The Moon in the Greek and Roman Imagination: Myth, Literature, Science and Philosophy (Greek Culture in the Roman World)

The Moon exerted a powerful influence on ancient intellectual history, as a playground for the scientific imagination. This book explores the history of the Moon in the Greco-Roman imaginary from Homer to Lucian, with special focus on those accounts of the Moon, its attributes, and its 'inhabitants' given by ancient philosophers, natural scientists and imaginative writers including Pythagoreans, Plato and the Old Academy, Varro, Plutarch and Lucian. ní Mheallaigh shows how the Moon's enigmatic presence made it a key site for thinking about the gaze (erotic, philosophical and scientific) and the relation between appearance and reality. It was also a site for hoax in antiquity as well as today. Central issues explored include the view from elsewhere (selēnoskopia), the relation of science and fiction, the interaction between the beginnings of science in the classical polis and the imperial period, and the limits of knowledge itself. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series information 4 Title page 7 Copyright information 8 Dedication 9 Contents 11 Acknowledgements 12 List of Abbreviations, Text References and Translations 14 Abbreviations 14 Note on Text References 15 DK, G and LM 15 Translations 15 Note on Text 15 Part I The Moon in the Mythic Imagination 17 Introduction: To the Moon! Journey into the Ancient Scientific Imagination 19 Chapter 1 The Moon in Ritual, Myth and Magic 24 The Moon and Time, Ritual, Religion 24 Selene and Endymion: Desire and the Female Gaze 37 Lunar Liquid: The Moon-Womb and Proto-philosophy 42 Moon-Illusions 49 Simaetha's Love-Spell: Magic, Lamps and the Moon 49 The 'Thessalian Trick': Magic, Mirrors and the Moon 53 The Marriage of Selene and Endymion 60 Conclusion 62 Part II The Moon in the Scientific Imagination 65 Chapter 2 Making Sense of the Moon: Philosophy and Science 67 What Is the Moon? The Lunar Artefact 68 The Lunar Laboratory: Change and Epistemology 78 Heliophotism and the Reflecting Eye 84 The Moon Becomes a World 98 Metaphysical Moon: The Old Academy and Pythagoreans 105 Xenocrates, Philip and the Moon in the Middle 106 The Moon in the Pythagorean Cosmos 119 Eschatological Moon 122 Conclusion 126 Chapter 3 Life on the Moon: Between Philosophy, Science and Fantasy 128 Pythagorean Moon-Creatures 131 The Woman Who Fell to Earth: Helen of Troy 143 The Nemean Lion and Other Lunar Creatures 147 Conclusion: The Question of Belief 158 Chapter 4 The Moon of Many Faces: Plutarch's Great Lunar Dialogue De Facie 162 Plutarch's De Facie and the Duel of the Philosophies 162 Plutarch's Inter-disciplinary Moon 170 The Lunar Texture of De Facie 175 Theon, Lamprias and Life on the Moon 182 Sulla's Myth: The Moon as Metaphysical Junction 191 Literary Coordinates and a Map to the Moon 204 Conclusion: A Landmark in the Selenographical Tradition 217 Part III The Moon in the Fantastic Imagination 219 Chapter 5 The Imaginary Moon: Lunar Journeys 221 The First Man to Go to the Moon? The Dream Hoax in Varro's Endymiones 222 From Thule to the Moon: Antonius Diogenes's Scientific Fiction 228 Astro-poetics: Icaromenippus, the Moon and Lucianic Mixis 238 Disintegration, Dissent and Creative Hybridity: Lucian's Moon as 'Third Space' 251 Lucian's Scientific Imagination: Cosmic War, Lunar Anatomy and a Proto-telescope 256 Conclusion: Scientific Fiction and the Moon 275 Chapter 6 Selenoskopia: The Moon-View from Fiction to Reality 277 Lucian, Icaromenippus and the Ancient Telescopic Tradition 278 Modern Selenoskopic Tradition: The First Wave 1966-1972 285 The Second Wave: Pale Blue Dot and The Day the Earth Smiled 301 Conclusion: Between Entanglement and Detachment 305 Envoi: The Legacy of Ancient Selenography 307 Bibliography 311 Index 333 Index Locorum 337 "The Moon exerted a powerful influence on ancient intellectual history, as a playground for the scientific imagination. This book explores the history of the Moon in the Greco-Roman imaginary from Homer to Lucian, with special focus on those accounts of the Moon, its attributes, and its 'inhabitants' given by ancient philosophers, natural scientists and imaginative writers including Pythagoreans, Plato and the Old Academy, Varro, Plutarch and Lucian. Ní Mheallaigh shows how the Moon's enigmatic presence made it a key site for thinking about the gaze (erotic, philosophical and scientific) and the relation between appearance and reality. It was also a site for hoax in antiquity as well as today. Central issues explored include the view from elsewhere (selēnoskopia), the relation of science and fiction, the interaction between the beginnings of science in the classical polis and the imperial period, and the limits of knowledge itself."-- Provided by publisher The Moon Exerted A Powerful Influence On Ancient Intellectual History, As A Playground For The Scientific Imagination. This Book Explores The History Of The Moon In The Greco-roman Imaginary From Homer To Lucian, With Special Focus On Those Accounts Of The Moon, Its Attributes, And Its 'inhabitants' Given By Ancient Philosophers, Natural Scientists And Imaginative Writers Including Pythagoreans, Plato And The Old Academy, Varro, Plutarch And Lucian. Nâi Mheallaigh Shows How The Moon's Enigmatic Presence Made It A Key Site For Thinking About The Gaze (erotic, Philosophical And Scientific) And The Relation Between Appearance And Reality. It Was Also A Site For Hoax In Antiquity As Well As Today. Central Issues Explored Include The View From Elsewhere (selåenoskopia), The Relation Of Science And Fiction, The Interaction Between The Beginnings Of Science In The Classical Polis And The Imperial Period, And The Limits Of Knowledge Itself.-- This is a book for readers who are fascinated by the Moon and the earliest speculations about life on other worlds. It takes the reader on a journey from the earliest Greek poetry, philosophy and science, through Plutarch's mystical doctrines to the thrilling lunar adventures of Lucian of Samosata. A deep dive into the Moon's powerful influence on ancient intellectual history, as a playground for the scientific imagination