Living the Lunar Calendar

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Physics, Astronomy, History, Ancient History
Cover of the book Living the Lunar Calendar by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele, Oxbow Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele ISBN: 9781842179062
Publisher: Oxbow Books Publication: April 30, 2012
Imprint: Oxbow Books Language: English
Author: Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
ISBN: 9781842179062
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Publication: April 30, 2012
Imprint: Oxbow Books
Language: English

Lunar calendars suffer from an inherent uncertainty in the length of each month and the number of months in the year. Variable atmospheric conditions, weather and the acuity of the eye of an observer mean that the first sighting of the new moon crescent can never be known in advance. Calendars which rely on such observations to define the beginning of a new month therefore suffer from this lack of certainty as to whether a month will begin on a given day or the next. The papers in this volume address the question of how ancient and medieval societies lived with the uncertainties of a lunar calendar. How did lack of foreknowledge of the beginning of the month impact upon administration, the planning of festivals, and historical record keeping? Did societies replace the observation of the new moon crescent with schematic calendars or calendars based upon astronomical calculations and what were the ideological and practical consequences of such a change? The contributors to this volume address these topics from the perspectives of a variety of Ancient Near Eastern, Jewish, Ancient and Medieval European, Asian and American cultures.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Lunar calendars suffer from an inherent uncertainty in the length of each month and the number of months in the year. Variable atmospheric conditions, weather and the acuity of the eye of an observer mean that the first sighting of the new moon crescent can never be known in advance. Calendars which rely on such observations to define the beginning of a new month therefore suffer from this lack of certainty as to whether a month will begin on a given day or the next. The papers in this volume address the question of how ancient and medieval societies lived with the uncertainties of a lunar calendar. How did lack of foreknowledge of the beginning of the month impact upon administration, the planning of festivals, and historical record keeping? Did societies replace the observation of the new moon crescent with schematic calendars or calendars based upon astronomical calculations and what were the ideological and practical consequences of such a change? The contributors to this volume address these topics from the perspectives of a variety of Ancient Near Eastern, Jewish, Ancient and Medieval European, Asian and American cultures.

More books from Oxbow Books

Cover of the book Slave-Wives, Single Women and “Bastards” in the Ancient Greek World by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book Forms of Dwelling by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book KOINE by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book The First Farmers of Central Europe by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book People with Animals by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book The Archaeology of Politics and Power by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book Celtic from the West 3 by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book Changing Pictures by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book A City from the Dawn of History by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book A Late Iron Age farmstead in the Outer Hebrides by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book Communities in Transition by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book Public Archaeology and Climate Change by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book Rock Art Through Time by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book Life on the Edge by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
Cover of the book The Social Context of Technological Change by Jonathan Ben-Dov, Wayne Horowitz, John M. Steele
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy