Volume 6 (2023)

First page of the paper.

Rare Important Astronomical Events during the Isia Feast correlated to the Starting Date of the Antikythēra Mechanism, The Helleno–Roman Isis and her Relation to Solar Eclipses

Voulgaris, Aristeidis; Mouratidis, Christophoros; Vossinakis, Andreas

Abstract:

The initial pointers’ position of the Antikythēra Mechanism (calibration) was based on a specific date, related to a unique coincidence of very important astronomical and religious events. During 22/23 December 178 BC (= 17/18 Hathyr) the four Lunar Cycles were at their beginning position, the Moon and the Sun crossed the zodiac sign of Capricorn signifying the Winter Solstice, the annular solar eclipse with the largest duration occurred and the Isia feast started. The Isia feast is related to the myth of Osiris’s death and his return to life via the help of Isis. In the Helleno–Roman Era, this myth is engaged to the Moon and the Sun. A further analysis of the eclipses’ probability of observation/visibility in the vicinity of Egypt and Middle East, explains why these areas exhibit a high probability for the solar eclipses’ visibility, detectability, and therefore, their recording. This advantage led to the development of the ancient Babylonian Solar Astronomy and the Saros Period discovery. The missing Sun and the solar corona appearance during a total solar eclipse could be adopted and worshipped as deities by the authorities and priesthoods at these areas, creating magnificent religious stories and symbols.

Citation:

Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C., Vossinakis, A. 2023. «Rare Important Astronomical Events during the Isia Feast correlated to the Starting Date of the Antikythēra Mechanism, The Helleno–Roman Isis and her Relation to Solar Eclipses», JHIE 6: 77–100

DOI:

10.5281/zenodo.10996256

Language: en

Submitted on 2023-09-15; accepted on 2023-12-27

References

  • Aaboe, A., Britton, J.P., Henderson, J.A., Neugebauer, O. & Sachs, A.J.: «Saros Cycle Dates and Related Babylonian Astrono­mical Texts», Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 816, 1991, 1-75.
  • Allen, D. & Allen, C.: Eclipse, Boston (Allen & Unwin) 1987.
  • Anastasiou, M., Seiradakis, J.H., Evans, J., Drougou, S. & Efstathiou, K.: «The Astronomical Events of the Parapegma of the Antikythera Mechanism», Journal for the History of Astronomy 44, 2013, 173-186.
  • Anastasiou, M., Seiradakis, J.H., Carman, C. & Efstathiou, K.: «The Antikythera Mechanism: The Construction of the Metonic Pointer and the Back Dial Spirals», Journal for the History of Astronomy 45, 2014, 418-441.
  • Anastasiou, M., Bitsakis, Y., Jones, A., Steele, J.M. & Zafeiropoulou, M.: «The Back Dial and Back Plate Inscriptions», Special Issue: The Inscriptions of the Antikythera Mechanism = Almagest 71, 2016, 138-215.
  • Armour, R. & Baker, A.: Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt, Cairo (The AUC Press) 1986.
  • Assmann, J.: Egyptian Solar Religion in the New Kingdom: Re, Amun and the Crisis of Polytheism (transl. by A. Alcock) Lon­don (Kegan Paul International) 1995.
  • Babbitt, F.K.: Plutarch. Moralia, Volume V: Isis and Osiris. The E at Delphi. The Oracles at Delphi no Longer given in Verse. The Obsolescence of Oracles, Cambridge MA (Harvard University Press / Loeb Classical Library 306) 1936.
  • Banjevic, Β.: «Ancient Eclipses and dating the Fall of Babylon», Publ. Astron. Obs. Belgrade 80, 2006, 251-257.
  • Belmonte, J.–A. & Lull, J.: Astronomy of Ancient Egypt: A Cultural Perspective, Cham Switzerland (Springer) 2023.
  • Bernand, É.: Inscriptions grecques d’Égypte et de Nubie au Musée du Louvre, Paris (Éditions du CNRS) 1992.
  • Bitsakis, Y. & Jones, A.: «The Front Dial and Parapegma Inscriptions», Special Issue: The Inscriptions of the Antikythera Me­chanism = Almagest 71, 2016a, 68-137.
  • Bitsakis, Y. & Jones, A.: «The Back Cover Inscriptions», Special Issue: The Inscriptions of the Antikythera Mechanism = Alma­gest 71, 2016b, 217-249.
  • Blass, F.: «Eudoxi Ars Astronomica Qualis in Charta Ægyptiaca Superest: Praefatio», Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epi­graphik 115, 1887, 79-101.
  • BMD 1996 = Shaw, I. & Nicholson, P. (eds.): British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt, London (AUC Press) 1996.
  • Bricault, L.: Recueil des inscriptions concernant les cultes isiaques (RICIS), Paris (Diffusion de Boccard) 2005.
  • Chou, R.: «Solar Filters for Safe Fun Observation», Sky and Telescope 952, 1998, 36-40.
  • Christodoulou, P.: «Les reliefs votifs du Sanctuaire d’Isis à Dion», Bibliotheca Isiaca II (Bricault, L. & Veymiers, R., eds), Bordeaux (Ausonius Éditions) 2011, 11-22.
  • Clarke, J.: Physical Science in the Time of Nero: Being a Translation of the Quæstiones Naturales of Seneca, London (Macmillan & Co Ltd) 1910.
  • Dalenius, T.: «The Mode – A Neglected Statistical Parameter», Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (General) 1281, 1965, 110-117.
  • Dallas, T.G.: «The Ancient Skyscape over the Sanctuary of Egyptian Gods in Marathon», Liber Amicorum ‒ Speculum Side­rum: Nūt Astrophoros. Papers presented to Alicia Maravelia (Guilhou, N., ed), Oxford (Archaeopress / Archaeopress Egyptology 17), 2016, 153-166.
  • De Jong, T. & van Soldt, W.H.: «The Earliest known Solar Eclipse Record Redated», Nature 338, 1989, 238-240.
  • Didot, A.F.: Plutarchi Chæronensis: Scripta Moralia (texte hellénique et traduc­tion en Latin), Paris (Institut Impérial de Typo­graphes de France) 1868.
  • De Sola Price, D.J.: Gears from the Greeks: The Antikythera Mechanism – A Calendar Computer from ca. 80 B.C., Philadelphia (Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 647) 1974, 1-70.
  • Eddy, J.A. (ed.): The New Solar Physics: 17, Washington D.C. (AAAS Selected Symposia Series, West View Press / American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1978.
  • Espenak F. & Meeus, J.: Five Millennium Catalogue of Solar Eclipses: 2000 BCE to 3000 CE, Greenbelt MD (NASA God­dard Space Flight Center / NASA Tech. Pub. 2008-214170) 2008.
  • Fotheringham, J.K.: «The Metonic and Callippic Cycles», MNRAS 84, 1923-1924, 383-392.
  • Foukal, P.V.: Solar Astrophysics, Weinheim (Wiley–VCH) 22004.
  • Frazer, G.J.: The Golden Bough: A study in Magic and Religion: IV . Adonis, Attis, Osiris, Studies in the History of Oriental Reli­gion, London (Macmillan Co) 1914.
  • Freeth, T., Bitsakis, Y., Moussas, X., et al.: «Decoding the Ancient Greek Astronomical Calculator known as the Antiky­thera Mechanism», Nature 444, 2006, 587-591.
  • Freeth, T., Jones, A., Steele, J.M. & Bitsakis Y.: «Calendars with Olympiad Display and Eclipse Prediction on the Antiky­thera Mechanism (Supplementary Notes)», Nature 454, 2008, 614-617.
  • Goldstein, B.R.: «On Early Hellenistic Astronomy: Timocharis and the First Callipic Calendar», Centaurus 32, 1989, 272-293.
  • Greswell, E.: Origines Kalendariæ Hellenicæ, Oxford (Oxford University Press) 1862.
  • Hallam, E.: Gods and Goddesses, New York (Macmillan) 1996.
  • Hannah, R.: «Ancient Greek Calendars», Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy (Ruggles, C. ed.), New York (Springer) 2015, 1563-1571.
  • Hart, G.: The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, London–New York (Routledge) 2005.
  • Heiberg, J.L. (ed.): Ptolemy, C., Syntaxis Mathematica, Lipsiæ (Teubner) 1898.
  • Hentschel, Κ.: «Depiction of a Solar Eclipse from 1143 BCE in the Pharaonic Tomb KV9 near Thebes», International Jour­nal of History and Cultural Studies 72, 2021, 11-23.
  • Hiller, R. & Neugebauer, P.V.: Special Canon of Solar Eclipses in the Near East and Egypt for 4200 BC to 900 BC, Kiel (Astrono­mische Abhandlungen: Erganzungshefte zu den Astronomische Nachtrichten 84) 1936.
  • Huber, P.J. & de Meis, S. (eds): Babylonian Eclipse Observations from 750 BC to 1 BC, Milan (IsIAO–Mimesis) 2004.
  • Iversen, P.: «The Calendar on the Antikythera Mechanism and the Corinthian Family of Calendars», Hesperia 86, 2017, 129-203.
  • Jones, A.: «The Place of Astronomy in Roman Egypt» The Sciences in Greco–Roman Society, (Barnes, T.D. ed), Edmonton (Academic Printing and Publishing) 1994.
  • Jones, A.: «Geminus and Isia», Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 99, 1999, 255-267.
  • Jones, A.: «Calendrica I: New Callippic Dates», Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 129, 2000, 141-158.
  • Jones, A.: «The Epoch Dates of the Antikythera Mechanism», ISAW Papers 17, 2020, 1-53.
  • Koch, U., «Babylonian Views of Eclipses», Res Orientales XIII, 2001, 71-84.
  • Krauss, R., «Astronomy and Chronology – Babylonia, Assyria, and Egypt», Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastro­nomy (Ruggles, C. ed), New York (Springer) 2015.
  • Kudlick, K. & Mickler, M.: Solar and Lunar Eclipses of the Ancient Near East from 3000 BC to 0, New York (Butzon & Keve­laer) 1971.
  • LÄ = Helck, W. & Otto, E. (Hrsg.): Lexikon der Ägyptologie I-VII, Wiesba­den (O. Harrassowitz) 1975-1989.
  • MacKenzie, D.A.: Myths of Babylonia and Assyria, London (The Gresham Publishing Company) 1915.
  • Maïkidou–Poutrino, D.: The Isiac Cults in Roman Greece: Religious Connectivity in the Mainland, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean (PhD Dissertation), Thessaloniki (Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki) 2021.
  • Manitius C. (ed.): Gemini Elementa Astronomiæ, Lipsiæ (Teubner) 1898.
  • Maravelia, A.: Les astres dans les textes religieux en Égypte antique et dans les Hym­nes Orphiques, Ox­f­ord (Archaeopress / BAR In­ter­national Se­ries 1527) 2006.
  • Maravelia, A.: «Astronomy in Ancient Egypt / Astronomia no Antigo Egi­pto», Hapi 6, 2018a, 20-31.
  • Maravelia, A.: «Ancient Egyptian Calendar / Calendário do Antigo Egi­pto», Hapi 6, 2018b, 31-35.
  • Maravelia, A. & Shaltout, M.A.M.: «The Influence of the Solar Activity and of the Nile Flooding on the Ancient Egyptian Culture», Environment and Religion in Ancient and Coptic Egypt: Sensing the Cosmos through the Eyes of the Divine (Maravelia, A. & Guilhou, N., eds), Oxford (Archaeopress Egyptology 30) 2020, 217-242.
  • Maravelia, A.: «Une Relecture Égyptologique de l’Hymne Orphique à la Lune», JHIE 5, 2022, 75-92.
  • Maunder, W.E.: «A Prolonged Sunspot Minimum», Knowledge 17, 1894, 173-176.
  • Maunder, W.E.: Astronomy of the Bible: An Elementary Commentary on the Astronomical References of Holy Scripture, New York (Mitchell Kennerley) 1908.
  • Neugebauer, O.: A History of Ancient Mathematical Astronomy, Heidelberg (Springer Verlag) 1975.
  • Oldfather, C.H.: Diodorus Siculus I: Books I-II.34, Cambridge MA (Harvard University Press / Loeb Classical Library 279) 51989.
  • Pasachoff, J.M., Lockwood, C., Meadors, E., Yu, R., Perez, C., Peñaloza–Murillo, M.P., Seaton, D.B., Voulgaris, A., Dantowitz, R., Rušin, V. & Economou, T.: «Images and Spectra of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse Corona from our Oregon Site», Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 537, 2018, 1-6.
  • Perrottet, T.: The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games, New York (Random House Digital) 2004.
  • Pierret, P.: Recueil d’inscriptions inédites du Musée égyptien du Louvre (2ème Partie), Paris (P. Vieweg / Études Égyptologiques 8) 1878.
  • Pritchett, W.K.: «Calendars of Athens again», Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 81, 1957, 269-301.
  • Ramsey, A., «X–Ray Tomography of the Antikythera Mechanism», Proceedings of Science: From Antikythera to the Square Kilometre Array: Lessons from the Ancients (Conference Proceedings), Kerastari, Greece, 12-15 June 2012, 1-12.
  • Real3d VolViCon: An Advanced Application for Three–Dimensional Visualization and Image Analysis (Software): Version 4.31. 0422, April 09, 2022 [URL: https://real3d.pk/volvicon/].
  • Richter, D.S.: «Plutarch on Isis and Osiris: Text, Cult, and Cultural Appropriation», Transactions of the American Philological Association 131, Baltimore MD (The Johns Hopkins University Press) 2001, 191-216.
  • Robbins, F.E. (ed.): Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos, Cambridge MA (Harvard University Press / Loeb Classical Library 435) 81998.
  • Roumeliotis, M.: «Calculating the Torque on the Shafts of the Antikythera Mechanism to determine the Location of the Driving Gear», Mechanism and Machine Theory 122, 2018, 148-159.
  • Sachs, A. & Hunger, H.: Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia 1-2, Wien (Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften) 1988-1989.
  • Samuel, A.E.: Greek and Roman Chronology: Calendars and Years in Classical Antiquity, München (C.H. Beck) 1972.
  • Schrijver, C. & Zwaan, C.: Solar and Stellar Magnetic Activity, Cambridge (Cambridge University Press) 2001.
  • Schröder, W.: Case Studies on the Spörer Maunder and Dafton Minima, Darmstadt (Druck und Verbeitung: WP Druck und Verlag ) 2005.
  • Sellers, J.B., The Death of the Gods in ancient Egypt, London–New York (Penguin) 1992.
  • Seroglou, F.: «Sealed Rhodian Amphorae from Apothetis in Sanctuary of Isis in Rhodes. A First Presentation», Kerameos Children(Kefalidou, E. & Tsiafakis, D. eds), Thessaloniki (ZĒTĒ Publications) 2012, 321-330.
  • Shorters, R.: «Solar Activity Cycle during Classical Antiquity», Astronomy & Astrophysics 771-2, 1979, 121-127.
  • Simms, R.R.: «Isis in Classical Athens», The Classical Journal 843, 1989, 216-221.
  • Starry Night: Planetarium Software, Minnetonka MN (Simulation Curriculum Corp.) 2020.
  • Steele, J. M.: Observations and Predictions of Eclipse Times by Early Astronomers, New York (Springer) 2000.
  • Steele, J. M.: «Eclipse Prediction in Mesopotamia», Archive for History of Exact Sciences 54, 2000, 421-454.
  • Stephenson, F.R., Morrison, L.V. & Hohenkerk, C.Y.: «Astronomical Dating of Seven Classical Greek Eclipses», Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 231, 2020, 47-62.
  • Spandagos, E. (ed): Gemini Elementa Astronomiæ, Athens (Aithra) 2002.
  • Spiro, F. (ed): Pausanias, Description of Greece (Hellados Periēgēsis), Leipzig (Teubner) 1906.
  • Themelis, P.: «The Cult of Isis at Ancient Messene», Bibliotheca IsiacaII(Bricault, L. & Veymiers, R. eds), Bordeaux (Ausonius Éditions) 2011, 97-109.
  • Thomson, G.: «The Greek Calendar», The Journal of Hellenic Studies 63, 1943, 52-65.
  • Toomer, G.J.: Ptolemy’s Almagest, London (Duckworth Classical / Medieval and Renaissance Editions) 1984.
  • Tsergas, P.: The Egyptian Deities Osiris and Isis in the Greco–Roman World (PhD Dissertation), Thessaloniki (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) 1998.
  • Tzanavari, K.: «Η Λατρεία των Αιγυπτίων Θεών στη Βέροια», Αρχαία Μακεδονία V: Ανακοινώσεις κατά το Πέμπτο Διεθνές Συμπόσιο, Θεσσαλονίκη, 10-15 Οκτωβρίου 1989, Θεσσαλονίκη (Ίδρυμα Μελετών Χερσονήσου του Αίμου) 1993, 1671-1681.
  • Vaughan, V.: The Origin of the Olympics: Ancient Calendars and the Race against Time, Amherst MA (One Reed Publ.) 2002.
  • Von Bomhard, A.–S.: The Egyptian Calendar: A Work for Eternity, London (Periplus) 1999.
  • Voulgaris, A., Vossinakis, A. & Mouratidis, C.: «The New Findings from the Antikythera Mechanism Front Plate Astronomical Dial and its Reconstruction», Archeomatica International ( Special Issue) 38, 2018a, 6-18.
  • Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C. & Vossinakis, A.: «Conclusions from the Functional Reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism», Journal for the History of Astronomy 492, 2018b, 216-238.
  • Voulgaris, A., Vossinakis, A. & Mouratidis, C.: «The Dark Shades of the Antikythera Mechanism», Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 318, 2018c, 1881-1891.
  • Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C. & Vossinakis, A.: «Ancient Machine Tools for the Construction of the Antikythera Mechanism Parts», Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritages Journal 13, 2019a, 1-12 (e00092).
  • Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C. & Vossinakis, A.: «Simulation and Analysis of Natural Seawater Chemical Reactions on the Antikythera Mechanism», Journal of Coastal Research 355, 2019b, 959-972.
  • Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C., Vossinakis, A. & Bokovos, G.: «Renumbering of the Antikythera Mechanism Saros Cells, resulting from the Saros Spiral Mechanical Apokatastasis», Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 212, 2021, 107-128.
  • Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C., Tziotziou, K., Seiradakis, J. H. & Pasachoff, J. M.: «A Diligent Analysis of the Flash and Coronal Spectrum of the Total Solar Eclipse of 20 March 2015», Solar Physics 2974, 2022a, 49.
  • Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C. & Vossinakis, A.: «Assembling the Fragment D on the Antikythera Mechanism: Its Role and Operation in the Draconic Gearing», Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 223,2022b, 103-131.
  • Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C. & Vossinakis, A.: «The Initial Calibration Date of the Antikythera Mechanism after the Saros Spiral Mechanical Apokatastasis», Almagest 141, 2023a, 4-39.
  • Voulgaris, A., Mouratidis, C. & Vossinakis, A.: «Reconstructing the Antikythera Mechanism Lost Eclipse Events applying the Draconic Gearing ‒ The Impact of the Gears’ Error», CHMTec , Cultural Heritage and Modern Technologies 1, 2023b, 1-68.
  • Wilkinson, R.H.: The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, Cairo (The AUC Press) 2003.
More papers from this issue