Naples: the City of the Sun and Parthenope: the role of astronomy, mythology and Pythagoras in the urban planning of Neapolis


Book Description

This essay delves into the most intimate secret of Naples through an archaeoastronomical inquiry. It demonstrates that religious and philosophical motivations were central to the urban planning of its ancient Greek centre, Neapolis, constructed in the 6th- 5th centuries BC by Cumaeans and other Greek colonists. The design of the city's streets and its distinctive geographical-astronomical orientation evoked the cults of Apollo (the Greek Sun-god) and Parthenope (the local Numen, who reminds the mythical Sibyl of Cumae) on solstices and equinoxes. Neapolis' street grid was also inspired by Pythagorean cosmology, as it was designed with golden ratio and decagonal proportions. These elements combined to make Neapolis a perfect microcosm, or better yet, a temple-city centred on the cult of the Sun and Parthenope. Finally, the city’s religious traditions likely increased the public impact of the martyrdom of Saint Januarius, facilitating the Christianization of Naples in the 4th century AD. Naples’ ancient streets, culture, and Cathedral still preserve the legacy of Neapolis' solar traditions in their geometries, symbols, hymns, sweets, mosaics, and relics




Naples


Book Description

This essay delves into the most intimate secret of Naples through an archaeoastronomical inquiry. It shows that religious and philosophical motivations were central to the urban planning of its ancient Greek centre, Neapolis, built in the 6th-5th centuries BC by Cumaeans and other Greek colonists. The design of the city's streets and its distinctive geographic-astronomical orientation evoked the cults of Apollo (the Greek Sun-god) and Parthenope (the local nymph, recalling the mythical Sibyl of Cumae) at the solstices and equinoxes. The street grid of Neapolis was also inspired by Pythagorean cosmology, as it was designed using the golden ratio and decagonal proportions. All these elements combined to make Neapolis a perfect microcosm, or rather a temple city, centred on the cult of the Sun and Parthenope. Moreover, the city's original religious traditions greatly magnified the impact of the martyrdom of Saint Januarius, facilitating the Christianisation of Neapolis since the 4th century AD. Naples' ancient streets, culture, and Cathedral still preserve the legacy of Neapolis' solar traditions in their geometries, symbols, hymns, sweets, mosaics, and relics. (125 Coloured Figures. FedOAPress - Cavoliniana: Monographies of the Società dei Naturalisti in Napoli. Nicola Scafetta, professor at the University of Naples Federico II, is an expert in Physics of Complex Systems and Sun-Earth interactions. Foreword by Federico Rausa, professor of Classical Archeology at the University of Naples Federico II.)




A Historical and Topographical Guide to the Geography of Strabo


Book Description

Strabo's Geography, completed in the early first century AD, is the primary source for the history of Greek geography. This Guide provides the first English analysis of and commentary on this long and difficult text, and serves as a companion to the author's The Geography of Strabo, the first English translation of the work in many years. It thoroughly analyzes each of the seventeen books and provides perhaps the most thorough bibliography as yet created for Strabo's work. Careful attention is paid to the historical and cultural data, the thousands of toponyms, and the many lost historical sources that are preserved only in the Geography. This volume guides readers through the challenges and complexities of the text, allowing an enhanced understanding of the numerous topics that Strabo covers, from the travels of Alexander and the history of the Mediterranean to science, religion, and cult.




The Geography of the Imagination


Book Description

In the 40 essays that constitute this collection, Guy Davenport, one of America's major literary critics, elucidates a range of literary history, encompassing literature, art, philosophy and music, from the ancients to the grand old men of modernism.




The Metamorphoses of Ovid Literally Translated Into English Prose, with Copious Notes and Explanations


Book Description

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS. It contains classical literature works from over two thousand years. Most of these titles have been out of print and off the bookstore shelves for decades. The book series is intended to preserve the cultural legacy and to promote the timeless works of classical literature. Readers of a TREDITION CLASSICS book support the mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion. With this series, tredition intends to make thousands of international literature classics available in printed format again - worldwide.




The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal


Book Description

The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal has been published annually since 1974. It contains scholarly articles and shorter notes pertaining to objects in the Museum’s seven curatorial departments: Antiquities, Manuscripts, Paintings, Drawings, Decorative Arts, Sculpture and Works of Art, and Photographs. The Journal also contains an illustrated checklist of the Museum’s acquisitions for the previous year, a staff listing, and a statement by the Museum’s Director outlining the year’s most important activities. Volume 19 of the J. Paul Getty Museum Journal includes articles by Nicholas Penny, Ariane van Suchtelen, Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann and Virginia Roehrig Kaufmann, Frits Scholten, David Harris Cohen, and Dawson W. Carr.




The Chronicle of John Malalas


Book Description

Malalas' purpose in writing his work is twofold: 1) to set out the course of sacred history as interpreted by the Christian chronicle tradition (covered by Books 1-9); and 2) to provide a summary account of events under the Roman emperors up to and including his own lifetime (covered by Books 10-18).




The Geography of Strabo; Volume 2


Book Description

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.




Gurps Greece


Book Description

The land we call Greece was the home of one of the greatest cultures the world has ever known. With GURPS Greece, you can experience the challenges of the heroes of myth: Contend with the love and the wrath of the gods as you set out on epic quests. Fight for loot and honor, or earn a bitter death on the plain before the gates of fabled Troy. Win prestige as a statesman in the city Assembly - or lose everything as the people turn against you and send you into exile. GURPS Greece includes detailed timelines and maps describing the world as the Greeks knew it, information on their religion, rules for the magic of the Hellenic myths, and a Bestiary describing the monsters and animal foes faced by Greek heroes.




A Classical Dictionary


Book Description

This renowned dictionary contains detailed accounts of the various characters, mythical creatures, and places of Ancient Greek and Roman mythology. First published in 1788, Lemprière's Classical Dictionary introduces the reader to the fascinating world of Greek and Roman literature in a comprehensive and accessible way. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.