The Astronomical Inscription from Keskintos, Rhodes
Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.6, No.3, 2006, pages 215-222
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215-222
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Articles
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Abstract:
A Greek astronomical inscription from about 100 B.C. found near Lardos, Rhodes in the late 19thcentury contains a table of numbers associated with various kinds of periodic behaviour of the planets.The inscription might have accompanied a votive object, perhaps representing the heavenly bodiesin some manner. The underlying conception of celestial phenomena is significantly different fromthe tradition propagated by Ptolemy's Almagest. A long common period is assumed in which all periodicitiesof all planets are supposed to repeat exactly. This period was constructed as a product of thesmallest whole factors, 2, 3, and 5. The relationships subsisting among many of the numbers in theinscription also reflect an assumption that small whole numbers underly the apparent complexity ofplanetary motion.
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Keywords:
Rhodes, Keskintos, Great Year, Planets, Astronomy
