Aratus of Soli was a third century BC didactic poet at the court of Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia, where he wrote his famous astronomical poem ‘Phaenomena’ (Appearances). It describes the constellations and other celestial phenomena, while the latter section is chiefly concerned with weather lore. Aratus’ poem was extremely popular both in the Greek and Roman world, as demonstrated by the large number of commentaries and Latin translations. He enjoyed immense prestige among Hellenistic po...

'Athena seized the writhing serpent and hurled it into the sky, and fixed it to the very pole of the heavens.' The constellations we recognize today were first mapped by the ancient Greeks, who arranged the stars into patterns for that purpose. In the third century BC Eratosthenes compiled a handbook of astral mythology in which the constellations were associated with figures from legend, and myths were provided to explain how each person, creature, or object came to be pl...

An ancient Greek guide to the heavens, translated in a new accessible modern English edition.A poetic guide to the heavens, the Phaenomena of Aratus—dating from around 270 BCE—was widely known across the ancient world, second only in fame to the works of Homer. Beginning with an invocation to Zeus, the poem describes the constellations of the northern and southern skies, the celestial sphere, and weather signs. Aratus's vivid work offered a complete handbo...

After the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Phaenomena was the most widely read poem in the ancient world. Its fame was immediate. It was translated into Latin by Ovid and Cicero and quoted by St. Paul in the New Testament, and it was one of the few Greek poems translated into Arabic.Aratus’ Phaenomena is a didactic poem—a practical manual in verse that teaches the reader to identify constellations and predict weather. The poem also explains the relatio...

Written by famous French philosopher and satirist Voltaire, 'Micromegas' is a science fiction short story which has been considered to be a significant development in the history of literature. It was first published in the year 1752.

Many have believed that Atlantis was a fiction created by Plato. Well Plato was not the first to write about it.We have found a very much earlier document. It was written in 9619 BC, about 9,250 years before Plato's writing.This ancient document is believed to be the oldest document that has survived almost intact down through the ages.Further, archeological finds and scientific evidence provide convincing proof that Atlantis really did exist; Atlantis was real....

The Vindication of Man is the epic and mind-blowing continuation of John C. Wright's visionary space opera series surpasses all expectation.Menelaus Montrose, having renewed his enmity with his immortal adversary, Ximen del Azarchel, awaits the return of the posthuman princess Rania, their shared lost love. Rania brings with her the judgment of the Dominions ruling the known cosmos, which will determine the fate of humanity, once and for all. Vindication or destruction? And...

An informative sidekick to Stan Shadick's annual award-winning Skywatchers calendars, Skywatcher's Companion presents fascinating stories for skywatchers of all ages.Discover the wonders of the night sky and learn how to find the star patterns that have inspired the myths and storytelling of great cultures of the past. Meet the gods and goddesses of Rome, Greece and Mesopotamia and see how they found their way into the many constellations that dominate the ever-changing no...

THE PREFACE OF THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS TO ALL ALCHEMISTS AND READERS OF THIS BOOK.PART I. THE SEVEN CANONS OF THE METALS. THE FIRST CANON. CONCERNING THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF MERCURY.THE SECOND CANON. CONCERNING THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF JUPITER.THE THIRD CANON. CONCERNING MARS AND HIS PROPERTIES.THE FOURTH CANON. CONCERNING VENUS AND ITS PROPERTIES.THE FIFTH CANON. CONCERNING THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OP SATURN.THE SIXTH CANON. CONCERNING L...

This A-to-Z reference offers in-depth information on the history and mythologies of the forty-eight classical constellations—with excerpts from ancient texts.The nightly appearance of the stars, their arrangement in the sky, their regular risings and settings through the course of the year, have been a source of endless wonder and speculation. But where did the constellations come from and what are the myths associated with them? Star Myths of the Greeks and Rom...

Do you know absolutely nothing about astrology, but would love to learn?Have you tried to learn astrology before, but you were put off by the jargon and complexity?Or are you familiar with modern astrology and want to learn more about the ancient origins of astrology?Then this is the perfect book for you.Book 1 The Signs of the ZodiacThis book covers the twelve signs, from their ancient origins, to the ancient myths connected to them. ...

Why were Prometheus and Loki envisioned as chained to rocks? What was the Golden Calf? Why are mirrors believed to carry bad luck? How could anyone think that mortals like Perseus, Beowulf, and St. George actually fought dragons, since dragons don't exist? Strange though they sound, however, these "myths" did not begin as fiction.This absorbing book shows that myths originally transmitted real information about real events and observations, preserving the information sometimes for ...