Imagining the Heavens across Eurasia from Antiquity to Early Modernity

This book explores how humans across Eurasia depicted their knowledge of the heavens over 4,000 years, focusing on enigmatic objects such as planetary and celestial deities, the seven-day-week, constellations, zodiacal signs, the Sun and Moon, scholars, muses, globes, power and politics, and a dancing goat.

Format: Hardback
Length: 750 pages
Publication date: 19 June 2023
Publisher: Mimesis International

This captivating book delves into a sweeping exploration of how humans across Eurasia portrayed their understanding of the heavens over a span of nearly 4,000 years. With a keen focus on enigmatic celestial objects, the authors present a diverse array of artifacts, encompassing a wide range of mediums such as text, images, and even bathroom fixtures. Through meticulous analysis and contextualization, they unravel the knowledge and beliefs held by the producers and users of these astral imageries, shedding light on how they shaped their relationships with the heavens.

Within the chapters of this book, readers will encounter a captivating array of images, including planetary and celestial deities from Egypt, Rome, India, and Japan, the seven-day-week from Rome, Tibet, and Japan, constellations and zodiacal signs from Mesopotamia, the Islamic world, Europe, the Sun and the Moon from Sasanian Iran, northern China, Islamic Iraq, scholars, muses, and globes from ancient Greece, power and politics from Rome, Italy, and even a dancing goat from Iran.

This comprehensive survey offers a profound insight into the diverse tapestry of human celestial knowledge and its profound impact on societies throughout history. It serves as a testament to the enduring human fascination with the mysteries of the universe and the creative ways in which we have sought to comprehend and communicate our experiences with the heavens.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9788869774256