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Archaeoastronomy
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Archaeoastronomy, together with ethnoastronomy and related disciplines, seeks
to measure a culture's interest in celestial matters by investigating its
astral lore, sacred rituals, calendrical systems, and architectural structures.
With ever increasing knowledge about the belief-systems of ancient
and
aboriginal
cultures,
it has become
obvious
that celestial matters played a central role in their intellectual
life and cultural institutions. Veneration of the most prominent celestial bodies
is
well
attested already at the
dawn of history in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Much the same belief-system is apparent in Mesoamerica, where the observation
and
worship
of the various planets formed a virtual obsession.
I have written extensively on the role of the various planets in ancient myth
and religion. The following articles address important issues in archaeoastronomy:
