Cleomedes' lectures on astronomy : a translation of "The heavens" with an introduction and commentary

Cleomedes' treatise was a milestone in the history of astronomy, and is an invaluable resource for students of ancient Stoicism as well. This Volume Contains A Clear And Idiomatic English Translation - The First Ever - Of The Heavens, Along With An Informative Introduction, Detailed Notes, And Technical Diagrams. This Important Work Will Now Be Accessible To Specialists In Both Ancient Philosophy And Science And To Readers Interested In The History Of Astronomy And Cosmology But With No Knowledge Of Ancient Greek. The Heavens Stands In The Tradition Of Ancient Philosophical And Astronomical Literature From The Time Of Plato And Aristotle To That Of Ptolemy And Is An Excellent Introduction To Some Basic Principles Of Ancient Astronomy. Its Technical Information Includes Demonstrations Of A Geocentric Cosmology, Measurements Of The Earth's Circumference And Sun's Size, A Brief Account Of Planetary Motion, Descriptions Of The Earth And Its Climatic Zones, And Accounts Of Lunar Eclipses And Phases.--jacket. With An Introduction And Commentary By Alan C. Bowen And Robert B. Todd. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 211-221) And Indexes. At some time around 200 A.D., the Stoic philosopher and teacher Cleomedes delivered a set of lectures on elementary astronomy as part of a complete introduction to Stoicism for his students. The result was The Heavens (Caelestia), the only work by a professional Stoic teacher to survive intact from the first two centuries A.D., and a rare example of the interaction between science and philosophy in late antiquity. This volume contains a clear and idiomatic English translation--the first ever--of The Heavens, along with an informative introduction, detailed notes, and technical diagrams. This important work will now be accessible to specialists in both ancient philosophy and science and to readers interested in the history of astronomy and cosmology but with no knowledge of ancient Greek. PREFACE......Page 14 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 18 INTRODUCTION......Page 20 Book One of Cleomedes’ The Heavens......Page 38 Book Two of Cleomedes’ The Heavens......Page 116 Figures......Page 186 APPENDIX: POSIDONIUS ON PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY......Page 212 GLOSSARY OF SELECTED TERMS......Page 224 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 230 PASSAGES FROM CLEOMEDES IN COLLECTIONS OF TEXTS......Page 242 GENERAL INDEX......Page 244 INDEX LOCORUM......Page 250 At some time around 200 AD, the Stoic philosopher and teacher Cleomedes delivered a set of lectures on elementary astronomy as part of a complete introduction to Stoicism for his students. The result was "The Heavens" (Caelestia). This book contains an English translation of "The Heavens", along with an introduction, notes, and technical diagrams.