Appendices Appendix a Archaeoastronomy Tools
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(Title of the Thesis)*
Dionysian Semiotics: Myco-Dendrolatry and Other Shamanic Motifs in the Myths and Rituals of the Phrygian Mother by Daniel Attrell A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Ancient Mediterranean Cultures Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2013 © Daniel Attrell 2013 Author’s Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract The administration of initiation rites by an ecstatic specialist, now known to western scholarship by the general designation of ‗shaman‘, has proven to be one of humanity‘s oldest, most widespread, and continuous magico-religious traditions. At the heart of their initiatory rituals lay an ordeal – a metaphysical journey - almost ubiquitously brought on by the effects of a life-changing hallucinogenic drug experience. To guide their initiates, these shaman worked with a repertoire of locally acquired instruments, costumes, dances, and ecstasy-inducing substances. Among past Mediterranean cultures, Semitic and Indo-European, these sorts of initiation rites were vital to society‘s spiritual well-being. It was, however, the mystery schools of antiquity – organizations founded upon conserving the secrets of plant-lore, astrology, theurgy and mystical philosophy – which satisfied the role of the shaman in Greco-Roman society. The rites they delivered to the common individual were a form of ritualized ecstasy and they provided an orderly context for religiously-oriented intoxication. -
A Sermon in Stone
A Sermon in stone “Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from human haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything. I would not change it.” William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) From ‘As You Like It’ At the same time the fellahin were toiling to erect the Pharaohs’ pyramids, people were erecting the stones of Stonehenge, about 5,500 years ago. This was only 3,000 years since man domesticated wheat! Stonehenge is built on Salisbury Plain which is an undulating tract of chalky downland covering an area some twenty miles long and sixteen miles wide in the south-east corner of Wiltshire between Salisbury and Devizes. It is a country of limey soil spread thinly over a thousand feet of pure soft white limestone consisting almost entirely of the fossils of minute animals and sea-plants, which lived between seventy and one hundred million years ago when the Plain formed the bed of a comparatively shallow sea. To the archaeologist, it is the country of Stonehenge, a country of barrow, tumuli, earthworks, hill forts and field systems through which can be traced man’s progress and achievements in pre-historic and early historic times, a country which is probably the finest open-air museum in the British Isles. When we visited the site I was struck by two things: It is a Cathedral! But why build it here? DESIGN The stones are aligned almost perfectly with the sunrise on the summer solstice, and it is almost unquestioned that Stonehenge was built as a spectacular place of worship. -
Indigenous Astronomies and Progress in Modern Astronomy
Indigenous Astronomies and Progress in Modern Astronomy Clive Ruggles1 School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester University Road, LEICESTER LE1 7RH, U.K. E-mail: [email protected] From an anthropological point of view, the whole concept of a ‘path of progress’ in astronomical discovery is anathema, since it implicitly downgrades other cultural perspectives, such as the many ‘indigenous cosmologies’ that still exist in the modern world. By doing so, one risks provoking those who hold them and—as is most obvious in places such as Hawaii where the two ‘world-views’ come into direct contact—creating avoidable resistance to that very progress. The problem is complicated by the existence of ‘fringe’ and ‘new-age’ views that are increasingly confused with, and even passed off as, indigenous perceptions. In a modern world where widespread public perceptions include many that are unscientific in the broadest sense of the term, I shall argue that there are actually a range of positive benefits for progress in scientific astronomy to be derived from the mutual awareness and comprehension of ‘genuine’ cultural world-views whose goals—in common with those of modern science—are to make sense of the cosmos within which people live. While two-way education is clearly a prerequisite, I shall argue that the necessary level of reconciliation can only be achieved through more fundamental attempts by modern astronomers to understand, and ultimately to respect, both the non-Western frameworks of thought that give rise to other cultural perspectives and the heritage associated with them. One of the most obvious potential benefits could derive from common attitudes towards the natural heritage of astronomy, namely dark skies. -
The Astronomy of Many Cultures: a Resource Guide
The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide by Andrew Fraknoi (Fromm Institute, U. of San Francisco) Version 5.1; July 2020 © copyright 2020 by Andrew Fraknoi. The right to use or reproduce this guide for any nonprofit educational purpose is hereby granted. For permission to use in other ways, or to suggest additional materials, please contact the author at e-mail: fraknoi {at} fhda {dot} edu The teaching of astronomy in our colleges and high schools often sidesteps the contributions of cultures outside of Europe and the U.S. white mainstream. Few educators (formal or informal) receive much training in this area, and they therefore tend to stick to people and histories they know from their own training -- even when an increasing number of their students or audiences might be from cultures beyond those familiar to them. Luckily, a wealth of material is becoming available to help celebrate the ideas and contributions of non-European cultures regarding our views of the universe. This listing of resources about cultures and astronomy makes no claim to be comprehensive, but simply consists of some English-language materials that can be used both by educators and their students or audiences. We include published and web-based materials, plus videos and classroom activities. In this edition, we have made a particular effort to enlarge resources about African-American and Hispanic American astronomers. Note that there’s a separate listing about the role of women in astronomy at: http://bit.ly/astronomywomen Table of Contents: 1. General Resources on the Astronomy of Diverse Cultures 2. -
Neolithic Miniature Rock Art on the Island of Bornholm – Including Topographic Motifs
Flemming Kaul, Jens Andresen and Michael S. Thorsen Recent finds of Neolithic miniature rock art on the island of Bornholm – including topographic motifs Introduction It would appear that present-day Denmark, ated with megalithic tombs in a quality and and adjacent parts of South Scandinavia, a quantity unsurpassed elsewhere in Europe contain the highest density of megalithic (Kaul 1997b). The richly decorated pottery tombs, dolmens and passage graves, built is not only found within the chambers, but between 3500 and 3100 BC. Denmark has also at the façade on each side of the open- around 2700 surviving dolmens and pas- ing of the passage of the passage graves, at sage graves. This figure is estimated to be a the same places where true megalithic art tenth of the original number, and, in some is often concentrated within other parts of areas, may be a conservative estimate (An- Europe, for instance within Ireland (O’Kelly dersen 2011). Approximately 7000 mega- 1982; Eogan 1986; Roberts 2015). Some of lithic tombs have been recorded (Ebbesen the similarities in motifs (pottery and mega- 1985; Fritsch et.al. 2010; Nielsen 2013). By lithic art), such as zigzags and lozenges, comparison, just over 1450 are registered in might reflect a broader common iconologi- Ireland (Twohig 1990). cal background (even though also many dif- Considering this huge megalithic activ- ferences can be observed). ity, one could perhaps expect megalithic In the autumn of 1995, a breakthrough art in South Scandinavia, since so many of took place. At Rispebjerg, on Bornholm, the other areas of Western Europe that are in Denmark, at the excavations of a large rich in megalithic tombs exhibit decoration palisaded enclosure (for a recent discus- on the kerb stones, and within the cham- sion of these, see Noble and Brophy 2011), bers. -
April Meeting with Jack Szelka & Dave Huestis
the vol. 37 no. 4 April Skyscraper 2010 Amateur Astronomical Society of Rhode Island 47 Peeptoad Road North Scituate, Rhode Island 02857 www.theSkyscrapers.org Seagrave Memorial Observatory is open April Meeting to the public weather permitting with Jack Szelka & Dave Huestis Saturdays 8pm - 10pm Please note that the observatory may be inac- Friday, April 2, 7:30pm cessible for several weeks following a winter North Scituate Community Center storm. See web site for updates. The Skyscrapers' Monthly Meeting on April 2, 2010 at the Scituate Community Center will feature two talks by Skyscrapers' members Dave Huestis and Jack Szelka. North Scituate Community Center Yerkes Observatory and Adler Planetarium by Jack Szelka All of our winter meetings (Dec-April) are held at the Community Center. From Seagrave Member Jack Szelka will present a Also presented, a tour of the Yerkes Observatory, the Community Center is the first Powerpoint presentation highlighting a visit Observatory including highlights of the building on the right side going south on Rt. to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois buildings, equipment and history of the 116 after the intersection of Rt. 6 Bypass (also and Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, many great astronomers who have worked Rt. 101) and Rt. 116. Parking is across the street. Wisconsin. there. The main feature is the worlds largest He will cover some of the astronomical refractor, the 40-inch Alvan Clark lens and a exhibits at the Adler; the Telescope display, night of viewing with this scope. Atwood Sphere and the other astronomy In this issue… related displays. 2 President’s Message The Sesquicentennial Birthday of Frank Evans Seagrave (1860-1934) by Dave Huestis 2 Sirius Dave Huestis, a Skyscrapers member Skyscrapers purchased Frank’s observa- 3 Sesquicentennial Birthday of since 1975 and the society’s historian for tory and 8¼-inch Alvan Clark refractor Frank Evans Seagrave many years, will be presenting a talk to on Peeptoad Road back in 1936. -
The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles
www.RodnoVery.ru www.RodnoVery.ru The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles www.RodnoVery.ru Callanish Stone Circle Reproduced by kind permission of Fay Godwin www.RodnoVery.ru The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles Their Nature and Legacy RONALD HUTTON BLACKWELL Oxford UK & Cambridge USA www.RodnoVery.ru Copyright © R. B. Hutton, 1991, 1993 First published 1991 First published in paperback 1993 Reprinted 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 Blackwell Publishers Ltd 108 Cowley Road Oxford 0X4 1JF, UK Blackwell Publishers Inc. 350 Main Street Maiden, Massachusetts 02148, USA All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposes of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Hutton, Ronald The pagan religions of the ancient British Isles: their nature and legacy / Ronald Hutton p. cm. ISBN 0-631-18946-7 (pbk) 1. -
A Henge Away from Home Guide
A Henge Away From Home Guide idiosyncratically,Nevile hurt his bonteboks indecent hocusesand bilingual. all-out Impellent or antiquely Sanders after carburisingPace fantasizing some andmatron bastinade and extemporise buffershis presupposition and freeze-dry. so hostilely! Alfred is bilocular and gabbles skeigh while swollen-headed Noah How near you buy the difference? We record here until we use it from a henge away. Passwords do per match. Discover our customizable tour ideas for couples and romantic breaks. Serum as having a way that appear following a large scree slope of block you can find out. When the guide, away behind the year by linking to have fallen, italianate style and avebury henge away from a home guide? You ever try next time slot without our system considers things that seeing a henge away from a home guide which leads to build my characters, away as a price. Now planning a world, virginia colleges spark tower. Republicans and home chuckle at any time at different email and align with bookshelves, away from a henge home guide. It is cliff the official website of any toll site or religious building listed here. Badges throughout the local female brewers association with a henge home from an understanding into human with its staggering size of ground over. This platform to the below are a henge away from home guide. These features is a rest your site we must be courteous and a hotly debated topic that part of terrestrial humans in. The henge monuments on this cup found them originally screenshot vanished, caravans and own. -
Cultural Star Knowledge Story Sheets
Cultural Star Knowledge Star Knowledge For thousands of years, people across the world have looked up at the night sky and marveled at what they saw. They create different pictures from the patterns of the stars, and tell stories about the stars, planets, comets, and other objects in the sky. They use astronomical knowledge to tell time, navigate, predict the weather, create art, tell stories, and make sense of the world around them. Astronomy traditions vary across cultures, communities, and individuals. The information collected here is a small sample of how some cultures view the night sky. Night sky at Denali National Park. Image: National Park Service/Jacob W. Frank Cultural Star Knowledge Yup’ik Astronomy The Yup'ik people of southwest Alaska have identified many constellations, based on the animals, tools, and concepts familiar in their lives. There are many stories about these constellations and patterns in the sky. For example, the story "How Raven Made the Milky Way" explains how Raven snowshoed across the sky in search of light; the tracks he left behind became the Milky Way. For generations, Yup'ik people have used their knowledge of the stars to navigate at night. Learning the patterns of the stars and how they appear to move can help guide travelers safely to their destinations. The most important star landmarks for navigating are Tunturyuk (the Caribou, known in English as the Big Dipper), Agyarrluk (the North Star), and Qengartarak (the Nose with Two Nostrils, known as English as Cassiopeia). Note: Yup’ik constellations and names vary across villages and regions. -
Native American Mythology a to Z, Second Edition
Native American Mythology A to Z SECOND EDITION MYTHOLOGY A TO Z African Mythology A to Z Celtic Mythology A to Z Chinese Mythology A to Z Egyptian Mythology A to Z Greek and Roman Mythology A to Z Japanese Mythology A to Z Native American Mythology A to Z Norse Mythology A to Z South and Meso-American Mythology A to Z MYTHOLOGY A TO Z Native American Mythology A to Z SECOND EDITION 8 Patricia Ann Lynch Revised by Jeremy Roberts [ Native American Mythology A to Z, Second Edition Copyright © 2004, 2010 by Patricia Ann Lynch All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Chelsea House An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lynch, Patricia Ann. Native American mythology A to Z / Patricia Ann Lynch; revised by Jeremy Roberts.—2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. e-ISBN: 978-1-4381-3311-9 ISBN 978-1-60413-894-8 (hardcover: alk. paper) 1. Indian mythology—Juvenile literature. I. Roberts, Jeremy, 1956– II. Title. E59.R38L85 2010 398.2'0973—dc22 2009047833 Chelsea House books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. -
San Diego Astronomy Association CONTENTS
SDAA San Diego Astronomy Association Promising the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars...and Delivering! Office (619) 645-8940 News and Notes April 2003 Observatory (619) 766-9118 http://www.sdaa.org A Non-Profit Educational Association Viewing Jupiter about nine hours--you can witness a P.O. Box 23215, San Diego, CA 92193-3215 by Bret Akers complete equatorial rotation in one night. As you approach the planet's north and Jupiter, the gas giant that is the fifth south poles, the rotational period slows to SDAA Business Meeting planet from the Sun, is by far the largest about 10 hours. This variance in the Will be held at: and most massive planet in the Solar rotational period results in greater SKF Condition Monitoring System with a mass about 318 times centripetal forces at work near the 4141 Ruffin Road greater than Earth's. It is composed of planet's equator. This gives Jupiter a San Diego, CA 92123-1841 about 90% hydrogen and 10% helium noticeable bulge in the middle with an April 8th at 7:00 pm with traces of methane, water, and apparent flattening near the poles. ammonia. Jupiter may have a solid core that's about 10 to 15 Earth masses, but What we see in the telescope is the gas Program Meeting we can't be certain. We may know more giant's outer layer of cloud belts, which “Gadget Night” by the time NASA's Galileo spacecraft are arranged in a parallel series of light and dark zones or cloud "belts." The Bring your creations! plunges into Jupiter's atmosphere on September 21 of this year, but it's not colors that we see in Jupiter's clouds are likely. -
Indigenous Use of Stellar Scintillation to Predict Weather and Seasonal Change
Preprint – Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria Indigenous use of stellar scintillation to predict weather and seasonal change Duane W. Hamacher 1,2, John Barsa 3, Segar Passi 3, and Alo Tapim 3 1 Monash Indigenous Studies Centre, Monash University, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia 2 Mount Burnett Observatory, 420 Paternoster Rd, Mount Burnett VIC 3781, Australia 3 Meriam Elder, Murray Island, QLD, 4875, Australia Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] Abstract Indigenous peoples across the world observe the motions and positions of stars to de- velop seasonal calendars. Additionally, changing properties of stars, such as their brightness and colour, are also used for predicting weather. Combining archival stud- ies with ethnographic fieldwork in Australia’s Torres Strait, we explore the various ways Indigenous peoples utilise stellar scintillation (twinkling) as an indicator for predicting weather and seasonal change, discussing the scientific underpinnings of this knowledge. By observing subtle changes in the ways the stars twinkle, Meriam people gauge changing trade winds, approaching wet weather, and temperature changes. We then explore how the Northern Dene of Arctic North America utilise stellar scintillation to forecast weather. Keywords Cultural Astronomy; Ethnoastronomy; Indigenous Knowledge; Stellar Scintillation; Torres Strait Islanders 1 Introduction To the general public, the twinkling of stars serves as inspiration for art and poetry. While many Indigenous cultures draw their own poetic and aesthetic inspiration from this phenomenon, current ethnographic fieldwork shows that the twinkling of stars serves an important practical purpose to Indigenous peoples. A person’s ability to ac- curately “read” the various changes in the properties of stars can assist them in pre- dicting weather and seasonal change.