Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena

This is the first complete English translation of Geminos' "Introduction to the Phenomena" - one of the most important and interesting astronomical works of its type to have survived from Greek antiquity. Gracefully and charmingly written, Geminos' first-century BC textbook for beginning students of astronomy can now be read straight through with understanding and enjoyment by a wider audience than ever before. James Evans and Lennart Berggren's accurate and readable translation is accompanied by a thorough introduction and commentary that set Geminos' work in its historical, scientific, and philosophical context. This book is generously illustrated with diagrams from medieval manuscripts of Geminos' text, as well as drawings and photographs of ancient astronomical instruments. It will be of great interest to students of the history of science, to classicists, and to professional and amateur astronomers who seek to learn more about the origins of their science. Geminos provides a clear view of Greek astronomy in the period between Hipparchos and Ptolemy, treating such subjects as the zodiac, the constellations, the theory of the celestial sphere, lunar cycles, and eclipses. Most significantly, Geminos gives us the earliest detailed discussion of Babylonian astronomy by a Greek writer, thus offering valuable insight into the cross-cultural transmission of astronomical knowledge in antiquity.

ISBN 069112339X   Pages 346 ISBN13 9780691123394 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher The University Press Group Ltd   Weight (grammes) 657 Imprint Princeton University Press   Published in New Jersey Format Hardback   Height (mm) 229 Publication date 09 Oct 2006   Width (mm) 152 Library of Congress 2006049372   Spine width (mm) 29 DEWEY 520.938   Academic level Professional / Scholarly, Tertiary education DEWEY edition DC22

1		Significance of Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena		2
2		Geminos's other works		3
3		On "The phenomena" in Greek astronomy		4
4		The Greek genre of astronomical surveys		8
5		Geminos's sources for his Introduction		12
6		Geminos's country and date		15
7		Geminos and the Stoics		23
8		Geminos on astronomical instruments and models		27
9		Geminos on mathematical genres		43
10		Reality and representation in Greek astronomy		49
11		Heliacal risings and settings		58
12		Astronomical applications of arithmetic progressions		73
13		Lunar and lunisolar cycles		82
14		On the text and translation		101
		Introduction to the Phenomena : translation and commentary
I		On the circle of the signs		113
II		Aspects of the zodiacal signs		125
III		On the constellations		137
IV		On the axis and the poles		146
V		The circles on the sphere		149
VI		On day and night		161
VII		On the risings of the 12 signs		169
VIII		On months		175
IX		On phases of the moon		186
X		On the eclipse of the sun		189
XI		On the eclipse of the moon		191
		More...

Evans and Berggren's book is an excellent translation and welcome commentary on Geminos's texts. The translation of the Introduction to the Phenomena is a much-needed resource for the study of Hellenistic astronomy, and the introduction, commentary, and appendices the authors provide make the book a useful educational tool accessible to even the most elementary student of the history of astronomy. -- Jacqueline Feke, Bryn Mawr Classical Review On Geminos, nothing is known. But his text, now available in its entirety in English, thanks to Evans and Berggren, is a critical work for scholars of the history of astronomy and classical studies. -- Choice The Introduction is an important text that contributes greatly to our understanding of ancient astronomy... Evans and Rerggren have provided valuable discussions and illustrations of the relevant ancient instruments and tools, and the ways in which they were used in the practice of astronomy... Geminos' work is well worth reading, and classicists interested in ancient astronomy will find this book an indispensable resource. -- Liba Taub, Classical World

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