How star myths ruled the ancient world
10 Jun 2009
The influence of the zodiac and astronomy on ancient rituals and civilisations is explored in an intriguing new exhibition at the University of Sydney's Nicholson Museum.
The Sky's The Limit: Astronomy in Antiquity, tells the intricate stories of ancient myths relating to the stars, how calendars and sophisticated methods of time tracking were developed and also how astrology and superstition have evolved to the present day.
"The Sun, Moon, stars and planets and their movements were of great significance to the people of the past," says the curator of this exhibition, Nicholson Museum curatorial assistant Elizabeth Bollen. "People from farmers to emperors, philosophers and scientists all developed systems to make sense of the universe and to use the universe to guide their activities, both practical and spiritual, on earth."
The exhibition celebrates the International Year of Astronomy and features books from the University of Sydney's Rare Books Library (including a 1550 edition of Peter Apian's Cosmographia), ancient Greek pots that celebrated celestial goddesses and myths, ancient Roman coins and an Aboriginal Bark painting inspired by the night sky. Tools and instruments of astronomers of the past are also on display including a rare model of the famous Antikythera Mechanism.
The Sky's The Limit also explains how ancient Egyptians prepared for the annual flood of the Nile by watching the stars and why the Italian emperor Tiberius relied on astrologers…for devious means. "Should the readings of up-and-coming politicians indicate there were born to be a great leader, Tiberius would see that they were assassinated," says Bollen.
To celebrate this exhibition, on Thursday, June 18, 2009, Professor Robert Hannah from the University of Otago, will discuss the way ancient people saw their skies and how they formed the classical calendar.
What: "Sun, Moon and Stars: The development of the Classical Athenian calendar", public lecture by Professor Robert Hannah (University of Otago).
When: 6.30pm on Thursday, June 18, 2009.
Where: The Nicholson Museum, southern entrance to the Quadrangle, the University of Sydney main campus, Camperdown.
Cost: $25/$20 friends of the Nicholson Museum
Bookings: (02) 9351 2812 or m.turner@usyd.edu.au
The Sky's The Limit: Astronomy in Antiquity is open until December 2009. The Nicholson Museum is located in the southern entrance to the University of Sydney's historic Quadrangle. It is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm and Sundays from noon to 4pm. Phone: (02) 9351 2812. All welcome, entry free.
Adapted from information issued by the University of Sydney.
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