Decoding Astronomy in Art and Architecture

Preface
Contents
Part I: History of Cosmic Symbolism in Art and Architecture
	1: Introduction to Archaeoastronomy Topics
	2: Basics of Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy
		Components of Archaeoastronomy
		Cycles of the Sun
		Cycles of the Moon
		The Milky Way Galaxy
		Origin of the Constellations
		The Signs of the Zodiac
		Further Reading
	3: World’s Earliest Art and Architecture
		Introduction
		Abstract Stone Carvings and Cultural Astronomy
		“Venus Figurines” and Astronomy
		Hand Paintings in Cave Art
		Paleolithic Cave Painting
		Non-figurative Cave Art and Astronomy
		El Castillo Cave Art and Astronomy
		Corona Borealis or Northern Crown Constellation
		Lascaux Cave and Astronomy
		Archaeo-acoustics
		Further Reading
	4: Neolithic Art, Architecture, and Astronomy
		Introduction
		Excavation of Göbekli Tepe
		Göbekli Tepe Enclosures
		Göbekli Tepe Artwork
		Interpretation of the Artwork
		Archaeoastronomy at Göbekli Tepe
		Further Reading
	5: Art, Architecture, and Astronomy in the British Isles
		Introduction to Mounds, Megaliths, and Circles
		Newgrange Passage Mound
		Knowth Passage Mound
		Dowth Passage Mound
		Artwork on Irish Passage “Grave” Megaliths
		Further Reading
	6: Art, Architecture, and Astronomy in England
		Introduction to the Stonehenge Stone Circle
		Archaeoastronomy of Stonehenge
		The Stonehenge Extensive Complex
		Avebury Stone Circles
		Avebury’s Extensive Complex
		West Kennet Long Barrow (Fig. 6.7)
		Summary of Megalithic Monuments of the British Isles
		Further Reading
Part II: Astronomical Art and Architecture of Southeast Asia
	7: Hinduism and Cosmology in India
		Introduction
		Cosmology Encoded in Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance
		Dancing Shiva Iconography
		Cosmology of Hindu Temples
		Further Reading
	8: Art, Archaeology, and Astronomy at Angkor Wat Temple
		Introduction to Angkor Wat History
		Temple Functions
		Angkor Wat Temple Architecture
		Current Research
		Celestial Correlations at Angkor Wat
		Angkor Wat Sculptural Program
		Summary
		Further Reading
	9: Art, Architecture, and Astronomy of Buddhism
		Introduction
		Ashoka and the Mauryan Dynasty
		Cosmic Pillars of Ashoka
		Celestial Symbolism of the Buddhist Stupa
		The Great Stupa at Sanchi
		Cosmology of the Borobudur Buddhist Temple
		Borobudur Sculpture
		Encoded Buddhist Teachings
		Cosmological Symbolism of Borobudur
		Solar Alignments of the Ajanta Caves
		Further Reading
Part III: Astronomical Art and Architecture of China
	10: Art, Architecture, and Astronomy in China
		Astronomy in Early China
		Dunhuang Star Map
		Chinese Cosmological Temples
		The Mandate of Heaven
		Cosmology of Beijing
		Cosmology of the Forbidden City
		Cosmic Temples
		Temple of Heaven Compound
		Cosmic Symbolism of the Temple of Heaven
		Enactment of Imperial Duties
		Further Reading
Part IV: Astronomical Art and Architecture of the Classical World
	11: Art, Architecture, and Astronomy in Classical Greece
		Introduction
		Greek Astronomers
		The Astronomical Poem: Phaenomena
		Greek Temples and Archaeoastronomy
		Temple of Apollo Delphi, Greece
		Astronomy of the Apollo: Asclepius Cult Temples
		Archaeoastronomy of Greek Temples in Sicily
		Greek Theater
		Further Reading
	12: Art, Architecture, and Astronomy of Petra
		History of Petra
		Nabataean Religion
		Nabataean Architecture
		Current Research
		Urn Tomb and Astronomy
		The Monastery and Astronomy
		Nabataean Sculpture
		Conclusion
		Further Reading
	13: Art, Architecture, and Astronomy in the Roman Empire
		Introduction
		Astronomical Texts in Roman Empire
			Vitruvius and Astronomy
			Geminus and Astronomy
			Pliny the Elder and Astronomy
		Solar Orientations of Roman Towns
		Symbolism of the Dome in Roman Architecture
		Archaeoastronomy and the Pantheon
			Pantheon Symbolic Architectural Design
			Pantheon Solar Phenomena
		Mausoleum of Theodoric the Great and Astronomy
			Astronomical Light Effects
		The Roman Temples at Baalbek
			The Temple of Jupiter
			The Temple of Bacchus
			The Temple of Venus
		Cosmology in Mithraic Art
			The Mithraeum and the Tauroctony
			Cautes and Cautopates: The Torchbearers
			Archaeoastronomy Encoded in Mithraic Art
		Futher Reading
Part V: Astronomical Art and Architecture of Early Europe
	14: Astronomy and Cosmology in the Middle Ages
		Introduction
		Cosmology in the Middle Ages
			Cosmological Diagrams
			Medieval Astronomical Artwork
		Archaeoastronomy and the Christian Church
		Hagia Sophia: The Cosmos in Miniature
		Astronomy in the Age of Charlemagne
			Charlemagne’s Throne and Astronomy
			The Computistical Anthology of 809
		Aratea Manuscripts in the Carolingian Age
		The Leiden Aratea
			The Planetary Configuration
		Giotto and Astronomy in the Scrovegni Chapel
			Giotto and the Miraculous Star of Bethlehem
		Astronomy at Chartres Cathedral
			Introduction
			Sculptural Program on the Royal Portal
			The Zodiacal Problem
			Astronomical Angels
		Further Reading
	15: Renaissance Art and Astronomy
		Astronomy During the Renaissance
		Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Frescoes
		The Cosmology of Michelangelo Buonarroti
		Fresco Design Description
		Visualizing the Creation and Fall of Mankind
		The Cosmology of The Last Judgment
		The Last Judgment and Astronomy
		Further Reading
Part VI: Astronomical Art and Architecture of the New World
	16: Astronomy at Teotihuacan
		Introduction
		Pyramid of the Sun
		Pyramid of the Moon
		Ciudadela Ceremonial Grounds
		The Temple of Quetzalcoatl: The Feathered Serpent
		Archaeoastronomy at Teotihuacan
		Collapse of Teotihuacan
		Further Reading
	17: Art, Architecture, and Astronomy in South America
		Introduction
		Cultural Astronomy of Chavin de Huantar
		Cultural Astronomy and the Nazca Lines
		Cultural Astronomy of the Inca Civilization
		Astronomy of Machu Picchu
		Further Reading
Endnote
Index