Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: PatrickHenry; kuma
I've found one you both might be interested in!

Babylonian Planetary Theory and the Heliocentric Concept

In looking closely at the Babylonian calendar and planetary records this scholar attributes them with the first thoughts of heliocentricity. Of course, he's taking from Aristarchus of Samos and giving to Babylonians - and it is largely deductive reasoning - but the theory is compelling.

I still have found nothing on Enoch's observation that stars rise and die by becoming lightening (supernova) - or that there is a prison house for the heavens without measure or content (singularity?)

95 posted on 08/28/2003 9:26:04 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies ]


To: All
For anyone following this research, here is an illustrated article that summarized the changing view of the universe among the Greeks:

Early Greek scientists struggle to explain how the heavens move


96 posted on 08/28/2003 9:34:13 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies ]

To: Alamo-Girl
I've found one you both might be interested in! Babylonian Planetary Theory and the Heliocentric Concept

I scanned that one, and although there is apparently some good info there, it's very confusing about the dates involved for the various methods being discussed. The author discusses "Babylonian" astronomy during the "Seleucid Era." It's very misleading terminology. If the Seleucid Era is what the article is talking about, as seems to be the case, then this isn't very useful. Because it isn't really Babylonian.

Seleucis (for whom the era is named) was one of Alexander's generals who carved up the world upon the death of Alexander. The Selucids ruled the old Persian empire pretty much until the Romans took it over. Same story for Ptolemy, another of Alexander's generals, whose descendants ruled Egypt until Cleopatra, when the Romans took over.

Anyway, by the time of Alexander (and Seleucis), what we call Babylonia was probably as distant a memory as the time of Charlemagne is for us. And before Babylon there was the very ancient Sumerian empire (Abraham's origin). When Sumer fell, there was a mini dark age of a few centuries, and then Babylon rose (the political entitity mentioned in the Bible). When Babylon fell, another dark age followed, and then the Persian empire rose, and it was this which Alexander conquered. I believe that each new appearance of civilization in the region was largely ignorant of what went before, so there was virtually no intellectual continuity between, say, old Babylon and the later Persian empire (except collaterally, via the Hebrew scriptures).

So, it's misleading -- at least to me -- to speak of "Babylonian" astronomy during the Seleucic era. The Seleucids were Hellenic, so this whole website is consistent with the Enoch text's being of "classical" Greek origin, and this no historical anomolies are presented. (If I've read it correctly.)

98 posted on 08/29/2003 3:52:06 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (Hic amor, haec patria est.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson