 Respicite Astra: A Historic Journey in Astronomy through Books Author: Jean-Sylvain Bailly (1736 - 1793) Title: Histoire de l’Astronomie Ancienne Date of Publication:
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