Sitting out on a big field, the cool breeze brushing by, the smell of crisp grass, and the hushed orchestra of midnight. Above a bountiful of twinkles decorate the dark night sky, some in shapes and patterns which can be traced with the eye. Looking up to admire the stars can be an introspective and calming experience, one which has been around for centuries and has proven helpful to ancient humans.
Storytelling
One of the first ways stars were utilized was likely cultural or religious. Many people believed that the position of the stars were God’s way of telling stories, and began to map out these patterns and tell stories about each one. The ancient Greeks are very well known for doing this, as we still inherit many of the names for the constellations from them. Every constellation had a story behind it, as they named constellations after their mythological legends and heroes.
The Greeks gave the name Orion, the god of hunting, to the prominent constellation which can be seen across the globe. Many people are familiar with trying to navigate Orion’s belt and shield, however, throughout the world, the constellation has been known as under different names. In medieval Muslim astronomy, Orion was known as al-Jabbar, “the giant”. In Southern Asia, it is referred to as Mriga–the deer–and it has its own significance in Hindu astrology.
Regardless of their differences, the stories Ancient storytellers gave to these constellations have not only preserved culture, but have also instilled moral values into society with the spread and belief in these stories.
Practical Purposes
The stars have also been used as a way to tell time. As early as 5,000 years ago, the first astronomers began observing the moon and sun, particularly their patterns and shapes. This led to the development of henges or shrines, which would signify astrological moments throughout the year, such as the winter and summer solstices or the spring and autumn equinoxes.
During this time, astronomers also began to observe the stars more closely. Constellations made the patterns of the stars easy to remember and communicate, helping them to detect changes of seasons. For example, ancient people knew that as Orion became more fully visible, winter was upon them. Additionally, they may have used the asterism the Summer Triangle to predict when summer or spring was coming. This practice aided them with agriculture as it allowed them to determine the most effective times to plant, sow, and harvest. By possessing the ability to recognize and interpret these stars and patterns, they cultivated agricultural practices which are still relevant today.
Ancient sailors also looked to the stars to help guide them whilst at sea. Namely, the Phoenicians utilized the sun’s movement across the sky to help them figure out their direction. As aforementioned, early astronomers concluded that particular constellations were only visible in the Northern hemisphere. For instance, the Big Dipper. Once spotting the Big Dipper constellation, it is then fairly easy to see Polaris (the North Star), which can be seen as part of the Litter Dipper constellation (Ursa Minor). Using Polaris, people can figure out its latitude by how the star appears. For the ancient sailors, this allowed for their ships to travel around the world and for events such as the discovery of America, colonization by European countries, and civilization as we know it today.
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